Blake Rowe Snaps CRA Pro Series Winless Drought at Berlin

Blake Rowe snapped a two-year winless drought with the Turn One CRA Pro Series on Saturday night, winning the Battle of the Pros 100 at Berlin Raceway.

During the 2024 CRA Pro Series season, Rowe scored his second a win with the series at Berlin before also winning the Dixie 100 at Birch Run Speedway that August. He went on to win the series championship that year, never finishing outside the top 10 in 11 starts that year.

Rowe has fought to get back to victory lane ever since that win at Birch Run in August 2024 and finally hit the jackpot on Saturday at Berlin. He took the lead from Austin Hull on lap 35 and paced the remainder of the 100-lap contest for the victory.

After the longest drought of his career, Rowe considered Saturday's win one of his biggest.

"Probably more than any of them, to be honest with you," said Rowe about the importance of the win. "This has been the longest drought I've ever been through. To have this group stick with me, it means an awful lot. Honestly, there were plenty of times they should have quit on me, and they hadn't. I certainly haven't quit on them. I'm just really thankful to finally wrap one up."

Before Rowe could run away with the victory, late cautions allowed Seth Christensen and company to restart alongside him in the closing laps. Rowe held strong on the restarts

"I would have preferred to have not even see the caution. Those are always a little bit hairy. You never know what you're going to have when you fire back off. Just a really great race car, man. Honestly, I think any of the talented drivers in this field, had they been lucky enough to steer this one, they would have been right here, too. I just feel very fortunate."

Christensen finished second, followed by Brian Campbell, Chase Pinsonneault and Boris Jurkovic.

Rowe entered Saturday's race third in Turn One CRA Pro Series points, led by Pinsonneault and Billy VanMeter. VanMeter finished sixth at Berlin as the championship battle rages on.

Two races remain for the Turn One CRA Pro Series in 2026. The next stop is Owosso Speedway on Saturday, September 26 for the Owosso Nationals. The championship will be decided at Winchester Speedway on Friday, October 9 as part of Winchester 400 weekend.

-Photo credit: CRA Racing

Battle of the Pros 100 Unofficial Results