70-Year-Old Wins Second NASCAR National Title at Berlin

At an age when most people are enjoying retirement, Tim DeVos is still making history on the racetrack.

The 70-year-old racing legend just captured his second NASCAR Local Racing Series national championship, dominating Division III with 12 wins in 21 starts this season. DeVos piloted his signature No. 12 car to victory after victory at Michigan's Berlin Raceway, the track where his racing journey began more than 40 years ago.

His first win at Berlin came on June 5, 1982. Today, DeVos holds the track record with an astounding 127 victories and five track championships across four different racing divisions.

The path to this latest title started with an unusual job offer. DeVos' boss, Jack Theeuwes, got tired of watching his employee "beat the crap out of his pick-up truck" and offered him a $3 hourly raise to build race cars instead. That career change sparked a lifelong passion that continues to burn bright.

DeVos admits his first race car, a 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, "was a terrible mess" and "the worst looking car on the track by far." But it could win races, and that's all that mattered to the young builder focused on speed over style.

His driving style became just as unconventional as his start. While competitors stuck to the traditional low line around corners, DeVos developed his own approach: charging hard into turns on the high side. He laughs that he's "kind of in the wrong place at the wrong time pointed in the wrong direction," but it disrupts everyone else's rhythm.

Why This Inspires

DeVos faced setbacks that would end most racing careers. A devastating house fire in 2012 destroyed his outlaw late model, leaving only the engine salvageable. Instead of retiring, he rebuilt and came back stronger.

This season, while winning the sportsman championship, he also set a track record in the outlaw division on July 4. At 70, he's competitive in two classes simultaneously, proving the techniques he learned decades ago still work today.

When asked about accusations of being "too good," DeVos brushes off the noise. His focus remains simple: build fast cars, race hard, and enjoy every lap.

After more than four decades and 127 wins, Tim DeVos shows no signs of slowing down.