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Devin Hart Compiles Career Year

2021 Success May Be Just the Beginning for the Up and Coming Talent

Port Royal, PA – December 29, 2021

by Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

Feature Photo Credit:  Brian Rhoad / WRT SpeedWerx

Devin Hart and KHK Motorsports certainly amassed impressive statistics during the 2021 season.  The stats tell quite a story, but not the whole story.

 

There were some personal accomplishments that will make Hart, his family, and his team smile for a long, long time to come.  Before we get to those stories though, let’s take a quick look at the stats.

 

The Stats

 
In 2021, the KHK Motorsports team entered competition 32 times at 10 tracks in 3 states in their FK Rod Ends / Hungry Run Wine Cellars / JDS Racing / Barron’s Racing Engines / Penske Racing Shocks / Rocket Chassis XR1 No.33K.  They were victorious in 10 of those events, equating to an impressive win percentage of 31%.  

 

A closer look is even more impressive and backs up the use of the phrase ‘career year’.  Hart recorded 22 top 5’s (69%) and 27 top 10’s (84%) in those 32 outings.  In 13 starts at Port Royal Speedway, the 3rd generation racer from Port Royal, PA finished on the podium 9 times, including 4 wins and 4 second place runs. 

 

He was no ‘one track wonder’ either.  At Selinsgrove Speedway, Hart entered 7 events, never finishing worse than 8th and accumulating 3 wins and 5 podium finishes in the process.

 

Need more evidence?  The KHK Motorsports team also won at Bedford Speedway (PA) and Hagerstown Speedway (MD).  The latter included 2 wins and a 4th-place finish in his only 3 starts south of the Mason-Dixon line.

 

The Highs

 

The 2021 season started off strong for Devin Hart and the KHK Motorsports team.  They didn’t just win early; they were winning in convincing fashion from outside the top 5 starting spots.  There were wins from 6th and 10th at Port Royal Speedway in late March and early April, then a win from 9th at Hagerstown Speedway, followed by another win from 6th at Bedford Speedway just a couple weeks later.

 

The Hagerstown win was a career first at the Maryland facility for Hart, a track where he had been close in the past but had generally struggled.   “Mom, Bill (Weimer) and I were here in this victory lane 42 years ago with my dad, so that was pretty special“, Heidi Kauffman, Hart’s mother, shared about that night.

 

Four wins by the end of April, especially quality wins like those, will put a smile on the faces of any race team, but Hart’s team had no idea the best was yet to come.

 

The next chapter to unfold came on May 15th when Hart broke through for his first career win at Selinsgrove Speedway, another place where he had come close but never been able to close the deal before.  He would go on to back it up with a 2nd place finish the following week, plus two more wins in June at the 75 year old half mile.

 

Friday night, May 21st brought Devin Hart and the KHK Motorsports team to Port Royal Speedway for the Billy Vacek / Huey Wilcoxon Memorial race for the World of Outlaw Super Late Models and the Limited Late Models.  This was an event Hart had circled on his calendar at the start of the season.  On a personal level, this one mattered.  It mattered a lot.

 

Hart and the late Billy Vacek were friends, but it was more than that.  A few years back, their race shops were only a few miles apart.  The pair got to know each other when Devin would stop in to talk or help Billy any way he could around the shop.  As the 2018 season was getting started, Hart acquired a newer car and did some testing to shake it down.  The very next day Vacek sent a text asking how the new car was.  He even offered to stop at Hart’s shop and help him get familiar with the new equipment.  From that day on, Billy was never more than a text or a call away when Devin had a question.  Vacek even went to the track with the team about once a month, sharing his knowledge to help the talented young wheelman.  The bond continued to grow throughout the 2018 season and into the 2019 season.  Early in the 2019 season Billy had the opportunity to move to North Carolina to help Brandon Overton, so he headed south to pursue his dreams.  He continued to teach Devin from afar until his untimely passing in an unfortunate accident that summer.

 

So here Hart was, just a few weeks shy of the two year anniversary of losing Billy, strapping in for his memorial event, and wanting nothing more than to make his mentor proud.  I think you can say without a doubt he did just that.  Hart not only won the 25-lap feature event; he dominated.  He never relinquished the top spot, leading from wire-to-wire in an incredibly emotional win for himself, the entire family, and team.  There wasn’t a dry eye in victory lane.

 

Billy’s mom was on hand to congratulate Devin, present the trophy, and pose for photos with the ecstatic team.  The moment meant so much to everyone involved and it came to mean even more less than two months later when Billy’s mother sadly passed away after a battle with cancer.  Hart went on to back up the win with yet another trip to victory lane at Port Royal Speedway the following Saturday night.

 

The Lows

 

The season wasn’t all glory and checkered flags though.  Maintaining the level of performance Hart and his team had achieved is not easy over a long, seven month season.  When the weather heated up, Hart cooled down.  The team went through a stretch in July and into early August when nothing seemed to go their way.  There were mechanical failures, wrecks, and subpar finishes.

 

The sign of a great team though is how they respond to those times.  The entire crew kept putting in the effort and in mid-August, the team returned to victory lane, capturing the ‘W’ at Hagerstown Speedway in special fashion.  Hart battled throughout the race with cousin, and Tyson Hill Race Shop mate, Trent Brenneman and ultimately edged him to complete a memorable 1-2 family finish.  It was a night that would have made the boys’ grandfather and Port Royal Speedway legend, the late Butch Renninger, proud.

 

Devin's grandfather, the late Butch Renninger

Speaking of his grandfather.  As successful as Devin Hart has been, not only during his stellar 2021 season but ever since he moved into the Limited Late Model division in 2014, one very meaningful race has eluded him:  The Butch Renninger Memorial.  The event in honor of his grandfather is arguably the race Hart would most like to win.  He recorded a solid 4th place finish in this year’s 18th Annual edition of the event, but that wasn’t what Hart was after.  Next year’s event is already circled on the calendar.

 

Measuring Up

 

The team decided to venture to Portsmouth Raceway Park (PRP) in Portsmouth, OH for the Dirt Track World Championships in mid-October.  It would be their first time turning laps at the well-known 3/8th-mile, high-banked oval in southern Ohio, and it would give the team a chance to measure themselves against many of the best in the country.

 

The 2-day event showcases the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and the Limited Late Models.  Friday’s on-track activity was rained out, taking away hot laps and time trial sessions.  With no opportunity to acclimate to the new surface, Hart was forced to dive into the ‘deep end of the pool’ so to speak on Saturday.  He certainly didn’t sink in that deep end.  He registered the 10th quickest lap of the 59 entries that went under the clock, putting himself in a solid position to make the show, something only 24 of the 59 teams would accomplish.  

 

Following a 3rd place finish in his heat race, Hart started 16th in the feature at PRP.  He proceeded to work his way into the top 10.  With seven laps remaining, while running in 8th position, a mechanical failure forced Hart out of the event.  Regardless of the official finish, the KHK Motorsports team had shown they belong in the conversation about the best Limited Late Model teams in the country.

