Campbell Challenged By Jones For CRA Win At Berlin

Brian Campbell outdueled Erik Jones to score the ARCA/CRA victory at Berlin Raceway Saturday. Photo by Randy Ellen

Once he gets the lead at Berlin Raceway in Marne, MI, Brian Campbell knows the way to victory lane.  A threat to win at any track where he races, Campbell is dominating at Berlin, his home track.

At the ARCA/CRA Super Series Berlin 125 Saturday night,  Campbell followed his game plan to perfection, keep the leader in his sights and then charge to the front as the laps wound down.  Taking the lead from Caleb Bisacky who lead from the outside of the front row and held on to the lead for 87 laps, Campbell seemed to be ready to run away.

The last 20 laps proved to be very interesting as 15 year old Erik Jones got to second and chased down Campbell to make him work hard for the win.  Jones followed Campbell for several laps before passing him in a tough move to take the lead on the 110^th lap.  Campbell then fought back to retake the lead on the 112^th lap, with a very determined Jones never letting him get away, even pulling up beside him with only two laps to go.  Jones could not complete the pass though and Campbell came out the winner.

“Last year I lost a race here because I let the leader get out of my sights, so today I just kept the leader in my sights.” Campbell said. “I did not expect him (Erik Jones) to come up like that, I am happy to win.”

With this win Campbell breaks a tie with his father the legendary Fred Campbell for the most ARCA/CRA Super Series wins at Berlin Raceway.

“I never really worry about that sort of thing, I am just looking for the win” Campbell commented in victory lane when informed he passed Fred for the record.

Terry VanHaitsma took home the EDCO Welding Fast Qualifier Award.  He then drew a five for the invert putting Brandon Hermiller on the pole with Caleb Bisacky on the outside of the front row.  For leading the most laps of the race Bisacky earned the Turn One Lap Leader Award. For leading at the halfway mark he took home the RaceTrailierSales.com Halfway leader Award.

Travis Braden was the Boyne Machine Company Rookie of the Race Award and a Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award.  Tom Thomas took the other Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award and a Lane Automotive/ISKY Racing Cams Hardcharger Award.  For his move to pass Campbell, Jones earned the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award.

The next ARCA/CRA Super Series event will be the Bowl 125 at Shady Bowl Speedway in DeGraff, OH on May 28.  For more information, visit craracing.net.  To learn more about the Shady Bowl Speedway go to shadybowl.com.

ARCA CRA Super Series
Berlin Raceway – Marne, MI
Berlin 125 – May 12, 2012