Oak
Tree Inn
1110 SE 4th St
Hermiston, OR 97838
Phone 541-567-2330 Fax 541-567-5044
Clean comfortable rooms with light proof drapes,
including microwave, fridge, coffee, hair dryer, ironing board &
iron, recliners, 24 hr front desk
Please call 541-567-2330 and ask for the special
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'racers rate'
The
Pheasant 149 East Main Street
Hermiston, OR 97838
(541) 567-3022
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PO BOX 1800
Umatilla, OR 97882 Location:
705 Willamette St
Umatilla, OR 97882
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to Hermiston!
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is a diverse community, we are the Gate
Way to Eastern Oregon
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Spokane's Tony Berry looks for solid finish
by Doug Pace The Spokesman-Review
Paved sprint car racing in the region runs one of its biggest events as the WESCO series invades Hermiston’s Super Oval for a two-day show beginning Saturday afternoon.
Spokane’s Tony Berry is happy the season has run into late September, as he’ll be able to take part in the race after a slow start to his season.
With a son born on Valentine’s Day and motor woes that have held back some of his team’s efforts to run on a consistent basis this season, Berry is eager to close out the year on a good note while cautiously looking forward to 2015.
“We welcomed our son Ethan this year along with having to build a new power plant,” Berry said. “That’s cut into the racing budget. We’re excited to see what our Stipe Engine Specialties motor has to offer this weekend. I think every racer heads into the offseason with grand plans for what the next year has in store. Ideally, for our team, it would be competing for the WESCO Championship again.”
Focus on the race ahead is the mindset for Berry and his team.
“When you show up running a part-time schedule, you have to be very confident in your car preparation because practice on race day is so limited,” Berry said. “You also have to know how your car changes throughout the evening, otherwise you’ll be playing catch-up and never able to really compete. Driving a racecar is like riding a bike, but it’s always tough to show up cold when others have been working to hone their craft every week. I am confident we can get up to speed quickly.”
While not racing on a consistent basis this season, Berry’s no stranger to WESCO as a past champion (2012). It’s a challenging series with plenty of history.
Having cut his teeth on the now-defunct Inland Northwest Sprint Car Association circuit, Berry would like to see local tracks add more sprint car racing to their schedules.
“I would love to see WESCO return to Stateline Speedway, which was a fan favorite in 2012 running a winged and non-wing race there,” Berry said. “I think for sprint car racing to grow (locally), there needs to be an influx of new talent, whether it’s someone in the stands that decides to finally bite the bullet or kids coming out of quarter-midgets and karts.”
Berry has been successful in late models, karts and other forms of motorsports in addition to his sprint car championships. Having that versatility to draw from keeps his competitive juices flowing when he’s behind the wheel of a 600-horsepower car that is a handful to drive.
“The challenge of a sprinter is different than most other vehicles,” Berry said. “When running with the wing, you have so much down force that you can do things with the car that you would not be able to in other vehicles. Without the wing, it is a totally different animal and requires you to adapt, and I enjoy that aspect.”
Posting strong results in his career at the quarter-mile Oregon track, Berry still has work to do once he unloads for practice at Hermiston.
“I haven’t run at Hermiston since the track was sealed, but I have heard that it increased the grip level,” he said. “It used to be a very low grip-racing surface, similar to Ephrata Raceway Park. With this weekend being a non-wing event, the need for grip will be at a premium. We’ve had a lot of success without the wings in the past and we’re excited to give it a shot.”
B&B Motorsports Heads to Ephrata
April 30, 2014 (Spokane, WA) – The B&B Motorsports team, with driver Tony Berry, is ready to kick off the 2014 racing season this Saturday night at Ephrata Raceway Park in Ephrata, WA. The non-wing event at the tricky quarter mile oval is the season opening event for the Pepsi Racing 360 Sprints.
Ephrata has held a mixed-bag of results for Berry and the team in the past; Berry shared, “Ephrata is a really neat track with very low grip, which becomes a great equalizer. I got my best NSRA finish at the track, but have also had some tough luck. We’re hoping that we can be on the right side things this weekend.”
The #53 entry will have a new power plant for 2014 courtesy of Stipe Engine Specialties of Redmond, OR, which will also feature hi temp coated headers from new marketing partner, Liquid Transformations. “We are proud to represent these two businesses and we hope that the results are as fast as they are beautiful,” stated team co-owner Mike Bartle.
The 2012 WESCO Championship team intends to run a limited schedule for 2014, with the next event coming as the season opening race for the WESCO Sprint Car Series at the Hermiston Super Oval in Hermiston, OR May 17th. “We would love to run some additional events this year, but as of now it’s looking like four or five races so we’re going to make the most of each opportunity. The Witte’s have always had a tremendous commitment to open wheel racing and we’re very excited to get the season started this weekend at Ephrata,” commented Berry.
Come out and cheer on the 53 car at Ephrata Raceway Park this Saturday, May 3rd. Gates open at 5 pm with racing at 7 pm. For more information on the B&B team visit: www.facebook.com/BandBMotorsports or call 800.336.2682.
Special Thanks to our 2014 Marketing Partners:
Stipe Engine Specialties – Redmond, OR – 541.504.1419
June 25, 2013
(Spokane, WA) –
Reigning WESCO
Champion Tony Berry
and the B&B
Motorsports team
will kick off their
2013 season this
Saturday, June
29th at the quarter
mile Stateline
Speedway in Post
Falls, ID.
After a successful
2012 campaign, the
B&B team didn’t know
what 2013 would have
in store. The #53
machine had a major
engine failure at
the final event of
2012 and the outlook
for this season
appeared bleak.
Enter Jim Stipe, and
his Stipe Engine
Specialties shop.
Stipe shared, “Tony
and I began talking
through the
NWracechat.com
message boards and I
was impressed with
the team’s track
record and level of
professionalism. I
am excited to say
that we were able to
develop a plan to
have Tony run a
Stipe Engine
Specialties Cast
Iron motor this
year.”
“We were kind of
dead in the water,”
commented Berry.
“Our sport of choice
is an expensive one
and as things stood,
we were only going
to be passionate
observers this year.
Jim stepped up to
help and we can’t
wait to see this
motor stretch it’s
legs; although we
picked a heck of a
challenge to debut
it!”
The June 29th event
is the annual Super
Shoe Show
co-sanctioned by the
NSRA and Western
Winged Sprintcar
Series. “The NSRA/WWS
events allow a team
like ours to compete
against the best of
the best on the west
coast. I’ve always
said I’d rather run
fifth in a line of
fast cars, than walk
away with a win, and
against this group a
top 10 would feel
like a win for our
team.”
The rest of the 2013
season is still up
in the air for the
B&B Motorsports
team, but
tentatively on the
schedule are WESCO
events at the
Wenatchee Valley
Super Oval on August
10th, the
Spokane County Super
Oval on August 17th,
at Evergreen
Speedway on
September 7th and
the Hermiston Super
Oval on September 14th.
“We’re looking for
additional marketing
partners and with
success, we’d be
able to add races to
our schedule,”
stated Berry.
Come out this
Saturday, June 29th and
cheer on the #53
team. Qualifying
begins at 6 pm with
racing at 7:15. For
more information on
the B&B Motorsports
team please contact
800.336.2682 or
visit us on facebook
at www.facebook.com/BandBMotorsports.
