Berlin Raceway
Encyclopedia
Berlin Raceway is a 0.438 mile long paved oval race track in Marne, Michigan
, near Grand Rapids
. It opened in 1950. The track is notable for the lack of an outside wall on the back straightaway, a unique feature for a national series such as ARCA. In addition, the short straights make it feel almost circular.
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.
tour. The track was also a stop on the American Speed Association
tour before the series folded.
Johnny Benson Jr
Marne, Michigan
Marne is an unincorporated community in Wright Township of Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Township offices are located in the community...
, near Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
. It opened in 1950. The track is notable for the lack of an outside wall on the back straightaway, a unique feature for a national series such as ARCA. In addition, the short straights make it feel almost circular.
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.
National Events
It is a stop on the ARCA and the CRAChampion Racing Association
Champion Racing Association is an auto racing sanctioning body in the United States founded in 1997 by Glenn Luckett and R. J. Scott. All CRA cars must use Hoosier Racing Tires.-Super Series:...
tour. The track was also a stop on the American Speed Association
American Speed Association
The American Speed Association is a sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States formed in 1968. The Association was based in Pendleton, Indiana and currently is headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida. ASA was most famous for a national touring series which began in 1973 but was...
tour before the series folded.
Track Champions
- 1951 Bill Sherman Midseason Champion
- Jack Cummiford Season Champion
- 1952 Bill Wiltse Midseason Champion
- Gordon VanderLaan Season Champion
- 1953 Glen Rocky Midseason Champion
- Tommy Lane Season Champion
- 1954 Bill Rider Midseason Champion
- Bill Rider Season Champion
- 1955 Bill Sherman Midseason Champion
- Gordon VanderLaan Season Champion
- 1956 Gordon VanderLaan Midseason Champion
- Jim Rinner, Jack Cummiford Season Champions
- 1957 Johnny Roberts Midseason Champion
- Dick Carter Season Champion
- 1958 Johnny Roberts Midseason Champion
- Johnny Johnson Season Champion
- 1959 Johnny Roberts Midseason Champion
- Gordon VanderLaan Season Champion
- Bill Wiltse Mich. State Champion
- 1960 Gordon VanderLaan Spring Champion
- Bob Knight Midseason Champion
- 1960 Cy Fairchild Season Champion
- Gordon VanderLaan Mich. State Champion
- 1961 Dick Carter Spring Champion
- Bob Knight Midseason Champion
- Bob Knight Season Champion
- Bob Knight Mich. State Champion
- 1962 Ralph Baker Tri-State Champion
- Ralph Baker Spring Champion
- Bob Knight Midseason Champion
- Wally Sanders Mich. State Champion
- Eddy VanderLaan Spring Champion Mod
- Wally Sanders Mid-American Champion
- 1963 Dick Carter Tri-State Champion
- Duane Knoll Season Champion
- 1964 Duane Knoll Midseason Champion
- Jim Nelson Mich. State Champion
- Norm Brown Season Champion
- 1965 Mort Anderson Mich. State Champion
- 1966 Eddy VanderLaan Spring Champion Mod
- Art Bennett Midseason Champion Mod
- Art Bennett Mich. State Champion Mod
- Duane Knoll Season Champion Mod
- Bob Senneke Spring Champion Semi-Late
- Bob Senneker Midseason Champion Semi-Late
- John Boerman Mich. State Champion Semi-Late
- Bob Senneker Season Champion Semi-Late
- 1967 John Benson Midseason Champion Mod
- John Benson Mich. State Champion Mod
- Gail Cobb Spring Champion Semi-Late
- Bob Senneker Mich. State Invit. Semi-Late
- Tom Marks Season Champion Semi-Late
- 1968 John Benson Midseason Champion Mod
- Eldon Schrader Season Champion Mod
- Randy Sweet Midseason Champion Semi-Late
- Bob Senneker Mich. State Champion Semi-Late
- Bob Senneker Seaon Champion Semi-Late
- 1969 Rich Senneker Season Champion Semi-Late
- Paul Weisner Season Champion Hobby
- John Benson Midseason Champion
- 1970 Ed Howe Late Model Champion
- Paul Weisner Hobby Stock Champion
