Hi Everybody!

Tonight we hosted the ECTQM’s Tribute to the Berry Family and their Annuual Pinebrook Reunion Night. Bracketed by one 89yo and his (great) Grandson, a 14yo who took to the Track to start the Race. The TQ’s are quite entertaining, put on a great Show tonight and there were several Winners in two classes and a Race for the ACOTs . I’m sad to announce this will be the last years for TQ Racer #43 Chester Haywood. I sincerely hope this is his best season! He’ll be greatly missed.
Blu Metz
Admin
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My buddy Tom Berry . We have been going racing together for a long time. Started riding to the track with him and John Bokros in 1997 when I was driving for Karl and Gail Storero Andrew Storero. Got to know Tom at that point. He helped crew the f8 car with uncle Joe Csernak to earn his driver a rookie of the Year award . Did the painting and body work on my Walder 45 TQ Midget and painted a number of cars for me through the years. Tom was instrumental to the founding of the East Coast TQ Midgets and helping grow the organization across the years. Made many trips to Fort Wayne in the Green van with Tom. It was great getting to relive some of the memories and see Tom with many of those he worked with across the years. It was a fitting tribute to a humble man at Bethel Speedway Racer’s and Fan’s Appreciation during our Pinebrook Reunion night.
Thanks for the memories
Mallory Kutz
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I got to Meet Mallory as Miss ECTQM. She is a Hobby Stock Racer Racer with a long and storied history whom I will be interviewing for theracingtimes.net in my Feature Column Women in Racing. Believe it or not that list is growing as more Females take to the Speedways and we’re all the better for it! I met Mallory’s Parents Nancy and Barry Kutz in the Stands, two fine individuals who have benefited the World of Racing for decades!
The pictures are of the Winners tonight, the Tom Berry Tribute Night and Pinebrook Speedway Racer’s Reunion Night.
There was only one Dirt Mod for tonight’s Race and that was a 5 lapper won by Ed Dachenhausen in Scot Sanford’s #18! There was also only two 4cyl Novice Racers tonight and for the first time ever two sisters, Kylee Curry racing her #1 and Emily Curry racing Mom’s Back up car #7. Kylee took the pole, the lead and the checkered. At the half Kylee looked like a sure thing. Then Emily began to close the gap as her mojo started returning. It was fun and I’d love to one day see these two sisters and their Mom run in a race altogether!
Lightning struck Walt Hurricane Henry tonight. I told Walt in the pits I had a good feeling about him tonight. He didn’t share my sentiment. In fact he felt a bit short of what the other Racers had. Walt Won the Heat Race. In the 2nd half of that Heat Race if you were at a craps table you would have a lot going on as the car numbers were #8 Big Mony Bob Sleight, #88 Walter Henry IV, #86 Daryl DeBetta and #84 Tucker Katz. In the Feature Hurricane Henry on the pole alongside Daryl DeBetta. However, Katz pitted before the green and was back within the few courtesy laps albeit at the end of the Field.
Henry appeared to have a massive loose condition as for 4 laps he was high and wild out of turns with DeBetta in the lead and fending off the 26 Leland Ofelien. Henry IV spun out of turn 1 setting the stage for a restart/rematch between his Dad and DeBetta. Henry gains the lead over DeBetta with Sleight, Ofelien and Katz hot on their tails. Just then Henry IV spins again out of turn 1 and it’s become a nail biter between DeBetta and Henry as each restart one or the other must again race for the lead. Hurricane Henry wins out again. My stomach is in my throat as DeBetta is wall to wall with Henry and suddenly the threat changes as Sleight takes P2 from DeBetta. Five laps left, two laps left the order is Hurricane Henry, Sleight, DeBetta, Ofelien and Katz. Somehow Hurricane Henry manages to hold on for the win despite what demons the car had! It was a great Race!
Moving on to a uniquely strong competition, the Beginner Bandoleros. Tonight we have 4 Racers, 3 of them Rookies, one in her first time Racing! They are Colten Welsch, Levi Houghtaling, winner of last week’s Feature, his first, Miss Audra DeGraw and Miss Karley Davidson. Welsch fought like the Devil to hold off Houghtaling throughout the race when on the last lap they tried to split a lap car, chaos ensued and Welsch rolled over, Houghtaling climbed the guardrail demolishing his car, DeGraw ended up, shaken, in the grass and somewhere in the midst of all that was Davidson. Mention was made of the four of them being indoctrinated into the World of Racing. I was able to check on all of them and Welsch laid on a stretcher in an ambulance with Houghtaling sitting along side Davidson and I was able to hug DeGraw as she began to calm down. They are all ok and I expect bruised. The Race was red flagged and I believe there are points only results if any. I’ve no idea at this time.
Two of three 4cyl Mods entered the Feature Tonight, the returning Jerry Kingetter in the 11j, Tisha Curry in her back up car #7 and Scott Young in the John Deere #16 couldn’t make the call. Right off the line Kingetter had the advantage and it was no contest throughout the race to the finish.
Our INEX Bandos have four Racers tonight. On the pole is James Boogie Bauernfiend, Jordan Smith, Alyson Smith (who had a Dance Recital and made it in time for the Feature), and Easton Houghtaling who, judging from the Heat Race was having an issue with the car. His Dad told me after a wreck two weeks ago he hasn’t been able to make it right.
Jordan Smith takes the lead early over Bauernfiend and keeps it through a restart when Sister Alyson spins in the Crisco Corner (dubbed that by the Late Videographer and Legend Ron Hills). Around lap 10 Bauernfiend took over the Lead from Jordan Smith. Then both spin out of turn two, colliding and collecting Houghtaling who had a left front tire cut down and the already ailing race car was towed off for a DNF.
Restarting the race Alyson Smith has the Pole and the lead as Jordan Smith and Boogie Bauernfiend are sent to the rear technically even though Smith’s are both up front. Bauernfiend soon gains a big lead over the two Smiths as Jordan’s car starts to fade mechanically, giving over P2 to Alyson Smith. That’s how the race ended with Bauernfied getting his second win in a row, Alyson Smith gaining the P2 and Jordan Smith still getting a top three.
The Night Capper goes to the Currys! Sisters Emily and Kylee, for the first time ever, as Emily made her return to racing tonight in Mom’s Backup Car #7 and Kylee in her #1. I was expecting Kylee to race Pappa Smurf Frank Bauernfiend and instead was treated to the Curry Duo so telling Kylee to “just beat Frank” wasn’t an option tonight. It was close at times, especially toward the end as with 5 laps to go Emily seemed to have regained her mojo and closed a sizable gap down to a few feet. Kylee was first across the finish line. I hope to one day see Mom and both Daughters on the track together.
That wraps up Tonight’s Racing Folks. We’re off next week and there will be a practice session from noon-8pm for those who want it. Stay safe, everyone! I love you all and until we meet again, keep those wheels turning!