Special Thanks to:
Stipe Engine
Specialties -
541-504-1419
Deyoung, Inc.
Graphics and Design
- www.DeYoungInc.com
Fresh Baked Threads
-
www.FreshBakedThreads.com
The Country Place
Bar and Grill
Whitey’s Wrecking -
www.WhiteysWrecking.com
PRESENTING
B&B MOTORSPORTS
2012
WESCO CHAMPIONS!!
Join us and Let's GO
Racing Together in
2013
The B&B Motor Sports
team is more than
READY! Need a few
great sponsors to join
with us for mutual
benefit...and smile's.
This experienced fun
race team knows how to
make 'noise' and
create excitement for
your company .. on and
off the race track.
Schedule includes
a few local sprint car
races and if funding
allows perhaps a few
Super Late Model
events as well.
Call 800 336 2682 to
review sponsorship levels
available and 'next
steps' to joining
our race team
efforts for 2013
WESCO Flies Into
2013 at WVSO
Source: WESCO Public
Relations
April 24, 2013 (East
Wenatchee, WA) – The
2013 WESCO Sprint
Car Series kicks off
Saturday night,
April 27th
at the lightning
quick Wenatchee
Valley Super Oval (WVSO)
in East Wenatchee,
WA. Last season,
each of the seven
events was captured
by a different
driver and the WESCO
series is the only
sprint car group in
the North West that
has races with and
without the big top
wing – providing a
change, and a
challenge to the
competitors.
The 2013 season
championship is up
for grabs with
defending series
champion Tony Berry
only committed to a
partial schedule.
The two leading
front runners happen
to come out of the
same McLees Racing
stable; five-time
WESCO Champion, Doug
McLees and 2012
Rookie of the Year
and points runner
up, Danny Mathews.
“We won the opener
last year at
Wenatchee and I
consider it one of
my stronger tracks,”
commented McLees. “I
hope we can get off
to the same fast
start, but are able
keep it rolling this
year throughout the
season”
Mathews enters
season number two in
the open-wheel car
with much clearer
expectations than in
his Rookie season.
The Canadian native
had this to say,
“Last year I felt we
progressed and got
stronger as the year
wore on; we fully
anticipate that this
year I’ll be able to
capitalize more and
hopefully break
through for our
first win!”
Returning to the
track full time in
2013 is the Hill
Racing team, with
lead driver, and
multi-time sprint
car champion, Dave
Hill. The colorful
05 car is always a
fan favorite and
will likely
challenge for wins
throughout the
season.
Also scheduled to
compete are 2012
main event winners,
Mike Fought, Rich
Fast and Jeff Bird,
2010 INSCA Sprint
Car Champion, Justin
Popple, Tom Beierman,
Donnie Kudrna, Mitch
Holt and many more.
The 2013 season will
take the teams to
three Northwestern
states with races at
WVSO, Spokane County
Raceway in Airway
Heights, WA, South
Sound Speedway in
Rochester,
Washington, the
Hermiston Super Oval
in Hermiston, OR,
Evergreen Speedway
in Monroe, WA and
the season
championship will
take place as a
double header at the
Meridian Speedway,
in Meridian, ID.
For more information
on the WESCO Sprint
Car Series please
visit
www.wescosprints.com
or contact Brian
McLees at
360-943-5099.
2013 WESCO Schedule:
April 27 – Wenatchee
Valley Super Oval –
Winged
May 18 – Hermiston
Super Oval – Winged
May 25 – Spokane
County Raceway –
Winged
June 15 – Wenatchee
Valley Super Oval –
Winged
June 29 – South
Sound Speedway –
Winged
August 9-10 –
Wenatchee Valley
Super Oval – Winged
August 17 – Spokane
County Raceway –
Winged
September 7 –
Evergreen Speedway –
Winged
September 14 –
Hermiston Super Oval
– Non-wing
September 20-21 –
Meridian Speedway –
Non-wing
A
Night to Remember
The
2012 WESCO season will
officially draw to a
close on Saturday
night, November 10th
with the Awards
Banquet, being held in
Ellensburg, WA. The
season, deemed a
success by
competitors, saw 24
entrants compete over
the course of the year
visiting four tracks:
Wenatchee Valley Super
Oval (East Wenatchee,
WA), Stateline
Speedway (Post Falls,
ID), Douglas County
Speedway (Roseburg,
OR) and Yakima
Speedway (Yakima, WA).
Each race on the seven
race circuit saw a
different winner take
home the checkers. Read
More...
Roseburg
Recap - July 21, 2012
Wow,
what a weekend. This
recap is going to be
about like our weekend
– LONG! I’ve been
racing since I was 10
years old, across many
disciplines of
motorsports and have
NEVER experienced a
weekend quite like
this one. Racing is an
interesting sport with
highs and lows felt on
an emotional,
physical, and
psychological level.
The B&B team
traveled 10 hours to
Douglas County
Speedway Read
more...
B&B
Motorsports Heads to
DCS
The
B&B Motorsports
team with driver Tony
Berry will make their
first ever trip to the
3/8’s of a mile oval
of Douglas County
Speedway in Roseburg,
OR this Saturday, July
21st Read
more...
Sprint
Cars Return to WVSO
It's
not often that a
series must wait until
mid-July to run it’s
second event of the
season, but for the
WESCO Cast Iron Sprint
Car series that is
exactly the case,
making a return trip
to the Wenatchee
Valley Super Oval (WVSO)
Saturday night, July
14th. Read
more...
The B&B team
was as prepared as
we could’ve
hoped for this
event, which in
our estimation saw
the biggest crowd
at Stateline
Speedway in a
decade. The tires
that we practiced
on were used up
– by design. We
spent practice
trying to make the
car work well on
older tires and
then made a
decision to try
something
different than we
normally do in
qualifying. It
didn’t quite
work out as we had
hoped and we
didn’t pick up
the time that we
anticipated, but
still qualified a
solid third and
were well
positioned for the
rest of the night.
We started outside
of the front row
for the A-Trophy
Dash and won, on
the same 120+ lap
old tires that we
had practiced on.
Given what we had
in our arsenal, we
were awfully
confident heading
into the rest of
the evening;
however, Mother
Nature had a
different plan.
Despite the
track’s best
efforts, the event
was called due to
rain before we ran
our heat
races.
There is not yet a
scheduled make up
date for this
event and the next
race at Stateline
is scheduled to be
September 8th as a
non-wing event;
which I feel would
deprive the fans
of some of the
speed that they
were clearly
yearning for this
past
Saturday.
Kily Fleming, our
resident IT guy,
has uploaded many
photos and videos
that he took
throughout the
day, as well as
some by Michael
Baker from
Kodiakweb.
My guys did a
great job, we were
right where we
wanted to be, just
one of those
bummers about an
outdoor sport!
See you guys in
Wenatchee on July
14th!
June
27, 2012 (Spokane,
WA) – The B&B
Motorsports team
with driver Tony
Berry will be making
the first of their
two stops for the
2012 racing season
at their home track,
Stateline Speedway
in Post Falls, ID
Saturday, June 30th.
