Punchie Scores Knock Out in Engine Pro SOD presented by ARP MAHLE/Clevite BLC
Punchie & the Sprints On Dirt Big Money (Photo courtesy of Todd Smith)
Brian “Punchie” Smith took his 3rd SOD feature win in Saturday’s Engine Pro Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP victory in the MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge 25-lap feature at Muskegon’s Thunderbird Raceway. Before a standing-room only crowd, it didn’t take long for outside front row starter Steve Irwin (Flying Zero) to open a lead on pole starter Mark Aldrich (1a). Irwin set a torrid pace that quickly got him into lapped traffic early in the race that had only caution, on lap 3, when mechanical gremlins brought Jay Steinebach (10s) to a stop in turn 2.
Meanwhile SOD point leader Punchie (2+) worked his way up to 2nd from his 5th place starting position and set sail for Irwin. While traffic helped his pursuit of Irwin, it also created a couple of close calls, and Smith noticeably became more cautious. Lap 13 proved to be unlucky for the leader when he got boxed in and Smith finally made the pass for the lead he would hold until the finish. In spite of searching for quicker line around the almost circular track, Irwin (0) was not able to catch Smith and finished 2nd. Tom Schinderle (41) finished 3rd and Dain Naida (17X) 4th after a nearly race-long spirited battle with 5th place finisher Dan McCarron (22M) in which McCarron thrilled the crowd with an all-out attempt to take over the spot. 19 cars started the feature and 18 finished clearly thrilling the enthusiastic crowd.
Fastest hot lap times were posted by a 305 driven by Dundee, Michigan’s Dan McCarron. He was followed by two 360s, Dain Naida (Tecumseh, MI) and Alex Hill, the Six Nation Sensation, from Wilsonville, Ontario. They were followed by the 410 of feature winner Brian Smith from Fremont, Ohio, and the 360 of 2015 SOD champion Gregg Dalman from Bellevue, Michigan.
The Engler Machine & Tool heat race was won by Dan McCarron (305 cubic inch motor) who was also the fastest car in hot laps. Veteran driver Mark Alrich (410 cubic inch motor) dominated the Lane Automotive heat race showing that the hot, windy weather wasn’t going to slow the speedy SOD competitors. Robert Huiskin (360 cubic inch motor) wasn’t about to be out performed and charged to a decisive COMP Cams heat race win.
The top 3 heat race finishers were paired up with kids for the License 2 Play Feature Draw to determine the first 9 feature start positions.
Racing with SOD at Thunderbird Raceway were lady competitors Lexi Adgate and Alex Hill. Both have had successful mini-sprint careers and are now ready to show the boys they can do the job in full size sprints. Hill passed the most cars in the feature.
MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge
| Place | Car No | Name | Laps | Lag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2+ | Smith, Brian | 25 | 0 |
| 2 | 0 | Irwin, Steve | 25 | -3.678 |
| 3 | 41 | Schinderle, Tom | 25 | -4.41 |
| 4 | 17X | Naida, Dain | 25 | -4.754 |
| 5 | 22M | McCarron, Dan | 25 | -5.342 |
| 6 | 1A | Aldrich, Mark | 25 | -6.7 |
| 7 | 46 | Huiskin, Robert | 25 | -12.449 |
| 8 | 81 | Gall, John | 25 | -20.516 |
| 9 | 19 | Mann, Brett | 24 | -1 Laps |
| 10 | 10J | Jones, Chris | 24 | -1 Laps |
| 11 | 77x | Hill, Alex | 24 | -1 Laps |
| 12 | 49T | Dalman, Gregg | 24 | -1 Laps |
| 13 | 8 | Ward, Justin | 24 | -1 Laps |
| 14 | 44J | Jacoby, Bill | 24 | -1 Laps |
| 15 | 58 | Bures, Tony | 24 | -1 Laps |
| 16 | 24 | Smith, Eric | 23 | -2 Laps |
| 17 | 91L | Adgate, Lexi | 23 | -2 Laps |
| 18 | 6 | Bearden, Tyler | 23 | -2 Laps |
| 19 | 10S | Steinebach, Jay | 3 | -22 Laps |
Engler Machine & Tool Heat Race: 1 McCarron, 2 Steinebach, 3 B Smith, 4 Jones, 5 E Smith, 6 Bearden
