Campbell Back in Victory Lane at Berlin Raceway
Salem, IN (July 17, 2017) – Veteran Michigan racer Brian Campbell, who has also become known as Mr. Berlin, did a clean sweep with the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance in Saturday’s Beach Bash 100 at Berlin Raceway. Campbell was fastest in practice, then claimed the Fury Race Cars Fast Qualifier Award, took the lead from Jordan Dahlke on lap 26 and never looked back despite some electrical issues late in the race to grab the win.
“We’ve had a lot of bad luck in our recent CRA races, so it was really good to get the monkey off our backs and get this win,” remarked Campbell. “I got worried, we developed a miss in the engine late in the race, all I could think was here we go again, but I had a good lead and didn’t have to push the car real hard, this Senneker car was a rocket ship all day. I have to thank my whole team for their hard work, we’ve had a rough couple of months and they have put in a lot of hours getting our cars fixed!”
Dahlke took the early lead from his pole starting position after Campbell drew a seven for the events inverted start. Dahlke led until a lap seven restart when 14 year old Carson Hocevar grabbed the lead, powering around the outside on lap eight. Dahlke would fight back and grab the lead underneath Hocevar on lap 12, all the while Campbell was patiently making his way to the front from his seventh place starting position. Campbell would make his move on lap 26 to grab the lead. Campbell would have to fight off some challenges on a couple of restarts after a couple of caution’s right after he took the lead, but was able to hold on to get the win as the event went the last 58 laps without a caution. Campbell picked up the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award for his winning pass.
Hocevar, the VanDoorn Racing Development Rookie of the Year point’s leader and winner of last week’s series event at Kil-Kare Raceway, backed up a few positions in the middle of the race, then made a late charge to get to second place and was closing on Campbell in the late laps of the race. Hocevar earned the VanDoorn Racing Development Rookie of the Race Award as well as the FLUIDYNE Cool Under Pressure Award.
Local racer Chris Koslek would stay in the top five throughout the event and would finish in third earning the Sweet Manufacturing Sweet Move of the Race Award.
After having shock issues in qualifying, Johnny VanDoorn’s crew pulled their car out of impound, going to work getting everything fixed for the feature. VanDoorn would then put on a show coming from his 14 place starting position to finish in fourth. VanDoorn picked up a Great Lakes Tire/Hoosier Performance Award and the Racing Electronics Hardcharger Award. TK Racing picked up the PitBoxes.com Pit Crew of the Race Award for their efforts in getting their car fixed and ready to battle for a top five finish.
Dahlke would finish in fifth place. Nate Walton finished in sixth. Kyle Hayden would come from his 11th place starting position to finish in seventh place and earn a Great Lakes Tire/Hoosier Performance Award. Series regulars Austin Kunert finished in eighth, Michael Clancy Jr. in ninth and Jack Smith in tenth.
The series’ will have its fourth straight week of racing this Saturday at Baer Field Motorsports Park, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. That event was postponed twice in the beginning of the season for weather. More information on the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance is available at www.cra-racing.com.
