Story By: A2DPR / AUSTIN BERRY RACING – PORT ROYAL, PA – Austin Berry’s two super late model engines are both sidelined for repairs, so the Mifflin, PA driver had no plans to hit the track last weekend.
He had recently bolted a borrowed limited late model engine under the hood and produced a couple outstanding runs with it but there were no plans to race that either.
Late Friday afternoon when he learned of a low turnout of super late models at Port Royal Speedway as a result of an extremely ominous weather forecast, Berry did some math and changed his mind.
Berry’s blown engine during the Lucas Oil Late Model event weekend at Port Royal had cost him the chance to race the finale, and along with that he didn’t earn any show up points. That was enough to drop Berry from 8th to 11th in the track’s season championship standings.
That might not seem important, but the top ten in points at the end of the season receive a complimentary season pit pass from the speedway for the following season. It’s a gesture made by the track to show appreciation for the team’s season-long support and also an enticement for them to return the following season.
Berry’s decision came so late that the team missed the combined hot lap/group time trial session. As a result, he would line up last (18th) for the 25-lap main event in The Tire Mart Tire Pros of Harrisburg, Juniata Veterinary Clinic, Berry’s Siding & Seamless Gutter, SRI Performance / Stock Car Steel & Aluminum, VP Racing Fuels, JDS Racing, Locust Hill Custom Butcher Shop, Nathan Berry Beef Farm, Addicted2DirtPR.com, GO Lithium, Valvoline Pro-V Racing, Super Clean, Rocket Chassis, Austin Berry Racing No.86.
The entire Austin Berry Racing team hoped that just showing up would be sufficient to move them into the top ten in points since they were underpowered racing the limited motor against the super late models.
Surprisingly, Berry was able to make the most of the power he had on the slick racing surface, which acted as a bit of an equalizer. He methodically chipped away, moving up to 15th by lap four. He reached 11th with ten laps remaining and broke into the top ten on lap twenty one. He held on to that spot to log a 10th place finish he wasn’t sure was possible.
“We had no expectations for tonight. It was such a spur of the moment decision solely aimed at earning enough points to put us back in the top ten, which we accomplished. That gets us one season pit pass for 2024. That may not seem like much, but for a team like ours that races on a tight budget…and given we have two motors to repair…every dollar counts. We spent very little to race tonight and came out on the positive end of our decision.”, Berry said.
Berry’s current plans for the upcoming weekend include two limited late model races. He’ll start with Hagerstown Speedway’s Small Car Nationals on Saturday, September 16th, then will head north to Selinsgrove Speedway for their Sunday night race.