Post by George Keen on Nov 7, 2009 11:56:45 GMT -4
The 2009 Annual Driver’s Banquet honors the best of Berlin Raceway
Marne, MI- Berlin Raceway’s Driver’s Awards Banquet was held on Friday night at the Pinnacle Center in Hudsonville. Champions were crowned, accomplishments were awarded and four were inducted in to the Hall of Fame.
Pictures by Tom DeVette are posted at www.theracingshow.com/news.html
The evening started out with the Hall of Fame induction of Gordon VanderLaan, Eddie VanderLaan and Bruce VanderLaan, each representing Berlin Raceway at every stage of its evolution. Track Historian Dick Lee was also inducted in to the Hall of Fame.
Gordon VanderLaan raced at Berlin Raceway for 12 years beginning when the track first opened up in 1951 and ending in 1962 when he was forced to retire from racing due to a non-racing injury. Gordon was a three-time track champion (1952, 1955 and 1959). Eddie VanderLaan was one of Berlin Raceway’s top drivers from 1953 to 1976. He was Berlin’s Rookie of the Year in 1953 and won the track’s Season Championship in 1962. Eddie was successful on dirt as well as asphalt after the track was paved in 1966. Bruce VanderLaan, son of Gordon, began his racing career in 1975 and raced up until 1999. In one five-year period during the mid 1980’s, he racked up 44 Late Model wins and 45 second-place finishes, making him the most dominant Berlin racer during the 80’s. Bruce won the 1983, 1985, 1986 and 1988 (tie) Late Model Championships at Berlin Raceway. Lee went from race fan to driver, then to car owner in the early to mid 1950’s. His fascination with preserving the history of local auto racing led him to form the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame, start a weekly news paper called Track Facts which covered current auto racing news plus historical information, publish Berlin Raceway’s souvenir program for 15 years, and also help with public relations.
It was then time to honor the champions of each division. Ross Meeuwsen, of Zeeland, was named Coors Light Late Model Champion for the second year in a row after winning 3 races and posting 10 top 5's and 11 top 10's. Wyoming’s Ray VanAllsburg won 1 race and scored 9 top 5's, 13 top 10's on his way to his first-ever Engine Pro Super Stock championship; his previous best finishes in the division was third twice. Brian Tillema, of Byron Center, continued his domination of the Kerkstra Services Pro Stock division by winning three championships in a row; he accomplished that feat by claiming 2 wins, 14 top 5's, 15 top 10's. The Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinder Champion, Dan Reimersma of Ada, gave a new definition of domination in that division, posting 5 wins, 10 top 5's, 12 top 10's, 7 fast times and only one finish outside of top 10. Finally, the first female series champion was recognized in the new Young Gun division; Kelsey Steele of Coopersville took top honors with 2 wins and 5 fast times on the season.
The top 12 in each division were also awarded point-fund monies and trophies in the ceremony hosted by one of the track’s public address announcers, Matt McKenzie and it included several videos and still pictures set to music to capture the scenes and excited that was the 2009 racing season at Berlin Raceway.
2009 Berlin Raceway Awards
CARSTAR Best Appearing Car
Young Gun- Kelsey Steele
Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinder- Jason Scheid
Kerkstra Services Pro Stock- Rose Leland
Engine Pro Super Stock- Dave Lake
Coors Light Late Model- Caleb Bisacky
Most Improved Driver (Mike will help out on this)
Young Gun - Brandon Hermiller
Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinder - Ben Kleis
Kerkstra Services Pro Stock - Ken Smith, Jr.
Engine Pro Super Stock - Ray VanAllsburg, Andrew Nylaan & Chris Muyskens
Coors Light Late Model- Justin Claucherty
Most Popular Driver
Young Gun - Kelsey Steele
Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinder - Ryan Hamm
Kerkstra Services Pro Stock - Justin Regnerus
Engine Pro Super Stock - Denny Anderson
Coors Light Late Model - Terry VanHaitsma
Hard Luck Award
Young Gun - Dalton Haney
Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinder - Chris McKinley
Kerkstra Services Pro Stock - Allen Davis
Engine Pro Super Stock - Josh Slade
Coors Light Late Model - Kyle Ballard
Todd Senneker Rookie of the Year
Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinder - Daryl Davis
Kerkstra Services Pro Stock - Tony Davis
Engine Pro Super Stock - Justin Ryan
Coors Light Late Model - Alec Carll
Engine Builder of the Year
DuraTech- Brian Slade
Grand Rapids Press Unsung Hero (Heroes)
Larry & Marilyn Bush
Crew Chief of the Year
Mike Meeuwsen
Hardest Crash
Jason DeVos
Sleeper of the Year
Alec Carll
Racer of the Year
Denny Anderson
Scott Baker Sportsmanship/Promoter’s Award
Caleb Bisacky
50 Years of Service Award
Bob Marz
Berlin Raceway will back in action on Saturday, April 24, 2010.[/b][/color]
Marne, MI- Berlin Raceway’s Driver’s Awards Banquet was held on Friday night at the Pinnacle Center in Hudsonville. Champions were crowned, accomplishments were awarded and four were inducted in to the Hall of Fame.
