The 2009 Annual Driver’s Banquet honors the best of Berlin Raceway

Marne, MI- Berlin Raceway’s Driver’s Awards Banquet was held on Friday night at the Pinnacle Center in Hudsonville.  Champions were crowned, accomplishments were awarded and four were inducted in to the Hall of Fame.

The evening started out with the Hall of Fame induction of Gordon VanderLaan, Eddie VanderLaan and Bruce VanderLaan, each representing Berlin Raceway at every stage of its evolution. Track Historian Dick Lee was also inducted in to the Hall of Fame. 

Gordon VanderLaan raced at Berlin Raceway for 12 years beginning when the track first opened up in 1951 and ending in 1962 when he was forced to retire from racing due to a non-racing injury.  Gordon was a three-time track champion (1952, 1955 and 1959).   Eddie VanderLaan was one of Berlin Raceway’s top drivers from 1953 to 1976.  He was Berlin’s Rookie of the Year in 1953 and won the track’s Season Championship in 1962.  Eddie was successful on dirt as well as asphalt after the track was paved in 1966. Bruce VanderLaan, son of Gordon, began his racing career in 1975 and raced up until 1999.  In one five-year period during the mid 1980’s, he racked up 44 Late Model wins and 45 second-place finishes, making him the most dominant Berlin racer during the 80’s.  Bruce won the 1983, 1985, 1986 and 1988 (tie) Late Model Championships at Berlin Raceway. Lee went from race fan to driver, then to car owner in the early to mid 1950’s.  His fascination with preserving the history of local auto racing led him to form the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame, start a weekly news paper called Track Facts which covered current auto racing news plus historical information, publish Berlin Raceway’s souvenir program for 15 years, and also help with public relations. 

It was then time to honor the champions of each division.  Ross Meeuwsen, of Zeeland, was named Coors Light Late Model Champion for the second year in a row after winning 3 races and posting 10 top 5's and 11 top 10's.  Wyoming’s Ray VanAllsburg won 1 race and scored 9 top 5's, 13 top 10's on his way to his first-ever Engine Pro Super Stock championship; his previous best finishes in the division was third twice.  Brian Tillema, of Byron Center, continued his domination of the Kerkstra Services Pro Stock division by winning three championships in a row; he accomplished that feat by claiming 2 wins, 14 top 5's, 15 top 10's.  The Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinder Champion, Dan Reimersma of Ada, gave a new definition of domination in that division, posting 5 wins, 10 top 5's, 12 top 10's, 7 fast times and only one finish outside of top 10.  Finally, the first female series champion was recognized in the new Young Gun division; Kelsey Steele of Coopersville took top honors with 2 wins and 5 fast times on the season. 

The top 12 in each division were also awarded point-fund monies and trophies in the ceremony hosted by one of the track’s public address announcers, Matt McKenzie and it included several videos and still pictures set to music to capture the scenes and excited that was the 2009 racing season at Berlin Raceway. 

2009 Berlin Raceway Awards

CARSTAR Best Appearing Car

        Young Gun- Kelsey Steele

        Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinder- Jason Scheid

        Kerkstra Services Pro Stock- Rose Leland

        Engine Pro Super Stock- Dave Lake

        Coors Light Late Model- Caleb Bisacky

Most Improved Driver (Mike will help out on this)

        Young Gun - Brandon Hermiller

        Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinder - Ben Kleis

        Kerkstra Services Pro Stock - Ken Smith, Jr.

Engine Pro Super Stock - Ray VanAllsburg, Andrew Nylaan & Chris Muyskens

        Coors Light Late Model- Justin Claucherty

Most Popular Driver

        Young Gun - Kelsey Steele

        Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinder - Ryan Hamm

        Kerkstra Services Pro Stock - Justin Regnerus

        Engine Pro Super Stock - Denny Anderson

        Coors Light Late Model - Terry VanHaitsma

Hard Luck Award

        Young Gun - Dalton Haney

        Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinder - Chris McKinley

        Kerkstra Services Pro Stock - Allen Davis

        Engine Pro Super Stock - Josh Slade

        Coors Light Late Model - Kyle Ballard

Todd Senneker Rookie of the Year

        Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinder - Daryl Davis

        Kerkstra Services Pro Stock - Tony Davis

        Engine Pro Super Stock - Justin Ryan

        Coors Light Late Model - Alec Carll

Engine Builder of the Year

        DuraTech- Brian Slade

Grand Rapids Press Unsung Hero (Heroes)

        Larry & Marilyn Bush

Crew Chief of the Year

        Mike Meeuwsen

Hardest Crash

        Jason DeVos

Sleeper of the Year

        Alec Carll

Racer of the Year

        Denny Anderson

Scott Baker Sportsmanship/Promoter’s Award

        Caleb Bisacky

50 Years of Service Award

        Bob Marz