IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

February 5, 2004 FSCR Berck Nabs Northern Xtreme DirtCar Series Winternationals Victory by Bret Emrick TAMPA, Fla. -- Kyle Berck of Marquette, NE rode the emotional roller-coaster Wednesday at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa (Gibsonton),FL but came out on top in the Northern Xtreme DirtCar Series sanctioned 50 lap - $7,000 to win "28th Annual Winternationals". Berck started off the night heavily damaging his primary Dorothy Lynch Homestyle Dressing No. 14 Kyle Berck Racing Rocket/Wegner/Taurus in hot laps when he jumped the cushion in turn four, slapped the outside retaining wall and got nailed by Jimmy Mars who had no place to go and then took a second hit from Garrett Durrett. Berck's crew brought out the back-up car which the friendly driver promptly qualified 11th with no practice laps. Berck then won his heat race and the YJ Stinger Extreme Energy Drinks dash to place him on the pole of the main event. On a lap 24 restart Berck went from leading the race to third when he bobbled in turn one. Berck worked his way back into second by lap 35 but was nearly one second behind race leader Don O'Neal when the racing gods smiled on Berck and frowned on O'Neal. O'Neal suddenly slowed in turn two when the left rear spring shot out from his car on lap 41 handing the lead back to Berck which he parlayed into victory in only his third ever race at the semi-banked 1/3rd mile. "Welcome to East Bay", chuckled the very happy winner in victory lane. "Man, what a wild race. Everything just fell for our way. The crew is conditioned for a night like we had tonight. Three times before tonight we have had to go to the back-up car and each time we have come back to win. All the credit in the world goes to them. Getting this win is a dream come true for us. You just don't come to East Bay and expect to win the first time you've ever raced at the place. I've been coming here for 12 years as a fan and this year we decided that we were going to race. Our main goals coming in were to get laps and make a few races. But, to come in here and win in only your third race....You just don't do that here at East Bay." When asked what happened on the lap 24 restart Berck related, "Driver error. I didn't get enough heat into the right front Goodyear Eagle during the caution laps and when I entered turn one the car just pushed up the track. I jumped on the brakes, stalled the car out, got it refired but by that time O'Neal and Matt Miller were by me. We weren't the fastest car out there tonight, O'Neal was. Then I saw the spring fall from his car and thought to myself, 'You gotta' be kidding me'. What a roller-coaster night!" Davey Johnson who started 23rd roared to a runner-up showing with 15th starting Jeff Smith third, 18th starting Billy Drake fourth and Jimmy Mars fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Matt Miller in sixth followed by Ray Cook, 19th starting Brian Birkhofer, Shane Clanton and Earl Pearson Jr. Berck and Miller brought the 24 car starting field to the green flag with Berck getting the advantage over Miller but the yellow flag was quickly out when Garrett Durrett and Drake spun on the backchute bringing about a complete restart. Berck again got the jump on Miller leading the first lap with Cook third ahead of Donnie Moran and Dennis Franklin. Berck opened up a five car advantage over Miller by lap 10 but entered lapped traffic one lap later allowing Miller to close on Berck. O'Neal, who had started 14th, broke into