Hot
off the heels of a
strong second place
finish in the season
opening event -
which saw only the
top three cars on
the lead lap –
Berry and team look
to keep up the
momentum in the
Whitey’s Wrecking,
Fresh Baked Threads
sprinter. “Prior
to the event at the
Wenatchee Valley
Super Oval we
weren’t able to
get any track time
at all and overcame
all of the new car
blues on the day of
the race. My crew
worked so hard like
they always do and
by the time the main
event came we were
strong, just a
little too tight to
make a move for the
win,” commented
the driver of the 53
car.
Now,
heading into the
event at Stateline ,
Berry remarked,
“We were able to
really shake the car
down recently and to
be honest; it feels
like the season is
just starting for
us. We’re prepared
to protect our home
turf this
weekend.” The last
season that the
B&B team ran in
2009, the Ed Nereaux
Racing Engines
machine swept both
events at Stateline
with the Inland
Northwest Sprint Car
Association.
“Stateline
is a fun track to
drive; very
competitive with two
grooves of racing.
As a driver it
offers all that you
hope for in a
quarter mile oval
and with the
increased purse for
the Mclees
Automotive 35,
Stateline Speedway
has helped to ensure
that additional cars
will be there to put
on a great show for
the fans.”
Come
out and cheer on the
B&B Motorsports
#53 on Saturday
night. Qualifying
begins at 6 pm with
racing at 7 pm.
May
31, 2012 (Spokane, WA)
– After sitting on
the sidelines for two
long years, the
B&B Motorsports
team with driver Tony
Berry will be
returning to the track
full time in 2012 to
campaign with the
WESCO Series; the top
traveling cast iron
pavement sprint car
organization in the
Northwest.
In 2009, the
last year that the
team ran, the #53 car
won three events,
finished second in
points after having
missed an event due to
Berry marrying his
long-time girlfriend,
Leah, and wrapped up
the season with a
second place finish in
the inaugural
Northwest Sprint Car
Invitational.
"Ideally the
WESCO series this year
will look an awful lot
like the 2009
Northwest Sprint Car
Invitational with 20
plus cars in the pits
from all corners of
the Northwest,
bringing out some of
the top talent to put
on a great show for
the fans at each of
the four tracks we
will visit this
year,” said Berry.
The 2012 WESCO
schedule will carry
the KLP Construction,
S&R Custom Panels,
Elite Hardscapes,
Country Place Bar and
Grill, Whitey’s
Wrecking hauler to
three events at the
Wenatchee Valley Super
Oval in East
Wenatchee, WA, two
events at Stateline
Speedway in Post
Falls, ID and one
event each at Yakima
Speedway in Yakima, WA
and Douglas County
Speedway in Roseburg,
OR.
The B&B team will
be debuting a new look
to their Ed Nereaux
Racing Engines powered
sprinter courtesy of
Deyoung, Inc. Design
and Graphics of Lake
Stevens, WA. “After
having the car sit in
the shop for two
years, we needed
something new”
commented Berry about
the new design. “It
looks pretty awesome
and I think it will be
a crowd favorite.”
The B&B team would
like to welcome new
marketing partners for
this year, Fresh Baked
Threads :: T-Shirts on
Demand and Rainmaker
Marketing both located
in Spokane, WA. Berry
shared, “We’re all
very excited to be
able to work with
these two companies
now and into the
future and will wear
our new clothing from
Fresh Baked Threads
with pride!”
Follow the #53 along
on race day at
www.facebook.com/BandBMotorsports.
The complete 2012
WESCO Schedule:
June-2 Wenatchee
Valley Super Oval –
East Wenatchee, WA
June-30 Stateline
Speedway – Post
Falls, ID
July-14 Wenatchee
Valley Super Oval –
East Wenatchee, WA
July-20/21 Douglas
County Speedway –
Roseburg, OR
Aug-4 Yakima Speedway
– Yakima, WA
Sept-8 Stateline
Speedway – Post
Falls, ID
Sept-22 Wenatchee
Valley Super Oval –
East Wenatchee, WA
WESCO
Sweeps into
Stateline Speedway
Source:
WESCO Public
Relations
June
22, 2012 (Post
Falls, ID) – The
WESCO Cast Iron
Sprint Car Series
will make its second
stop of the 2012
season at Stateline
Speedway in Post
Falls, Idaho on
Saturday June 30th.
The Mclees
Automotive 35 will
pay $1000 to the
winner, a guaranteed
$300 to start the
race and include
additional
incentives not
regularly offered.
“We’re
really excited to
offer this variety
of racing to the
fans of Stateline
Speedway in 2012,”
remarked Stateline
Speedway Promoter
and General Manager,
Larry Bertrand.
“Pavement sprint
cars are among the
most exciting forms
of motorsports and
their tire smoking
action is something
that we’re very
much looking forward
to bringing to our
fans.”
Among
the expected
participants are the
top three finishers
of the season
opening event;
winner Doug Mclees
in the Mclees
Automotive sprinter,
second Tony Berry in
the B&B
Motorsports entry
and Justin Popple
who ran competitor
Butch Duren’s car
at the first event,
but will look to
resume the driving
duties behind the
J&G Machine #19.
For Berry and
Popple, this trip to
Stateline marks one
of only two events
at their home track
as they both hale
from Spokane , WA .
The
opening event at the
Wenatchee Valley
Super Oval saw an
extremely
competitive group of
nine take to the
track which ran
caution free in the
main event. Perhaps
the biggest surprise
of the evening was
Rookie James Daniel
Mathews qualifying
third and proving
that the flamed
number 11 will be a
force to be reckoned
with in 2012.
Come
on out to the
Stateline Speedway,
Saturday July 30th
to cheer on the
local favorites and
the hard charging
travelers.
Qualifying begins at
6 pm with racing at
7.
For
more information on
the WESCO Series
visit: www.WESCOsprints.com
or contact Brian
Mclees at
360-943-5099.
Photo
Caption: Mclees
Racing Team
Photo
Credit: Thea
Kinsland
Join
us and Let's GO Racing
...
Together in 2012
The
B&B Motor Sports
team is more than
READY! Need a few
great sponsors to join
with us for mutual
benefit...and smile's.
This
experienced fun race
team knows how to make
'noise' and create
excitement for your
company .. on and off
the race track. Schedule includes
a few local
sprint car races and
if funding allows
perhaps a few Super
Late Model events as
well.
Call
800 336 2682 to
review sponsorship levels
available
and 'next
steps' to joining
our race team
efforts for 2012
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WESCO
Blazes a New Trail in 2012
May 22, 2012 (Wenatchee, WA) –
When the 2012 WESCO season takes the track June 2nd at
the Wenatchee Valley Super Oval (WVSO) in East Wenatchee, WA, it
will be a different look for the series embarking on it’s 20th
season. Read More
“If
what you’re currently doing is not the hardest thing you’ve ever
done, you’re not moving forward.”
AJB
Motorsports Marketing
For
many racers the 2012 racing season is upon us. Sign up today for
an opening race weekend special! It consists of one pre-race press
release and one post-race press release to put your name, and more
importantly your sponsors name, in lights to start the season!
Looking for a way to attract
marketing partners? Or to retain those that you already have? The
single biggest hurdle in obtaining and retaining marketing
partners is communicating an effective return on their investment
(ROI). Many racers have had success in getting a company to invest
in their racing season, only to fail to live up to the company's
expectations as that season progressed.
