Top Storylines Heading into the Berlin Raceway
Top Storylines Heading into the Berlin Raceway
The yourBIGplans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour heads to Berlin Raceway for their first trip to Michigan in 2026! There is no shortage of storylines as the tour enters the Marne, Michigan facility.
The Berlin Master Returns
Tyler Roahrig will return to the cockpit of the No. 56 CB Fabricating entry after a disappointing ending to this year's Unified Group Services Little 500 at Anderson Speedway. Roahrig has won all six yourBIGplans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour races ever contested at Berlin Raceway. His six victories make him the only driver to win at the track in Tour competition, continuing a remarkable streak that dates back to the series' first visits to Berlin in 2022. His most recent Berlin victory came last season when he battled his way past Kody Swanson and then pulled away late to capture the 50-lap feature. Now, Roahrig will look to make it seven-for-seven.
Roahrig in victory lane after in 2023 after winning at Berlin Raceway - Rick Kimball Photo
Does Macenko take another step forward?
Jackson Macenko enters Berlin with plenty of momentum after becoming the most recent first-time winner of the 2026 season. The Cincinnati, Ohio, driver and Brad Hayes Racing team captured the Tom Bigelow Showdown win at Winchester Speedway and finished second at Salem Speedway. Macenko will now look to carry that momentum into Michigan. Berlin Raceway has not been a favorable track for him. He has three 9th place finishes and 17th last year at the west Michigan facility. Macenko will need a career best to stay with Kody Swanson atop the points standings. On top of his 500 Sprint Car Tour commitments he will also be running a Kenyon Midget for Brad Hayes Racing.
Tour former winners return
After a weekend trip to Salem Speedway saw new names atop the pylon due to the apparent absence of key championship figures, three former winners will return to the field this Friday at Berlin Raceway. Bobby Santos III, Kyle O’Gara, and defending series Champion Dakoda Armstrong, will all make their return to the Tour and look to finish the back half of the season strong. Santos and Armstrong last competed in the Tom Bigelow Showdown at Winchester Speedway, while O’Gara will be making his first start since the first race of the season at Anderson Speedway.
Jackson Macenko pictured with Tom Bigelow after winning the Tom Bigelow Showdown at Winchester Speedway - Koty Geyer
All former winners on the Tour, each driver has the pedigree to challenge Tyler Roahrig and his Michigan dominance. O’Gara has been the closest of the bunch, having finished third at Berlin in 2025 and finishing 2nd the following race at Kalamazoo. Santos and Armstrong will have to lean on experience rather than recent success to bring the fight to Roahrig, but both no doubt have the championship experience to do so. All three competitors, along with Roahrig, will be hunting their first win of the 2026 season.
Three-Time Little 500 Winner Bloom makes first non-wing start since 2024
A familiar face to not only the yourBIGplans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour, but also to Midwest sprint car racing, makes their return to non-wing competition. Jeff Bloom, a three-time Little 500 winner, is set to make his first non-wing sprint car start since 2024. Bloom last competed with the tour at Berlin Raceway in June of 2023, and last competed in general in the 2024 Little 500. The national sprint car hall of famer captured his best Sprint Car Tour finish at Berlin Raceway in 2022 finishing in 8th position. Bloom has been inducted into both the Little 500 and Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fames, and has had one of the most successful careers over his 60 years of racing. The Michigan native will be a hometown favorite, and one to watch, as the series competes at Berlin Raceway in what will be the Tour’s only visit to Michigan in 2026.
Jeff Bloom at the 2022 Little 500 autograph session - Jack Kessler Photo
McVey leads BHR Performance Rookie of the Year Standings
As the championship picture begins to take form, so does the BHR Performance Rookie of the Year race. At this point in the season, only Olivia Shelbo and Tony McVey are in contention for the award, with McVey taking the early lead. Both drivers had competed on the tour before this season, but not having competed full time was eligible for the Rookie of The Year coming into 2026.
With three races down, and four races to go, McVey currently carries a 60 point lead over Shelbo and also sits fourth in total championship points. As the tour heads to Berlin Raceway, will McVey make the picture more clear, or can Shelbo claw back some points and make the race more and more unclear?
Exciting Weekend at Berlin on tap
Racing season is almost finished at Berlin Raceway, as they prepare a double header weekend to cap off their season championship. Chet Championship weekend features the yourBIGplans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour and USSA Kenyon Midget series on Friday Night along with Limited Late Models, Sportsman Late Models, and 4-cylinders. Chet Championships will officially commence on Saturday evening with Super Late Models, Limited Late Models, Sportsman Late Models, 4-cylinders, and VROA. With points racing coming to an end this weekend, the facility will close out their racing season with another double header weekend on Friday, September 11th and Saturday, September 12th.
Race Information
The 50 Lap feature at Berlin Raceway is set for Friday, August 28. Pit gates will open at 1:00 p.m., with spectator gates and hot laps beginning at 4:00 p.m. Racing is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.
The night's racing program will feature yourBIGplans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour, Kenyon Midgets, Limited Late Models, Sportsman, and 4 Cylinder.
Fans can purchase tickets and find additional event information by clicking HERE.