 

When the dust had all settled on the 2021 season, Hart and his KHK Motorsports team had garnered a few more cherries on top of it all.  They won two track championships (Port Royal Speedway and Selinsgrove Speedway), plus were recognized on DirtOnDirt’s ‘Best Of 2021’ list.

 

“The thing that stands out in my mind about our season is winning two track championships.  That’s pretty cool.  It’s a tough thing to accomplish“, Hart shared as he reflected on his season.

 

What’s Next

 

The things we accomplished in 2021 year may change things a little for 2022, I think.  We don’t have to be locked into points racing.  These days you really can’t go into a season with a strict plan.  Schedules change; parts can be hard to get.  You have to manage your resources accordingly.  We are constantly reevaluating our schedule throughout the season to do what makes sense“, Hart explained.

 

The upcoming 2022 season schedule will likely look similar to recent seasons for KHK Motorsports, including some travel, but who knows where it may lead them.  One thing is for sure.  They will look to improve on their achievements of the past year.  That may sound like a tall order, but this wheelman and his team have shown they have what it takes.

 

Yeah, I guess it was a career year…so far anyway“, Hart said with a grin that clearly indicated he’s not done yet.  He’s got more to add to an already impressive resume.

 

Follow the team on Facebook: KHK Motorsports / Devin Hart 33K on Facebook

Subscribe to the team’s YouTube Channel:  KHK Motorsports on YouTube 

2021 Photo Highlights

SPECIAL THANKS to ALL our partners!

These are the businesses…the people…the families…that make what our team does possible. PLEASE support us by giving your business to these partners. 

Most importantly, tell them WHY you patronized them and thank them for being involved in racing!

Broadcast coverage of Port Royal Speedway events is available at https://www.floracing.com/

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Addicted2Dirt PR and Media Management provides personal and powerful dirt motorsports public relations.  We are a central Pennsylvania based business with a love of and passion for dirt racing and the people who make the sport what it is.

 

We can: 

  • Keep fans engaged with your story through our personalized press releases
  • Promote your marketing partners to give them the value they want for their investment
  • Increase driver & team visibility to reach more fans and potential marketing partners
  • Present the polished, professional image that marketing partners want representing them
  • Leverage our audience and business model to achieve all of the above

 

Visit our website to learn more about us and follow along with the stories of our race teams!

     https://addicted2dirtpr.com/

 

Follow A2D on Social Media!  We are @Addicted2DirtPR on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

     https://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR

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Contact us via Email at:  [email protected]

[VIDEO] Austin Berry: Putting in the Work, Reaping the Rewards

Mifflin, PA – December 20, 2021

by Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

Enjoy this look back at Austin Berry Racing’s 2021 season through the sounds and images that composed their story and some lifelong memories.

AUSTIN BERRY RACING

Learn more about Austin Berry at: https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/drivers/austin-berry/

Follow ABR’s season at: https://addicted2dirtpr.com/latest-news/

ABR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AustinBerryRacing

ABR on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustinBerryRacn

Want to buy some Austin Berry gear? https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/new-shop/shop/

SPECIAL THANKS

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!  Below are the businesses…the people…the families…that make what these teams do possible. PLEASE take the time to browse this information and help the teams by giving your business to these partners. 

Most importantly, tell them WHY you patronized them and thank them for being involved in racing!

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Addicted2Dirt PR and Media Management provides personal and powerful dirt motorsports public relations.  We are a central Pennsylvania based business with a love of and passion for dirt racing and the people who make the sport what it is.

 

We can: 

  • Keep fans engaged with your story through our personalized press releases
  • Promote your marketing partners to give them the value they want for their investment
  • Increase driver & team visibility to reach more fans and potential marketing partners
  • Present the polished, professional image that marketing partners want representing them
  • Leverage our audience and business model to achieve all of the above

 

Visit our website to learn more about us and follow along with the stories of our race teams!

     https://addicted2dirtpr.com/

 

Follow A2D on Social Media!  We are @Addicted2DirtPR on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

     https://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR

     https://twitter.com/Addicted2DirtPR  (hashtag #TeamA2D)

     https://www.instagram.com/addicted2dirtpr/

 

And of course, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel so you are always notified of our latest video features, recaps and stories for #TeamA2D!  Just hit subscribe below this video or search for Addicted2Dirt PR on YouTube!

 

Contact us via Email at:  [email protected]

Austin Berry Wins Most Improved Driver Award

Team Completes Successful Trip to PRI Trade Show

Mifflin, PA – December 13, 2021

by Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

Feature Photo Credit:  Brian Rhoad / WRT SpeedWerx

Port Royal Speedway in Port Royal, PA recently announced their 2021 season award recipients.  Among them was Austin Berry who won the Super Late Model Division’s Most Improved Driver Award.  Not only was Berry appreciative of and humbled by the award, to him it validated the team’s determined efforts over the past few seasons.  It’s hard to argue with that, especially when you consider it was the second time in three years the 26 year old wheelman had been recognized with the same award. 

 

It’s very rewarding to receive this award, especially a second time, because it’s not something they are basing off of statistics.  This is awarded by speedway staff, voting based on what they observed throughout the season“, Berry commented when asked about the award during an interview at the Performance Racing Industry trade show in Indianapolis, IN last week.

 

2021 Recap

 

Berry, aboard the Locust Hill Custom Butcher Shop / Berry’s Siding & Seamless Gutter / Addicted2DirtPR.com / Nathan Berry Beef Farm, A&C Racing Engines / JDS Racing / Swift Springs / Penske Racing Shocks / Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic / VP Racing Fuels / Rocket Chassis XR1 No.86 logged a season that continued the team’s recent trend.  Their performance demonstrated the improved consistency that has resulted from efforts to steadily build the program the right way.

 

Austin Berry competed in 14 events at ‘The Speed Palace’, where he captured his first career super late model victory in June and qualified for his first ever Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series main event in August.  

 

The June triumph at Port Royal was a thrilling, drama-filled feature event that saw Berry survive multiple restarts and fend off attacks from Trever Feathers and Colton Flinner to capture the emotional victory.  On that night, nearly everyone in the stands was a fan of the blue and yellow #86.  It was a long time coming and it seemed to be appreciated by those who were lucky enough to witness it.

 

Speaking about his Lucas Oil Series achievement, Berry said, “The Lucas show for me was very humbling, because ever since we started racing super late models, time-trials have not been my strong suit.  To time 2nd only to Jonathan (Davenport) was very special to me.

 

The team also made the decision to travel just a little bit more regionally, believing the only way to get better was to challenge themselves by racing a variety of speedways.  The team made stops at five other regional tracks:  Selinsgrove Speedway, Williams Grove Speedway, Hagerstown Speedway, Path Valley Speedway and Bedford Speedway.  As the season progressed and the team showed more consistency and competitiveness, the approach seemed to be proving itself. 

