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What a week at Berlin Raceway! From the lowest of lows, to the highest of highs, emotions on both ends of the spectrum drove me to think. First our hearts went out to the Hamm's (Ryan and April) on Saturday for the loss of their little ‘23 Week Miracle’. On that half rained-out night, as though God was crying for the family’s loss and because Ashlynn had come home, sacrifices in race time were made by the fans, drivers, and Berlin officials for the community’s greater good, by passing the hat. Wednesday evening’s racing gave us some heart back.

Circle track racing, like life, has it’s up’s and downs, round and rounds, and beginnings and ends. The visiting CRA Super Series, Late Model Tech Financial 100, and Young guns features served as a great checkered to this week’s laps. Berlin was packed for the kind of pre show usually reserved for television audiences. Feature by feature cars were rolled onto the track’s front stretch, and drivers were introduced and greeted by owners and sponsors while music and announcers whipped up the crowd. Kyle Busch’s intro drew thunderous cheers sprinkled with the usual ‘bad boy boos’ that caused him to chuckle. Before their introductions he and local favorite Terry VanHaitsma, who had done Berlin proud by taking the pole, chatted as equals, though only one of them required two Sheriff's deputies for security. Johnny Benson’s presence (his name is king at Berlin) was the icing on a two day cake, unique to circle track racing.

In the circular lives of traveling series drivers, Busch, Benson and all the big names are traveling to Michigan International Speedway for the weekend, and Berlin has the infrastructure and clout to get them to stop on their way. Usually the front stretch roar and vibration is enough to get anyone going, so by adding big names, long races with lots of green flag, and some showmanship Mike Blackmer makes you feel like you’re at a Cup race.

Blessed with a perfect night of weather racers like Scott Thomas, now two time Late Model winner, and Kelsey Steele in the Young Guns had some fun, shining moments that had both a local, humble feel and allot of national possibility, given the talented competition. Scott getting lost on his way to the winners circle and then admitting to it and laughing along was too funny. A collective laugh like that has a healing effect, when all are laughing because we know, in some way, how he feels. I love watching the Redwings going for the cup, but can’t identify as easily with Chris Osgood or Kobe from the Lakers, as I can with Brian Campbell the Rowdy 125 winner. Climbing out of his seat he stood, long and tall with arms outstretched, on the car screaming out his remaining energy.

Chris Anthony (always ‘in it’ at Berlin) and Terry VanHaitsma are guys I get to watch almost weekly plugging away at it for results, and here they were placing high against well sponsored traveling teams. That mingling of local and national scales is hard to find in professional sport and, in part, it gave the carnival atmosphere a homey feel. The smells and skid marks were no different then any other night, and it was a night like no other both at the same time; find me another sport like that.

Thanks CRA, Berlin, and all the great teams and drivers that gave us such spectacle, memories, and a shorter drive to think afterwards, by coming to us.