500 Sprint Car Tour to Return to Berlin Raceway with Kenyon Midgets
The 500 Sprint Car Tour presented by Auto Value Bumper to Bumper Parts Stores will return to Marne, Michigan and Berlin Raceway for two races in 2023. For both events, the 500 Sprint Car Tour will be joined by the United States Speed Association Kenyon Midget Series. The two series will join a host of local Berlin divisions on June 10th and August 5th.
“Everyone here is excited about the return of the Kenyon Midgets to the Berlin Raceway,” said Jeff Striegle, General Manager at Berlin Raceway.. “Once a staple here at the track, years ago, they have just basically disappeared from the state. Fans from all over Michigan have been asking for a midget show, and now they will get back what they have been waiting for. The midgets along with the 500 Sprint Car Tour will be a tremendous show. Two 500 Sprint Car Tour shows last season had our fans asking for more, and they got it!”
The United States Speed Association (USSA) was incorporated in 2009 to organize and conduct racing events, and is the sanctioning body of the Kenyon Midget Series. Mel and Don Kenyon developed the Kenyon Midget Series with the goal of providing competitive racing at an affordable price. Mel Kenyon had 380 midget feature wins, 7 USAC National Midget championships, and 8 starts in the Indy 500 during his illustrious career. The developmental series has produced multiple Little 500 champions and continues to be a feeder system for various series and disciplines including the 500 Sprint Car Tour. The series takes place at many local short tracks across central Indiana, and will look to expand their reach north as they visit Berlin Raceway.
Jack Kessler photo
“The Kenyon Midget Series is looking forward to joining the 500 Sprint Car Tour at Berlin Raceway in 2023,” said Brad Hayes, President – USSA. “It’s a unique opportunity for our racers to showcase their talents in front of Berlin’s great fanbase and to strengthen our position as a feeder series for the 500 Sprint Car Tour.”
Berlin Raceway is a paved, 7/16 mile oval located in Marne, Michigan. The track has 13 degrees of banking in the turns and 9 degrees of banking on the straights. The 500 Sprint Car Tour visited Berlin Raceway twice during their inaugural season. Tyler Roahrig (Plymouth, Indiana) was the fast qualifier for both events and subsequently went to victory lane in both efforts. Berlin Raceway was a significant supporter of the 500 Sprint Car Tour presented by Auto Value Bumper to Bumper Parts Stores, and will continue to be a staple on the 500 Sprint Car Tour schedule.
“We are excited to return to Berlin Raceway in 2023,” said Jared Owen, Series Director - 500 Sprint Car Tour. “The facilities and crowds at Berlin Raceway are first class. We are excited to partner with the Kenyon Midget Series and bring more open wheel racing to Western Michigan!”
The 500 Sprint Car Tour was formed out of the desire to continue the growth of pavement non-wing sprint cars. The tour was formed and managed by Anderson Speedway. Anderson Speedway continues to hold the most prestigious pavement sprint car race in the world, The Little 500. The tour features non-wing pavement sprint cars. These unique open-wheel race cars with extreme horsepower produce high-speed, side-by-side racing. These are the same cars that participate in the historic Little 500 sprint car race at Anderson Speedway every May on Memorial Day Weekend. Drivers from across the country compete on the tour as it travels across the Midwest from early April thru mid-October.
Follow for more information at:
Berlin Raceway: www.berlinraceway.com
United States Speed Association: www.ussaracing.com
500 Sprint Car Tour: www.500sprintcartour.com