 

 

 

2022 Plans

 

Fans can expect a similar schedule for Berry and his team in 2022.  Home base will still be Port Royal Speedway and they still want to travel regionally to expand their knowledge, while hitting some of the more lucrative events at the same time.

 

Berry was asked how he will follow up on his 2021 victory and what his goals are for 2022.

 

Winning multiple races in a season is tough around here.  Sure, we want to do that, but for me it’s not about the number of wins, it’s about quality wins.  We’ve won a $3,000 weekly show, so now I’d like to win a $5,000-to-win show.  If you do that, it typically means you’ve won a special show or a touring series race, and that would mean we beat the best.  That’s a quality win and you know you’ve really accomplished something“, Berry explained.

 

Performance Racing Industry Trade Show

 

Last week, several members of ABR made the trek west to Indianapolis, IN for the annual 3-day PRI Show.  The event is so large, the product displays and educational seminars consume all available space in both the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts.

 

Teams descend on Indianapolis for the event each year to see the latest technology and newest products, while maintaining existing partnerships and developing new ones as well.

 

Our number one priority at PRI is to thank our current partners and the people who provide the products we use.  We thank them for their support and for everything they’ve done for us.  Our number two priority is to explore the new products that might make us better and hopefully we develop some new relationships and new partners along the way.  I think we accomplished all those goals this year’s trip”, Berry shared as he prepared to travel back to PA after the show.

 

Berry and his team will spend the next two months rebuilding their car to be ready to start the new season.  That new season is a mere 83 days away as of this writing.  Port Royal Speedway opens Sunday, March 6th.

 

 

AUSTIN BERRY RACING

Learn more about Austin Berry at: https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/drivers/austin-berry/

Follow ABR’s season at: https://addicted2dirtpr.com/latest-news/

ABR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AustinBerryRacing

ABR on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustinBerryRacn

Want to buy some Austin Berry gear? https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/new-shop/shop/

Broadcast coverage of Port Royal Speedway events is available at https://www.floracing.com/

SPECIAL THANKS

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!  Below are the businesses…the people…the families…that make what these teams do possible. PLEASE take the time to browse this information and help the teams by giving your business to these partners. 

Most importantly, tell them WHY you patronized them and thank them for being involved in racing!

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Addicted2Dirt PR and Media Management provides personal and powerful dirt motorsports public relations.  We are a central Pennsylvania based business with a love of and passion for dirt racing and the people who make the sport what it is.

 

We can: 

  • Keep fans engaged with your story through our personalized press releases
  • Promote your marketing partners to give them the value they want for their investment
  • Increase driver & team visibility to reach more fans and potential marketing partners
  • Present the polished, professional image that marketing partners want representing them
  • Leverage our audience and business model to achieve all of the above

 

Visit our website to learn more about us and follow along with the stories of our race teams!

     https://addicted2dirtpr.com/

 

Follow A2D on Social Media!  We are @Addicted2DirtPR on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

     https://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR

     https://twitter.com/Addicted2DirtPR  (hashtag #TeamA2D)

     https://www.instagram.com/addicted2dirtpr/

 

And of course, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel so you are always notified of our latest video features, recaps and stories for #TeamA2D!  Just hit subscribe below this video or search for Addicted2Dirt PR on YouTube!

 

Contact us via Email at:  [email protected]

Austin Berry Suffers Mechanical Failure at Renninger Memorial

Hoping to Finish Port Season on a Positive Note Next Weekend

Mifflin, PA – Sep 5, 2021

by Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

 )

The Butch Renninger Memorial at Port Royal Speedway has grown into one of the speedway’s premier super late model events over its 18 year existence.  The event honors Renninger, who was a devoted member of the speedway and who’s number 33 competed there for many years.  Renninger compiled 41 career victories and three track titles during his years of competition at the Juniata County oval.

 

The 2021 edition of the race, which offered a tidy sum of $6,333 to the winner and a respectable purse throughout the field, drew a high quality field of 45 teams for competition Saturday night.  The ULMS-sanctioned event used the series’ two group qualifying format to set heat lineups.  Austin Berry was the 12th of 23 cars to hit the track in Group B and he registered a solid 20.805, placing him 9th quickest in the group.

 

Four 8-lap heat races were next on the agenda, with the top four finishers from each transferring directly to the 33-lap feature event.  Berry lined up 5th in heat number three.  The inside starting spot wasn’t the place to be on the dry, hard surface.  Austin slipped back a spot on the opening lap but regained his rhythm and recaptured 5th on lap two.  He was then able to move to the top of the speedway and build momentum.  He began to run down Jason Covert who held the 4th and final transfer spot but ran out of time in the non-stop event.

 

Missing the transfer via the heat put Berry on the pole of the second B-main and in solid position to transfer into the main event.  At the drop of the green Austin quickly jumped out front and up to the cushion.  By the time the field reached turn three, Berry held a four car length advantage and appeared poised to drive away with the victory and a spot in the finale.  

 

Seconds later disaster struck.  As Berry began to accelerate at the apex of turns three and four, the rear end of the Tire Mart, Berry’s Siding & Seamless Gutter, Locust Hill Custom Butcher Shop, Addicted2DirtPR.com, Nathan Berry Beef Farm, A&C Racing Engines, JDS Racing, Ontime Body & Graphic, Swift Springs, Penske Racing Shocks, Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic, VP Racing Fuels, Rocket Chassis XR1 came apart.  Berry drifted high in turn four and onto the home stretch, with a trail of gear oil clearly visible behind him, signaling to his fellow competitors he was off the pace.  

 

It was an unfortunate end to a night that appeared it was getting better as it went.  Later, several teams that started in the back half of the field were able to drive forward in the feature and Berry felt his team was set to do the same if not for the mechanical failure.

 

 

We weren’t great at the start of the night but we were good and we were getting better all night.  We kept working on it and I think we could’ve really moved forward tonight“, Berry commented.  “We don’t have a spare rear end at the shop, so it’s going to be a challenge to get this thing back to the track, especially with short week due to the holiday Monday and racing again Friday.  We’ll do our best though.  It’s been a good year and I’d like to wrap up our season here on a positive note“.

 

Up Next

 

Austin and the team are aiming to return to Port Royal Speedway for the Night Before the 50 program on Friday, September 10th.  That is, assuming they are able to remedy the rear end issue and assuming Austin’s wife Chasity, who is expecting the couple’s second child very soon, isn’t race to the delivery room this week!  Stay tuned to the team’s social media for updates on both!

 

The Tire Mart is ..... Visit TheTireMartInc.com to learn more!

Special thanks to TIRE MART for their support!

Visit Tire Mart at www.thetiremartinc.com, find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TireMartHarrisburg or give them a call at (717) 545-3756!

 

You can also learn more about Tire Mart and their partnership with ABR here:

Tire Mart Joins Austin Berry Racing as New Partner

The images below tell the story of the rear end failure that ended ABR’s night.

