The Superstar Racing Experience, the all-star series founded by Tony Stewart and Ray Evernham (Ray has since moved on) made its first stop at Berlin Raceway in Marne, Michigan, just north of Grand Rapids, Thursday night. And to say it was a rousing success would be an understatement.
Tickets had been sold out for months — they sold out just days after they went on sale. When the track put up a select number of Fan Zone tickets for sale a few weeks before the race, those sold out quickly as well. The stands were near capacity for the limited late model race that was held two hours before the start of the SRX event. When I arrived at the track at 2 p.m., seven hours before the scheduled green flag of SRX heat 1, the parking lot was as full as it usually is an hour before a race there.
The fans were loud, they were into it, and they didn’t move from their seats when light rain slowed the action down for a half hour or so between the heat races.
Berlin Raceway is a terrific track, and it’s just the sort of track that embodies the SRX series. For one, there’s tons of history there. While there are many famous race tracks in the south, there is a lot of racing royalty that is from Michigan, and who cut their teeth at the nearly circular track. Names like Brad Keselowski, Carson Hocevar and Erik Jones to name three Michigan NASCAR drivers.
Brian Keselowski has a couple of ARCA wins there, as does Bob Keselowski.
Mike Eddy won the last ASA race held at Berlin in 2004, which just so happens to be the race that was my first at the facility. I’ve been going back when I can since. I attended the Battle at Berlin 250 last year, the Money in the Bank 150 earlier this year and I’ll be back Wednesday for the Battle at Berlin again. Those are super late model races, and they’ve been a staple of the Michigan NASCAR weekend for years, with several NASCAR stars coming out to take to the track.
Erik Jones won the Money in the Bank earlier this year and is a former Battle at Berlin winner. Next week’s Battle at Berlin will feature Jones, William Byron, Chase Elliott, Josh Berry, Carson Hocevar and more.
Berlin is unique, in that the asphalt is worn out, and the closest thing to a straightaway is on the frontstretch, but drivers never straighten the wheel around the track. The racing line is below the yellow line coming off the turns — they were using the grass in turn two during the SRX race Thursday night. But the most unique feature of the track is what’s missing — a wall on the outside of the backstretch. That means you don’t have to worry about hitting a wall if you go wide, but you might have to worry about ending up in the woods instead.
Despite its age — the track opened in 1950 as a horse track before becoming a dirt stock car track and eventually being paved — the facility has a new shine all over it. The main grandstand is a former section of bleachers from Michigan International Speedway. The track features a bar that would rival any stand-alone establishment, and there is usually a band playing whenever there aren’t cars on the track.
It’s a top-notch facility, which has hosted ARCA races for many years, but finally found itself on the national stage this week.
The race was competitive and fun, and while the drivers didn’t tear up any equipment, the racing was still spectacular.
Stewart said after the race that he could see coming back to Berlin again. it’s tough when the schedule only has six slots, but Berlin definitely deserves a chance to host once again. While I love the rotation of different tracks each year, when one is as big of a hit as Berlin, it earns the right to be on the short list for a return.
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