Edition 37, January 5th - 2009

Berge Racing Season Recap 2008

Plans had been made in late 2007 and early 2008 that the Mid Am Berge race team would make a few outstanding changes in the 2008 race season as Adam Berge decided that this would be his final season as car owner. We talked and decided to adopt a totally new body style with the Ford Taurus and also would add a total new paint scheme. Our ladies who follow us in this race pursuit actually picked the new colors, which were dead on great. So we opened 2008, knowing this was our last race season together as a team, with a goal of one last championship.

April 13 - Rockford
We brought along the new easy up, which was not needed as snow flurries were in the air. The cars had to be started and left to idle due to the cold. The team reported the car to be tight, and we qualified in our usual top five position. The race itself was strange at best when leader Don Wood lost his brakes in the feature; nearly tearing down the wall between turns one and two. We finished third this day behind Lyle Nowak and Scott Null. Our car had a few bruises but we were much better off than many other competitors.

April 27 - Golden Sands; Plover
Rained out.

May 16 - Lacrosse Speedway
This was a Friday night race, which is unusual for the Mid Am series. Back led fast time for qualifying. The #97 entry was fighting for position on lap 9 when we tangled with Shear, and went to the pits for repairs. We rejoined the field in last position and worked our way up to 7th by the finish. Darren Wolke took home the first place trophy in this rain-shortened race.

May 31 - Dells Raceway Park
This is Hankscraft’s home track so we were glad to have the team close to home. Swan reported the vehicle a little tight, and we qualified 2nd behind Kyle Shear, but our starting position for the feature had us boxed in and we finished 5th. Prietzel took home the trophy and win in the first Duel in the Dells races for the 2008 season. We were now 2nd in points.

June 14 - Kaukauna
I was unable to attend this race, but my boss Mark Blume did and brought back the infamous cracked spark plug out of the car found during qualifying. We raced hard with pole sitter Smart, Prietzel, and the two Shear entries in the feature, but could only muster a 3rd at the finish behind winner Finney and 2nd place Prietzel. The car was tight again.

June 28 - Francis Creek 141 Speedway
Probably the strangest race evening for the Berge race team in three years. During practice, the #97 developed engine problems, which could not be repaired. A borrowed car from Ryan Mathei saved the evening. We finished 9th behind eventual winner Crystal Wood. Thanks, Ryan.

July 5 - Marshfield
This track is Brian Back’s home track and true to form, he finished first after heat from Nowak and others. Prietzel finished in his usual second position and we held on to fourth. The car was still tight.

July 19 - Kaukauna
Bill Prietzel set a new track record this evening, and we struggled again, but Kyle Shear was the force to be reckoned with. As we fought with Bill in the fifth and sixth position, Kyle ripped the field, and we settled for fifth. We would move on to Dells with hope s of good luck and home cookin.

July 26 - Dells Raceway Park
With many fans in hospitality from Hankscraft and DRM Inc.; Swan was determined to do well in front of his sponsors and Kyle Shear was fast time again. We qualified okay, but were stuck on the outside for the first race. We attempted to march to the front in both races but ended up third overall with Kenny Joosten winning the overall duel races based on his collective finishes.

August 16 - Kaukauna Blue Race
I arrived to see Swan’s head resting on the roof, and Berge sitting in his chair. Tight was all they would report. So we went out and qualified decent, and were relegated to the middle of the field. James raced towards the front, but was sent to the back on a caution. We pushed towards the front again, and narrowly missed a mayhem crash that took out Prietzel, Nowak, and Gutkencht. We would end up 6th this evening, but due to other’s misfortune, we were only out of first place by 8 points.

August 22 - Milwaukee Mile Governors’ Cup
This was Hankscraft hospitality, so we were entertaining 45 people for this historic race track. I received a call at our party that we had set fast time and track record in qualifying. We did not want to repeat the 2007 outing, so James was cautiously aggressive. We moved past several drivers, but on this day we finished third behind Ross Zumbach, and Jake Finney. Three races to go, and we needed some luck.

September 13 - Marshfield
Rained out.

September 20- Madison
As we had set track qualifying record, but never won here, we had this date circled on our calendar. As usual, we were fast in practice and very good in qualifying, but needed more. We chased the leaders in the feature, but finished fourth for the evening with good friend Nowak in victory circle. We were now in first place by a narrow margin.

September 28 - Rockford
I personally like and hate Rockford. It is a neat track, but can sweep up a car in a matter of seconds. We qualified okay as usual, but had to avoid a record 10-caution feature. We did manage to move up to 3rd at one point battling with Gehrke, but at the end we had to salute race winner Spoonmore. We would take home 7th and series lead by 68 points going into final La Crosse.

October 4 - La Crosse
Another favorite tack, a large group from Hankscraft and Berge Racing arrived at La Crosse. The car was finally good, but several others qualified better than us so would so we would start in the feature in the outside second position. We held the lead twice this evening, only to be restarted due to caution. Back was the fast car this evening, but Swan managed to pass with only a handful of laps left and got our fist win of the season, and Swan’s fourth championship. We partied like a rock star that evening.

And so we leave this great racing series as a team with many great memories. These are truly great competitors, who help each other and only want to win on the track, so they will help you whenever necessary to beat you on the asphalt. We hope to return to compete some day, but for now we move on. Please race competively, but be safe. We will see you at the track.

And as everyone tries to secure sponsor help to race in 2009, remember Dave Marcis’ words. “ We have done so much, with so little for so long, now we can do anything, with nothing.”

Watch for our upcoming reports about Daytona events.

RACING TO THE CHECKERS

Jim