AUSTIN BERRY RACING

Learn more about Austin Berry at: https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/drivers/austin-berry/

Follow ABR’s season at: https://addicted2dirtpr.com/latest-news/

ABR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AustinBerryRacing

ABR on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustinBerryRacn

Want to buy some Austin Berry gear? https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/new-shop/shop/

SPECIAL THANKS

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!  

 

Below are the businesses…the people…the families…that make what these teams do possible. PLEASE take the time to browse this information and help the teams by giving your business to these partners. Most importantly, tell them WHY you patronized them and thank them for being involved in racing!

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Addicted2Dirt PR and Media Management provides affordable and personal dirt motorsports public relations that provides a professional public image to attract marketing partners and fans.  A2D can promote your sponsors and engage fans with your team’s story.  We are a central Pennsylvania based business with a love of and passion for dirt racing and the people who make the sport what it is.

 

Visit our website to learn more about us and follow along with the stories of our race teams!

     https://addicted2dirtpr.com/

 

Follow A2D on Social Media!  We are @Addicted2DirtPR on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

     https://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR

     https://twitter.com/Addicted2DirtPR  (hashtag #TeamA2D)

     https://www.instagram.com/addicted2dirtpr/

 

And of course, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel so you are always notified of our latest video features, recaps and stories for #TeamA2D!  Just hit subscribe below this video or search for Addicted2Dirt PR on YouTube!

 

You can always contact us via Email at:  [email protected]

Berry Achieves Another Career First

Season of Firsts Continues with Initial Lucas Oil Late Model Main Event 

Mifflin, PA – Aug 30, 2021

by Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

feature photo credit:  Brian Rhoad/WRT Speedwerx

 )

Austin Berry Racing’s goal for the week sounded simple enough:  Make at least one Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (LOLMDS) main event during the 3-day Rumble by the River event.   It sounds simple, until you consider you’re going to be competing with many of the best super late model drivers in the country, plus the best in your region, for half as many starting spots as there are teams entered to compete. 

 

None of that mattered when Berry and his team unloaded the Tire Mart, Berry’s Siding & Seamless Gutter, Locust Hill Custom Butcher Shop, Addicted2DirtPR.com, Nathan Berry Beef Farm, A&C Racing Engines, JDS Racing, Ontime Body & Graphic, Swift Springs, Penske Racing Shocks, Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic, VP Racing Fuels, Rocket Chassis XR1 in the hot Thursday afternoon sun at Port Royal Speedway.  They had been competitive everywhere they went since early June.  They had momentum and their confidence was high.  

 

Night 1 – Thursday 8/26:  44 cars, Qualifying 2nd, Heat 5th, B-main 2nd, A-main 25th

 

A field of 44 tough teams signed in to take their best shot at the $10,000 top prize Thursday night.   Austin Berry was the 17th of 22 cars in Group A to go under the clock for qualifying and he promptly posted a blistering 18.958 second lap, placing him second only to 3-time series champion Jonathan Davenport by a mere 0.079 seconds.

 

The stellar qualifying effort not only handed Berry the pole for the second heat race, but it had long time series announcer, James Essex, talking about Berry several times throughout the night on the MavTVplus broadcast, including a shout out to Tire Mart in Harrisburg, PA who had come on board as a partner with Berry for the 3-race series and a few other races to finish out the season.

 

The top four finishers from each heat race transfer directly to the feature event.  Mike Marlar got the jump on Berry on the opening lap, but the one-time Port Royal feature winner challenged Marlar for the lead repeatedly during the first half of the 8-lap heat race.  Eventually Jason Covert battled by Berry to claim the runner up spot.  A late caution erased Berry’s comfortable margin and forced a restart with one lap remaining.  The final lap was the one Berry wished he could take back.  A slight slip off turn two cost him 3rd and a bobble at the other end of the track cost him the final transfer position.  

 

Austin had one more shot at the main event, so there was no time to dwell on what had happened.  He would have to finish in the top three of the first B-main, so the team went right to work to be ready for that opportunity.  After starting on the outside of the front row, Berry found himself precariously riding in 3rd, clinging to the final transfer spot for the first half of the 10-lap race.  The caution lights flashed on before lap six could be completed, forcing a mid-race restart.  This time, Berry made the restart work to his advantage.  He blasted around the high side to reclaim 2nd.  He never relinquished the spot and claimed a spot in the starting lineup for his first career LOLMDS feature event.

 

Berry lined up 19th for the 30-lap night one finale but found himself sliding backwards early in the event.  The adjustments the team had made, with hopes of being able to race forward through the dirty air the comes with racing from the back in heavy traffic, did not work quite as they had hoped.  The result was a 25th place finish but it was hardly a night ABR would call disappointing.  The team goal for the week had already been achieved on the first night.

 

Night 2 – Friday 8/27:  46 cars, Qualifying 18th, Heat 10th, B-main 12th

 

The forecast looked a bit daunting for Friday’s show at “The Speed Palace” but while other area tracks were forced to cancel due to rain, Port Royal Speedway seemed to have a way to hide from Mother Nature.  Another stellar field, this time 46 strong, rolled their machines onto the Pennsylvania clay to go after the $12,000 winner’s share.

 

Austin Berry found himself in Group B qualifying on this night, once again going out late in the set.  This time however, he was unable to find the speed necessary to move toward the top of the chart.  Berry’s fastest lap was only good enough for 18th in his group.  It was going to be a tough hill to climb from there.

 

Berry started 9th in the fourth heat and was not able to make any progress.  The team struggled to find grip on a racing surface that had changed quite a bit from the previous night.

 

You can only play the hand you are dealt.  Might as well make every lap count.  Knowing they would have to start deep in the field in their B-main, from which only the top three finishers would advance, Berry and team decided to use the opportunity to test some changes.  They could still consider the night productive if they could learn something that would help them the next night.  Berry ultimately finished 12th in the B-main and missed the show, but hopefully the payoff would come the following night.

 

Night 3 – Saturday 8/28:  Rain

 

The ABR crew spent a lot of hours in the hot midday sun applying the lessons learned, preparing their No.86 for the third consecutive and final night of LOLMDS competition.   Unfortunately, not long after driver registration opened for the night, the skies opened up.

 

The amount of rain that fell over the course of an hour was more than the series and the speedway could overcome, especially so close to the start of the program.  It was especially disappointing to Berry, who had just signed in and drew a low pill that would have put him in a great spot for the night.  He was hoping to rebound from Friday’s outcome but did not get the chance.

 

Successfully humbling“, Berry responded when asked to sum up his weekend.  They are two words that say a lot and represent what this sport is to drivers and teams on a regular basis.

 

This was the first time I felt like we were actually prepared to come to this show and have a real chance to make some noise, which we did the first night“, Berry shared.  “We still need to get better at bridging that gap when the track is going through its transition.  Overall, I will take the weekend.  We made one show and missed one, but we got some attention.  I was on the verge of getting my team and our sponsors some limelight and show that with continued improvement, our little local team can run with those guys“.

