TOLEDO, Ohio (August 4, 2016) – The 29th running of the Berlin ARCA 200 this Saturday will be yet another new adventure for ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards national championship leader Chase Briscoe.
On the strength of four consecutive wins at Winchester, Iowa, Lucas Oil and Pocono, the leading SCOTT Rookie Challenge candidate will take his first shot at the quirky Berlin short track in Marne, Michigan.
However, Briscoe may have a leg-up on his normal routine. Although he's never turned a lap at Berlin, he got a good look at the track when he spotted for Brian Keselowski in last year's race.
"I actually went there and spotted for Brian Keselowski last year so I guess you could say I have a little experience at Berlin...at least I've seen the place," said Briscoe, driver of the No. 77 Big Tine Ford.
By watching from the spotters stand, Briscoe picked up on some key pointers regarding the smallest track on the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards national tour.
"It's pretty flat so you have to be really smooth on the throttle. There were some really long green flag runs when I was there so it's important to save your stuff and be there at the end. There's definitely a certain rhythm to the place all its own. I'm really looking forward to taking a run at it. No backstretch wall. It looks like one big circle...one of those tracks that's probably a lot more challenging than you might think."
Briscoe, a sprint car driver by trade, credits Keselowski for helping him get started in stock car racing.
"About two-and-a-half years ago, they were the only guys that were letting me hang out in the shop...sort of letting me learn under their wing. You don't forget those things."
Briscoe has a similar situation with the team he currently drivers for - Cunningham Motorsports. Briscoe was hanging out in Cunningham's shop last year when team owners Briggs Cunningham and Kerry Scherer took a liking to the 21-year-old driver. After trying him out at Lucas Oil Raceway and Salem Speedway in 2015, the team offered him a full-time gig in 2016. It's paying off with a championship run headed into the late summer homestretch, which includes mile dirt tracks in Springfield and DuQuoin, Illinois.
"Can't wait to race on the dirt. I'm not sure if my background racing sprint cars on dirt will help, but I'm excited to find out. I'm really pumped about having Ken Schrader as my teammate at Springfield."
But first, Briscoe needs to clear the Berlin ARCA 200.
Former ARCA winners at Berlin include Nelson Stacy, Iggy Katona, Ramo Stott, Bob and Brian Keselowski, Tim Steele, Frank Kimmel, Fred Campbell, Scott Speed, Joey Coulter, Chris Buescher, Erik Jones and Grant Enfinger to name a few.
ARCA Short Track Challenge sponsored by Protect Plus to Berlin
The Berlin ARCA 200 is the eighth race of the 2016 Short Track Challenge Championship sponsored by Protect Plus. The series-within-the-series consists of the 11 ARCA Racing Series short track events on this year’s schedule. Short tracks, as deemed by series officials, are tracks one-mile in length or less. Chase Briscoe, winner of the last three short track races (Winchester, Iowa and Lucas Oil Raceway), leads ARCA’s Short Track championship by just 25 points over Josh Williams.
Berlin ARCA 200 Schedule
On-track activities for the Berlin ARCA 200 begin with two practice sessions from 2:30-3:15 p.m. and final practice from 3:45-4:30. Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell is at 6:00 with the Berlin ARCA 200 scheduled to start at 9:00. The 200-lap race is preceded by an on-track autograph session from 7:30-8:15, followed by pre-race ceremonies at 8:30.
Media Coverage
The 29th running of the Berlin ARCA 200 is live on the American Sports Network at 9:00. AmericanSportsNet.com will stream the race live. ARCAracing.com will feature live timing and scoring and live chat of all ARCA Racing Series on-track activities. All times are local/Eastern.
Don Radebaugh dradebaugh@arcaracing.com