CRA: Berlin II: Race summary

Ross Meeuwsen Runs Away to Win the Great Lakes International Trucks 125 at Berlin Motor Speedway

Marne, MI (August 21, 2005) -- Zeeland, Michigan native Ross Meeuwsen power around the outside of current leader Eddie Van Meter coming out of turn two on lap 29 and ran out to a large lead before winning The Great Lakes International Trucks 125 at Berlin Motor Speedway Saturday night. Jeff Lane took over second on lap 108 and cut Meeuwsen's lead from a full straightway to a few car lengths in the remaining laps but was not able to catch Meeuwsen to challenge for the lead. It was Meeuwsen's first CRA Super Series presented by Spray Power win, making him the seventh driver to get his first series win this year, and the 13th different driver to win in the 14 CRA Super Series events held so far in the 2005 season.

"I have to hand it to my pit crew guys, the car was absolutely awesome, I could not have asked for a better car. It was a little bit of a guessing game, we qualified on stickers (new tires) and that is different for us. We use the same tires on our late model, but they let us scuff them so this was new. But we got it right, set fast time and won the race." Commented Meeuwsen following the race.

Meeuwsen, a multi-time feature winner in the Berlin Raceway Coors Light Outlaw Late Model Division, was the Bicycle Clay Poker Chips/Menards fast qualifier. Meeuwsen also led the most laps to win the Acro-Tech Manufacturing/A.T. Performance Lap Leader Award. By leading the 63rd lap he won the RaceTrailerSale.com Halfway Leader Award.

Lane was third fastest qualifier, started third and followed early race leader E. Van Meter for many laps, racing side by side with him for nearly 30 laps before getting past him on lap 108. This finish pushed Lane into the Driver's points lead in the CRA Super Series Championship by a slim margin, and second in the Owners point standing.

"Coming up here today I was really uncomfortable with the set up we had. We went through a lot today, with practice and we used qualifying as a practice to get ready for the race. I did not think we would be that good. You never really know what you have until you get out there, I thought we might be lucky to get a fourth, fifth, or sixth place finish, so we will take a second and grin all the way home." Stated Lane.

The race was relatively caution free with only three cautions in the first 34 laps and running the last 91 laps without another slow down, something fifth place finisher Andy Ponstein lamented following the race. "I needed a caution, this car seemed to change a little after each caution and following the last one it tightened up some and I was hoping for another to see if it got a little looser on the restart."

Scott Hantz started back in the field and raced to the front in the first 40 laps. He then ran side by side with Ponstein for 50 laps before passing him, using a great move through lap traffic to get by, earning him the Sweet Manufacturing Sweet Move of the Race Award. Hantz's move through the field, from 13th to fourth, also earned him a Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award. Bobby Murany, making his first CRA Super Series Appearance this year, won the ISKY Racing Cams/ Lane Automotive Hard Charger Award moving up to finish ninth after starting 21st, this also earned him a Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award and the Racing Electronics Most Improved Award.

Meeuwsen's crew chief Mike Meeuwsen was awarded the Marvel Mystery Oil Mechanic of the Race Award. The Leaf Race Products Tough Luck Award went to Donny Klotz who was forced out due to a broken trailing arm. The Cometic Gasket Top Rookie Award went to teenage racer Billy Crane, his first such award of the 2005 season, the Crane family has made the long haul from Independence, Missouri to every series event so far in 2005.

The next CRA Super Series Event will be the Winchester 100 Presented By McGunegill Engine Performance at the World Stock Car Festival at Winchester Speedway on Labor Day Weekend. Practice and qualifying will be on Sunday, September 4th with the 100 lap feature event on Monday, September 5th. For more information see www.craracing.net.

-cra-