 

Up Next

 

Austin and the team will return to Port Royal Speedway for the Juniata County Fair opener on Saturday night, September 4th.  The ULMS-sanctioned Butch Renninger Memorial will pay $6333 to the winner in honor of Renninger, who was a devoted part of the speedway for many years and who’s number 33 competed there for many years. 

 

The Tire Mart is ..... Visit TheTireMartInc.com to learn more!

Special thanks to TIRE MART for their support during the Lucas Oil event!

Visit Tire Mart at www.thetiremartinc.com, find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TireMartHarrisburg or give them a call at (717) 545-3756!


You can also learn more about Tire Mart and their partnership with ABR here:

Tire Mart Joins Austin Berry Racing as New Partner

AUSTIN BERRY RACING

Learn more about Austin Berry at: https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/drivers/austin-berry/

Follow ABR’s season at: https://addicted2dirtpr.com/latest-news/

ABR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AustinBerryRacing

ABR on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustinBerryRacn

Want to buy some Austin Berry gear? https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/new-shop/shop/

SPECIAL THANKS

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!  

 

Below are the businesses…the people…the families…that make what these teams do possible. PLEASE take the time to browse this information and help the teams by giving your business to these partners. Most importantly, tell them WHY you patronized them and thank them for being involved in racing!

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Addicted2Dirt PR and Media Management provides affordable and personal dirt motorsports public relations that provides a professional public image to attract marketing partners and fans.  A2D can promote your sponsors and engage fans with your team’s story.  We are a central Pennsylvania based business with a love of and passion for dirt racing and the people who make the sport what it is.

 

Visit our website to learn more about us and follow along with the stories of our race teams!

     https://addicted2dirtpr.com/

 

Follow A2D on Social Media!  We are @Addicted2DirtPR on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

     https://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR

     https://twitter.com/Addicted2DirtPR  (hashtag #TeamA2D)

     https://www.instagram.com/addicted2dirtpr/

 

And of course, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel so you are always notified of our latest video features, recaps and stories for #TeamA2D!  Just hit subscribe below this video or search for Addicted2Dirt PR on YouTube!

 

You can always contact us via Email at:  [email protected]

Tire Mart Joins Austin Berry Racing as New Partner

ABR Welcomes Award Winning Harrisburg Business and Late Season Boost

Mifflin, PA – Aug 23, 2021

by Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

 )

The Tire Mart started as a family-owned business over 50 years ago in Colonial Park, a Harrisburg, PA suburb.  From the beginning, they built their business on honesty and trust, serving customers in and around the Harrisburg area.  Today, with a tremendous reputation and loyal customer base, they continue providing automotive service with a local business touch that is hard to find these days.  It has made Tire Mart a pillar of the community.

 

Tire Mart’s well-trained staff specializes in the sale and installation of everything from lawn & garden tires, to passenger car, performance, light truck and SUV tires.  Their staff also provides complete under-car automotive services, such as state inspections, oil changes, brakes, shocks, struts, and alignment. They can handle major engine and transmission jobs as well.  All of these services are available at competitive prices for both foreign and domestic vehicles.  

 

Tire Mart only sells the automotive parts you need.  The staff does not get paid commission.  They are a leader in offering name brand tires, including Michelin, BFGoodrich, Goodyear, Dunlop, General, Continental, and everything in between.  They also offer name brand and custom wheels.  The entire staff at Tire Mart strives to give you the best service at the best price for all your automotive needs.

 

Trustworthy, quality service and care for your vehicle has been the foundation of Tire Mart’s success since the beginning, earning them Harrisburg Magazine’s “Simply The Best” & “Reader’s Choice” awards nearly every year since the inception of the recognition program.  Tire Mart’s slogan is:  “WHATEVER IT TAKES”!  They have been demonstrating that approach for many years, which is why customers know they can count on them.  

 

Our goal is to focus on customer service.  It is the foundation of our business“, said Tire Mart owner-operator, Greg Sharrar.  “We always want to support those in our community, and we are thrilled for the opportunity to partner with Austin Berry Racing for the remainder of their 2021 season.  We think it will be a positive for them and for us“.

 

ABR is gearing up for the upcoming 3-day Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event at Port Royal Speedway August 26th-28th.  Tire Mart will make their debut on the ABR No.86 Rocket Chassis XR1 at that event.  The new partnership with Tire Mart, paired with the season-long support of Locust Hill Custom Butcher Shop and Berry’s Siding & Seamless Gutter, are all valuable to the team to prepare for that big event, as well as the remainder of their 2021 schedule.  

 

We’re really excited to have the folks at the Tire Mart join ABR.  Their involvement comes at a time late in the season when the resources for a small team like ours are starting to run pretty thin, so with the season drawing to an end and big races on the horizon, this is a huge boost.  It has been a great season for us, and this enables us to finish it strong.  We can’t thank them enough for stepping up“, Austin Berry commented.

 

Visit Tire Mart at www.thetiremartinc.com, find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TireMartHarrisburg or give them a call at (717) 545-3756!

Austin Berry at Bedford 5-31-21 (photo credit Jason Walls / WRT SpeedWerx)

AUSTIN BERRY RACING

Learn more about Austin Berry at: https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/drivers/austin-berry/

Follow ABR’s season at: https://addicted2dirtpr.com/latest-news/

ABR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AustinBerryRacing

ABR on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustinBerryRacn

Want to buy some Austin Berry gear? https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/new-shop/shop/

SPECIAL THANKS

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!  

 

Below are the businesses…the people…the families…that make what these teams do possible. PLEASE take the time to browse this information and help the teams by giving your business to these partners. Most importantly, tell them WHY you patronized them and thank them for being involved in racing!

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Addicted2Dirt PR and Media Management provides affordable and personal dirt motorsports public relations that provides a professional public image to attract marketing partners and fans.  A2D can promote your sponsors and engage fans with your team’s story.  We are a central Pennsylvania based business with a love of and passion for dirt racing and the people who make the sport what it is.

 

Visit our website to learn more about us and follow along with the stories of our race teams!

     https://addicted2dirtpr.com/

 

Follow A2D on Social Media!  We are @Addicted2DirtPR on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

     https://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR

     https://twitter.com/Addicted2DirtPR  (hashtag #TeamA2D)

     https://www.instagram.com/addicted2dirtpr/

 

And of course, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel so you are always notified of our latest video features, recaps and stories for #TeamA2D!  Just hit subscribe below this video or search for Addicted2Dirt PR on YouTube!

 

You can always contact us via Email at:  [email protected]

Austin Berry Shows Strength at Path Valley and Selinsgrove

Racing Smart is Paying Off for ABR

Mifflin, PA – Aug 16, 2021

by Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

Feature Photo Credit:  Leister Photography

 )

The summer of 2021 has seen Austin Berry Racing (ABR) shift its goals from trying to achieve consistency and capturing a top-10 finish when they can, to maintaining their consistency and not being happy if they finish outside the top-10.  

