MARNE, Mich. (Aug. 10, 2024) – After his performance Saturday night with the Must See Racing Perfit Sprint Car Series, Canadian Ryan Litt has begun to turn Berlin Raceway into somewhat of a second home.
Litt surged past reigning series champion Jason Blonde in turn four on lap 22 of a 30-lap feature, moments before Blonde slowed dramatically with a flat right-rear tire.
He never trailed after that, leading the final nine laps en route to his third straight win in the tour’s fall date at the seven-sixteenths-mile oval. It marked Litt’s fourth Must See Racing feature victory overall.
Saturday was also Litt’s first series victory since becoming a father back in February, with six-month-old daughter Everly in attendance.
“He [Blonde] snookered me on the start. I almost spun out in between [turns] one and two,” Litt laughed. “But he’s always fun to race here. He is one of the best at this track, but you know he’s going to race you clean.
“I saw him smoking and sparking going into three late there, and I had a little run and took it,” Litt added. “It was a good race. Pretty nerve-wracking with a bunch of cautions at the end, but we made it work.”
Reigning series rookie-of-the-year Kevin Mingus started from the pole after an inversion roll of eight prior to the main, but it was Dorman Snyder who jumped out to the early advantage from the outside of the front row.
Snyder led the first eight laps in Wayne Stickney’s familiar No. 99, before Blonde came roaring past by using his traditional high side speed to gain control on the ninth rotation.
Blonde tried to check out at that point, but Litt was hot on his heels, moving quickly past Snyder into second and then lurking less than a second behind Blonde until just before the halfway point.
Snyder then slowed working lap 16 – a flat right-rear tire the culprit – but was able to make a tire change and return, while Litt and Blonde scrapped for the lead on the ensuing restart.
With 10 to go, Litt rocketed closer to Blonde’s rear bumper, before making what would ultimately be the pass for the win in the fourth corner after shooting all the way to the apron to avoid Blonde’s slowing car.
The reigning champ wasn’t done, however.
After getting a replacement tire and restarting on the tail of the lead lap in eighth, Blonde roared around the third lane on a lap-23 restart, passing six cars in half a lap to regain the runner-up position.
“I figured he had a flat tire or broke,” said Litt of Blonde. “I couldn’t believe he got back up there, though. “I was ready for the restart, and he pulled up beside me … I was like, ‘What the heck?'”
Despite the sudden surge, Blonde had nothing left to get back past Litt, even with a two-lap sprint to the finish after Davey Hamilton Jr. slowed with a blown engine to bring out the night’s final caution flag.
“I surprised myself, to be honest with you,” Blonde admitted of his move to get back toward the front. “I didn’t think it was going to be that good, because we put a used tire on, but it just shows how good the car was … especially out in clean air when we were leading. I didn’t think I’d be the second place car by that first lap [after the restart], though.
“Just hats off to the guys. After qualifying and the heat race, we were just a little free, and I got my tires really hot – almost blistering hot. We had to make a couple spring changes, but it brought the car to life. Not quite enough in those last few laps.”
British Columbia’s Aaron Willison completed the podium, giving Canada two of the top three finishers.
Bobby Komisarski and Kevin Mingus, locked in a duel for the runner-up spot in the series standings, were fourth and fifth, respectively. Championship leader Joe Liguori crossed the line in sixth.
Leading Must See Racing Midwest Lights Series competitor Charlie Baur posted a career-best mark with the national series Saturday night, earning a ninth-place finish with his family-owned race team.
Willison kicked off the program with his second fast qualifying effort of the season, timing in at 13.355 seconds (117.933 mph) in the iconic Dick Myers-owned No. 50m car.
Teddy Alberts won the first eight-lap heat race, while Litt topped the eight-lap Engine Pro Fast Car Dash, which served as the night’s second heat.
The two-race Fast Car Dash mini-series points title – comprising both Must See Racing events this season at Berlin – unofficially went to Blonde. He earned the honor with a one-point margin over Litt.
The Must See Racing Perfit Sprint Car Series season continues Saturday, Aug. 31 at Owosso Speedway in Ovid, Mich., where Willison captured his first win on the tour back in June.
Must See Racing
Berlin Raceway
Marne, Michigan
Saturday, August 10, 2024
Feature:
1. 07-Ryan Litt
2. 42-Jason Blonde
3. 50M-Aaron Willison
4. 7-Bobby Komisarski
5. Z10-Kevin Mingus
6. 68-Joe Ligouri
7. 11G-Tom Geren
8. 85-Rick Holly
9. 23-CHarlie Baur
10. 14-Davey Hamilton Jr.
11. 51-Joshua Sexton
12. 99-Dorman Snyder
13. 9-Lucas Krick
14. 44-Teddy Alberts
15. 8A-Adam Blitz
16. 14X-Matt Double