Lane Automotive Heat Race: 1 Mark Aldrich, 2 Gall, 3 Naida, 4 Ward, 5 Bures, 6 Adgate
COMP Cams Heat Race: 1 Robert Huiskin, 2 Irwin, 3 Schinderle, 4 Mann, 5 Dalman, 6 Hill, 7 Jacoby
Contingency Awards:
Engine Pro Lucky Dog Award – Alex Hill
KSE Race Products Hard Charger Award – Bill Jacoby
Kistler Racing Products contingency awards: Jay Steinebach, Steve Irwin
COMP Cams contingency award: John Gall
BR Motorsports contingency award: Brian Smith
Allstar Performance contingency award: Dain Naida
Schoenfeld Headers contingency award: Tom Schinderle
Rod End Supply contingency awards: Brian Smith, Steve Irwin, Tom Schinderle
Racing Optics contingency award: Dain Naida
ATL Fuel Cells contingency award: Dan McCarron
King Racing Products contingency award: Mark Aldrich
Ti22 Performance contingency award: John Gall
DMI contingency award: Justin Ward
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.
Double MAHLE/Clevite BLC Weekend for SOD!
>>> I-96 BLC race for July 8th has rained out <<<
Erie, MI (July 5, 2016) – The MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP mini-series swings back into action in a big way this weekend.
BLC race #2 is at I-96 Speedway (Lake Odessa, MI) this Friday, July 8th. I-96 has been a regular stop for the SOD series, last racing their on July 31st of last year. Friday’s event will be the first of two for SOD at I-96 in 2016, with the unlimited sprints returning on Friday, August 13th.
Race #3, the next day, July 9th, is at Thunderbird Raceway in Muskegon, Michigan. Long-time racer and promoter Tom Sprague reopened the 50-year-old Thunderbird Raceway after the track was closed three years ago. Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP last raced at Thunderbird on May 10, 2008; Ben Rutan was the winner.
Each race will pay competitors $300 to start the feature, $100 to win heat races, and $100 for the Engine Pro Lucky Dog winner drawn from all competitors. The weekend will also pay $2,386 in contingency cash and certificates, and $1,000 in bonuses.
With race #1 of the five-MAHLE/Clevite BLC in the books, SOD point leader Brian Smith holds the early BLC point lead with his win at Merritt Speedway on June 18th. Thomas Schinderle is currently in 2nd place, and Dan McCarron is 3rd.
The challenge offers drivers the opportunity to compete in a mini-championship within the full Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP schedule for an additional, separate point fund. The 4th race will be on July 30th at Crystal Motor Speedway (Crystal, MI). The final race of the mini-series will take place on August 13th at Butler Speedway (Quincy, MI).
The 2016 MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge was originally set to pay the top five positions, but has been expanded to seven positions. The payout will be paid at the 2016 SOD banquet as follows: 1) $1,000, 2) $600, 3) $400, 4) $300, 5) $200, 6) $150, 7) $100.
Every weekend it is on dirt short tracks across America on Friday and Saturday nights where modern day gladiators fight in arenas to see who can be the best. Grass roots’ racing is the heart of motor sports, Clevite® engine bearings and MAHLE® engine parts are there to make sure these weekend warriors can go the distance and win the trophies. Debates carry on over who is the best on the track, but there is no debate that Clevite and MAHLE are the one constant of winning teams throughout grass roots racing.
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: Allstar Performance, ATL Racing Fuel Cells, BR Motorsports, Diversified Machine Inc. (DMI), Kistler Racing Products, King Racing Products, K2W Precision/Keizer Aluminum Wheels, License 2 Play, Maxim Racing, Racing Optics, Schoenfeld Headers, Simpson Racing Products, Rod End Supply, and Ti22 Performance.
