August 11, 2007

Thomas continues dominance
Tillema, R. Clay and Olson also see Victory Lane

MARNE, MI-- The Coors Light Late Model and De-Jay Slick Truck Pro Stock divisions saw repeat winners in Tom Thomas and Brian Tillema while Ray Clay of the Engine Pro Super Stock division got his first victory in over a year. The Wolverine Outlaw Midget series also visited Berlin Raceway and Washington native Brian Olson took the checkered flag.

The De-Jay Slick Truck Pro Stocks took the track first; #7 Kevin DeGood and #20 Dave Hull started the 25-lap feature on the front row. DeGood and Hull had a 3-lap battle for the lead before DeGood got the advantage and left Hull in a 6-car battle for 2nd. Lap 10 saw the first caution of the night for debris on the racetrack. Trying to get restarted, caution came out again just as #76 Brian Tillema was making a pass for the lead on the outside. The reason for the caution was #11 Nick Bonstell spinning out of turn 4; he was able to rejoin the field. On the restart, there were side-by-side battles for first and second, but by lap 13 Tillema was able to get by DeGood for the lead. #52 Bruce Chase and #15 Scott Root were also making strides for the front of the field, but a caution was out again on lap 14 for the spinning car of #76 Ryan Gruppen coming out of turn 2 slowed their progress. All cars were single file on the restart, but as soon as the cars went into turn 2, Chase, Root and DeGood were 3-wide; Root came out claimed the position when he made the pass on the outside. Their battle allowed Tillema to pull away from the field. The final caution of the event came out on lap 17; while battle for position, DeGood and Chase got together and DeGood's car had climbed the rear of Chase's car. This caution bunched the field back up, but Tillema proved that he had the best car of the night. He got his 3rd win of the season while Root, Chase, #24 Lee VanDyk, Hull, #86 Ray Melinn, #23 Andrew MacIntosh, #97.9 Ryan Schanbel, #89 Kirk Meissner and #11 Nick Bonstell made up the top ten.

The second event of the evening featured the cars of the Engine Pro Super Stock division; #15 Mat McClarren and #X Ray Clay lead the field to the green flag. On the start, Clay's car shot out to the lead, leaving McClarren and #5 Ray VanAllsburg to battle for 2nd. The cars of #23 Mike Bursley and #1 Brian Wiersma also joined the fray, but caution was out on lap 9 for a blown tire on Bursley's machine. On the restart, Clay's car took off again and McClarren and VanAllsburg resumed their battle. They didn't get to battle for long, because the caution flag waved for a solo spin by #123 Chris Koslek coming out of turn 2. VanAllsburg and Wiersma got around McClarren on that restart while Clay continued to pull away. Clay put on a dominating performance, getting his first win of the season. Rounding out the top ten were VanAllsburg, #15 Pete Ruttan, #77 Andrew Nylaan, Wiersma, #55 Dave Lake, McClarren, #8 Billy Eppink, Koslek and #12 Josh Slade.

The Coors Light Late Model division saw a big crash early in the day during their first practice session. Something on #55 Chris Anthony’s car broke, leaving fluid on the racetrack and the cars of #47 Fred Campbell, #22 Caleb Bisacky, #8 Dakota Carlson and #7 Alan Fricke all wrecked due to the fluid on the track, Fricke’s car had landed on its roof. While the drivers were OK, their cars were not, leaving the 50-lap Late Model feature 5 cars short. #71 Jim Tenbrink and #1 Randy Sweet were on the front row and on the start, Sweet had the advantage, taking #15 Brian Maxim with him as he passed Tenbrink. Sweet and Maxim had a side-by-side battle for the first 31 laps of the race; Maxim’s car was good, but Sweet’s car had the advantage coming out of turn 2. Fast qualifier, #82 Tom Thomas, was on the move after starting in 7th position. He was battling Tenbrink and #21 Terry VanHaistsma for 3rd for a few laps before passing them both and reeling in the leaders. Lap 31 saw the end of the Sweet-Maxim battle when Thomas passed Maxim on the outside, then passing Sweet on the inside. After he cleared those cars, he started to check out, leaving Maxim and Sweet to resume their battle. The only caution of the night came on lap 43, VanHaistsma’s car spun off of turn 2. On the restart, Thomas drove away from the field and got his 4th straight win and 6th win of the season. Maxim, Sweet, #27 Billy Shotko, #28 Scott Thomas, #19 Nick Shotko, VanHaistsma, Tenbrink, #30 Bryan Clay and #57 Rick Senneker completed the top ten.

The Wolverine Outlaw Midgets took the track next. Early cautions slowed the race, but once they got going, they put on an excellent show for the fans. #77 Brian Olson was the first to cross the finish line in a dominating performance. Olson lapped all but two of the cars! The rest of the top ten were #3 A.J. Lane, #5 Toby Alfrey, # 48 Aaron Shroad, #23 Dave Tryoer, #8 Dick Osborn, #9 Ed Wasserman, #21 Gavin Hunyady, #71 Chris Hetinger and #0 Doug Dietsch all finished in the top ten.

Racing resumes next Wednesday, August 15, for "The Chet" presented by Comerica Bank, a 100-lap Coors Light Late Model race with Johnny Benson racing and an appearance by Kurt Busch. Berlin's Engine Pro Super Stock and Instant Cash Advance Sportsman divisions will also compete. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the race for adults, half price for kids 6 to 12 and free for kids 5 and under. Pit passes for those 16 and over are $30.

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