AJB Motorsports Marketing exists to help answer some of the above;
these very real concerns that racers are faced with when sitting
across the table from a decision maker at a potential marketing
partner. AJB MM provides marketing services to our customers to
present to potential and current marketing partners.
If you've been looking for something to set you apart from your
competitors both on and off the racetrack, you've come to the
right place.
MISSION:
AJB Motorsports Marketing’s mission
is to provide racers, tracks and race series’ with
promotional services to establish and maintain marketing
partners while spreading goodwill about motorsports throughout
the community at large.
PRODUCTS:
• Press Releases (pre- and
post-race) sent to an established list of media contacts in
both print and electronic media. These will also be available
for your own use/distribution.
• Social Networking site management
• Website and logo design through AJBMM’s partner
services
• Marketing package creation and printing
• Racecar design and lettering through AJBMM's partner
services
• General marketing partner support
For more information call 800.336.2682 or email: AJB_MM@yahoo.com
EXPERIENCED DEDICATED RACE TEAM with NEW LEJEUNE
PERFORMANCE CHASSIS RESULTS IN WINNING SEASON!
For Tony Berry and the B&B Motorsports team, the 2009 season
began as an opportunity for growth and development. After procuring
a new Lejeune Performance chassis, the plan for the team was to pick
and choose events as the summer progressed, running locally with the
Inland Northwest Sprint Car Association (INSCA) and occasionally
competing with the premier ASA/NSRA traveling sprint car series.
With
weather dictating the early season schedule the first event that
Berry and team competed in was the INSCA event at the newly
re-opened Spokane County Raceway, an ultra-fast half mile oval in
Airway Heights , WA . The team tested at the facility earlier in the
year and was confident heading into the event. After experiencing
mechanical trouble to open the day, Berry set fast time in
qualifying and went on to win their first event of 2009.
The
second event was only seven days later at the quarter-mile Stateline
Stadium and Speedway in Post Falls , Idaho . Berry again took the
Country Place Bar and Grill #53 to head of the field by posting fast
time once more and winning from the back of the pack due to a full
field invert.“We
had a phenomenal start to the season. It was really the culmination
of several years working together as a team and with the addition of
the Lejeune Chassis to our stable – we were very confident moving
forward,” commented Berry .
On
June 13th, the INSCA series once again visited Spokane
County Raceway and this time Berry and team were racing for a cause.
A family friend, Cory Mackay, who was driving home from the
Washington State University campus experienced a serious auto
accident and suffered spinal cord damage in May. The Mackay family
formed the Mackay Spinal Injury Foundation to offset the on-going
medical costs associated with Cory’s rehabilitation. As a part of
the INSCA event at SCR, Berry and his fellow drivers in the series
walked through the stands in order to raise money for this
worthwhile cause. When it was all said and done, the drivers and
fans at Spokane County Raceway raised over $1200 that was donated to
the Mackay Spinal Injury Foundation. Berry and the B&B team came
home second and left the event with a commanding point’s lead and
the satisfaction that comes with helping others.
The
team took a hiatus for the first part of July as Tony married his
longtime girlfriend Leah on the Fourth of July. Going on at the same
time, was race number four in the INSCA season and the B&B team
would relinquish the series’ points lead.
The
next scheduled event for the B&B team was the NSRA race at
Spokane County Raceway. With a proven set up the team was again
optimistic about the opportunity to compete among the regions’
best. However in qualifying the bottom end came apart in the motor
while Berry qualified ninth for the event – ending their evening
prematurely.
After
putting in the limited motor, the B&B crew traveled to Ephrata
Raceway Park for the another attempt to compete with the NSRA cars.
After a promising start to the day, the #53 sprinter would start on
the pole of the main event. Again, coming to take the green flag,
the team experienced motor trouble, sticking a valve and limped home
18th.
“Those
two NSRA events were among the ones that we had circled early season
as races that we really wanted to compete and run well in. It was
disappointing to experience motor problems in consecutive events,
but proved to ourselves that we could run with the best in the
region,” said Berry of the mid-summer motor troubles.
At
this point in the season came the real decision making time for the
team. Based on the early season successes and the recent motor set
backs – the team decided that running second in points at that
time with the INSCA was too big of an opportunity to pass up and
would finish the year out with the series that they won the
championship with in 2007.
The
August 8th event was held at Stateline Speedway and after
experiencing power steering pump and fuel pump issues early in the
day, the B&B #53 picked up their third win on the season.
Berry
commented, “The team worked so hard all season, but that August
event at Stateline really demonstrated the strengths of the group
we’ve assembled. We knew we had a fast car, but struggled through
three fuel pumps and two power steering pumps in the early portion
of the day. The crew never lost focus and got the car running great
by the time the main event rolled around. It may not have been
exciting for the fans because we started up front, but I can tell
you it is awfully satisfying for a team to work that hard all day
through troubles and bring home the victory!”
On
Labor Day weekend the team traveled back to Ephrata Raceway Park to
run the only non-wing event of the year on the schedule and the make
up date for the Annual Cast Iron Nationals that were slated to be
run in early May. After practicing for the non-wing portion, the
rains once again came and pushed both events to be run on Sunday.
Sunday began early and the #53 machine qualified 8th for
the non-wing portion, but after winning the heat race was forced to
start inside of row four based on the invert. After a caution
plagued race in which Berry received heavy contact twice, they came
home in the eighth position. The crew switched over the set up to
the winged portion of the Cast Iron Nationals during a mid-day rain
storm. The B&B team won the B-trophy dash and finished third in
the heat, but missed the set up for the main event and ended a soggy
weekend not as well as they had hoped.
The
following weekend the B&B team traveled to their only event in
the state of Montana for 2009 at the Mission Valley Speedway in
Polson. After qualifying second fastest and winning the trophy dash
– the #53 car jumped out to an early main event lead in the 35 lap
feature. A lap 10 red flag for fluid on the track allowed the team
to determine why the car began to get tight as the car had a
punctured right rear tire that was losing air quickly. The team
changed the tire and restarted the race from the rear of the field.
The #53 maneuvered it’s way back to the fourth position at the
conclusion of the race.
With
one scheduled event remaining for the 2009 INSCA season, the B&B
Motorsports team found itself in second place in points, within
striking distance, however the Championship race was cancelled by
the racetrack due to management concerns.
“It
was awfully disappointing to have our season cut short in that
manner – while we understand the intricacies of running a
racetrack it was tough to swallow. We chose to approach it like it
was a rainout and decided to focus on the big end of the year show,
the Northwest Sprint Car Invitational,” stated Berry .
The
First Annual Northwest Sprint Car Invitational was held October 10th
at Columbia Motor Speedway in Hermiston , Oregon . The event was
designed to bring together the cars of the regional cast iron
motored groups of the Northwest to compete against each other in a
non-points event. With abnormally cold temperatures the B&B
Motorsports team qualified 8th, but went on to finish
second in the B trophy dash and win the heat race. Berry lined up
inside of row number two on the start of the main event, but after
the pole sitter struggled to get going Berry got boxed in and slid
back as far as sixth. Quickly dispatching with cars, the #53 moved
back towards the front and got to second as the yellow flag flew for
a spun car. After several attempts to get by the leader, the B&B
machine came home after 50 laps, second in this First Annual event.