- 1971 John Benson Late Model Champion
- Terry Schmid Hobby Stock Champion
- 1972 John Benson Late Model Champion
- Paul Weisner Hobby Stock Champion
- 1973 John Benson Late Model Champion
- Jack Drolema Hobby Stock Champion
- 1974 John Benson Late Model Champion
- Gene Eding Hobby Stock Champion
- 1975 Randy Sweet Late Model Champion
- Don Rand Hobby Stock Champion
- 1976 John Benson Late Model Champion
- Jack Drolema Hobby Stock Champion
- 1977 John Benson Late Model Champion
- Bob Holley Sportsman Champion
- 1978 John Benson Late Model Champion
- Bob Holley Sportsman Champion
- 1979 Fred Campbell Late Model Champion
- John Hoff Sportsman Champion
- 1980 Fred Campbell Late Model Champion
- Bruce VanderLaan Sportsman Champion
- 1981 Fred Campbell Late Model Champion
- Bobby Jones Sportsman Champion
- 1982 Fred Campbell Late Model Champion
- Steve Fires Sportsman Champion
- 1983 Bruce VanderLaan Late Model Champion
- Chuck Dunshee Sportsman Champion
- 1984 Dick Harrington Late Model Champion
- Denny Anderson Sportsman Champion
- 1985 Bruce VanderLaan Late Model Champion
- David Sensiba Sportsman Champion
- Pete Senneker Thundercar Champion
- 1986 Bruce VanderLaan Late Model Champion
- Bob Bliss Thundercar Champion
- 1987 Fred Campbell Late Model Champion
- Pete Senneker Thundercar Champion
- 1988 Fred Campbell, Bruce VanderLaan Season Champions
- Pete Senneker Thundercar Champion
- 1989 Johnny BensonJohnny BensonJonathan Benson, Jr. is an American NASCAR driver and the son of former Michigan modified driver John Benson, Sr...
Late Model Champion- Rick VanKampen Thundercar Champion
- 1990 Fred Campbell Late Model Champion
- Pete Senneker Sportsman Champion
- 1991 Fred Campbell Late Model Champion
- Ken Warner Sportsman Champion
- 1992 Joe Bush Late Model Champion
- Ken Warner Sportsman Champion
- 1993 Joe Bush Late Model Champion
- Alan Marcott Sportsman Champion
- 1994 Randy Sweet Late Model Champion
- Alan Marcott Sportsman Challenge
- 1995 Randy Sweet Late Model Champion
- Tim Devos Super Stock Champion
- Jeff Terrell Sportsman Champion
- 1996 Bob Holley Late Model Champion
- Alan Marcott Super Stock Champion
- Tom Thomas Sportsman Champion
- 1997 Bob Holley Late Model Champion
- Brian Wiersma Super Stock Champion
- Tim Sweeney Sportsman Champion
- 1998 Bob Holley Late Model Champion
- Brian Wiersma Super Stock Champion
- Scott Thomas Sportsman Champion
- 1999 Randy Sweet Late Model Champion
- Jeff Terrell Super Stock Champion
- Bob Bliss Sportsman Champion
- 2000 Randy Sweet Late Model Champion
- Matt Keltner Super Stock Champion
- Gail Cobb Sportsman Champion
- 2001 Fred Campbell Late Model Champion
- Rick Eding Super Stock Champion
- Cort Corwin Sportsman Champion
- 2002 Fred Campbell Late Model Champion
- Ray Clay Super Stock Champion
- Mike Root Sportsman Champion
- 2003 Tim DeVos Late Model Champion
- Ross Meeuwsen Super Stock Champion
- Lee VanDyk Sportsman Champion
- 2004 Joe Bush Late Model Champion
- Brian Wiersma Super Stock Champion
- Terry Van Haitsma Sportsman Champion
- 2005 Tim DeVos Late Model Champion
- Brian Wiersma Super Stock Champion
- Casey Berenbrock Pro Stock Champion
- Terry Bockheim Sportsman Champion
- 2006 Tom Thomas Late Model Champion
- Nick Shotko Super Stock Champion
- Dave Lake Pro Stock Champion
- Shawn Simon Sportsman Champion
- 2007 Tom Thomas Late Model Champion
- Mike Bursley Super Stock Champion
- Brian Tillema Pro Stock Champion
- Andy Stormzand Sportsman Champion
- 2008 Ross Meeuwsen Late Model Champion
- Brian Wiersma Super Stock Champion
- Brian Tillema Pro Stock Champion
- Brian Vanzalan Sportsman Champion
- Jason DeVos 4-Cylinder Champion
Other notable alumni
- Tim SteeleTim Steele (racing)Tim Steele is a retired American stock car racer. He won three ARCA Remax Series national championships and raced in NASCAR's highest three series. He was inducted in the Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.-Background:Steele began racing as a 5-year-old in motorcycle ice racing...
, three-time ARCA champion
Johnny Benson Jr