Berlin Raceway is a 7/16 mile long paved oval race track in
Marne Marne can refer to:
Places France
*Marne (river), a tributary of the Seine
*Marne (department), a département in northeastern France named after the river
* La Marne, a commune in western France
*Marne, a legislative constituency (France)
Nethe ...
,
Michigan
Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...
,
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
,
near
Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids is a city and county seat of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 198,917 which ranks it as the second most-populated city in the state after Detroit. Grand Rapids is the ...
. The track races weekly as part of the
NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series
The NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series (formerly the Whelen All-American Series, Winston Racing Series and the Dodge Weekly Series) is a points championship for NASCAR sanctioned local short track motor racing around the United States and Ca ...
.
It has also held touring series events on the
ARCA Menards Series
The ARCA Menards Series is an American stock car series, the premier division of the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA). It is considered a minor, semi-professional league of stock car racing, used as a feeder series into the three national ...
,
ARCA Menards Series East,
American Speed Association
The American Speed Association (ASA) is a sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States formed in 1968. The Association was based in Pendleton, Indiana, Pendleton, Indiana, and later in Daytona Beach, Florida. The ASA sanctioned asphalt a ...
National Tour,
USAC Stock Car
The USAC Stock Car division was the stock car racing class sanctioned by the United States Auto Club (USAC). The division raced nationally; drivers from USAC's open wheel classes like Indy cars, Silver Crown, sprints, and midgets frequently comp ...
s,
USAC Silver Crown,
World of Outlaws
The World of Outlaws (often abbreviated WoO) is an American motorsports sanctioning body. The body sanctions two major national touring series. It is best known for sanctioning the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Late ...
Sprint cars, and
World of Outlaws Late Model Series
The World of Outlaws Case Construction Late Model Series is a Dirt Super Late Model touring series currently owned by World Racing Group, and is sanctioned by the World of Outlaws & DIRTcar. The series competes on dirt ovals across the Unite ...
tours.
The track opened in 1950. It was originally a horse track before
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. Berlin's current track record is 12.513 seconds, set by Brian Gerster in 2018 in a winged sprint car. Berlin Raceway takes its name from the city of Marne's original name "Berlin," which was changed due to Anti-German sentiment following
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
.
History
The track was developed by the Chester Mysliwiec family in 1950.
It was purchased by the
West Michigan Whitecaps
The West Michigan Whitecaps are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They are located in Comstock Park, Michigan, a suburb of Grand Rapids, and play their home games at LMCU Ballpark. ...
in 2001.
The group made numerous improvements to the facilities such as new bathrooms, updated catch fences, and a new sound system.
Dirt was temporarily placed over the pavement after the 2017 regular season and three touring series visited the track in September / October - American Ethanol Late Model Tour, American Ethanol Modified Tour and Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt. Some racing scenes for the movie ''
God Bless the Broken Road
''God Bless the Broken Road'' is a 2018 American Christian drama film directed by Harold Cronk. A loose interpretation of the 1994 song "Bless the Broken Road," the plot follows a mother who loses her husband in the War in Afghanistan and must c ...
'' were recorded at the track in early 2016 for the 2018 film.
The track dropped its Super Stock and Modified classes in 2020 and added a class of Limited Late Models.
Other classes include Super Late Models, Sportsman, 4 Cylinder, and Mini-Wedges.
Berlin Raceway won the 2021
Advance Auto Parts
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (Advance) is an American automotive aftermarket parts provider. Headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, it serves both professional installer and do it yourself (DIY) customers. As of July 13, 2019, Advance operated ...
'Advance My Track Challenge' $50,000 award beating out Hudson Speedway in New Hampshire and
Alaska Raceway Park
Alaska Raceway Park is a motorsports complex conducting races from Mother's Day to Labor Day. It is located in Butte, which is near the Knik River, and Knik Glacier at Mile 10.4 of the Old Glenn Highway, about 41.5 miles northeast of Anchorage, Al ...
.