the top 5 on lap 15 and was up to fourth by lap 20 and then to third one circuit later. Moran worked his way past Cook for fourth on lap 22 with O'Neal taking the runner-up spot from Miller on lap 24. But before the halfway mark could be reached the yellow was waving when John Whitney spun in turn two. The caution was out again on the restart when contact on the backchute sent Pearson Jr. spinning collecting the cars of Steve Casebolt, Durrett and Sonny Conley. On the second attempt at the lap 24 restart Berck entered turn one and slid up the track allowing O'Neal to become the new leader with Miller second ahead of Berck, Moran and Cook with Drake now sixth ahead of Franklin, Johnson, John Anderson and Clanton. Drake worked his way past Cook for fifth on lap 29 but before lap 30 could be recorded the yellow was waving again when contact between Miller and Moran in turn four sent Moran spinning collecting Berck and Cook. Moran was charged with the caution while Berck and Cook were given their running positions back for the restart. By lap 35 O'Neal was off and gone from his pursuers with Berck sitting second ahead of Drake, Johnson and Jeff Smith with Miller now sixth ahead of Cook, Franklin, Clanton and Mars. Johnson roared past Drake fro third one lap later and began to pressure Berck but the yellow waved again when Moran spun in turn two. O'Neal checked out on the field on the restart and looked to be a sure winner. Lap 41 saw Al Purkey slow in turn one and roll to a stop in turn to bring out another caution. O'Neal suddenly slowed in turn one and came to a stop in turn two with the damaged left rear suspension. Berck unexpectedly was now the race leader again with Johnson hot on his tail. Johnson tried several times to work his way past Berck as the laps wound down but Berck kept the veteran driver behind him taking the win by nearly two car lengths. The $31,000 plus purse brought 63 drivers to the speedway with Mars earning fast time with his quick lap of 14.938 seconds. Heat race wins fell to Mars, Pearson Jr., Moran, Cook, Berck and Miller with the "B" Main events falling to Brian Birkhofer and John Whitney. Berck captured the YJ STINGER EXTREME ENERGY DRINKS dash while the Donn Goodson Farms Memorial Strawberry Dash went to D.J. Troutman. The Northern Xtreme DirtCar Series will close out their portion of the "28th Annual Winternationals" Friday, Feb. 6 headline by a 60 lap - $12,000 to win feature event. 1. (1) #14 Kyle Berck 50 Running $7,100 2. (23) #19J Davey Johnson 50 Running $4,000 3. (15) #70 Jeff Smith 50 Running $2,500 4. (18) # 9 Billy Drake 50 Running $1,500 5. (4) #28M Jimmy Mars 50 Running $1,300 6. (2) # 7 Matt Miller 50 Running $1,200 7. (3) #53 Ray Cook 50 Running $1,100 8. (19) #15B Brian Birkhofer 50 Running $900 9. (13) #25 Shane Clanton 50 Running $850 10. (6) # 1 Earl Pearson Jr. 50 Running $900 11. (10) #72 John Mason 50 Running $750 12. (7) #2F Dennis Franklin 50 Running $700 13. (5) #99 Donnie Moran 50 Running $750 14. (12) #1K John Anderson 50 Running $600 15. (22) #C9 Steve Casebolt 50 Running $550 16. (16) #7M Bryan Millican 50 Running $500 17. (20) #34J John Whitney (R) 49 Running $500 18. (17) #55 Jeep Van Wormer 49 Running $500 19. (24) #7T Dave Troutman 49 Running $500 20. (9) #1x1 Sonny Conley 47 Running $500 21. (14) #71 Don O'Neal 41 Suspension $500 22. (11) #33P Al Purkey 41 Mechanical $500 23. (8) #28 Eddie Carrier Jr. 34 Mechanical $500 24. (21) #58 Garrett Durrett 24 Accident $500 Time Of Race: 41 Mins. 10 Secs. Yellow Flags: Six: Laps 