Stephen Bergh, Jr. Wins Two North Races in Three Days in North Carolina

Concord and Tri-County Victories Help Pad Driver’s Points Lead

Entering the middle of July, Stephen Bergh, Jr. held the top spot in the Pro Challenge Series North division points standings with his adversary, Kyle Benjamin, riding in second. After a two races in three days at two different tracks in North Carolina, Bergh not only increased his points lead, but brought home two victories to add to his dream season.

On Concord Speedway’s quarter-mile oval on Wednesday, July 15th, Bergh drove his #70 Pro Challenge machine to victory lane over Drew Calhoun and the rest of the field. That was his second win in two races held at Concord Speedway.

“We just had the car dialed in right and I’ve had a lot of laps there,” said Bergh. “It’s different because it’s on a quarter-mile, but we got it right. It feels great. All the college kids at UNC (Calhoun’s crew) are giving us a run for our money, but we’re doing well.”

At Tri-County Motor Speedway on Friday, Bergh once again was the driver to beat, but this time it was on a faster, larger track. The 4/10ths-mile banked oval produced a great battle for the top spot, first with Benjamin trying to steal it away from Bergh, then a late challenge by Brady Boswell. In the end though, it was once again Bergh’s day to shine in victory lane.

“We’ve never been good here,” explained Bergh. “We’ve had a fourth in the National race and we were too tight in the race (today). “They were putting pressure on us, but we were able to hold on and win.”

Benjamin was able to recover from a spin to take second, followed by Boswell.

In the North division points to date, Bergh leads over Benjamin, Trevor Edwards, Ryan Heavner and Chris Brown.

The next Pro Challenge North division event will take place on Wednesday, July 29th at Concord Speedway (NC).

Article and pictures from prochallenge.net

Broken Foot and All, Stephen Bergh, Jr. Wins at Dillon
Bergh Gets Jump on Benjamin at Start and Never Looks Back

Most athletes, young or old, would find themselves on the sidelines if they suffered a broken foot. Not even many racecar drivers would dare try racing around a tough little bullring of a track with a broken foot - a broken right, accelerator foot.

But Stephen Bergh has been defying all logic lately, racing with a broken right foot for several weeks, and that broken foot led him to victory in the Pro Challenge North Region's second National Point event of the 2009 season Saturday night at Dillon. Bergh got the jump on Kyle Benjamin on the opening start and held off Meghan Dillner and Benjamin for the win.

“This feels really good,” said Bergh. “Kyle Benjamin has been doing really good and a couple other guys have been really good, so it’s great to be able to win this one tonight.”

Bergh started on the outside pole, along side Benjamin, who had set fast time earlier in the day in qualifying. Bergh got the jump on the start and cleared Benjamin by the first turn and never looked back, leading all 35 laps caution-free.

“It was pretty important (to get a good start),” added Bergh. “My dad was like flipping out on the radio trying to get me a good start. My spotter told me to go and I just went.”

Making Bergh’s victory even sweeter was that he did it with one foot in a cast.

“I have a metal thing inside the car that I can slide my foot back and forth into it. It’s worked pretty good for me.”

Dillner gained on Bergh through the middle stages of the feature event, but debris cut a brake line in her #51 Chev-Stang, forcing her to settle for second for the second-straight National Point event. Benjamin followed in third, with Trevor Edwards and Ryan Heavner following in the top-five.

The next Pro Challenge North Region event comes on June 17th at the quarter-mile track at Concord Speedway in North Carolina. The third round of the National Point events in the North Region comes on June 27th at Hickory Motor Speedway (NC).

Article and pictures from prochallenge.net