Indiana driver outlasts field in chaotic Outlaw race at Berlin Raceway

MARNE -- A familiar class returned to Berlin Raceway on Saturday night, and the near-capacity crowd didn’t leave disappointed.

The Reveal the Hammer Outlaw Late Models returned, bringing back a type of car that ruled the West Michigan track for most of its history. With many familiar faces, there were many storylines heading into the race, including a big $10,000 prize for the winner of the 75-lap main event.

A couple of veterans of Berlin started on the front row, as Scott Hantz got the betterment of Scott Thomas when the green flag dropped. Just a few laps in, a belt in Kyle Crump’s car broke, bringing out the first of many cautions.

The next one came five laps later, when Monte Tolan backed his No. 33 car into the Turn 1 wall, with the heavy damage forcing him to call it a night. It wouldn’t take long for another yellow flag to come out, as Caledonia’s Trevor McCoy caught some oil on the track in Turn 3, and slammed into the concrete wall on Lap 11. His car was mutilated, but McCoy walked away from the wreck unscathed.

The race finally found a rhythm after the series of incidents, with Brian Bergakker of Middleville passing Hantz for the lead on Lap 16. He would hang onto the lead for over 20 laps, before losing it back to Hantz following a caution near the halfway mark of the race.

The red flag came out for the second time after Austin Thiel and Max Fair came together and made hard contact in Turn 3 with 37 laps to go.

Bergakker would take the lead back from Hantz once action resumed, but he was caught by the night’s fast qualifier, Tyler Roahrig. The driver from Plymouth, Indiana used lapped traffic to get around Bergakker with just 14 laps to go.

Then, there was a trio of cautions with nine laps to go. First, Lenny Roberts and Kyle Drake came together, forcing Drake off the backstretch. Then, Brian Maxim spun by himself on the ensuing restart. The last resumption of the race was the most explosive, as Roahrig and Bergakker made contact coming out of Turn 2, leading to Bergakker losing control, and getting knocked out of contention.

Roahrig got a good jump on the restart and never looked back, taking home the checkered flag and the big cash reward.

In all, there were eight cautions for the Outlaws feature, including three red flags. Of the 25 cars that started the race, only 12 finished.

BROTHER STEALS WIN FROM BROTHER

One of the many racing families at Berlin are the Holtzlanders. Three generations of drivers have graced the track in Marne, including active Baker Auto Group Sportsman series competitors Ryan and Corey Holtzlander.

On Saturday night, the two put together an incredible finish. Corey, who was a 2019 NASCAR Division 4 National Champion while driving a 4-Cylinder, started on pole. The driver from Grant got off to a great start and gave himself a comfortable lead early on. However a caution with 12 laps to go put Scott Baker and brother Ryan right next to his No. 1 car.

Corey fought off Baker to keep the lead, but Ryan stayed on the back bumper of his brother. It came down the final corner. Ryan went down to the inside coming out of Turn 4, and Corey spun his tires. That opened the door for Ryan to get his nose ahead of Corey to steal the win.

Even though Corey hadn’t won in a Sportsman yet, Ryan admitted that he wasn’t going to just let his brother win.

“I have to earn them, too,” Ryan said in victory lane. “He’s going to have to earn it. There ain’t no better way of having to earn it than having to get past by your brother on the last lap coming out of [Turn} four. I’m super proud of him. He did really, really good.”

Corey came to victory lane to celebrate the great race with his brother, and was in good spirits despite coming up short.

“I backed off into [Turn] three a little sooner,” Corey mentioned. “Figured if I got back on the gas a little bit faster I might be able to hold behind him...it’s just didn’t work out.”

It is Ryan’s second win of 2024.

FRYE GETS AHEAD

In the first Model Coverall Limited Late Model feature, one of the track’s winningest drivers in the last decade returned to victory lane.

The start of the race saw Tim Greene, fresh off fixing up his No. 21 car for the second time this season, getting an early jump on Adam Casari. However, his lead was erased just four laps in as fluid coming out of Tony Davis’ car forced a red flag. Once the race resumed, former series champion Josh Frye was able to get out in front of Greene, and though Billy Eppink was closing in, Frye hung on for his second win of 2024.

SWEET GREENE REDEMPTION

Greene might have lost the lead in the first race, but he didn’t have to wait long to try and win again. In the second feature, Greene had to overcome a few early cautions. However, he pushed his way ahead of Tim Sweeney into the lead. Thankfully for Greene, the remainder of the race lived up to his namesake as he cruised the rest of the way to his second win of the season.

With how disastrous 2024 has been at times for Greene, this win was one of the sweetest of his career.

THOME THWARTS STRUGGLES

The first Sportsman race saw the reigning series champion use good track position to grab a win.

Brian Thome, who had been struggling over the last month of the year, found himself starting on pole alongside Allen Davis. After an early caution, Thome started to pull ahead of Davis. However, with a handful of laps to go, Davis started to close the gap. Yet, Thome realized he was closing in, and held off Davis to pick up his second win of the season, and first since opening night.