Pictures by Tom DeVette are posted at www.theracingshow.com/news.html
The evening started out with the Hall of Fame induction of Gordon VanderLaan, Eddie VanderLaan and Bruce VanderLaan, each representing Berlin Raceway at every stage of its evolution. Track Historian Dick Lee was also inducted in to the Hall of Fame.
Gordon VanderLaan raced at Berlin Raceway for 12 years beginning when the track first opened up in 1951 and ending in 1962 when he was forced to retire from racing due to a non-racing injury. Gordon was a three-time track champion (1952, 1955 and 1959). Eddie VanderLaan was one of Berlin Raceway’s top drivers from 1953 to 1976. He was Berlin’s Rookie of the Year in 1953 and won the track’s Season Championship in 1962. Eddie was successful on dirt as well as asphalt after the track was paved in 1966. Bruce VanderLaan, son of Gordon, began his racing career in 1975 and raced up until 1999. In one five-year period during the mid 1980’s, he racked up 44 Late Model wins and 45 second-place finishes, making him the most dominant Berlin racer during the 80’s. Bruce won the 1983, 1985, 1986 and 1988 (tie) Late Model Championships at Berlin Raceway. Lee went from race fan to driver, then to car owner in the early to mid 1950’s. His fascination with preserving the history of local auto racing led him to form the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame, start a weekly news paper called Track Facts which covered current auto racing news plus historical information, publish Berlin Raceway’s souvenir program for 15 years, and also help with public relations.
It was then time to honor the champions of each division. Ross Meeuwsen, of Zeeland, was named Coors Light Late Model Champion for the second year in a row after winning 3 races and posting 10 top 5's and 11 top 10's. Wyoming’s Ray VanAllsburg won 1 race and scored 9 top 5's, 13 top 10's on his way to his first-ever Engine Pro Super Stock championship; his previous best finishes in the division was third twice. Brian Tillema, of Byron Center, continued his domination of the Kerkstra Services Pro Stock division by winning three championships in a row; he accomplished that feat by claiming 2 wins, 14 top 5's, 15 top 10's. The Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinder Champion, Dan Reimersma of Ada, gave a new definition of domination in that division, posting 5 wins, 10 top 5's, 12 top 10's, 7 fast times and only one finish outside of top 10. Finally, the first female series champion was recognized in the new Young Gun division; Kelsey Steele of Coopersville took top honors with 2 wins and 5 fast times on the season.
The top 12 in each division were also awarded point-fund monies and trophies in the ceremony hosted by one of the track’s public address announcers, Matt McKenzie and it included several videos and still pictures set to music to capture the scenes and excited that was the 2009 racing season at Berlin Raceway.
2009 Berlin Raceway Awards
CARSTAR Best Appearing Car
Young Gun- Kelsey Steele
Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinder- Jason Scheid
Kerkstra Services Pro Stock- Rose Leland
Engine Pro Super Stock- Dave Lake
Coors Light Late Model- Caleb Bisacky
Most Improved Driver (Mike will help out on this)
Young Gun - Brandon Hermiller
Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinder - Ben Kleis
Kerkstra Services Pro Stock - Ken Smith, Jr.
Engine Pro Super Stock - Ray VanAllsburg, Andrew Nylaan & Chris Muyskens
Coors Light Late Model- Justin Claucherty
Most Popular Driver
Young Gun - Kelsey Steele
Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinder - Ryan Hamm
Kerkstra Services Pro Stock - Justin Regnerus
Engine Pro Super Stock - Denny Anderson
Coors Light Late Model - Terry VanHaitsma
Hard Luck Award
Young Gun - Dalton Haney
Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinder - Chris McKinley
Kerkstra Services Pro Stock - Allen Davis
Engine Pro Super Stock - Josh Slade
Coors Light Late Model - Kyle Ballard
Todd Senneker Rookie of the Year
Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinder - Daryl Davis
Kerkstra Services Pro Stock - Tony Davis
Engine Pro Super Stock - Justin Ryan
Coors Light Late Model - Alec Carll
Engine Builder of the Year
DuraTech- Brian Slade
Grand Rapids Press Unsung Hero (Heroes)
Larry & Marilyn Bush
Crew Chief of the Year
Mike Meeuwsen
Hardest Crash
Jason DeVos
Sleeper of the Year
Alec Carll
Racer of the Year
Denny Anderson
Scott Baker Sportsmanship/Promoter’s Award
Caleb Bisacky
50 Years of Service Award
Bob Marz
Berlin Raceway will back in action on Saturday, April 24, 2010.[/b][/color]