Great Lakes Outlaw Late Models Make First Appearance at Berlin Raceway; Nylaan, VanHiatsma, Tillema, and Roelofs all pick up wins

Marne, MI-The Berlin Raceway hosted the Great Lakes Outlaw Late Models for the first time in track history as part of the Kerkstra Services Pro Stock Night. The much anticipated 100 lap feature was the main event of the night, also tacking the track were the Kerkstra Services Pro Stocks, Engine Pro Super Stocks, and the Burnips 4-Clyinders. Winners for the night included #77 Andrew Nylaan (Super Stocks) , #21 Terry VanHiatsma (Late Models) ,#76 Brian Tillema (Pro Stocks),  and #024 Cole Roelofs (4-Cylinders A).  

The first feature of the night was the Engine Pro Super Stocks. Starting on front row for the Super Stocks were the #32 Gabe Ensing and Ray VanAllsburg in the #5 car. The yellow flag came out on laps 1 and 5 for spins. The cars of #26 Chris Muyskens, #44 Brian VanZalen and #00 Dennis Mann were involved in the first caution with #16 Kelsey Steele spinning out of turn 4 for the second yellow flag. Coming out of the second caution the #5 pitted, taking full advantage were the #50 and #32. The battle for first was strong as #50 and #32 went bumper to bumper. Another caution came out in lap 10 when the #23 Chris Koslek hit Ensing; narrowly escaping the collision was the #55 Dave Lake. On the restart another three car caution occurred with the #18 Denny Anderson, #5 VanAllsburg, and the #51 Justin Ryan spinning into each other out of turn 4. #50 Justin Regnerus took full advantage of the restart as he battled with #77 Andrew Nylaan who moved into second on lap 13. Just as Nylaan moved into second, the Super Stocks saw another caution, #78 Will Olmsted  and Koslek hit the wall going into turn 4, also involved in the caution was the #95 of Curt Filkins. A single file restart was necessary after the yellow came out and a three car battle for first arose with Regnerus, Nylaan, and Lake as they separated themselves from the pack.  On lap 23 Nylaan finally made his move as he passed Regnerus on the inside coming out of turn 1. Nylaan would never look back as he took the checker in the 30 lap feature. Lake, Regnerus, VanAllsburg, and Brian Wiersma in the #1 would take the rest of the top 5 positions.

Up next were the Great Lakes Outlaw Late Models. For the first time in Berlin Raceway history the Great Lakes Outlaw Late Models took the track, with a star studded lineup that included Johnny Benson in the #10 car and hometown favorite #21 Terry VanHaitsma. The 100 lap race featured #19 Nick Szotko and #32 Ross Meeuwsen on the starting line. Szotko took a quick lead but was quickly passes by the #10 car of Johnny Benson on lap 4. The first caution came out in lap 10 when debris  flew by turn 1. After the single file restart, Benson established himself as the leader. The battle for second would intensify after lap 28 as Szotko and VanHaitsma went bumper to bumper; VanHaitsma took over second after lap 28. Benson would continue to enjoy a comfortable lead on lap 34, he had a 3.42 second lead on VanHiatsma. Benson’s lead would soon be erased by nearly 3 second s as VanHaitsma battled for first. The yellow flag would come out on lap 63 when the #33 failed to get off the track as he was off pace with the rest of the pack. Coming out of the caution VanHaitsma took advantage and closed in on Benson. Two laps after the restart VanHaitsma would take the lead from Benson, until another caution halted the racing action. Oil on the track caused the yellow flag to come out right after VanHaitsma took the lead. Coming out of the caution Benson and VanHaitsma would separate themselves from the rest of the field. Lap 72 saw the first and only collision of the Late Model race, Slade in the #22 car, along with #28 Thomas, and #7 Claucherty slammed into each other on the back stretch, luckily no one was seriously injured. The caution would not affect Benson’s and VanHaitsma’s battle. On the restart they were once again be neck and neck, until finally VanHaitsma passed Benson going into lap 77. That would be the closest Benson would be to VanHaitsma for the remainder of the race, with 10 laps to go, VanHaitsma would enjoy nice lead ahead of Benson. He would finish with a 5.239 second lead. Benson, #37 Terry Senneker, #14 Steve Needles, and #12 Tim DeVos would round out the top 5 spots.

The Kerkstra Services Pro Stock feature race was next on the schedule. Marc Coleman in the #81 and #18 Mitch Meppelink were on front row. Before a single lap was completed the #52 of Mike Sherrington spun out, forcing a complete restart. Meppelink and Coleman to the early leads, but the #76 car of Brian Tillema would make his move into second as he passed Coleman on the inside on lap 3. By lap 7 Tillema was breathing down Meppelink’s neck. Tillema would move into first after passing Meppelink in lap 9. The second caution of the race came during lap 17 when the #17 cars of Mike Reavis and Sherrington collide, both cars would not return, but no injuries were sustained by the drivers. Weston Jewett in the #51 slowly made his way to the front, starting in eighth place, he would work his way up to the second spot by lap 26. A collision with the #101 of Lauren Bush and #33 Allen Davis put the racing action on hold as he clipped the end of her car coming out of turn 3. The restart helped Jewett who was now bumper to bumper with Tillema. The two cars battle for position, but in the end Jewett just didn’t have enough to overtake Tillema in the #76 car. Jewett would take second, followed by #6 Brandon Hermiller, Meppelink, and #F1 Rand Veldman.

The Burnips 4-Cylinders A were the next event of the night. On front row were the #7X of Terry Lange and the #29 car of John Norder. The first lap was just underway for the 4-Cyldinders when the caution came out for a three car collision. The #77 Gerry Shepard, #01 Rob Shoemaker, #100 Jason Scheid all collided on the front stretch and would subsequently not return. On the restart Norder, #4 Ron Myers, and #2 Darrell Holtzlander were in the top three spots. The #024 of Cole Roelofs made his move on lap 6 when he passed Myers for second. Roleofs would pass the leader Norder on lap 8 to take the lead. By lap 10 Roleofs enjoyed a nice lead as the brother duo of #17 Kyle and #7 Ryan Hamm followed close behind. Kyle would close in on Roleofs, but in the end the #024 car of Cole Roelofs took the checker flag for the first time in his career. Kyle Hamm, Ryan Hamm, #354 Chris McKinley, and Norder would finish top 5. 

The final race of the evening saw the Burnips 4-Cylinders B take the track. The two starting positions belonged to #26 Cal Phillips and #32 Jim Woltanski. The race featured three complete restarts. The first came when #110 of Dan Dells slid off the back stretch. The cars would lined up for the restart when coming our of turn three #65 Andy Church spun, requiring yet another restart. The yellow flag came out again on the restart when the #69 car of Nick Rohloff flipped once over by turn 4. As time ticked away for all of the restarts, the 20 minute limit that was set for the 15 lap feature race expired, and officials were forced to call the race.

Up next at Berlin Raceway is USAC Midget Night presented by Grand Design. Feature races include USAC Midgets , Super Stocks, Modifieds, 4-Cylinders, along with an all division autograph session. Tickets for adults are $12, seniors 60+ are $10, children ages 5-12 are $5, 5 and under FREE.

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Marisela Rodriguez

Berlin Raceway

616.66.2051

Marisela@berlinraceway.com