“It
was a great way to wrap up the year. We obviously would have
preferred heading into the long off-season with a win, but we
can’t be disappointed with the run. We had a tremendously strong
year, with three wins, a second in points and to finish second at
the Northwest Sprint Car Invitational it was a banner year and
we’re hoping to take our program to the next level for the 2010
season,” stated the excited driver of the #53 car.
The
Crew:
A
special thanks to the crew members that make up the B&B
Motorsports team:
Co-proprietor
– Michael Bartle
Crew Chief –
Loren Bartle
Crew – Kily
Fleming, Bob Records and Jerry Records
Also
a special thanks to the moms and dads, wives, fiancés, girlfriends
and sisters for supporting us in our endeavors.
Our
2009 Marketing Partners:
The Country Place Bar and Grill - 3618
E Columbia Ave, Spokane , WA (509)
484-6707
Mackay Spinal Injury Foundation - Cory
Mackay Fund, PO Box 814, Redmond,
WA 98073-0814
Lejeune Performance and Fabricating – www.LejeuneRacecars.com Silver Lining Limousine Service – www.SilverLiningLimo.com Ed Nereaux Racing Engines - 208-777-1085
Kodiakweb Racing – www.kodiakwebracing.com Sir Speedy Printing – www.sirspeedyspokane.com
Longacre Racing Products – www.LongacreRacing.com
Falling just short in his bid for a
second INSCA championship to title winner, Justin Popple, 2007
series champion Tony Berry sees this weekend’s race as a chance
for redemption to a strong but brief season.
SPOKANE, Wash. (October 6, 2009)-For 2007 Inland Northwest Sprint
Car Association champion, Tony Berry, the racing season has come
down to one final event-the Northwest Sprint Car Invitational to
be held Saturday, October 10 at Columbia Motor Speedway in
Hermiston, Ore.
Falling just short in his bid for a second INSCA championship to
title winner, Justin Popple, Berry sees this weekend’s race as a
chance for redemption to a strong but brief season.
“When we began the season with our new Lejeune chassis we were
focused on running strong at each event,” Berry said. “Going
in there were two dates that we knew we could not attend with the
INSCA group, one was my wedding over the Fourth of July and the
other happened to be a rain out. When those passed we found
ourselves second in points and as a racer with a committed team we
went for the gold so to speak.
“We changed our schedule to run the rest of the season for
points and came up a bit short. We really had hoped to run the
championship race at Spokane County in September (which was
canceled by the race track) but we chalked that up to something
like a rain out and started to focus on this Northwest
Invitational here at the end of the season.
Having the opportunity to jump behind the wheel of the Oak Tree
Inn/Pheasant Café and Lounge No. 53 one more time in ’09 is a
reward for the team’s hard work, Berry added.
“We’re excited to have another opportunity to perform well and
in reality this race could end up being the biggest event of the
year for our team. We’ve had some local business partners come
on board for this weekend including the Desert River Inn and the
Hermiston Chamber of Commerce’s Blue Moon Saloon and Western
Wine Festival so I know the promotional team is very excited to
get this event going this year and for the future.”
Berry has made laps in Hermiston and knows that the little bit of
knowledge he may have could be key to besting the likes of Mike
Fought, Craig Deaver, Popple and other Northwest Sprint Car stars.
“It is a track with a lot of character. There aren’t many
places to compare it to because it’s so unique. The racing
surface itself has been sealed by the new owners of the facility
and I think that will produce higher grip and better racing for
our cars,” Berry explained. “We’re excited to hold this type
of event here because no one really has a competitive advantage at
a neutral site. To win, it’s going to come down to the drivers
and crews that are able to best adapt to the new surface and I
hope we can make those gains quicker then everyone else.”
While working with Popple and Mark Jones to build excitement for
this weekend’s event has been a daily task for Berry, the end
result of a successful weekend makes the long days of working on
the event coupled with working on the sprint car worthwhile, he
noted.
“It hasn’t been easy (balancing the needs of the race team and
the event),” Berry said.
“Motorsports at our level is only as successful as the amount of
work and time you put into it. That goes for both preparing the
race car and for putting on a race of any caliber. Out model for
this event was the Fall Classic late model show that ran last
weekend in Yakima. That event, obviously run at the end of the
year, has an air of fun and enjoyment about it and that is the
kind of race we’re hoping to create for sprint car racing in
general in the Northwest. This event is design to be inclusive so
if someone has a cast iron motor and a sprint car they can come
and play.”
Sponsors make it all happen to get a team to the track, Berry
added. With the support of racing enthusiasts and regional
businesses, Berry has also been able to give back to the greater
Northwest community.
One endeavor the Gonzaga University graduate has taken on this
season is the Cory Mackay Spinal Injury Foundation, which has seen
half of Berry’s winnings donated to their group after each race
in 2009. Berry will use the energy focused on that project this
weekend in an effort to come to the aid of fellow sprint car
driver, Travis Rutz.
“We’ve been able to support many causes over the years
including the Cory Mackay Spinal Injury Foundation. The
motorsports family is very generous in times of need and I think
that has been displayed often. It sounds like a cliché but when
someone in the racing world suffers a serious injury behind the
wheel of a car you see time and time again this community band
together to support the driver, crew and family.
“Travis suffer a devastating accident at Terre Haute in a sprint
car which makes this tragedy hit home hard for all racers but
especially those from a similar discipline and the same region of
the world. You instantly relate to what the family is going
through and as you’ve seen from what is happening to help
Travis, the entire racing community not just those in the
Northwest, have banded together in support of the Rutz family.
Berry, Popple and the backers of the idea to pass the helmet for
this weekend’s event. Trish and Kirk Eklund, hope to collect
funds that will aid in Rutz’s recovery, he added.
“Trish and Kirk (from WESCO) are the ones that really
spearheaded the support of the pass the helmet donation that we
will be taking up this weekend. We hope that our contributions
will help the Rutz family in a time of need and we’re all
wishing for a speedy recovery for Travis.”
For more information regarding the Northwest Sprint Car
Invitational at Columbia Motor Speedway log onto
www.columbiamotorspeedway.com Racer information can be
obtained by calling 800-336-2682.
une 12th 2009 Spokesman Review Keeping Pace -- Doug Pace
There
will be a fundraiser for the bounty where SCR fans can contribute
directly to this fun but worthy cause that will assist Cory
Mackay. Any INSCA Sprint Car driver that can beat the B&B
machine to the checkered flag will receive half of the funds with
the other half of the proceeds being given to a very special cause
that the B&B team has been supporting this season.
Source:
INSCA Media Relations
The
B&B Motorsports team with driver Tony Berry has gotten off to
a fast start in the INSCA Winged Sprint Car series in 2009 winning
the season’s first two events. Spokane County Raceway has placed
a bounty on the driver of the #53 car for the June 13th event.
There will be a fundraiser for this bounty where fans can
contribute directly to this fun but worthy cause. Any INSCA Sprint
Car driver that can beat the B&B machine to the checkered flag
will receive half of the funds with the other half of the proceeds
being given to a very special cause that the B&B team has been
supporting this season.
