November 2, 2007

MARNE, MI --Berlin Raceway's annual driver awards banquet presented by Van Manen Petroleum Group, AAA Michigan and J-Tech honored the season's champions and award winners Friday night at the Pinnacle Center in Hudsonville. Three first-time champions headlined the awards presentation, which was dedicated to the memory of the late Coors Light Late Model Lee Anderson and recognized 49 drivers in the four racing divisions for their points finishes and other accomplishments. The raceway's annual Hall of Fame induction ceremonies completed the evening.

Tom Thomas, of Grandville, defended his Coors Light Late Model championship on the strength of eight race victories. The 34-year-old 15-year Berlin Raceway veteran claimed the crown easily, with a 270-point margin over second-place Terry VanHaitsma. No other driver in the division won more than two races during the 19-race campaign. Thomas remains the top driver in Berlin Raceway's top division after finishing between third and fifth place in every season from 1998 through 2005.

Holland's Mike Bursley, a 24-year-old in his seventh season of Berlin racing, used a division-high six victories to launch himself into his first-ever Engine Pro Super Stock championship after finishing runner-up a year ago. Byron Center native Brian Tillema, a 33-year-old 10-year Berlin veteran, also followed up his 2006 runner-up campaign with his first-ever championship in the De-Jay Slick Truck Pro Stock division. And 42-year-old nine-year veteran Andy Stormzand of Lowell bettered his third-place finish from last season with a championship in the Instant Cash Advance Sportsman division.

The banquet presentations included $40,000 in points fund money distributed to the top 12 drivers in each of the four racing divisions, each of whom also received a trophy or plaque for their accomplishment. In addition to the 7-foot-tall champions trophies, the four division champions each received a gold championship ring from Glen Sironen of Jensen Jewelers.

A touching moment during the evening came when the family of the late Lee Anderson, who was killed in a boating accident in July at the age of 33, spoke to the 450+ drivers, crews and fans in attendance. Lee's father Denny Anderson thanked the racing community for their outpouring of support in the four months since the tragedy. He also thanked drivers Billy Shotko and Mike Bursley for continuing Lee's dream by taking over Lee's young company, Perfect Circle Racecars, and carrying on Lee's vision; Nick and Janna Shotko for raising $35,000 for Lee's 3-year-old daughter Kaileigh's college fund through sales of a memorial t-shirt; and driver Pete Ruttan, whose race car was the first built by Lee, for allowing Denny, a former racer himself, the "therapy" of racing the last couple races of the season in his car. The Anderson family received a supportive standing ovation from the crowd.

The third annual induction ceremonies for the Berlin Raceway Hall of Fame presented by Boyne Machine Co. were held as part of the banquet. Joining the Mysliwiec family (track founders), local racing legends John Benson Sr., Bob Knight and car owner Harry Obie in the Hall of Fame are 2007 inductees Gail Cobb, Ralph Baker and Jimmy Meyer, all of whom were present at the ceremony.

Cobb, of Ada, raced Supermodifieds, Late Models and Sportsman cars at Berlin Raceway from 1966 to 2000. He became the oldest driver to win a Berlin Raceway championship in 2000 when he was crowned Sportsman champion in his final season at the age of 63. He was known as a tough, no-nonsense racer who earned the respect of the entire racing community.

Baker was one of the premier Berlin Raceway drivers in the late 1950s and 1960s. The Holland native began racing modifieds at Berlin in 1957 before becoming one of the first drivers to race stock cars at Berlin. Baker won many races at Berlin before his career took him traveling on the USAC and ARCA series tours in the late 1960s.

Meyer's career as Berlin Raceway's flagman spanned five decades, from 1954 to 1997. Through those 44 years, the Holland native earned the respect of drivers, car owners, officials and fans for his authoritative and flamboyant flagging style.

Masters of Ceremonies for the event were track announcer Norm Jelsma and NASCAR MRN/Berlin Raceway WMUS race broadcaster Jeff Striegle and included several videos put to music to capture the scenes and excitement of the 2007 season.

Grand Rapids Press Unsung Hero Award - Mike Blackmer

Grand Rapids Press Chris Bradley Crew Chief Award - Ron Bursley (Mike Bursley)

Powder Coating Services Hardest Crash Award - Tim Yonker

Scott Baker Sportsmanship Award - Maurice Davis

Engine Pro Engine Builder of the Year - Baker Engineering

Racer of the Year - Tom Thomas