 

The team’s initial goals for this season were achieved through a combination of changes to their equipment, learning behind the wheel, and measuring themselves regularly at their home track.  There are thousands of variables for a race team, so eliminating any variables they can helps the team determine if the changes being made are working.  

 

They have also been racing smart.  Choosing their battles, staying within their budget, and managing their resources better has allowed them to race more this season than any other, not less.  For a small team trying to build something, that’s essential.

 

Since much of their recent success has been achieved at their home track, Port Royal Speedway, the next challenge would be to measure themselves at other speedways.  With that in mind, and with “The Speed Palace” taking a weekend off, it was time to do just that.

 

August 13 – Path Valley Speedway Park

Friday night, Austin Berry made the one hour tow to Path Valley Speedway Park with the Berry’s Siding & Seamless Gutter, Locust Hill Custom Butcher Shop, Addicted2DirtPR.com, Nathan Berry Beef Farm, A&C Racing Engines, JDS Racing, Ontime Body & Graphic, Swift Springs, Penske Racing Shocks, Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic, VP Racing Fuels, Rocket Chassis XR1.  

 

ABR was one of 21 teams signed in to compete with the United Late Model Series (ULMS).  The high-banked, quarter-mile bullring in Spring Run, PA would provide a very different test than the half-mile tracks Berry usually competes at in Pennsylvania and Maryland.  

 

The night started off well for Berry, who logged the 6th quickest time in the field during qualifying.  The qualifying effort provided Berry with the outside front row starting spot in the 3rd and final heat race.  The top two finishers from each heat would redraw for one of the top six starting spots in the night’s feature event.

 

Berry looked good early in the heat race but made one small mistake.  A tiny slip over the cushion was just enough to drop him into the 3rd position and out of a redraw spot.  As a result, instead of a top-6 spot, Berry was penciled into the 9th position in the starting lineup for the feature event.    

 

Berry was anxious to redeem himself from the heat race mistake and climb his way to the top five, but he never got a chance at redemption.  The rains came and brought an end to the racing program during the feature that was being run just prior to the super late model main event.  The feature event is scheduled to be made up on Labor Day, Monday, September 6th.

 

August 14 – Selinsgrove Speedway

Saturday night, ABR made the decision to travel north on Route 35 to race Selinsgrove Speedway’s 23rd Annual Late Model National Open.  The team had some rough luck at the Snyder County oval in recent trips there, ending up with a damaged race car on the last three occasions.  Berry wasn’t going to shy away because of the past.  He felt maybe the big, fast half-mile owed him one.

 

It certainly appeared as though Austin was right.  Berry was the 14th car (of the 23 total entries) to take to the oval for qualifying, and he clicked off the 2nd fastest lap in the field.  His lap of 19.919 was a mere 0.022 seconds slower than Dylan Yoder, who claimed the top spot.

 

Berry backed up the qualifying effort up with a dominating heat race victory, winning by 3.8 seconds from the pole position.  The top two finishers from each of three heats participated in a redraw for the top starting spots in the feature event.  The Mifflin, PA wheelman pulled the 4-pill, putting himself outside row two for the 30-lap race.

 

Although he was unable to make any strong moves toward the front, Berry held solid in the top five for most of the event.  As the race entered the final ten laps, the handling on Berry’s No.86 Rocket XR1 began to go away, causing him to lose a couple spots and slip to a 7th place finish.

 

We probably got a little too aggressive with our setup and we lost some of the maneuverability on corner entry.  That cost me a little bit“, Berry shared.

 

We feel really good though.  We have good speed, and the car responds to our changes.  We just need to make the right decisions and we can compete on any given night.  I really want to thank my dad, my crew, my family and of course our partners for believing in what we’re doing here and helping us build it.  I truly appreciate Locust Hill Custom Butcher Shop, Berry’s Siding and Seamless Gutter, and of course, Jim Stevens & JDS Racing.  We couldn’t do this without them“, Berry concluded.

 

Right now, ABR has something that every team wants:  confidence.  It’s not misplaced either.  It will serve them well for the rest of 2021 and beyond.   

 

ABR will take the upcoming weekend off to prepare for the 3-day Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event at Port Royal Speedway, which will be held Aug 26-28.  Austin and team are eager to take to their home turf against some of the best in the business.

 

AUSTIN BERRY RACING

Learn more about Austin Berry at: https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/drivers/austin-berry/

Follow ABR’s season at: https://addicted2dirtpr.com/latest-news/

ABR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AustinBerryRacing

ABR on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustinBerryRacn

Want to buy some Austin Berry gear? https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/new-shop/shop/

SPECIAL THANKS

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!  

 

Below are the businesses…the people…the families…that make what these teams do possible. PLEASE take the time to browse this information and help the teams by giving your business to these partners. Most importantly, tell them WHY you patronized them and thank them for being involved in racing!

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Addicted2Dirt PR and Media Management provides affordable and personal dirt motorsports public relations that provides a professional public image to attract marketing partners and fans.  A2D can promote your sponsors and engage fans with your team’s story.  We are a central Pennsylvania based business with a love of and passion for dirt racing and the people who make the sport what it is.

 

Visit our website to learn more about us and follow along with the stories of our race teams!

     https://addicted2dirtpr.com/

 

Follow A2D on Social Media!  We are @Addicted2DirtPR on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

     https://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR

     https://twitter.com/Addicted2DirtPR  (hashtag #TeamA2D)

     https://www.instagram.com/addicted2dirtpr/

 

And of course, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel so you are always notified of our latest video features, recaps and stories for #TeamA2D!  Just hit subscribe below this video or search for Addicted2Dirt PR on YouTube!

 

You can always contact us via Email at:  [email protected]

Berry’s Dominant Heat Race Run Erased by Part Failure

Crew’s Hustle Puts Team in the Show

Mifflin, PA – Aug 9, 2021

by Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

Feature Photo Credit:  Apex Media

 )

The ABR team has improved almost every aspect of their program this season and it shows.  Austin Berry has been consistently fast since mid-June.  So, he must have some great stats to go along with that, right?  

 

Well…unfortunately, no.  Allow me to explain.

 

Yes, he does have a victory at Port Royal Speedway that he captured against a stout field in thrilling fashion, but otherwise he has a lot of ‘close but no cigar’ nights.  What Berry has is the foundation for a team that will consistently finish in the top five, as soon as they can catch a couple breaks.  Luck hasn’t exactly been on their side lately, but the team is not dwelling on that.  They are focused on the many positives in their pit area this season.

 

About a month ago, Berry was about to log a podium finish when a freak water pump issue occurred, ending his night in the turn 4 fence.  On another night, an untimely caution changed the course of Berry’s night by making the hill a little harder to climb.  Still, nobody in the ABR pit got down.  The bigger picture was clear.  They were competitive and just needed to keep digging, put whole nights together, and the breaks would come.