A
freshman football player at Washington State University, Cory
Mackay, was on his way home to Redmond, WA from Pullman May 7th.
While in transit, Mackay was involved in a single car accident
near Washtucna after falling asleep just after 5 pm.
Mackay
was air lifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, WA where
it was determined that he had broken his back in two places. Cory
underwent multiple surgeries and has just recently left the
hospital to return to the family home. The doctors are optimistic
about Cory’s recovery and he has already shown some improvement
while working intensely with the physical therapists. The Mackay
family has established a foundation in Cory’s honor to help
offset the building medical costs and the necessary remodeling of
the family’s home to accommodate Cory’s movement.
If
you’d like to make contributions on your own you may do so at
any US Bank location and simply tell them you’d like to
contribute to the “Cory Mackay Fund” or you may send donations
to: Cory Mackay Fund, PO Box 814, Redmond, WA 98073-0814.
June
11th 2009 Spokesman Review Keeping Pace -- Doug Pace
Tony
Berry, the current points leader and 2007 Inland Northwest
Sprint Car Association (INSCA Champion picked up the win May
16th at the season opening event at Spokane County Raceway.
Source:
AJB Motorsports Marketing
Spokane,
WA (June 11, 2009) – Tony Berry and the B&B
Motorsports team will head to the track again this weekend
in search of their third win on the season in as many
attempts; this Saturday at Spokane County Raceway in
Airway Heights, WA.
Berry,
the current points leader and 2007 Inland Northwest Sprint
Car Association (INSCA)Champion picked up the win May 16th
at the season opening event at Spokane County Raceway.
“We’ve had a tremendous start to the season and most
of that success can be attributed to our new Lejeune
Performance Chassis, the thing has been absolutely
flawless so far and as a team we’re going to keep
digging to maintain this pace,” commented the driver of
the #53 sprinter.
After
sitting dormant for more than a year, the Spokane County
Raceway facility opened again under new leadership guided
by Austin Motorsports with the oval side managed by Larry
Bertrand. The B&B Motorsports team is thrilled with
the opportunity to race again at the half-mile oval
facility. Co-owner Michael Bartle had this to share, “We
have always run well on the big tracks and consider
ourselves very lucky to have a track like SCR open again
for competition. We have two great tracks within a few
miles of each other and the end result is that everyone in
the motorsports community will benefit.”
The
#53 Mackay Spinal Injury Foundation, Ed Nereaux Racing
Engines, Country Place, Sir Speedy Printing Spokane sprint
car will be on display at the main NAPA Auto Parts store
on Freya Ave. in Spokane Saturday June 20th for a
Father’s Day Weekend extravaganza. “This is a great
opportunity for us to expose our new car, the series and
our great marketing partners to fans in an up close and
personal way. Hopefully some new faces will come take a
look at the car and be motivated to come to the next
event. If you’re in the area please stop in and say
‘hi’,” said Berry.
One
of Berry’s long time marketing partners www.KodiakwebRacing.com
has captured both in car and out of car video footage from
the first two events of the 2009 season. While videography
is only a portion of what Kodiakweb Racing has to offer,
be sure to check out the site for video of the B&B
Motorsports team.
Also,
the B&B Motorsports team is pleased to announce a new
relationship with Silver Lining Limousine Service located
in Marysville, WA. Berry had this to share, “We’re
thrilled to announce a new relationship with Silver Lining
Limos and proud to be associated with them. When we make
our trips west of the mountains this year we will be
traveling in style!” For more information on your
ultimate choice for limo services in the Northwest visit www.SilverLiningLimo.com.
Come
out to Spokane County Raceway this Saturday night June
13th and cheer on the #53 as the B&B Motorsports team
goes for win number three on the season. Qualifying will
begin at 6 pm with racing at 7 pm.
For
more information on Tony Berry and the B&B Motorsports
team or how to make contributions to the Mackay Spinal
Injury Foundation visit www.AJBMotorsportsMarketing.com
or call 800.336.2682.
Having been behind the wheel of late models, go-karts,
midgets and just about anything else that goes fast, Berry
has settled into a nice situation with car owner Mike Bartle
and the No. 53 MacKay Spinal Injury Foundation sprinter.
Doug Pace
The Spokesman-Review
Inland Northwest Sprint Car Association driver Tony Berry
had not won a race in several years. That is, until he
grabbed the checkers two weeks ago at Spokane County Raceway.
The Gonzaga University graduate followed that up with his
second win last weekend and leads the INSCA points standings
heading to the third race of the season, June 13 at SCR.
“It’s sure has been a long time in the making, but
we’ll take it – that’s for sure,” Berry said.
Having been behind the wheel of late models, go-karts,
midgets and just about anything else that goes fast, Berry
has settled into a nice situation with car owner Mike Bartle
and the No. 53 MacKay Spinal Injury Foundation sprinter.
Berry does miss the door-to-door style of late model
racing and would jump at the chance to get back into midget
cars, but home may ultimately lie in INSCA.
“Not staying in the Inland Northwest Super Stock
Association where we had some reasonable runs is a little
bit of a regret in not seeing through what we could do
there, but one of my crewmembers (Bartle) bought a sprint
car and one thing led to another – and I believe we have
ended up racing in one of the two premier divisions in this
area,” Berry said. … “From a competitive standpoint
the sprint car made the most sense in the short run, but I
won’t rule out something with fenders in the future. I’d
still like to race midgets or late models if the right doors opened up.”
Berry is the INSCA points leader, but he has already
conceded that a second championship will not be in the cards
for this season.
“In years past we’ve chased points, including 2007,
where we won the championship and didn’t win any races but
ran with great consistency,” he said. “This year we have
a new car and will chase wins and not points. … I am going
to have to miss the July 4 race at Mission Valley Speedway
(in Ronan, Mont.,) because I am getting married and the
ceremony is on the coast and I really don’t have access to
an airplane to get there after I am done with the wedding.”
Making life and racing choices has always come with
careful consideration to the bigger picture. From his start
in a family-owned karting and late model team to Bartle’s
ride, Berry has been driven by purpose.
“A lot of people don’t choose the path I did when it
comes to balancing racing with going to college and
preparing for a future,” he said. “My parents really
supported the karting commitments when I was young, but they
always asked that I balance that with involvement in civic
areas. … Being involved in some of those off-track civic
functions opened some doors (for sponsorship, including the
National Guard in 2006) and I was able to manage Gonzaga and
racing, including racing 24 times in 2006, with the constant
focus on school and civic activities first, then racing afterward.”
Through a friend of his fiancée, Leah Dotson, Berry has
found a way to link racing and a civic endeavor during this season.
Berry will donate half of his race winnings to the Cory
MacKay Spinal Injury Foundation, a charity that aids the
Washington State University football player’s recovery
from injuries sustained in a May 7 automobile accident.
“(The MacKay family’s life) has changed because of
the accident and Cory not being able to move his legs right
now,” Berry said. “All of that happened to them in the
blink of an eye. They have so much to do, from remodeling
their home to accommodate a man the size of Cory, who will
be in a wheelchair for some time, to even finding a chair
that fits him.
“It’s been very humbling, because he’s such a
fighter and has a tremendous work ethic. Cory believes he
will overcome, so we’re just trying to make sure he has
the financial resources to do that.”