0,24,24(rs),29,37,41 Red Flags: None Lap Leaders: Two: Berck 1-24,O'Neal 25-41,Berck 42-50 GEMINI AUTO CARE CENTERS "Hard Charger of the Race": Johnson (advanced 21 positions) "Rookie of the Race": Whitney Provisional Starters: Johnson, Troutman Car Count: 63 Time Trials Fast Qualifier: Mars 14.938 secs. Heat Race Winners: Mars,Pearson Jr.,Moran,Cook,Berck,Miller "B" Main Winners: Birkhofer,Whitney YJ STINGER EXTREME ENERGY DRINKS Dash Winner: Berck Donn Goodson Farms Memorial Strawberry Dash Winner: D.J. Troutman SUMMARY - Time Trials: 1. #28M Jimmy Mars Elk Mound,WI Stacker 2-Heeg Well Drilling MasterSbilt/Pro Power/Monte Carlo 14.938 2. # 1 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville,FL Lucas Oil-Dunn Benson Ford Rocket/Larry Wallace/Taurus 14.952 3. #99 Donnie Moran Dresden,OH QPI Tool Dirt Ripper MasterSbilt/SMS/Monte Carlo 15.060 4. #A1 Duke Whiseant Texarkana,AR A1 Auto Salvage Rayburn/Pro Power/Monte Carlo 15.186 5. #1x1 Sonny Conley New Martinsville,WV Conley Enterprises Lazer G2/Emery/Monte Carlo 15.194 6. # 7 Matt Miller Waterville,OH McCullough Motorsports Rocket/Russell Baker/Grand Prix 15.204 7. #2F Dennis Franklin Gaffney,SC Hamrick's of Gaffney Rayburn/Cornett/Taurus 15.218 8. #28 Eddie Carrier Jr. Ona,WV Grover Motorsports Rocket/Grover/Taurus 15.243 9. #25 Shane Clanton Locust Grove,GA RSD Enterprises Rocket/Custom/Monte Carlo 15.253 10. #53 Ray Cook Brasstown,NC Dodge-Bill Elliott Racing MasterSbilt/Gaerte/Intrepid R/T 15.256 11. #14 Kyle Berck Marquette,NE Dorothy Lynch Homestyle Dressing Rocket/Wegner/Taurus 15.293 12. #1K John Anderson Omaha,NE THT Designs Rocket/Hatfield/Grand Prix 15.324 13. #33P Al Purkey Coffeyville,KS Larry Shaw Race Cars Shaw/Hatfield/Grand Prix 15.360 14. #64 Sean Cosgrove (R) Catharpin,VA Drywall Systems Rocket/Hershey/Grand Prix 15.363 15. #70C Jeff Choquette West Palm Beach,FL Ron Arrowood Rocket/Progressive/Grand Prix 15.365 16. #59 Bill Cunningham Jefferson,OH JBR Graphics MasterSbilt/Craiger/Grand Prix 15.381 17. #70 Jeff Smith Dallas,NC Diecast Digest Rocket/Gaerte/Monte Carlo 15.387 18. #H7 Phil Hall Mt. Airy,NC Mt. River Trucking Rocket/Custom/Monte Carlo 15.419 19. #48 Tim Lance Mapleton,IL Digital Copy Rayburn/Pro Power/Taurus 15.424 20. #21D Dan Stone Thompson,PA NEP Telephone Lazer G2/Rhodes/Monte Carlo 15.436 21. #55 Jeep Van Wormer Pinconning,MI Bayline Fire Protection Warrior/Cornett/Taurus 15.450 22. #72 John Mason Millersburg,OH Bert Transmission Rayburn/Malcuit/Monte Carlo 15.454 23. #C9 Steve Casebolt Richmond,IN Seubert Calf Ranches Rocket/Pro Craft/Monte Carlo 15.454 24. # 9 Billy Drake Bloomington,IL MasterSbilt Race Cars MasterSbilt/Gaerte/Grand Prix 15.457 25. #58 Garrett Durrett Simsboro,LA Garrett Racing Warrior/Pro Power/Taurus 15.480 26. #71 Don O'Neal Martinsville,IN A1 Auto Salvage Rayburn/Pro Power/Monte Carlo 15.507 27. #15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine,IA Double Eagle Racing Apparel MasterSbilt/Pro Power/Monte Carlo 15.520 28. #34J John Whitney (R) Cincinnati,OH Estes Leasing Swartz/Estes/Monte Carlo 15.524 29. #1M Scott Pounds Seymour,TN Milodon Warrior/Watkins/Monte Carlo 15.532 30. #79 Vince Muzzin Jensen Beach,FL Muzzin Brothers Rocket/RaceTek/Grand Prix 15.552 31. #83 Joe Morris Galatia,IL Morris Excavating Rocket/Runyon/Grand Prix 15.582 32. #1N Casey Noonan Sylvania,OH Noonan's Performance Machining Rocket/Performance/Grand Prix 15.591 33. #10 Pete Parker Kaukauna,WI Potowatomi Bingo Casino Lodge Reliable/Travis Kern/Grand Prix 15.593 34. #56 Rohn Moon Greenwood,IN Creonix