Sprints On Dirt MAHLE/Clevite BLC win @ Merritt to Brian Smith
2nd place Thomas Schinderle, winner Brian Smith, 3rd place Dan McCarron
Erie, Michigan (June 19, 2016)- Joshua Turner jumped out to an early lead after starting on the front row with Steve Irwin for the first round of the MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge for the unlimited sprints of the Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP at Merritt Speedway Saturday night. However, it only took fourth place starter Brian Smith from Fremont, Ohio, a couple laps to reel in Turner and charge into the lead. Smith steadily built up a straightaway lead as he soon got into lapped traffic on the racy quarter mile. In spite of being the last of seven features run on the track, the track was dust-free and with plenty of passing with the 2016 SOD spec tire that continue to impress everyone.
Smith, ran a very smooth, consistent race, masterfully handling lapped cars. As the race approached midway though, Dan McCarron started turning faster times and closed the gap on Smith to several car lengths when the red flag flew with only five laps to go in the 25-lap main event. Joshua Turner (4T) and Nic Rogers (81x) tangled in turn one, both flipped hard and collected Steve Irwin (0) in the melee. Irwin made repairs and restarted, but Turner and Rogers were finished for the night.
With the green flying once again, Smith had a clear track while McCarron had to take evasive action to avoid a lapped car, and was passed by #41 Thomas Schinderle. The caution flew one last time for a spin two laps later. On the restart, once Schinderle disposed of a lapped car, he started closing the gap on Smith, but time ran out, and Smith scored his second SOD victory in a row. The enthusiastic crowd was treated to Smith’s victory dirt angel after his win.
The new Sprints On Dirt spec Hoosier Racing Tire rear tires produced exciting racing, engine equity, and stiff competition among racers regardless of engine size on the quarter mile Merritt track in spite of hot, sunny weather and a seven division program. Smith’s 410 won, Schinderle was second in a 305, McCarron was third in a 305, and Mike Astrauskas finished fourth in a 360.
Feature Finish – 1) Brian Smith (4), 2) Thomas Schinderle (5), 3) Dan McCarron (3), 4) Mike Astrauskus (6), 5) Brett Mann (10), 6) Craig Karazim (12), 7) Ken Mackey (11), 8) Steve Irwin (2), 9) John Gall (8), 10) Robert Bulloch (15), 11) Jared Lamberson (14), 12) Bill Jacoby (13), 13) Mark Aldrich (19), 14) Eric Smith (16), 15) Tyler Bearden (18), 16) Brad Lamberson (9), 17) Jay Steinebach (20), 18) Joshua Turner (1), 19) Nic Rogers (7), 20) Justin Ward (17), 21) Tanner Astrauskas (21).
Smith won the Engler Machine & Tool heat race, Steve Irwin earned the Lane Automotive heat win, and Dan McCarron won the COMP Cams heat.
Contingency Awards:
Engine Pro Lucky Dog Award – Brad Lamberson
KSE Race Products Hard Charger Award – Mark Aldrich
Kistler Racing Products contingency awards: Josh Turner, Tom Schinderle
COMP Cams contingency award: Mike Astrauskas
BR Motorsports contingency award: Nic Rogers
Allstar Performance contingency award: John Gall
Schoenfeld Headers contingency award: Brad Lamberson
Rod End Supply contingency awards: Brian Smith, Tom Schinderle, Dan McCarron
Racing Optics contingency awards: Mike Astrauskas, Ken Mackey
ATL Fuel Cells contingency award: Brett Mann, Mike Astrauskas
King Racing Products contingency award: Craig Karazim, Brett Mann
Ti22 Performance contingency award: Thomas Schinderle
DMI contingency award: Eric Smith
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.
FREE BICYCLES FOR SOD LICENSE 2 PLAY FEATURE DRAW KIDS @ MERRITT SPEEDWAY SATURDAY!
Saturday night, the kids lucky enough to be selected to participate in the Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP draw for top driver starting positions in the MAHLE/Clevite BLC feature will not only receive a Bubble Mighty Wand with Bubbles from SOD’s draw sponsor License 2 Play, but a bicycle courtesy of Houghton Lake’s Hardcore Performance!
For more information and details about Saturday’s race, visit the Merritt Speedway Facebook page, the Hardcore Performance Facebook page, and the Sprints On Dirt Facebook page.