SIMPSON AND BOUMA BATTLE TO THE LINE

Two of the fastest cars in the Auto Value 4-Cylinders had a great battle in the opening race for the series on Saturday. Despite starting in the middle of the field due to the invert, Luke Bouma and Dave Simpson weave their way to the front, with Simpson passing Matt McCarthy for the lead on Lap 8.

However, Bouma was able to close the gap, and with a lap to go, was within striking distance for one last pass. Heading into Turn 3, Bouma dove under Simpson, trying to take the lead, with the two making contact. However, Simpson hung on, picking up his third win of the season.

BOUMA BOUNCES BACK

In the following 4-Cylinder race, Bouma was forced to start at the tail of the field after having to change his right front tire due to damage as a result of the contact made with Simpson in the first race. That did not deter the driver out of Hudsonville. The No. 48 car danced around the competition, catching Josh McCarthy. Bouma was able to grab the lead with just three laps to go, taking home the checkered flag for the fourth time this season.

LOOKING AHEAD

Next weekend is a busy weekend at Berlin, as the ISMA/MSS Supermodifieds get set to compete in the third annual Great Lakes Classic. It is the only time during the season that there is racing on back-to-back nights.

The action gets underway on Friday night, with the Supermods being supported by the Limited Late Models and Sportsmans. Racing begins at 6:30 p.m. ET, and can be streamed on FloRacing.

FINAL RESULTS FOR JULY 6

Reveal The Hammer Outlaws Feature (75 laps)

1. Tyler Roahrig

2. Scott Hantz

3. Mark Shook

4. Steve Needles

5. Justin Claucherty

6. Blake Childers

7. Mike Root

8. Adam Terry

9. Zach Cook

10. Jade Cretacci

11. Brian Maxim

12. Doug Rodanhisler

13. Brian Bergakker (DNF)

14. Kyle Drake (DNF)

15. Tim DeVos (DNF)

16. Scott Thomas

17. Lenny Roberts (DNF)

18. Max Fair (DNF)

19. Austin Thiel (DNF)

20. Dustin Jackson (DNF)

21. Phil Bozell (DNF)

22. Trevor McCoy (DNF)

23. Monte Tolan (DNF)

24. Kyle Crump (DNF)

25. Lane Head (DNF)

Limited Late Model Feature #1 (25 laps)

1. Josh Frye (2)

2. Billy Eppink

3. Tim Greene

4. Tim Sweeney

5. Tim DeVos

6. Allen Davis

7. Tom Boorsma

8. Scott Thomas

9. Biniam Van Wynen

10. Denny Anderson (DNF)

11. Adam Casari (DNF)

12. Matt Postma (DNF)

13. Tony Davis (DNF)

Limited Late Model Feature #2 (25 laps)

1. Tim Greene (2)

2. Josh Frye

3. Tim Sweeney

4. Denny Anderson

5. Allen Davis

6. Tom Boorsma

7. Tim DeVos

8. Billy Eppink

9. Matt Postma

10. Scott Thomas

11. Biniam Van Wynen

12. Adam Casari (DNF)

Sportsman Feature #1 (20 laps)

1. Brian Thome (2)

2. Allen Davis

3. Ryan Holtzlander

4. Scott Root

5. Kevin Ford

6. Korey Ensing

7. Tanner Tallarico

8. Jeremy Young

9. Scott Baker

10. Tyler Sterken

11. Corey Holtzlander

12. Brayden Cook

13. Joe Jones

14. Jack Russell

15. Bob Bliss

16. Maurice Davis

17. Jackson Walker (DNF)

18. Travis Dyke (DNF)

19. Kirk Meissner (DNF)

Sportsman Feature #2 (20 laps)

1. Ryan Holtzlander (2)

2. Corey Holtzlander

3. Scott Baker

4. Tanner Tallarico

5. Kevin Ford

6. Korey Ensing

7. Allen Davis

8. Jeremy Young

9. Brian Thome

10. Tyler Sterken

11. Jack Russell

12. Brayden Cook

13. Joe Jones

14. Maurice Davis

15. Scott Root

16. Travis Dyke (DNF)

17. Bob Bliss (DNF)

18. Kirk Meissner (DNF)

4-Cylinder Feature #1 (15 laps)

1. Dave Simpson (3)

2. Nathan McNabb

3. Matt McCarthy

4. Justin Roelofs

5. Chase Roelofs

6. Josh McCarthy

7. Luke Bouma

8. Blake Huitema

9. Hunter Wiersma

10. Steven LaRoche

11. Dave Avink (DNF)

12. Charlie DeJong (DNF)

13. Kyle Steele (DNF)

4-Cylinder Feature #2 (15 laps)

1. Luke Bouma (4)

2. Josh McCarthy

3. Dave Simpson

4. Matt McCarthy

5. Chase Roelofs

6. Justin Roelofs

7. Nathan McNabb

8. Blake Huitema

9. Hunter Wiersma

10. Charlie DeJong

11. Steven Laroche (DNF)

Check out the full Berlin Raceway schedule of events here