View source for Berlin Raceway

{{short description|Racetrack}}
{{Infobox motorsport venue
|name             = Berlin Raceway
|nicknames        =
|time             = [[UTC−05:00]] ([[UTC−04:00]] [[Eastern Daylight Time|DST]])
|location         = 2060 Berlin Fair Drive<br/>[[Marne, Michigan]]
|coordinates      = {{coord|43|2|8|N|85|50|7|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
|image            =
|image_caption    =
|capacity         = 9,000
|FIA_grade        =
|Owner            = Berlin Fair
|operator         = DBD Ventures
|broke_ground     =
|opened           = 1951
|closed           =
|construction_cost=
|architect        =
|former_names     =
|events           = '''Current:'''<br />'''[[ARCA Menards Series]]'''<br>''[[Herr's Snacks 200 (Berlin)|Herr's Snacks 200]]'' (1986, 1999–2016, 2018, 2021–present)<br />'''Former:'''<br />[[ARCA Menards Series East|NASCAR K&N Pro Series East]] (2017)<br >[[American Speed Association|ASA National Tour]] (1998–1999, 2001–2004)<br />[[NASCAR Grand National East Series]] (1973)
|layout1          = Oval (1950–present)
|surface          =
|length_km        = 0.704
|length_mi        = 0.438
|miles_first      = true
|turns            = 4 Turns
|banking          = 13° corners, 9° straightaways
|record_time      = 12.513 seconds
|record_driver    = Brian Gerster
|record_car       =
|record_year      = 2018
|record_class     = [[Sprint car racing|Sprint Car]]
|Url              = WWW.berlinraceway.com
}}

'''Berlin Raceway''' is a {{cvt|0.438|mi|km|abbr=on}} long paved oval race track in [[Marne, Michigan]],<ref name="MichEcoDev">{{cite web |title=Berlin Raceway |url=https://www.michigan.org/property/berlin-raceway |website=Michigan |publisher=Michigan Economic Development Corporation |access-date=March 8, 2020 |language=en |date=December 29, 2016}}</ref> near [[Grand Rapids, Michigan|Grand Rapids]]. The track races weekly as part of the [[NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series]].<ref name="Hocevar2017Champ" /> It has also held touring series events on the [[ARCA Menards Series]],<ref name="RacingReferenceResults">{{cite web |title=Berlin Raceway Results |url=https://www.racing-reference.info/tracks/Berlin_Raceway |publisher=Racing Reference |access-date=March 8, 2020}}</ref> [[ARCA Menards Series East]],<ref name="RacingReferenceResults" /> [[American Speed Association]] National Tour,<ref name="RacingReferenceResults" /> [[USAC Stock Car|USAC Stock Cars]], [[United States Auto Club|USAC]] [[United States Auto Club#USAC Silver Crown Series|Silver Crown]], [[World of Outlaws]] Sprint cars, and [[World of Outlaws Late Model Series]] tours.

The track opened in 1950. It was originally a horse track before [[World War II]]. Berlin's current track record is 0:12.513 seconds, set by Brian Gerster in 2018 in a winged sprint car.<ref>{{cite web |title=Track Records |url=https://www.berlinraceway.com/track-records |website=Berlin Raceway |access-date=March 9, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Berlin Raceway takes its name from the town of Marne's original name "Berlin," which was changed due to [[Anti-German sentiment#United_States_2|Anti-German sentiment]] following [[World War I]].<ref name="Romig">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y-FPXEGRo-YC&q=Marne|title=Michigan Place Names|last=Romig|first=Walter|publisher=Wayne State University Press|year=1986|isbn=0-8143-1838-X|location=Detroit, Michigan|pages=354|orig-year=1973}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Travis Braden in victory lane and Berlin Raceway.jpeg|thumb|left|[[Travis Braden]] in victory lane at Berlin in 2014]]
The track was developed by the Chester Mysliwiec family in 1950.<ref name="MichEcoDev" /> It was purchased by the [[West Michigan Whitecaps]] in 2001.<ref name="MichEcoDev" /> The group made numerous improvements to the facilities such as new bathrooms, updated catch fences, and a new sound system.<ref name="MichEcoDev" /> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aemodt.com/single-post/2017/09/20/Berlin-Raceway-Goes-Dirt-for-First-of-Three-Big-Shows-Saturday |publisher=American Ethanol Modified Tour |access-date=March 8, 2020|title=Berlin Raceway Goes Dirt for First of Three Big Shows Saturday}}</ref> Some racing scenes for the movie ''[[God Bless the Broken Road]]'' were recorded at the track in early 2016 for the 2018 film.<ref name="WXMI">{{cite web |last1=Brenzing |first1=Bob |title=Berlin Raceway among locations for new faith-based film |url=https://fox17online.com/2016/05/10/berlin-raceway-in-west-michigan-among-locations-for-new-film/ |website=[[WXMI]] |access-date=March 8, 2020 |language=en |date=May 10, 2016}}</ref> The track dropped its Super Stock and Modified classes in 2020 and added a class of Limited Late Models.<ref name="MLIVEAddingOne">{{cite web |title=Berlin Raceway dropping two divisions, adding new one in 2020 |url=https://www.mlive.com/sports/2019/10/berlin-raceway-dropping-two-divisions-adding-new-one-in-2020.html |website=mlive |access-date=March 8, 2020 |language=en |date=23 October 2019}}</ref> Other classes include Super Late Models, Sportsman, 4 Cylinder, and Mini-Wedges.<ref name="MLIVEAddingOne" /> Berlin Raceway won the 2021 [[Advance Auto Parts]] 'Advance My Track Challenge' $50,000 award beating out Hudson Speedway in New Hampshire and [[Alaska Raceway Park]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Advance My Track Challenge |url=https://www.fox17online.com/sports/berlin-raceway-wins-advance-track-challenge-awarded-50-000 |website=Fox 17 online |date=13 May 2021 |access-date=August 24, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

