June 13, 2007

PRA Big Car Series visits Berlin Raceway, Groeneveld wins Sportsman race

Marne, MI— The PRA Big Car Series rolled in to town Wednesday, bringing NASCAR Driver Ryan Newman with them.  Additionally, the Instant Cash Advance Sportsman division returned to Berlin Raceway and after a week off and they seemed eager to get back to racing.

The first heat for the Instant Cash Advance Sportsman division got underway and finished dramatically with #6 Terry Bockheim, #57 Allan Troup and #64 Brad DeJong spinning on the last lap.  The second heat was just as exciting; it saw point leader #97 Andy Stormzand marching thought the field from 7th to 2nd and the third heat race provided great racing as well, #38 Maurice Davis beat the field to the checked flag.

The #33 of Jerry Groeneveld and #6 of Terry Bockheim started the Instant Cash Advance Sportsman feature race on the front row and caution was out early, on lap 1, for #33 Allen Davis.  Davis lost control of his car coming out of turn 4, saved it across the frontstretch and lost control again going in to turn 1. After showing strength in his heat race, Stormzand started his rally to the front early on, making passes in both the low and high lanes.  While Stormzand was making his way to the front, leaders Groeneveld and #22 Ken Roelofs were putting on a great show and almost took each other out going in to turn 1. They both had to slow down to correct it and that allowed Stormzand to catch up.  Stormzand passed Roelofs and made a charge for the leader, but he ran out of laps.  Groeneveld held off Stormzand for his second win in the Instant Cash Advance Sportsman division and the rest of the top ten were Roelofs, #59 John Evans, #15 Garison Jewett, #88 Tony Davis, #44 Brian VanZalen, #40 Dave Cutler, #57 Allan Troup and #33 Allen Davis.

The PRA Big Car Series took the track next featuring NASCAR Driver Ryan Newman.  Newman arrived at the track late, missing both practice sessions and qualifying.  He was testing his car in Virginia for an upcoming road course race.  Because he missed qualifying, he had to start in the back of the field and he quickly raced his way into the top ten, making his way to 3rd before falling back to 4th.  Newman said he had “run out of tires.”  Ron Gregory went on to win the “Fox 17 150” and Dave Darland, Brian Tyler, Ryan Newman and Bobby East rounded out the top five.

The following is courtesy of PRA Racing:

Noblesville Indiana’s Ron Gregory won his first PRA Big Car Series event Wednesday night, the Fox 17 150, at Berlin Raceway in Marne, Michigan. He beat Dave Darland, Brian Tyler and Ryan Newman to the checkered flag. Gregory was fast qualifier but drew the number three starting position, in the PRA’s unique way of determining the first 6 starting positions. He also survived a close call on the 85th lap when he touched wheels with Brad Armstrong while battling Darland for the lead.

“I just kept adjusting the car all evening”, said Gregory, “and it seemed to get better as the laps wound down.” He was driving the Hannig Construction/First Financial Bank Foxco/Beast entered by BWB Racing

Nascar Nextel Cup star Ryan Newman was late in arriving at the track and missed qualifying so he started 17th in the 18 car field. But the South Bend, Indiana native moved through the field quickly and was in the top 10 within 10 laps. He ran third for several laps before being passed by Tyler in the closing circuits. .
Bobby Santos III dropped out of competition after 66 laps with overheating problems. He had won the two previous PRA Big Car races that he had entered last year.
The race was slowed by several caution flags for minor incidents.
Next up for the Big Car Series is a visit to the famous Oswego Speedway in New York on August 10th.

Berlin Raceway is back in action this Saturday, June 16, as the ASA Challenge Series rolls into town for “The Tradition 200.” Berlin's local Instant Cash Advance Sportsman division will also take the track. Tickets are $18 for adult general admission; half price for kids 6 to 12 and free for kids 5 and under. Pit passes for those 16 and over are $35. Gates open at 12:15 p.m. and the first race begins at 7 p.m.

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