For the fourth time in 2016, Mother Nature came out on top in the Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge at Crystal Motor Speedway Saturday night over a large field of competitors from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Ontario.

Overnight rain ended around mid-day on Saturday, and at 2:30 PM the track surface looked ready for a great night of racing.

The late afternoon prediction was for a few, scattered light showers, but when the rain returned, it returned to stay. Although there was never a heavy rain, the unending precipitation took its toll, and the infield became flooded and the pit area unusable. In spite of giving it everything they had, Crystal Motor Speedway owner/promoter Ron Flinn and his crew finally had to throw in the towel, and Flinn officially canceled the show around 5:45 PM.

Originally scheduled as the SOD season opener, the Crystal MAHLE/Clevite BLC race was rained out on April 30th, then again on May 14th. It is now scheduled to close out the five-race MAHLE/Clevite BLC and the SOD season at the Mike Olrich Memorial Race on September 3rd. The next MAHLE/Clevite BLC race will be on August 13th at Butler Speedway, followed by I-96 Speedway on August 19th.

For more information about MAHLE/Clevite, go to https://catalog.mahle-aftermarket.com/na/home/index.xhtml?l=de. For more information about Engine Pro, go to www.enginepro.com. For more information about ARP, go to www.arp-bolts.com. The full 2016 Sprints on Dirt schedule, MAHLE/Clevite BLC point standings, rules, current news, and other information are available on the SOD website, www.sprintsondirt.com.

Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP is brought to you by many important sponsor partners including: Engine Pro (Title Sponsor), ARP (Title Sponsor), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official SOD Tire), MAHLE/Clevite (Beyond Limits Challenge Sponsor), Engine Pro (Lucky Dog Sponsor), Lane Automotive (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), Engler Machine & Tool (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), COMP Cams (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), RockAuto.com (SOD Series Rookie of the Year Sponsor & SOD Sprint Car Rookie of the Year Sponsor), XYZ Machining (Sportsman of the Year Sponsor & Crew Chief of the Year Sponsor), KSE Racing Products (Hard Charger Sponsor). In addition, SOD contingency sponsors include: ATL Racing Fuel Cells, Kistler Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Schoenfeld Headers, K2W Precision/Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Ti22 Performance, BR Motorsports, King Racing Products, License 2 Play, Simpson Racing Products, Rod End Supply, Diversified Machine Inc. (DMI), Racing Optics.

The Engine Pro Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge for 2016 rolls into race 3 of 5 this Saturday at Crystal Motor Speedway for five-race.

The five-race BLC mini-series tried to get started at Crystal Motor Speedway on April 30^th and May 14th, but both dates were rained out.  The BLC finally got the first race in at Merritt Speedway on Saturday, June 18th with Brian Smith victorious.  Once again, though, rain stopped round 2 at I-96 Speedway on Friday, July 8^th.  The next night, July 9^th, was a charm at Thunderbird Speedway, presenting the packed house with a very exciting second BLC win for Brian Smith.  After this Saturday’s Crystal show, round 4 will take place at Butler Speedway on Saturday, August 13th.  The MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge finale will be at I-96 Speedway on August 19^th.

The BLC offers drivers the opportunity to focus on a mini-championship with its own point fund within the full Sprints on Dirt series points chase.  MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge Champion will be awarded $1,000.  Point fund monies will be paid out to the top seven finishers in the BLC.  To contend for the BLC championship, a driver must display SOD & all primary sponsors’ decals.

SOD points leader Brian Smith (Fremont, OH) also leads the BLC points, followed by Tom Schinderle, Dan McCarron, Steve Irwin, Brett Mann, John Gall, and Mark Aldrich.  Steve Irwin won the non-BLC July 16 SOD show at Crystal.

For more information about MAHLE/Clevite, go to https://catalog.mahle-aftermarket.com/eu/home/index.xhtml?l=EN.  For more information about Engine Pro, go to www.enginepro.com.  For more information about ARP, go to www.arp-bolts.com.  The full 2016 Sprints on Dirt schedule, rules, current news, and other information are available at www.sprintsondirt.com.

Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP is brought to you by many important sponsor partners including: Engine Pro (Title Sponsor), ARP (Title Sponsor), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official SOD Tire), MAHLE/Clevite (Beyond Limits Challenge Sponsor), Engine Pro (Lucky Dog Sponsor), Lane Automotive (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), Engler Machine & Tool (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), COMP Cams (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), RockAuto.com (SOD Series Rookie of the Year Sponsor & SOD Sprint Car Rookie of the Year Sponsor), XYZ Machining (Sportsman of the Year Sponsor & Crew Chief of the Year Sponsor), KSE Racing Products (Hard Charger Sponsor).  In addition, SOD contingency sponsors include: ATL Racing Fuel Cells, Kistler Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Schoenfeld Headers, K2W Precision/Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Ti22 Performance, BR Motorsports, King Racing Products, License 2 Play, Simpson Racing Products, Rod End Supply, Diversified Machine Inc. (DMI), Racing Optics.

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Steve & Adrianna Irwin with the SOD Big Money @ Crystal Motor Speedway
(Photo by TW Photographics)

Stevie Irwin (Fenton, MI) finally got the monkey off his back, and mastered rush-hour traffic to take home the exciting Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt by ARP feature win at Crystal Motor Speedway (Crystal, MI) Saturday night.  Irwin started in 2^nd place along SOD points leader Brian Smith on the front row, and chased Smith in the early stages of the race.  While Smith ran the middle groove and higher, Irwin eventually found the bottom to his liking.  As has been commonplace with SOD races having very few cautions in 2016, lapped traffic was heavy for the leaders.  Both Smith and Irwin made heart-stopping, crowd pleasing passes.  Initially it looked like Smith would cruise to his 4^th win, but Irwin settled into his low-rider mode and started reeling in the leader, eventually catching Smith on lap 14.  The capacity crowd then got their money’s worth as the two traded the lead back and forth until Irwin finally took command for good.  While Smith continued within striking distance of the leader, it was clear that handling was going away on his 2+.

The race was interrupted only once, on lap 11, when Tom Schinderle, running 9^th, hit the wall and came to a stop with a flat right rear tire.  Jay Steinebach had nowhere to go and came to a stop to avoid Schinderle’s car at the bottom of the track at the start/finish line.

Smith appeared to have a tire seal over, and while doing his best to hold onto a good finish, he bounced off the front straight wall.  Although the tire didn’t immediately go flat, his right rear wheel was about 3-4 inches narrower after the impact.  He held on, going one lap down on the last lap to finish in 10^th place.

Irwin, who splits his time racing winged and non-winged sprints, has won non-winged races this season, but has struggled, for the most part, with wings.  Well aware of his issues, Irwin has focused on finding and fixing his issues.  While he struggled Friday at Winston Speedway, it was clear that he found the right combination for Crystal.

Irwin finished the race with a good-sized lead, followed by Dustin Stroup in 2^nd, Shawn Valenti in 3^rd, Dan McCarron in 4^th, and Dain Naida in 5^th.

Friday’s winner at Winston Speedway, Stuart Brubaker, was disqualified for the remainder of the show after an on-track incident during the COMP Cams (3^rd) heat race.  Mark Aldrich, currently 3^rd in points, lost ground to the front runners when a flat tire in the B main kept him from advancing to the feature.

The Crystal show added another gold star to the 2016 Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt by ARP season under the new SOD unlimited format on the new Hoosier spec tires.  Good car counts, very competitive racing, plenty of side-by-side racing, multiple racing grooves, and very few cautions, mostly due to mechanical issues have been the hallmarks of every show without exception; SOD races have won high praise from competitors and fans alike.

Engine Pro SOD by ARP Feature

Engler Machine & Tool Heat Win – Brian Smith
2+, 7, 17x, 4t, 27, 10s, 1a, 91L

Lane Automotive Heat Win – John Gall
81, 1m, 8, 3a, 24, 89, 6, 31

COMP Cams Heat Win – Gregg Dalman
49t, 22m, 0, 41, 46, 27x, 35 (DQ)

B MAIN Win – Jay Steinebach
10s, 89, 27x, 91L, 31

Kistler Racing Products Contingencies – Shawn Valenti, Dan McCarron
BR Motorsports Contingency – Dain Naida
COMP Cams Contingency – Dustin Stroup
Allstar Performance Contingency – Justin Ward
Schoenfeld Headers Contingency – Steve Irwin

For more information about Engine Pro, go to www.enginepro.com.  For more information about ARP, go to www.arp-bolts.com.  The full 2016 Sprints on Dirt schedule, rules, driver member form, news, and other information can be read at www.sprintsondirt.com.

Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP is brought to you by many important sponsor partners including: Engine Pro (Title Sponsor), ARP (Title Sponsor), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official SOD Tire), MAHLE/Clevite (Beyond Limits Challenge Sponsor), Engine Pro (Lucky Dog Sponsor), Lane Automotive (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), Engler Machine & Tool (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), COMP Cams (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), RockAuto.com (SOD Series Rookie of the Year Sponsor & SOD Sprint Car Rookie of the Year Sponsor), XYZ Machining (Sportsman of the Year Sponsor & Crew Chief of the Year Sponsor), KSE Racing Products (Hard Charger Sponsor).  In addition, SOD contingency sponsors include: ATL Racing Fuel Cells, Kistler Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Schoenfeld Headers, K2W Precision/Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Ti22 Performance, BR Motorsports, King Racing Products, License 2 Play, Simpson Racing Products, Rod End Supply, Diversified Machine Inc. (DMI), Racing Optics.

2nd Brian Smith, winner Stuart Brubaker with daughter Grace, 3rd Gregg Dalman
(Trailsendcustom Photo)

Fremont, Ohio’s Stuart Brubaker charged to a crowd-pleasing Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP feature win Friday night at Winston Speedway in Rothbury, Michigan.

Gregg Dalman grabbed the lead at the start from the pole with Brett Mann looking like he may have something for the leader.  Dalman started to pull away as Mann slipped high on turn 2 allowing Chris Pobanz to take 2^nd and Stuart Brubaker 3^rd.  Dalman looked to be the class until John Gall & Jay Steinebach tangled on lap four with Gall flipping.  Neither driver was able to continue.

After the red, Dalman continued to lead, but it soon became evident that the handle was going away on Dalman’s car and after a back and forth battle, Brubaker got by Dalman as he slid high in turn two.  Brubaker was an expert at negotiating traffic on the slick surface and easily held on for the win.  After the 4^th lap red, the feature went nonstop and point leader Brian Smith was turning faster laps than the leader at the end, but it was too little, too late.

Smith (Fremont, Ohio), the current SOD point leader, started the feature in eleventh place after not making the feature nine-car draw for the top starting positions.  Smith was the KSE Hard Charger Award winner.  Dalman held on to finish third, and discovered that a tire pressure bleeder had stuck open causing his handling problem.  Brett Mann, driving Tony Bures’ #58 finished 4^th, and Mark Aldrich was 5^th.

Engine Pro SOD by ARP Feature

Engler Machine & Tool Heat Winner  – Brett Mann
58, 89, 0, 8, 10s, 41, 24

Lane Automotive Heat Winner – Mark Aldrich
1a, 4t, 46, 2+, 27x, 6

COMP Cams Heat Winner – Gregg Dalman
49t, 35, 27, 7, 81, 91L

Kistler Racing Products Contingencies – Chris Pobanz, Stuart Brubaker
BR Motorsports Contingency – Steve Irwin
COMP Cams Contingency – Josh Turner
Allstar Performance Contingency – Robert Huiskins
Schoenfeld Headers Contingency – Brad Lamberson

For more information about Engine Pro, go to www.enginepro.com.  For more information about ARP, go to www.arp-bolts.com.  The full 2016 Sprints on Dirt schedule, rules, driver member form, news, and other information can be read at www.sprintsondirt.com.

Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP is brought to you by many important sponsor partners including: Engine Pro (Title Sponsor), ARP (Title Sponsor), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official SOD Tire), MAHLE/Clevite (Beyond Limits Challenge Sponsor), Engine Pro (Lucky Dog Sponsor), Lane Automotive (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), Engler Machine & Tool (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), COMP Cams (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), RockAuto.com (SOD Series Rookie of the Year Sponsor & SOD Sprint Car Rookie of the Year Sponsor), XYZ Machining (Sportsman of the Year Sponsor & Crew Chief of the Year Sponsor), KSE Racing Products (Hard Charger Sponsor).  In addition, SOD contingency sponsors include: ATL Racing Fuel Cells, Kistler Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Schoenfeld Headers, K2W Precision/Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Ti22 Performance, BR Motorsports, King Racing Products, License 2 Play, Simpson Racing Products, Rod End Supply, Diversified Machine Inc. (DMI), Racing Optics.

FULL RESULTS FOR BOTH NIGHTS TO FOLLOW

WINSTON SPEEDWAY, FRIDAY, JULY 15

CRYSTAL MOTOR SPEEDWAY< SATURDAY< JULY 16

Stevie & Adrianna Irwin in victory lane @ Crystal Motor Speedway
(Photo by TW Photographics)