Charlotte, North Carolina (Thursday, June 18, 2015): The Battle at Berlin 251 was indeed accurately named, just ask Bremen Kentucky wheelman, Hunter Baize. Baize and his No. 13 Hunter Baize Racing team, led by Johnny and Butch Van Doorn of Van Doorn Racing Development (VRD), battled an ill-handling racecar much of the day. They eventually, as they usually do, found what they were looking for and with 75 laps remaining found themselves in the top-five right in front of NASCAR star Erik Jones. An incident on a restart between the leaders would end up costing Baize the finish he deserved.
This year the 251-lap event at Berlin Raceway, again named the Battle at Berlin, did not disappoint. In fact, this year’s event boasted one of the strongest entry lists in recent history. Baize qualified 26th in his No. 13 Mountaineer All-Natural Firewood Super Late Model. Although disappointed, he knew he had a better race car than the qualifying results showed. When the green flag dropped, Baize began his march through the field. He made his way into the top-15 and rode there for much of the first half of the race in between NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver John-Hunter Nemechek and ARCA Racing Series winner Ross Kenseth. Good pit strategy by crew chief Butch Van Doorn and fast pit stops allowed the 17-year-old to gain multiple positions on pit road every stop, especially the last stop. Baize came out 5th with around 75 laps remaining in the 251-lap event, right in front of Erik Jones. On the restart, the leaders made contact causing a spin and a pile-up. Many contending cars and drivers were caught up in the mess on the front stretch including Baize and his No. 13 Mountaineer All-Natural Firewood Super Late Model. Fast work on pit road by the Van Doorn Racing Development team allowed him to stay on the lead lap but the damage was to much to overcome. He went on to finish 18th.
“The Berlin 251 was kind of a mixed bag for us,” said Baize. “Qualifying didn’t go as we had hoped, and we had to fight from behind from the drop of the green. Thankfully, with a good car, smart strategy, and great pit stops, we were able to move our way into the top-five late in the race. Unfortunately, almost immediately after cracking the top-five, we were caught up in a wreck that ended our chance at contending for the win. The VRD guys worked extremely hard after the incident to get us back on the track. Thanks to all my sponsors, my family, and my crew for believing in me.”
Baize’s next event will be the Bud St. Amant Memorial 125 at Columbus Motor Speedway. Columbus Motor Speedway, located in Columbus, Ohio, is a tricky 1/3-mile (0.333) NASCAR sanctioned track. The event will take place on Saturday, June 27, 2015. Baize is no stranger to success at Columbus Motor Speedway (Ohio). He went to victory lane there during Memorial Day weekend last year, his first JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour win.
This season Baize’s Van Doorn Racing Development Pro and Super Late Model race cars will carry sponsorship from Mountaineer All-Natural Firewood, B&K Wood Products, Kawasaki, Wood-Mizer, and Steel City Bolt.