 

Saturday night, August 7th, Austin and the ABR team rolled into Port Royal Speedway to take another shot at putting it all together.  They were one of 28 teams signed in for competition.  The field was split into three, 8-lap heat races, with the top six finishers transferring to the feature and the top three being handicapped.  Berry was slated to start 3rd in heat number three.

 

When Berry returned to his pit after hot laps, the crew discovered a small water leak.  A quick investigation showed the water pump gasket had split and was allowing a small stream of water to escape.  The crew hustled and was able to pull the water pump, replace the gasket, refill the water and test the repair before heat race action.  

 

From the drop of the green flag in his heat race, Berry was on the move.  He surged to the lead by the time the field exited turn two on lap three.  Berry began to pull away as Trevor Feathers moved into 2nd.  As Berry flashed under the flag stand to complete lap five, he held a 1.1 second lead over Feathers, but disaster struck off turn two as water sprayed from the engine compartment, nearly causing Berry to lose control.  Instead of claiming victory, he was forced to the pits, officially logging a 9th place finish.

 

Initially the night appeared to be over for ABR.  However, over the course of the next hour, Berry and his team figured out what they believed was the root cause of their continuing water pump issues, then scrambled to make repairs in time to take a test lap during the one window of opportunity speedway officials were going to permit.  Following a successful test of the repairs, the team feverishly prepared shocks and tires to take their final shot at making the field for the night’s feature event.

 

Austin started 9th in the 8-lap B-main.  Only six cars were to transfer to the main event, so Berry would need to get ‘up on the wheel’.  He wasted no time doing so, surging past four cars and into 5th place on lap one.  From there, Berry smartly chipped away to ensure he was solidly in a transfer position.  He was able to finish 4th and secure the 22nd starting spot in the feature event.

 

In the 25-lap main event, Berry was able to make some forward progress through a lot of traffic and dirty air.  He ultimately finished 18th.  His lap times were solid but track position made it quite an uphill battle.

 

Bottom line:  We had a small issue early and we paid for it all night”, said Berry.  “We were really fast in our heat race and would have been in a good starting spot for the feature, so yeah, it’s frustrating…but that’s racing.  Things happen.  The good news is, we found the root cause of our issue and were able to fix it, so that’s behind us now.

 

Trips to Path Valley Speedway and Hagerstown Speedway are next up for Austin Berry and the Berry’s Siding & Seamless Gutter, Locust Hill Custom Butcher Shop, Addicted2DirtPR.com, Nathan Berry Beef Farm, A&C Racing Engines, JDS Racing, Ontime Body & Graphic, Swift Springs, Penske Racing Shocks, Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic, VP Racing Fuels, Rocket Chassis XR1.  

 

The team will compete with the ULMS at Path Valley on Friday, August 13th, then head to Hagerstown, Maryland on Saturday night for the 41-lap, $4100 to win Nathan Durboraw Tribute.

 

Photos from Port Royal Speedway 8-7-2021

AUSTIN BERRY RACING

Learn more about Austin Berry at: https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/drivers/austin-berry/

Follow ABR’s season at: https://addicted2dirtpr.com/latest-news/

ABR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AustinBerryRacing

ABR on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustinBerryRacn

Want to buy some Austin Berry gear? https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/new-shop/shop/

SPECIAL THANKS

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!  

 

Below are the businesses…the people…the families…that make what these teams do possible. PLEASE take the time to browse this information and help the teams by giving your business to these partners. Most importantly, tell them WHY you patronized them and thank them for being involved in racing!

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Addicted2Dirt PR and Media Management provides affordable and personal dirt motorsports public relations that provides a professional public image to attract marketing partners and fans.  A2D can promote your sponsors and engage fans with your team’s story.  We are a central Pennsylvania based business with a love of and passion for dirt racing and the people who make the sport what it is.

 

Visit our website to learn more about us and follow along with the stories of our race teams!

     https://addicted2dirtpr.com/

 

Follow A2D on Social Media!  We are @Addicted2DirtPR on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

     https://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR

     https://twitter.com/Addicted2DirtPR  (hashtag #TeamA2D)

     https://www.instagram.com/addicted2dirtpr/

 

And of course, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel so you are always notified of our latest video features, recaps and stories for #TeamA2D!  Just hit subscribe below this video or search for Addicted2Dirt PR on YouTube!

 

You can always contact us via Email at:  [email protected]

photo credit: Addicted2Dirt PR

Berry Fast Early, Finishes 13th at Port Royal

Another Top 10 Was Just One Break or Decision Away

Mifflin, PA – Aug 3, 2021

by Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

 )

Austin Berry and the entire ABR team were relieved to finally get back to the racetrack after three long weeks of shop work and trips to partners in West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland to make sure their Berry’s Siding & Seamless Gutter, Locust Hill Custom Butcher Shop, Rocket Chassis XR1 was race-ready again following an unfortunate part failure and ensuing crash while running 3rd back on July 10th.   They had found speed and were performing consistently in the weeks leading up to the crash.  The looming question on their mind was whether the crash would set them back.  

 

Group hot laps, which also served as timed qualifying, were used to establish heat lineups for the 31 cars on hand at Port Royal Speedway Saturday night, July 31st.  Berry’s pill draw put him in Group 4, during which he proceeded to log the 2nd quickest lap in his group.    

 

The qualifying effort was a solid start to the night, especially considering their last race three weeks prior ended in the fence with a heavily damaged racecar.  It was reassuring to know their efforts to go over the car closely had paid off and they had not lost the speed they had prior to the crash.  

 

The solid lap provided Berry with the 3rd starting spot in the 4th heat race.  The top five would transfer to the A-main from each heat, with the top two participating in a redraw for the top eight starting spots in that feature event.  During the opening laps of the 8-lap heat, Berry’s times got steadily quicker, and he closed in on 3rd place Andy Haus.  Just past the halfway point of the race, Berry got a big run off turn two and down the backstretch.  He was in the process of completing the pass on Haus when the caution lights flashed on as the pair dove into turn three.  The caution meant the restart lineup would revert to the last completed lap, putting Berry’s No.86 behind Haus.  Following the restart, Berry was unable to mount a challenge again and settled for a 4th place finish.  

 

If you don’t think every position counts in qualifying and in heat races, consider this.  If not for the untimely caution in his heat race, assuming Berry would have then finished 3rd, he would have started 12th in the feature event.  Instead, he started 16th.  In a 25-lap feature event, passing six cars to get to the top 10 instead of two is a much taller order, especially with the level of competition in the field at Port Royal on a regular basis.

 

Fans don’t always consider the strategy and decisions teams must make related to where they start, the length of the race, track conditions, etc.  All those things and more determine tire choice, how aggressive the driver must be early in the race, and several other things as well.  Ultimately, Berry was able to move forward early in the event Saturday night, but his progress eventually stalled, and he settled for a 13th place finish.

