Drivers across the country are mourning this week after learning that recent Berlin Raceway Hall of Fame inductee and noted motorsports industry giant Randy Sweet passed away last weekend. This former short track giant, who began his racing career in the early ‘60’s, earned five Berlin track championships, four late model track championships at Michigan’s Berlin Raceway and 63 late model feature victories at the seventh-sixteenths-mile oval.
Along with being a successful driver, Sweet was also known as a successful entrepreneur who started Sweet Manufacturing of Kalamazoo in 1978, which has long produced race car parts for everything from stock cars to sprint cars.
“Randy was a great racer in his own right, but his innovations over the years with things in motorsports and especially short-racing and a lot of that stuff is still used today,” said Berlin track announcer Matt McKenzie. “A lot of that stuff was innovated in the ‘70s and ‘80s and ‘90s. That’s why so many people have so much respect for him.”
In recent years, Sweet was also a well-known backer of Scott Bloomquist’s Team Zero racing operation.
“Sweet was like a father to me,” said Bloomquist. “I am going to really miss him and hope that we can win more races for him next season.”
We at RacingJunk.com send our condolences to this driver’s friends, family and his entire racing family during this very difficult time.
I know this name well. His steering rack is in my car.
Condolences to Mr. Sweet’s friends and family.