Some drivers that have come from the track are [[Jack Sprague]], [[Tim Steele (racing driver)|Tim Steele]],<ref name="MichEcoDev" /> 1967 track champion [[Bob Senneker]],<ref name="MliveBerlinHOF">{{cite web |last1=Steve |first1=Kaminski |title=Berlin Raceway Hall of Fame to induct racing great Bob Senneker |url=https://www.mlive.com/autoracing/2015/08/berlin_raceway_hall_of_fame_to.html#incart_river |website=mlive |access-date=July 3, 2020 |date=August 11, 2015}}</ref> and 2017 Super Late Model track champion [[Carson Hocevar]].<ref name="Hocevar2017Champ">{{cite web |last1=Kaminski |first1=Steve |title=2017 Berlin Raceway champ Carson Hocevar to make NASCAR debut |url=https://www.mlive.com/sports/2019/07/2017-berlin-raceway-champ-carson-hocevar-to-make-nascar-debut.html |website=mlive |language=en |date=July 30, 2019}}</ref> 1989 track Outlaw Late Model champion [[Johnny Benson Jr.]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Johnny Benson Jr. to compete in Keyser's Port City Racing 125 at Berlin May 8 |url=http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs040/1102513701146/archive/1103310193369.html |website=Constantcontact.com |access-date=March 9, 2020}}</ref> described the track as "one of the most difficult tracks in the country."<ref name="MichEcoDev" /> The track has a 13-degree banking in turns and 9-degree banking on the straightaways.<ref name="MichEcoDev" /> 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==
{{main|Zinsser SmartCoat 200 (Berlin)}}

Reference:<ref name="BerlinWinners">{{cite web |title=winners at Berlin Raceway |url=https://www.racing-reference.info/tracks/Berlin_Raceway |publisher=Racing Reference |access-date=March 9, 2020}}</ref>

*August 2, 1986	[[Bob Keselowski]]
*July 10, 1999	[[Frank Kimmel]]
*July 15, 2000	[[Tim Steele (racing driver)|Tim Steele]]
*September 22, 2001 [[Tim Steele (racing driver)|Tim Steele]]
*July 20, 2002 Fred Campbell
*May 24, 2003 [[Frank Kimmel]]
*July 3, 2004 [[Frank Kimmel]]
*July 16, 2005 [[Joey Miller]]
*July 15, 2006 [[Brian Keselowski]]
*July 7, 2007 [[Brian Keselowski]]
*July 26, 2008 [[Scott Speed]]
*July 25, 2009 [[Justin Lofton]]
*August 7, 2010 [[Joey Coulter]]
*July 9, 2011 [[Matt Merrell]]
*August 11, 2012 [[Chris Buescher]]
*August 10, 2013 [[Erik Jones]]
*August 9, 2014	[[Grant Enfinger]]
*August 8, 2015 [[Grant Enfinger]]
*August 6, 2016	[[Dalton Sargeant]]
*July 21, 2018 [[Joe Graf Jr.]]
*July 17, 2021 [[Daniel Dye]]
*June 18, 2022 [[Sammy Smith]]
*June 17, 2023 [[William Sawalich]]
*June 29, 2024 [[William Sawalich]]

==[[American Speed Association]] Winners==
[[Bob Senneker]] won seven ASA National tour races at the track.<ref name="MliveBerlinHOF" /> Other winners on the ASA National tour starting in 1998 include:<ref name="BerlinWinners" />

*June 13, 1998 [[Gary St. Amant]]
*August 2, 1998 [[Scott Hansen (racing driver)|Scott Hansen]]
*June 5, 1999 Mike Miller
*August 14, 1999 Mike Miller
*July 14, 2001 [[Butch Miller (racing driver)|Butch Miller]]
*June 1, 2002 [[Butch Miller (racing driver)|Butch Miller]]
*August 2, 2003 Peter Cozzolino
*June 12, 2004 [[Mike Eddy]]

==[[ARCA Menards Series East]] Winners==
One race held in 2017 under the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East<ref name="NASCAR K&N Pro Series East">{{cite web |title=NASCAR K&N Pro Series East |url=https://www.racing-reference.info/tracks/Berlin_Raceway |publisher=Racing Reference |access-date=August 19, 2022}}</ref> 
*July 1, 2017 [[Todd Gilliland]]

==[[NASCAR Grand National East Series]] Winners==
One race held in 1973 called the Coca-Cola 100<ref name="1973 Coca Cola 100">{{cite web |title=1973 Coca Cola 100 |url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1973_Coca_Cola_100/G/ |publisher=Racing Reference |access-date=August 19, 2022}}</ref>
*August 17, 1973 [[Bob Senneker]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.berlinraceway.com Speedway website]
* {{Racing-Reference track|Berlin_Raceway}}
* [https://www.thethirdturn.com/wiki/Berlin_Raceway Berlin Raceway] race results at The Third Turn

{{ARCA tracks}}
{{NASCAR K&N Pro Series racetracks}}
{{CRA Super Series racetracks}}
{{ASA National Tour racetracks}}
{{USAC Silver Crown race venues}}
{{USAC Stock Car racetracks}}
{{World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series race venues}}
{{World of Outlaws Late Model Series race venues}}
{{Superstar Racing Experience}}

[[Category:Motorsport venues in Michigan]]
[[Category:NASCAR tracks]]
[[Category:ARCA Menards Series tracks]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Ottawa County, Michigan]]
[[Category:1950 establishments in Michigan]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1950]]