Spokane,
WA (May 26, 2009) – The Inland Northwest Sprint Car
Association brought their exciting version of pavement sprint
car action to Stateline Speedway in Post
Falls, Idaho on Saturday, May 23rd for the
second race of the 2009 season.
Enjoying
one of the warmer days that spring time has offered so far
this year, the INSCA group fielded a star studded nine-car
field for qualifying. The first car to take to the track was
the winner of the season opening event one week earlier, Tony
Berry in the B&B Motorsports entry who ran a lap of 12.128
seconds around the quarter mile oval. This established the
mark to beat as the rest of the field took to the greasy
surface. Justin Popple in the ACI Coatings, Lube Tube, Spokane
Pump #19 was the next car out and laid down a solid lap of
12.221 seconds. There were ultimately several challengers for
the top spot, but Berry and Popple
held on to the top two positions when it was all said and
done.
Lining
up for the four car trophy dash, Dixon Helgeson had his HEI
Motorsports, Lizard Chassis on the pole for the first time
this season. Dixon missed the opening event of the 2009 season
to attend the wedding of his son and long time INSCA member,
Wes. Outside of row number one was the always formidable INC
sponsored machine of Kevin Burck, followed by Popple and Berry
. When the green
flag waved Burck got the jump in the familiar gold
number 65 and held on for an easy win, Berry was second,
followed by Popple and Helgeson.
In
the heat race Ephrata Raceway
Park regular Kurt Meyer lead the field to the green and
held the top spot throughout the eight lap event. Followed by
2008 INSCA runner-up Cole Tupling, 2004 INSCA Champion
Mark Jones, Helgeson, Popple, Burck, Kudrna and Berry .
The
main event lived up to its premier billing on the evening’s
schedule as the INSCA series employs a full field invert
within one second of fast
time which had the fastest qualifiers start at the rear
of the field. Kurt
Meyer again brought the field to the green flag in the
25-lap feature event and jumped out to an early lead, followed
by Jones and Tupling, but all eyes were on the Mackay Spinal
Injury Foundation, Sir Speedy Printing Spokane, Country Place
, Kodiakwebracing.com,
Ed Nereaux Racing Engines #53 of Berry as he quickly began to
dispatch with cars. Berry moved into third by the fourth
circuit and stalked Jones for seven laps; finally making a
move on the bottom entering turn one. Popple and Burck both
waged their own war as they too moved towards the front. Berry
got to the leader, Meyer’s back bumper on lap 14 and
overtook the top spot with a pass on the outside coming out of
turn two. Popple would get to third, but while battling an
extremely loose racecar could not progress any further. The
race was slowed twice for cautions featuring spins of Mark
Jones and Dixon Helgeson. Ultimately it was Berry that
would capture victory for the second time in as many weeks,
second was Kurt Meyer after starting from the pole, Popple
came home third, followed by Burck, Tupling, Helgeson, Donnie
Kudrna, Jones and DNS Wesley Duren.
The
exciting, ground pounding action of the INSCA is scheduled to
return to action June 13th at Spokane County
Raceway in Airway Heights , WA . For more information on the
Inland Northwest Sprint Car Association visit www.INSCA.us
or call either 800.336.2682
or 509.499.9582.
Fast
Time: Tony Berry 12.128 seconds
Trophy
Dash: Kevin Burck, Berry , Justin Popple, Dixon Helgeson
Heat
race: Kurt Meyer, Cole Tupling, Mark Jones, Helgeson, Popple,
Burck, Kudrna , Berry
Main
25-laps: Berry , Meyer, Popple, Burck, Tupling, Helgeson,
Kudrna, Jones DNS Wesley Duren
Spokane,
WA (May 20, 2009) – Tony Berry and the B&B
Motorsports team began the 2009 racing season with a bang
Saturday May 16th at Spokane County Raceway in Airway
Heights, WA – capturing the fast
time award and cruising to the team’s first win and
Berry’s third since 2005 with the Inland Northwest Sprint
Car Association (INSCA).
"I'll tell you
what, racing is a game of preparation and circumstance and we
have struggled in the luck department for several years. It
was a trying time, but I have the best and most dedicated crew
around and we all persevered for this one," commented
Berry .
That was especially true
this past weekend when at the very end of practice as the team
was attempting to scuff their qualifying tires Berry
experienced injection problems. Co-owner Michael Bartle
explained, "We were mystified what was causing the
problem. We drew from well over 100 years of experience from
individuals at the racetrack, consulted with our motor
builder, Ed Nereaux and searched for what seemed like an hour
for a problem. We were never able to come up with the cause
and fortunately it didn't happen again."
After not getting the
opportunity to utilize the remainder of practice for a scuff
session, the #53 Mackay Spinal
Injury Foundation, Country Place, Whitley Fuel, Kodiakwebracing.com,
Sir Speedy Printing Spokane, Ed Nereaux Racing Engines
sprinter ran a fast lap of 16.48 seconds around the high
banked half mile oval, averaging over 110 mph and good enough
for quick time.
After missing the trophy
dash due to continued injection struggles, Berry lined up
outside of row three for the feature event. Quickly moving
into second place behind the Red
Perkins owned #65-1 driven by Donnie Kudrna, the #53
stalked Kudrna for several laps before making the move on the
outside of turns three and four. Once the pass was completed
Berry checked out and easily cruised to his first victory of
2009.
"That was perhaps
the best car I've ever had. This was our debut race with our
new Lejeune Performance Chassis and we couldn't be happier.
The car was so consistently fast that we didn’t have to
adjust the set up once all day long. It was a little freer
than we had hoped for in the main, but since we weren't being
pressured we were able to just cruise out front. What a great
way to start the season for our team and marketing
partners," said the ecstatic Berry .
"Perhaps the
coolest thing about this win is that we were able to do this
for Cory Mackay and Mackay Spinal Injury Foundation. This is a
trying time for him and his family and in our own little way;
I hope this helps contribute to his recovery." Mackay, a
student and football player at Washington
State University was on his way home after finals
recently and was involved in a single car
accident; breaking his back in two places. The B&B
Motorsports team will be contributing half of their 2009
winnings to Mackay Spinal Injury Foundation – "stay
strong #6."
Video from this event
can be seen at one of Berry ’s longtime sponsors: www.kodiakwebracing.com
with a featured in-car camera from qualifying.
The #53 B&B
Motorsports sprint car will take to the track again this
coming Saturday, May 23rd at Stateline Speedway in Post
Falls , ID. Come out and cheer on the team with
qualifying beginning at 5 pm .
For more information on
Tony Berry and the B&B Motorsports team call 800.336.2682
or visit www. AJBMotorsportsMarketing.com.
####
Photo Credit: Kodiakweb - Michael
Baker
Berry
Heads to SCR in Search of Win and Supporting a Good Cause
Spokane,
WA (May 14, 2009) – Tony Berry and the B&B
Motorsports team will once again head to the track this weekend
with the intent of beginning their 2009 season. After enduring
several rainouts, the official maiden voyage of their Lejeune
Performance chassis will come this Saturday night at Spokane
County Raceway in Spokane
, WA .