Some drivers that have come from the track are
Jack Sprague
Jack Sprague (born August 8, 1964) is an American former stock car racing driver who has competed in all of NASCAR's three top divisions, most notably in the Craftsman Truck Series, where he won series championships in 1997, 1999 and 2001.
Rac ...
,
Tim Steele,
1967 track champion
Bob Senneker
Bob Senneker (born December 12, 1944) is an American stock car racing driver from Dorr, Michigan near Grand Rapids. He is best known for racing on the American Speed Association (ASA) National Tour where he was the 1990 champion. Senneker's 85 ...
,
and 2017 Super Late Model track champion
Carson Hocevar
Carson S. Hocevar (born January 28, 2003) is an American professional dirt track and stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 42 Chevrolet Silverado for Niece Motorsports. He has also ...
.
1989 track Outlaw Late Model champion
Johnny Benson Jr. described the track as "one of the most difficult tracks in the country."
The track has a 13-degree banking in turns and 9-degree banking on the straightaways.
The track is notable for the lack of an outside wall on the back straightaway, a rare feature for a track featuring national series races. In addition, the short straights make it feel almost circular.
ARCA winners
Reference:
*August 2, 1986
Bob Keselowski
Robert Allen Keselowski (August 1, 1951 – December 22, 2021) was an American professional stock car racing driver. He owned K Automotive Racing and was a competitor in the ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Rac ...
*July 10, 1999
Frank Kimmel
Francis James Kimmel (born April 30, 1962) is an American former stock car racing driver. He competed primarily in the ARCA Racing Series, from 1990 through 2016. Kimmel is the most successful driver in ARCA history. He has won the ARCA champions ...
*July 15, 2000
Tim Steele
*September 22, 2001
Tim Steele
*July 20, 2002 Fred Campbell
*May 24, 2003
Frank Kimmel
Francis James Kimmel (born April 30, 1962) is an American former stock car racing driver. He competed primarily in the ARCA Racing Series, from 1990 through 2016. Kimmel is the most successful driver in ARCA history. He has won the ARCA champions ...
*July 3, 2004
Frank Kimmel
Francis James Kimmel (born April 30, 1962) is an American former stock car racing driver. He competed primarily in the ARCA Racing Series, from 1990 through 2016. Kimmel is the most successful driver in ARCA history. He has won the ARCA champions ...
*July 16, 2005
Joey Miller
Joseph Miller (born January 22, 1985) is an American former professional stock car racing driver in the American Speed Association, the ARCA Re/Max Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Career
Miller grew up in the Lakeville, Minnesota ...
*July 15, 2006
Brian Keselowski
Brian A. Keselowski (born September 2, 1981) is an American professional stock car racing driver, crew chief, and spotter. He made headlines in 2011, qualifying his family-owned K-Automotive Motorsports entry into the Daytona 500.
Early life and ...
*July 7, 2007
Brian Keselowski
Brian A. Keselowski (born September 2, 1981) is an American professional stock car racing driver, crew chief, and spotter. He made headlines in 2011, qualifying his family-owned K-Automotive Motorsports entry into the Daytona 500.
Early life and ...
*July 26, 2008
Scott Speed
Scott Andrew Speed (born January 24, 1983) is an American race car driver who has competed in numerous disciplines, including open-wheel, stock car, and rallycross racing.
In , Speed became the first American driver to race in Formula One since ...
*July 25, 2009
Justin Lofton
Justin Lofton (born February 18, 1986) is an American professional off-road racing driver. He also competes in stock car racing, driving part-time in the ARCA Menards Series West in the No. 30 Ford for Rette Jones Racing. Lofton formerly competed ...
*August 7, 2010
Joey Coulter
Joseph Coulter (born June 8, 1990) is an American professional stock car racing driver.
Racing career Early career
A native of Miami Springs, Florida, Coulter started his racing career in 1998, racing go-karts at West Coast Kart way in Naples, ...
*July 9, 2011
Matt Merrell
*August 11, 2012
Chris Buescher
Christopher William Buescher (born October 29, 1992) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 17 Ford Mustang for RFK Racing. He is the 2012 ARCA Racing Series and 2015 ...
