Austin Berry Will Honor Grandfather and Raise Pancreatic Cancer Awareness
After Fast Start, Mechanical Issues Sidelined Team at Port Royal Speedway
Port Royal, PA – April 4, 2023
by Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Mgmt
Photo Credit: Jeremy Zarfos Photography
As is well-documented, Austin Berry has been building his super late model program steadily in recent years and is showing signs of being a weekly threat in the Pennsylvania region.
That said, the biggest goal for Austin Berry in 2023 is honoring is grandfather through his ‘Racing For Time’ campaign. Berry hopes that by raising awareness he will be able to save at least one family from going through what his family did.
- Date: 4/1/23
- Track: Port Royal Speedway
- City, State: Port Royal, PA
- Quick Stats: 31 cars, Qualifying 1st in Group A, Heat 5th (4), A-main 20th (13)
Saturday Summary
This week Berry was at nearby Port Royal Speedway for their weekly $4,000 to win show. A stout field of 31 cars was pit-side for the second show of the 2023 season.
Berry topped the entire field in time trials with a lap of 21.225 in The Tire Mart Tire Pros of Harrisburg, Juniata Veterinary Clinic, Berry’s Siding & Seamless Gutter, SRI Performance, VP Racing Fuels, JDS Racing, Locust Hill Custom Butcher Shop, Nathan Berry Beef Farm, Addicted2DirtPR.com, A&C Racing Engines, GO Lithium, Valvoline Pro-V Racing, Super Clean, Rocket Chassis No.86.
The format inverted the top four in each group to set the heat race lineups. From his 4th starting spot in the first heat race of the afternoon, Berry was unable to gain any track position and ultimately settled for a 5th place finish.
Berry started 13th in the 25-lap A-main and was looking to battle his way into the top ten and put a solid recovery in the book, but it wasn’t to be. Just after completing lap six, Berry was forced to retire from the race with mechanical issues.
“It’s frustrating. We had a great car early today but didn’t quite hit the setup for heat race and that cost us. We’ll get it back to the shop and diagnose the issue. We’ll be back next week and go after it again.“, a dejected but determined Berry said.
Fun Stuff Coming Up
Throughout the 2023 season, as part of Berry’s Pancreatic Cancer Awareness campaign called ‘Racing For Time’, fans will be able to honor loved ones, win prizes and purchase merchandise. All of those things will combine to raise awareness and funds to be donated to PanCan.org at the end of the season.
Berry carries out the ‘Racing For Time’ campaign every five years, running a purple scheme on his racecar, educating fans about the terrible disease and racing funds to help research teams. In 2018 Berry, his family and his team raised $5,560 for PanCan.org.
Berry will be selling decals of the purple ribbon that represents Pancreatic Cancer Awareness. Each decal has a space where the purchasing fan can write a personal note in honor or memory of a loved one, a note of encouragement to others or whatever message they choose. The decal will then be placed on the deck of Berry’s No.86 super late model where it will ride with him all season long.
“I really want to cover every bit of black space on the car with these personal messages. It would mean a lot to me to carry those messages.“, Berry said.
The team will also soon have unique Pancreatic Cancer awareness themed team apparel for sale at the track and on their website, AustinBerryRacing.com.
Here’s the coolest part of purchasing either a decal or apparel item. Just as they did 5 years ago, the team removes the body panels at the end of the season and gives them away to lucky winners. The purchase of a decal or 2023 apparel item will enter you in a drawing at the end of the season to win one of the body panels off Berry’s Pancreatic Cancer themed 2023 racecar!
In the near future the team is going to announce details of how to enter two additional raffle contests. Berry’s custom made pair of Pancreatic Cancer themed driving gloves, as well as the themed tail banner from the racecar will be raffled off. Two lucky fans will walk away with very unique souvenirs. Both items are pictured below this story.
Follow Austin Berry Racing’s social media accounts (listed below) for updates on all the information about the team’s 2023 cancer campaign, as well as race dates and results.
Why Pancreatic Cancer?
Austin Berry’s grandfather, Jerry Bryner, was one of his biggest supporters in his early years of racing, coming to watch him cut his teeth on the local go-kart tracks. If Jerry wasn’t able to attend the races, he was always sure to be at the shop on Sundays for wash day to hear about the races and watch the videos from that weekend. Jerry lived on Main Street of Port Royal, PA and was always a big supporter of the speedway. In fact, Jerry even drove the pace truck for several years at the Speed Palace. In late March of 2008, Jerry was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. He passed away a short 6 months later in September. It seems hard to believe that this year will make 15 years since his passing. Austin wants to pay tribute to one of his biggest fans, his grandfather, throughout the season at a place that he knows his pap would’ve loved to watch him race by conducting a campaign to raise awareness and money for Pancreatic Cancer.
It is our goal through this campaign to spread awareness of this uncommon and difficult to detect disease and to raise money for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCan) to assist with identifying a means of early detection.
Pancreatic Cancer is difficult to detect in its early stages. It is typically in an advanced stage by the time symptoms arise and lead to a diagnosis. Research is needed to find a way to achieve early detection. Patients need more time. That’s why ABR is going “Racing for Time”.
Up Next
Berry will return to Port Royal Speedway Saturday night April 8th. Racing begins at 6pm.
Merchandise will be available behind the grandstand beginning around 4pm Saturday. The team has hats, beanies, stickers, koozies and other items available. The new apparel will be available in 3 or 4 weeks.
AUSTIN BERRY RACING
Website: AustinBerryRacing.com
Bio & Media Info: A2DPR.com/AustinBerry
Press Releases: A2DPR.com/LatestNews
Facebook: Facebook.com/AustinBerryRacing
Twitter: Twitter.com/AustinBerryRacn
Broadcast coverage of Port Royal Speedway events is available at FloRacing.com
As always, thank you to all our sponsors and partners, including our silent partners who do everything they can to help but ask for nothing in return! These are the businesses…the people…the families…that make what these we do possible.
PLEASE take the time to browse this information and help our race team by giving your business to these great partners.
Most importantly, tell them WHY you patronized them and thank them for being involved in racing!
The Tire Mart, Tire Pros of Harrisburg
Juniata Veterinary Clinic
Berry’s Siding & Seamless Gutter
SRI Performance
VP Racing Fuels
JDS Racing
Locust Hill Custom Butcher Shop
Nathan Berry Beef Farm
Addicted2DirtPR.com
A&C Racing Engines
GO Lithium
Valvoline Pro-V Racing
Super Clean
Peterson Fluid Systems
Barnes Systems, Inc.
Quick Car
Kevin Nouse Designs
Sweet Manufacturing
BDR Racing Products
Beyea Headers
Swift Springs
Strange Oval
DMI – Diversified Machine, Inc.
Quarter Master
Hoosier Mid-Atlantic
P3 Graphix
Rocket Chassis
PUBLIC RELATIONS
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