Rayburn/Moon Power/Monte Carlo 15.597 35. # 5 Michael England Glasgow,KY Hiseville Feed MasterSbilt/Pro Power/Monte Carlo 15.611 36. #33 Chris Hackett Erie,PA Speciality Products Rocket/Tony Barker/Monte Carlo 15.614 37. #19J Davey Johnson Greensburg,PA Reliable Painting MasterSbilt/Malcuit/Grand Prix 15.659 38. #32 Roger Crouse Plant City,FL Coastal Trucking Rocket/RaceTek/Grand Prix 15.673 39. #7C Jim Curry Norman,IN Jim Blackwell Trucking & Conveying Rayburn/Pro Power/Monte Carlo 15.680 40. #9Z Jayme Zidar Greenfield,WI American Foundation Rayburn/Pro Power/Monte Carlo 15.691 41. #69S Patrick Sheltra Indiantown,FL Helena Chemicals Co. Rocket/Draime/Grand Prix 15.732 42. # 3 Mike Collins Council Bluffs,IA D&D Construction MasterSbilt/Charlie's/Grand Prix 15.789 43. # 0 Steve Shaver Vienna,WV Richard Construction Rocket/Malcuit/Monte Carlo 15.794 44. #99B Justin Blackwell Norman,IN Blackwell Trucking and Limestone Rayburn/Pro Power/Monte Carlo 15.804 45. #07 Kelly Boen Henderson,CO Road Runner Fabrication Rocket/Dickens/Grand Prix 15.878 46. #30 Mark Voigt Marine,IL Bilstein Shocks Rocket/Rhyne/Taurus 15.965 47. #1DJ D.J. Miller Wooster,OH Bariod Drilling Fluids Rocket/Eicholtz/Monte Carlo 15.967 48. #32D Darren Miller Chadwick,IL Seubert Calf Ranches Rocket/Pro Power/Taurus 16.028 49. #T31 Shane Tankersley Morgonton,GA Hicks Speciality Welding Rocket/Gaerte/Grand Prix 16.177 50. #2* D.J. Troutman (R) Hyndman,PA Stacker 2 YJ Stinger Rocket/Russell Baker/Grand Prix 16.208 51. #00 Richard Smith (R) Science Hill,KY Donnie Smith Auto Sales Swartz/Cropper/Grand Prix 16.244 52. #7M Bryan Millican Cleveland,TX Star Homes Rocket/Russell Baker/Monte Carlo 16.255 53. #53T Lee Thomason Marion,IL Thomason Transportation Rayburn/Cummins/Monte Carlo 16.346 54. #69 Terry Eaglin Versailles,IN Helena Chemicals Co. Rocket/Gaerte/Interpid R/T 17.035 55. #17 Frank Smith Mechanicsville,MD Auto Repair Center Lazer G2/Campbell/Monte Carlo 17.139 56. #63 Rod Patterson Lansing,MI Herman's Direct Rocket/Dowker/Monte Carlo 17.139 57. #7T Dave Troutman Hyndman,PA Budweiser Rocket/Russell Baker/Grand Prix 17.292 58. #74 Russ Adams Princeville,IL Digital Copy Rayburn/Pro Power/Monte Carlo 17.319 59. #81 Scott Riggs Harrisburg,IL Morris Excavating Rocket/Runyon/Grand Prix 17.483 60. #29 Jerry Fifield Cross JUnction,VA Cornerstone Building & Renovation MasterSbilt/Hershey/Grand Prix 17.506 61. # 2 Anthony White Clinton,TN Stone Plus GRT/Vic Hill/Monte Carlo 17.573 62. #7L Randy Lucas Apex,NC Johnny B's Carwash MasterSbilt/Malcuit/Taurus NT 63. #21X Jim Bernheisel Lebanon,PA Stone's Excavating Lazer G2/Performance/Monte Carlo NT Heat # 1 (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance To Feature): Mars,Franklin,Purkey,Johnson,Durrett,Shaver,Lance,Morris, Tankersley,F. Smith,White Heat # 2 (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance To Feature): Pearson Jr.,Carrier Jr.,O'Neal,Cosgrove,Crouse,Blackwell, D.J. Troutman,Noonan,Patterson,Stone,Lucas-NS Heat # 3 (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance To Feature): Moran,Van Wormer,Clanton,Birkhofer,Boen,Choquette, R. Smith,D. Troutman,Parker,Curry,Bernheisel-NS Heat # 4 (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance To Feature): Cook,Mason,Millican,Zidar,Cunningham,Voigt,Whitney, Adams,Moon,Whiseant-NS Heat # 5 (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance To Feature): Berck,Conley,J. Smith,Casebolt,England,Sheltra, D.J. Miller, Pounds,Riggs,Thomason-NS Heat # 6 (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance To Feature): M. Miller,Anderson,Drake,Hackett,Hall,Muzzin,Eaglin, Collins,Fifield,D. Miller "B" Main # 1 (15 Laps-Top 2 Advance To Feature): Birkhofer,Durrett,Johnson,Cosgrove,Shaver,Stone,D.J. Troutman,Curry,Crouse,Noonan,Patterson,Tankersley,Choquette,Boen,R. Smith,Blackwell,Lance,Morris, Parker,F. Smith,White,D. Troutman-NS,Lucas-NS,Bernheisel-NS "B" Main # 2 (15 Laps-Top 2 Advance To Feature): Whitney,Casebolt,Zidar,Sheltra,Hackett,Pounds,D. Miller,Voigt,England,Moon,Adams,D.J. Miller,Muzzin,Collins,Fifield,Riggs,Cunningham,Hall,Eaglin, Whiseant-NS,Thomason-NS YJ STINGER EXTREME ENERGY DRINKS Dash (6 Laps-Finish Determines First Three Rows Of Feature): Berck,M. Miller,Cook,Mars,Moran,Pearson Jr. Donn Goodson Farms Memorial Strawberry Dash (7 Laps-Random Draw Of DNQ Cars): D.J. Troutman, Sheltra,D. Miller,Curry,Muzzin,Crouse,Fifield Northern Xtreme DirtCar Series Point Standings (after 2-4-04) 1. #28M Jimmy Mars Elk Mound,WI 343 2. #19J Davey Johnson Greensburg,PA 330 3. #99 Donnie Moran Dresden,OH 301 4. # 9 Billy Drake Bloomington,IL 290 # 1 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville,FL 290 6. #25 Shane Clanton Locust Grove,GA 286 7. #15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine,IA 280 8. #71 Don O'Neal Martinsville,IN 274 9. #14 Kyle Berck Marquette,NE 266 10. #70 Jeff Smith Dallas,NC 264 11. # 7 Matt Miller Waterville,OH 263 12. #72 John Mason Millersburg,OH 251 13. #1K John Anderson Omaha,NE 248 14. # 2 Dennis Franklin Gaffney,SC 242 15. # 0 Steve Shaver Vienna,WV 235 16. #53 Ray Cook Brasstown,NC 230 17. #70 Jeff Choquette West Palm Beach,FL 222 18 #C9 Steve Casebolt Richmond,IN 221 19. # 7 Dave Troutman Hyndman,PA 220 20. #32D Darren Miller Chadwick,IL 214 21. #59 Bill Cunningham Jefferson,OH 204 22. #07 Kelly Boen Hendrson,CO 198 23. # 7 Bryan Millican Cleveland,TX 195 24. #34J John Whitney (R) Cincinnati,OH 193 25. #2* D.J. Troutman (R) Hyndman,PA 193 26. #55 Jeep Van Wormer Pinconning,MI 191 27. #A1 Duke Whiseant Texarkana,AR 189 28. #1x1 Sonny Conley New Martinsville,WV 187 29. # 2 Anthony White Clinton,TN 185 30. #33 Al Purkey Coffeyville,KS 183 31. #28 Eddie Carrier Jr. Ona,WV 181 32. #58 Garrett Durrett Simsboro,LA 179 33. #21D Dan Stone Thompson,PA 160 #10 Pete Parker Kaukauna,WI 160 #9Z Jayme Zidar Greenfield,WI 160 #56 Rohn Moon Greenwood,IN 160 # 1 D.J. Miller Wooster,OH 160 #69 Terry Eaglin Versailles,IN 160 #00 Richard Smith (R) Science Hill,KY 160 # 3 Mike Collins Council Bluffs,IA 160 #53 Lee Thomason Marion,IL 160 #33 Chris Hackett Erie,PA 160 #29 Jerry Fifield Cross Junction,VA 160 #79 Vince Muzzin Jensen Beach,FL 160 #63 Rod Patterson Lansing,MI 160 #83 Joe Morris Galatia,IL 160 #48 Tim Lance Mapleton,IL 160 # 1 Casey Noonan Sylvania,OH 160 #81 Scott Riggs Harrisburg,IL 160 #T31 Shane Tankersley Morgonton,GA 160 #64 Sean Cosgrove (R) Catharpin,VA 160 #74 Russ Adams Princeville,IL 160 #17 Frank Smith Mechanicsville,MD 160 # 7 Jim Curry Norman,IN 160 #99 Justin Blackwell Norman,IN 160 #69 Patrick Sheltra Indiantown,FL 160 #32 Roger Crouse Plant City,FL 160 58. #1M Mike Mataragas Dekalb,IL 101 59. # 1 Scott Pounds Seymour,TN 80 #30 Mark Voigt Marion,IL 80 # 5 Michael England Glasgow,KY 80 #H7 Phil Hall Mt. Airy,NC 80 #7L Randy Lucas Apex,NC 80 #12M Raymond Merrill Salisaw,OK 80 #50S Steve Morgan Orangeville,IL 80 #56Z Zach Carney Mooresville,IN 80 #70 1/2 Anthiny Rushing Jr. McCool,MS 80 #18 Steve Harvey Jacksonville,FL 80 Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! news@karnac.org or send a letter to the editor!