*August 10, 2013
Erik Jones
Erik Benjamin Jones (born May 30, 1996) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Petty GMS. His nicknames are EJ, his initials, and That J ...
*August 9, 2014
Grant Enfinger
Grant McArthur Enfinger (born January 22, 1985) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 23 Chevrolet Silverado for GMS Racing. Before moving up to the Truck S ...
*August 8, 2015
Grant Enfinger
Grant McArthur Enfinger (born January 22, 1985) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 23 Chevrolet Silverado for GMS Racing. Before moving up to the Truck S ...
*August 6, 2016
Dalton Sargeant
Daniel Dalton Sargeant (born March 25, 1998) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 25 Chevrolet Silverado for GMS Racing. He was the 2016 ARCA Racing ...
*July 21, 2018
Joe Graf Jr.
Joseph A. Graf Jr. (born July 12, 1998) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the Nos. 07 and 08 Ford Mustangs for SS-Green Light Racing, the No. 38 Mustang for RSS ...
*July 17, 2021
Daniel Dye
Daniel Dye (born December 4, 2003) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 43 Chevrolet Silverado for GMS Racing.
Racing career ARCA Menards Series East 2 ...
*June 18, 2022
Sammy Smith
Samuel Smith (born June 4, 2004) is an American professional stock car racing driver who competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 18 Toyota Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing. He also competes in the CARS Tour late model racing ...
American Speed Association
The American Speed Association (ASA) is a sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States formed in 1968. The Association was based in Pendleton, Indiana, Pendleton, Indiana, and later in Daytona Beach, Florida. The ASA sanctioned asphalt a ...
Winners
Bob Senneker
Bob Senneker (born December 12, 1944) is an American stock car racing driver from Dorr, Michigan near Grand Rapids. He is best known for racing on the American Speed Association (ASA) National Tour where he was the 1990 champion. Senneker's 85 ...
won seven ASA National tour races at the track.
Other winners on the ASA National tour starting in 1998 include:
*June 13, 1998
Gary St. Amant
*August 2, 1998
Scott Hansen
Scott Hansen (born June 17, 1955) is an American stock car driver from Green Bay, Wisconsin. Now retired, Hansen primarily competed in the American Speed Association. He raced for several years in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and Busch Serie ...
*June 5, 1999 Mike Miller
*August 14, 1999 Mike Miller
*July 14, 2001
Butch Miller
*June 1, 2002
Butch Miller
*August 2, 2003 Peter Cozzolino
*June 12, 2004
Mike Eddy
Michael Eddy (born July 17, 1952 in Midland, Michigan) is a stock car auto racer. He is most notable for racing in the now defunct American Speed Association (ASA). He was a seven time ASA National Champion, which is the most in ASA history. ...
ARCA Menards Series East Winners
One race held in 2017 under the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East
*July 1, 2017
Todd Gilliland
Todd J. Gilliland (born May 15, 2000) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 38 Ford Mustang for Front Row Motorsports. He is the son of NASCAR driver and team owner D ...
NASCAR Grand National East Series
The NASCAR Grand National East Series was a short-lived racing series created by NASCAR in 1972 to provide a second-tier series, below the Winston Cup Series, to provide races at tracks that had been removed from the former Grand National Series' ...
Winners
One race held in 1973 called the Coca Cola 100
*August 17, 1973
Bob Senneker
Bob Senneker (born December 12, 1944) is an American stock car racing driver from Dorr, Michigan near Grand Rapids. He is best known for racing on the American Speed Association (ASA) National Tour where he was the 1990 champion. Senneker's 85 ...
References
External links
Speedway website*
Berlin Racewayrace results at The Third Turn
{{World of Outlaws Late Model Series race venues
Motorsport venues in Michigan
NASCAR tracks
ARCA Menards Series tracks
Sports venues in Ottawa County, Michigan
1950 establishments in Michigan
Sports venues completed in 1950