"This is perhaps the
most prepared that we've ever been for a race season,"
shared Berry , the 2007 Inland Northwest Sprint Car Association
Champion. "With all of the rainouts that we've had on race
day, we've been able to get more practice days in than ever
before. We've been very happy with how the car has responded at
three very different racetracks and we're just hoping that we
can put it through the paces in a race this weekend."
The B&B team was able
to test last weekend at the Spokane County Raceway facility and
had great reviews, "The team that has been put into place
at SCR ha s obviously taken on a huge task to get that facility
race ready again, but from our perspective their efforts have
been numerous and the place really looks good. They've spent a
lot of time trying to make it safer and more user friendly and
we're just thrilled to have SCR as an option to race at again in
2009," commented B&B co-owner Michael Bartle.
Last weekend, the Lejeune
Performance chassis, winner of the 2009 Spokane Auto Boat Speed
Show racecar division, was on display at The Country Place a
restaurant and bar located in Hillyard , WA and one of Berry' s
longtime sponsors. "It was a great turnout at The CP for
sure. The food was great, but the sheer number of cool hot
rods, rat
rods and racecars at one location was neat to see,"
said Berry .
Racecar drivers and the
men and women that work on them are clearly impassioned about
their sport of choice, but every so often an event occurs that
takes=2 0precedence over all else and puts your everyday
activities into perspective. A freshman
football player at Washingtson State University , Cory
Mackay, recently was on his way home to Redmond
, WA from Pullman upon completion of finals. While in
transit, Mackay was involved in a single car
accident near Washtucna after falling asleep just after
5 pm. Mackay was air lifted to Harborview
Medical Center in Seattle,
WA where it was determined that he had broken his back.
The Mackay family has established a foundation in Cory's honor
to help offset the building medical costs and the necessary
remodeling of the family's home to accommodate Cory’s
movement. The B&B Motorsports team will be contributing half
of their 2009 winnings to the Mackay Spinal
Injury Foundation and additional donations can be made
on behalf of Cory Mackay by sending to: Mackay Spinal Injury
Foundation, PO Box 814; Redmond
, WA 98073-0814 . Stay strong #6.
Come out
and cheer on the #53 Mackay Spinal Injury Foundation, Country
Place , Sir Speedy Printing Spokane, Kodiakwebracing.com,
Ed Nereaux Racing Engines, Lejeune Performance and Engineering,
Longacre Racing Products, B&B sprinter at Spokane County
Raceway under the lights this Saturday night, May 16th,
2009.
For more
information on the B&B Motorsports team and driver Tony
Berry visit www.AJBMotorsportsMarketing.com
or call 800.336.2682.
Berry
Optimistic for ’09 Season
Spokane, WA (April 30)
– The 2009 season for the B&B Motorsports team with driver Tony Berry
will kick off Saturday night, May 2nd at the fourth annual Cast
Iron Nationals sprint car event at Ephrata
Raceway
Park in Ephrata, WA. This
premier event will bring competitors together from at least four different
sprint car associations from around the Northwest and Canada to one of the
most storied quarter mile ovals in the area.
The event will also mark
the debut of a new car for Berry and team in the form of a Lejeune Performance
pavement car, but it will still don the familiar #53. "We are all very
excited about putting this new car on the track," stated Berry. "The
Lejeune name has performed at a very high level for a long time and we are
very optimistic about what this year can bring."
The 2007 Inland
Northwest Sprint Car Association (INSCA) Champion, Berry, will again compete
at select INSCA events in 2009 in their existing Michael Bartle owned car as
well as running some ASA/NSRA events in the Lejeune with a potential foray
into the WESCO series towards the end of the year.
On the B&B 2009
schedule Berry had this to share, "The past several years we have run
many different forms of cars: sprint cars, midgets and late models. As of
right now it appears we will be focused on the sprinters for 2009, but I
wouldn’t rule out potential races in other types
of vehicles as the year progresses. Currently, our schedule for 2009
is highlighted by some special events and the desire to compete at some
different tracks this year. We wanted to expose our sponsors, The Country
Place, Kodiakwebracing.com,
Sir Speedy Printing, Ed Nereaux Racing Engines, Moca Creations, Longacre
Racing Products and ACRAnet to some different venues in 2009."
Perhaps the most
exciting event on the 2009 schedule for Berry is the ASA/NSRA event planned
for September 12th. The Rory Price Memorial event is on the 5/8th’s
of a mile oval at Evergreen
Speedway in Monroe, WA and is Berry’s 'home track' having grown up
in Redmond, WA. "I've never driven a sprint car there, but I am really
looking forward to it based on our experience at Spokane County Raceway’s
half-mile. I have a lot of positive memories going to Monroe every weekend
when I was younger to watch the NSRA cars and whole generation of late model
and tour drivers – that will definitely be the highlight of the season for
me," commented the 25-year old.
The 2009 B&B
Motorsports team consists of Crew Chief Loren Bartle, co-owner Michael Bartle,
Kily Fleming and Bob and Jerry Records. Special thanks go out to the parents,
siblings and wives that help support and put up with our sport of choice.
Additional
marketing opportunities remain for the 2009 season. For more information about
Tony Berry and the B&B Motorsports team visit www.AJBmotorsportsmarketing.com
or call 800.336.2682.
INSCA Sprint Car Club Well
Represented at Spokane Auto/Boat Show with the Justin Popple Racing's
#19 and Mike Bartle's B&B MotorSports /TonyBerryRacing's #53 Resulting in a
"Booth Win" with the "Best Of Class" Award in the "Track
Competition" Category
Photos by Kily Fleming
Special thanks to Michael
Baker of Kodiakweb Racing (www.kodiakwebracing.com)
for providing the exciting INSCA Sprint Cars on-track video multiple
displays."
N.W. Racing Headlines News
(Click on headline
to read more)
This is pretty unique - don't ask me
how they do it.Place
your mouse on the E below and drag
to the U.
E
ven though you can't see Him, GOD is
there for yoU
Community
ARCHIVES
"Berry to
donate half of his racing winnings to the Cory MacKay Spinal Injury
Foundation"
The AJB racing team through hard work anddedication of all evolved, has been a force to recon with in the racing
More
Want
to know more about Tony Berry and his
Accomplishments? Here is his Drivers Card... More
On the final weekend of the season Tony secured the "Rookie of the
Year" award in grand style. Tony was the class of the field on 9-23 leading
over 50 laps of the main event. Tony finished the season 6th in points and added
the Inland Northwest Super Stock Association 2006 Rookie of the Year to his
resumeMore
The 2006 season provided a great
deal of excitement and opportunity
for Tony Berry and the AJB racing
team. The 22-year old Berry competed
in three of the most competitive
divisions in North West motor
sports; Late Models, Sprint Cars and
Midgets.
Driving the Idaho Army National
Guard #53, Berry and team brought
home Rookie of the Year honors in
the Inland Northwest Super Stock
Association (INSSA) while competing
in their first full year of late
model racing
More
IWWCW
"InWhatWayCanWe"
Want
to get the inside scoop on
what Tony and the team
did to get onto Racin' for a
Livin'? Here is your source for all the details.....
Oak
Tree Inn
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This
premier event will bring competitors together from at least four different
sprint car associations from around the Northwest and Canada to one of the
most storied quarter mile ovals in the area.
