Knowledge and Experience Could Lead Brian Campbell to “Money in the Bank 150” Victory
Bakersfield, CA – The name Brian Campbell is synonymous with the word winning when it comes to Berlin Raceway (MI). The son of Michigan Motorsports Hall of Famer Fred Campbell lives a mere 15 minutes from the track and has earned two track championships in only three years of full-time competition, finishing second in the Super Late Model Division in 2022. The two-time “Betten Baker Chevrolet of Cadillac Money in the Bank 150” winner will try to make it three wins, when the SRL National visits Berlin for the $10,000-to-win 2023 version of the event on June 7th.
Campbell was also the winner of the inaugural “Rowdy Race” at Berlin in 2009. The 2009 ASA Late Model Series Challenge Division champion has four ASA Challenge Series victories at the track, combined in both the Northern and National divisions. He has nine CRA Super Series Super Series wins, as well as three CRA JEGS All-Star Tour wins at the 7/16-mile track. His record also includes an ARCA Midwest Tour Series victory in the “Port City Racecars 100”, where he set Fast Time for good measure. With all his success at Berlin, people might think that he is in love with the configuration of the tricky facility. But that would not be the case.
“Berlin is my home track but not my favorite to race”, Campbell admitted. “However, Berlin does so many good things for the fans and racers, it is hard to leave the place. I am there all the time, as I live 15 minutes from the track. (It is) kinda hard to not race there. 75 laps for $4,000 a night is not bad.”
Campbell began his 2023 Berlin campaign with consecutive runner-up finishes, but he knows that despite his success during the weekly programs at Berlin, an event as big as the “Money in the Bank 150” is a completely different animal. As such, the White, MI driver will have to approach the weekend with a different mindset.
“Like most tracks who host a series, the series brings a different element to the track”, Campell explained. “The race, races differently than the normal weekly shows, if that makes sense. So being open minded about changes and how to approach the race is key.”
In 2022, the SRL National took over the sanction of the “Money in the Bank 150”, in its’ sixth edition. This year it will be run for the seventh time, and the SRL National will once again sanction the event. Previous winners include Bubba Pollard (2017), Campbell (2018, 2019), Carson Hocevar (2020, 2021), and William Byron (2022). It is possible that all previous winners could make the 2023 edition, as entries continue to come in. But Campbell is happy that the new sanctioning body for the race has returned in 2023.
“I was extremely happy to see the SRL return for 2023” Campbell stated. “My impression was that of a well-run series, very professional, yet very approachable to talk. Larry (Collins) made it a point to speak to every one of us. That goes a long way.”
The All American 400 winner at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway (TN) is very familiar with different sanctioning bodies, having participated in big events up and down the East Coast and Midwest portions of the country. He has victories in the “Glass City 200” at Toledo Speedway (OH), Kalamazoo Klash Template 100” at Kalamazoo Speedway (MI), the 2007 “Hamot/Highmark Lake Erie 200” at Lake Erie Speedway (PA), the 2006 “Bazell Oil/Sunoco Race Fuels Main Event XIX” at Colombia Motor Speedway (OH), the 2009 “Gleaners 200” at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (IN), and the 2008 “Crate American Race 200” at Bristol Motor Speedway (TN) to name a few.
Campbell will hope to put his winning experience, as well as his local knowledge to good use, looking to grab another marque event win. With finishes of fourth in last years “Money in the Bank 150” and second in the “Battle at Berlin 250”, Round #4 of the SRL National could see the veteran racer grab the glory at his home track.
The “Money in the Bank 150” will pit some of the best Super Late Model drivers in the country against both the unique track, as well as each other, for a $10,000 payday on Wednesday June 7th. The event will pay $1,200 to start with over 30 Super Late Models already entered. It will be Round #4 of the SRL National schedule. 29 cars participated at Irwindale Speedway (CA) in Round #1, with Jacob Gomes grabbing a $25,000 win. The “Hardee’s Rattler 250”, at South Alabama Speedway (AL), found Bubba Pollard grabbing the $25,000 win over a 32-car field. Round #3 was at Mobile International Raceway (AL), where Bubba Pollard grabbed his second win, and another $18,000 payday in the “Davidson Electric 125”. The next event on the schedule will be at I-44 Speedway in Lebanon, MO for the “Firecracker 150” on June 29th.
Story: K. Peters, SRL National Media
