Scores 11th career ARCA/CRA Triumph and Fifth at Berlin Raceway
Marne, Michigan (Saturday, August 3, 2013): The ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS made a return visit to the fast and tricky 7/16s (0.437) mile semi-banked paved oval of Berlin Raceway, located west of Grand Rapids in Marne, Michigan on Saturday, August 3rd and it was a familiar face standing in victory lane as Brian Campbell broke through at his home track by scoring his first victory of the season in the Tri-State Car Collector Appraisers 125 Presented by T.A.A.G. Incorporated on Duck Dynasty Night at the track featuring cast members from the hit television show on the A&E Network, Willie & Korie Robertson as well as Justin Martin who served as Grand Marshals for the entire night.
In 15 career ARCA/CRA appearances at Berlin, Campbell has accounted for 1/3 of the wins as he scored his fifth career triumph at his home track and 11th overall of his ARCA/CRA Super Series career. “We were really good all day long. We weren’t showing all of our cards until we passed Travis (Braden) for the lead, then I wanted to get as far away from everyone as possible.” The Wyoming, Michigan driver stated in victory lane surrounded by family and members of his team. “We’ve been struggling a little bit this year, but this definitely feels good to get back to where we belong.” The driver of the #20 KBR Development / Ford added.
23 cars were on the property and after Three-Time & Reigning ARCA/CRA Super Series Champion, Johnny VanDoorn, won his third EDCO Welding Fast Qualifier Award of the season and drew a six for an inversion, it would be Berlin Raceway regulars in the tracks Budweiser Super Late Model Series, Dave Lake and Tom Thomas bringing the field down to Chief Starter, Scott Menlen’s green flag and it would be the veteran Lake, a Three-Time Track Champion in three different divisions in three different seasons at the speed plant (2006 Pro Stocks, 2010 Super Stocks & 2011 Modifieds), grabbing the lead.
Lake would pace the field for the first 14 laps until Current ARCA/CRA Super Series Points Leader, 19-year-old Travis Braden powered by on lap 15 and try to pull away from the rest of the field. Just three laps later, Campbell, who started third, also worked his way past Lake and set his sights on Braden. While Braden tried to run away from the rest of the field, earning the VDL Fuel Systems Hot Lap of the Race Award while doing so, Campbell was patient and eventually caught Braden in lapped traffic and followed the reigning Rookie of the Year all over the 7/16s mile weaving in and out of traffic while keeping pace with the race leader.
While Braden and Campbell checked out on the field, VanDoorn, who started sixth, got up to third on lap 42 and as he snared the position, he found himself almost a half a track behind the two leaders. From there, VanDoorn got the fishing pole out and reeled in the leaders as he sliced and diced his way through traffic, earning the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award in the process. In the meantime, Braden earned both the VR-12 and Holley Carburetors Halfway Leader Awards as the leaders clicked off lap 63 of the scheduled 125.
After seeing the crossed flags, Campbell began his charge and on lap 67 used a lapped car as a pick to trap Braden behind it and drive around both of them to take over the lead and proceed to pull away from Braden and the rest of the field. VanDoorn did manage to get up to Braden’s back bumper, but had used up his equipment to do so and began fading back to Thomas, who maintained his top five position and passed VanDoorn for third.
A caution on lap 85 after 68 continuous laps recharged VanDoorn who powered his way up to second place before Braden and eventually Thomas regrouped and both got back by the reigning three-time series champion. All the while, Campbell kept the field at a safe distance behind him and in the end, the 33-year-old would hang on to post his first ARCA/CRA Super Series Win of the 2013 racing season.
“This is a good team we have here at KBR Development and I’m just happy for all the guys on this team. They’ve worked so hard this year, but the results just haven’t been there until recently.” Campbell continued. “(Car Owner) Mike (Bursley) had to get into the JEGS/CRA car last weekend and get that first win for the team, which kind of recharged everyone for the rest of the year. We’re very happy though and look forward to heading over to Madison and represent CRA against those guys over there.” He ended.
Braden, the Current ARCA/CRA Super Series Points Leader extended his already healthy lead in the chase for the 2013 Championship with a runner-up showing in his #01 West Virginia University / Chevrolet. “We ran with and battled with some of the best drivers who race here regularly and they just happen to be some of the best drivers in the country. We’re very happy with the finish,” The 19-year-old said. “We had a chance at winning this, but we’ll take second and head over to Madison.” For his efforts, Braden earned the FLUIDYNE Cool Under Pressure Award and the first Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award in addition to his previously mentioned hardware.
Finishing third in his first appearance of the season was Berlin regular, Tom Thomas in his #82 Sweet Manufacturing / Chevrolet. “We were good through most of the race and we learned some things for the rest of the season in the mini-series here at the track,” The 39-year-old former Three-Time Track Champion stated after the race. “We were pretty fast all night and man I’m tired.” The Grandville, Michigan veteran added. Earlier in the night, Thomas finished fourth in the Port City Racecars Outlaw Super Late Model Series 60-Lap Feature that preceded the 125-Lap main for ARCA/CRA.
VanDoorn would hang on to finish in fourth as Lake posted a career high fifth place finish. Brandon Hermiller also finished a career high as he was sixth while 2011 ARCA/CRA Super Series Champion and Rookie of the Year, Derrick Griffin posted a season best seventh. Jay Niewiek returned after being absent the past two events to finish eighth and earn the second Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award with Brian Bergakker scoring a ninth place finish in his ARCA/CRA Super Series debut. Tim DeVos completed the top 10.
19-year-old Brandon Oakley finished 14th to score his second consecutive Boyne Machine Company, Cometic Gaskets, K&N Filters and VDL Fuel Systems Rookie of the Race Awards while veteran Rick Turner picked up the Hedman Hussler Hedders Award as well as the Racing Electronics Hard-Charger Award for advancing nine positions to finish 14th VanDoorn’s third EDCO Welding Fast Qualifier Award of the season and 13th of his career to move into sole possession of third place All-Time was a 16.207 which equals out to 97.291mph.
The eighth race of the 2013 racing season will see the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS teams travel West to go head to head with the ARCA Midwest Tour Presented by SCAG Power Equipment & Lester Buildings in the running of Border Wars 150 Part II on Sunday, August 11th at the fast 1/2 (0.500) mile high-banked paved oval of Madison International Speedway, located south of Madison in Oregon, Wisconsin. Johnny VanDoorn won Part I back on April 20th at Toledo Speedway in Toledo, Ohio in the first ever combo race between the two organizations. This event will also be the first ever appearance by Champion Racing Association (CRA) Powered by JEGS in the state of Wisconsin in the series’ 17-year history.
For more information about all four touring series’ within Champion Racing Association Powered by JEGS, please go to the series website at: www.cra-racing.com You can also follow CRA on Facebook at: www.facebook.com and search for “Champion Racing Association” as well as Twitter atwww.twitter.com/CRAracing Finally for more information about Berlin Raceway, the host facility for the eighth race of the 2013 season for the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS, go to the track website at: www.