[Pavement Dave]

NEWS & NOTES FROM THE MUST SEE RACING OPENER AT BERLIN RACEWAY MAY 20

***The Must see racing season opener went off without a hitch and the event was enjoyed by all. The event started early because weather can be unpredictable in Michigan this time of year. But fans were on the road well before 8:30 with sunlight still burning bright, something a fan can appreciate. The event ran smoothly with no unnecessary down time. Hats off to the Berlin Raceway and its top-notch staff.

*** Five-time MSR champion Jimmy McCune was making his first MSR start since receiving serious burns from a fuel fire last July. McCune spent the rest of last season and this winter rehabbing. McCune looked like his old self. After starting 7th in the feature, he was charging to the front only to pull out with engine woes early in the race. Welcome Back “Bulldog”.

***Tampa, Florida’s Davey Hamilton Jr. entered the event on a hot streak. He was riding a 10 race Florida pavement sprint car win streak that included February’s Dave Steele 125. In addition, he had won 9 of his last 10-winged pavement starts dating back to July 3 that also included a KOTW win in Colorado. Hamilton finished a disappointing 6th place finish. But Hamilton Jr. took to social media following the race and made a humble statement that was complementary to the competition he faced.

“We win as a team, we lose as a team. Our streak has come to an end, but it is what it is. Learned a lot and have some things we need to work on! These guys are super talented. Looking forward to progressing in this series.”

In Hamilton’s defense he was making his first unrestricted winged 410 start since 2015, In addition he hadn’t been on American Racer tires in that time as well. There’s no doubt once he gets more seat time under his belt in an unrestricted 410 with American Racer Tires, he’ll be running up front in no tie. The good news? His Florida streak is still intact.

***Surprisingly Hamilton Jr. wasn’t the only Florida driver on hand representing the Southern Sprint Car Shootout Series. Tommy Nichols brought his equipment up north and intends to run the entire Must See Racing 2023 schedule. Nichols last competed at Berlin Raceway in the early 1990’s while competing with the USAC National Sprint Car Series.

***Feature winner Jason Blonde is the new current MSR point leader. Blonde has made minimal MSR starts the past few seasons but has picked p multiple victories. He indicated early in the night that he plans on doing a substantial number of MSR events in 2023. At this point it’s safe to say Blonde will be a title contender in 2023.

***Bobby Santos entered Saturday’s event with a 4 race MSR streak intact. He didn’t let the streak end without going down with a fight. He battled Blonde hard for the lead in the final stages of the race with spectacular racing through heavy lapped traffic. The duo put on a show with Blonde coming out on top and Santos finishing second.

***Dorman Snyder was making his first sprint car start in over 6 years. Snyder looked impressive aboard the Wayne Stickney #99 powered by a Toyota engine. Snyder won his heat and finished 9th in the feature event. The smile on his face all night long indicated he was having fun.

***The Must See contingent will face a short week as they will be back in action this week with a two-day event at Birch Run Speedway in Birch Run, Michigan as part of the 3rd annual American Speed U.S. Nationals. A complete show will be on hand each night. The MSR Lights series will also compete in their own event giving fans a double header of winged asphalt sprint car racing. These will be the first events of the year televised on a taped delayed basis for MAVTV.

***Talk in the pit area was the quality of the competition in 2023. Several top teams plan to run the entire MSR schedule in 2023. There were realistically no less than 10 cars who could have won yesterday’s feature event. Many agree that this is the strongest Must See Racing has been in several years. There’s no doubt this is the toughest winged pavement sprint car series in the country currently.