 

We just didn’t put the whole night together”, a mildly disappointed Berry commented, reflecting on his evening.  “We were fast early but the track was a little different tonight and we didn’t make the right adjustments to keep up with it.  We took a gamble with our feature setup, but it didn’t work out like we hoped.  I tried to adjust my corner entry a few different ways during the middle part of the feature, but couldn’t find anything the car liked.

 

Berry shared some insights on starting deeper in the field as well.  

 

Every row deeper we are in the starting lineup means two more cars making the air even dirtier in front of us, and further narrowing our lane choice on corner entry.  As a driver, you have to wait to see where everyone in front of you is going, then make your choice to make sure you have air on the nose of the car, and a line that gives you a chance to advance“, Berry explained. 

 

Next up for Austin Berry and the Berry’s Siding & Seamless Gutter, Locust Hill Custom Butcher Shop, Addicted2DirtPR.com, Nathan Berry Beef Farm, A&C Racing Engines, JDS Racing, Ontime Body & Graphic, Swift Springs, Penske Racing Shocks, Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic, VP Racing Fuels, Rocket Chassis XR1 will be Port Royal Speedway again on August 7th.

 

Photos from Port Royal Speedway 7-31-2021

AUSTIN BERRY RACING

Learn more about Austin Berry at: https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/drivers/austin-berry/

Follow ABR’s season at: https://addicted2dirtpr.com/latest-news/

ABR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AustinBerryRacing

ABR on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustinBerryRacn

Want to buy some Austin Berry gear? https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/new-shop/shop/

SPECIAL THANKS

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!  

 

Below are the businesses…the people…the families…that make what these teams do possible. PLEASE take the time to browse this information and help the teams by giving your business to these partners. Most importantly, tell them WHY you patronized them and thank them for being involved in racing!

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Addicted2Dirt PR and Media Management provides affordable and personal dirt motorsports public relations that provides a professional public image to attract marketing partners and fans.  A2D can promote your sponsors and engage fans with your team’s story.  We are a central Pennsylvania based business with a love of and passion for dirt racing and the people who make the sport what it is.

 

Visit our website to learn more about us and follow along with the stories of our race teams!

     https://addicted2dirtpr.com/

 

Follow A2D on Social Media!  We are @Addicted2DirtPR on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

     https://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR

     https://twitter.com/Addicted2DirtPR  (hashtag #TeamA2D)

     https://www.instagram.com/addicted2dirtpr/

 

And of course, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel so you are always notified of our latest video features, recaps and stories for #TeamA2D!  Just hit subscribe below this video or search for Addicted2Dirt PR on YouTube!

 

You can always contact us via Email at:  [email protected]

Austin Berry Shows Team Has Reached a New Level

Disaster Strikes Two Laps Short of Podium Finish

Mifflin, PA – July 13, 2021

by Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

 )

Four weeks had passed since the last super late model race at Port Royal Speedway.  Scheduling and weather combined to create the longest gap of the season.  It was an excruciatingly long gap for Austin Berry, who wanted nothing more than to get back behind the wheel after his June 12th victory at “The Speed Palace”.   The hard fought victory was his first in a super late model, and his new goal was to prove it was no fluke.

 

Saturday night, July 10th, 29 teams descended on Port Royal Speedway to compete for the $3,000 top prize.  The speedway used the dual 6-lap heat format to set the starting lineup for the night’s main event.  In the format, a random draw is used to set the heat race lineups and drivers earn passing points based on their finishing position vs. their starting position.  After 6 laps, the starting lineup is inverted and the field races another 6 laps, once again earning points at the conclusion.

 

Berry started 5th in both heat race segments and finished 2nd and 5th respectively, earning his team enough points to start 7th in the A-main later in the program.  In his first heat race, Berry was on the charge from the drop of the green, able to run varied lines to make passes.  In his second heat race, he was able to move forward on the start, holding the 4th spot for a few laps before being forced high in turn two while working on 3rd.  The line he was forced to take allowed Jeff Rine to slip by on the low side, dropping Berry back to 5th where he ultimately finished.

 

Factoring in their starting position and the ever-changing track conditions, ABR made their setup and tire choices just prior to rolling out for the 25-lap feature event.  During the opening laps, Berry slipped backward from 7th to 10th in the running order but he didn’t panic.  The choices the team had made were made for the long run, so he just needed to stay focused on the task at hand.  

 

By the time the caution lights flashed on with nine laps complete, Berry had recovered to 7th position.  Through two more cautions on laps eleven and twelve, Berry maintained his position, gaining one spot through attrition.  With eight laps remaining, Berry was on the rear bumper of Gary Stuhler and Colton Flinner as the trio competed for spots 5-7.  In turn four, with Stuhler on the bottom and Flinner high, Berry split the pair, taking the 6th spot away from Flinner and challenging Stuhler for 5th as they entered turn one.  The pair would swap positions twice over the next couple laps.

 

On lap 21, Berry used the high side to power past Stuhler and Dillan Stake to claim the 3rd position behind leader Jeff Rine and 2nd running Dylan Yoder.  Through a hard-fought main event, Berry was positioned to register a podium finish and show the Port Royal crowd that he and his team are capable of running up front consistently and June 12th was no fluke.

 

Then, disaster.  Coming through turns three and four to receive the 2-to-go sign, the water pump broke, causing water to coat the front tires.  Unable to steer his No.86 machine, Berry slid into the outside fence, abruptly and harshly ending his great run.  He was officially credited with a 17th place finish, but that certainly didn’t tell the whole store by itself. 

 

How can I be mad?“, asked car owner and Austin’s father, Ken Berry.  “It was just a crazy, fluke thing.  Yeah, we’re gonna have some bills to pay and a lot of work to do the next week or two, but we’re running well and Austin is doing a great job behind the wheel”, Berry commented.  “We’re confident in him and he’s confident in the car, so we are  in a good place right now.  We just need to get this thing fixed up and get back to the track as soon as we can so we don’t lose our momentum.

 

Given the damage caused by the impact with the outside fence, the Berry’s Siding & Seamless Gutter, Locust Hill Custom Butcher Shop, Addicted2DirtPR.com, Nathan Berry Beef Farm, A&C Racing Engines, JDS Racing, Ontime Body & Graphic, Swift Springs, Penske Racing Shocks, Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic, VP Racing Fuels, Rocket Chassis XR1 will be out of action this weekend.  Plans to race at Hagerstown Speedway have unfortunately been scrapped.  The team will spend their time making repairs and going over the car thoroughly to make sure they find any component that was affected by the crash.  Berry and team indicated they have a 50/50 shot to be ready for Selinsgrove Speedway’s super late model show on July 24th but they expect to return to action at Port Royal Speedway on July 31st, if not sooner.

 

SPECIAL THANKS

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!  

 

Below are the businesses…the people…the families…that make what these teams do possible. PLEASE take the time to browse this information and help the teams by giving your business to these partners. Most importantly, tell them WHY you patronized them and thank them for being involved in racing!

Photos from Port Royal Speedway 7-10-2021

AUSTIN BERRY RACING

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