SOD Announcer Matt Prieur interviews Thunderbird winner Chad Blonde

Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP made their only 2017 appearance at Thunderbird Raceway and Chad Blonde took the win in the MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge 25-lap feature in front of an enthusiastic, full house.

Just like the night before, hot, windy weather challenged Thunderbird Raceway owner/promoter Tom Sprague to give racers a good track, and even with an 11:0 PM curfew, Sprague was up to the challenge.

The night started out with Andy Chehowski getting into the turn two wall in the first qualifying session and flipping hard; extensive damage ended his night.  Robert Huisken caught the wall in just about the same spot in his qualifying session and also flipped; Robert was able to make repairs before the feature.

Steve Irwin (Engler Machine & Tool heat) and Thomas Schinderle (COMP Cams heat) won the Lane Automotive/MSD Ignition Fast Master awards as fast qualifiers in their respective heat race qualifying sessions.

Blonde used his outside front row starting position to take an easy win in the Engler Machine & Tool heat race over Joe Swanson.  Gregg Dalman also made good use of his second place starting position in the COMP Cams heat race to take the win over Thomas Schinderle.

Thomas Schinderle started on the pole of the feature and jump out to a quick lead.  As expected, it didn’t take the leaders long to get into traffic on the racy ¼ mile oval.  Once in traffic, second place starter Irwin challenged Schinderle several times but couldn’t pull off a pass for the lead.  The race ran caution-free until lap twenty for a spin in turn 3 by Ricky Ferkel.  It turned out to be the major turning point in the race as Schinderle, who was enjoying a several car length lead over Irwin and a straight away lead over Blonde, who started eighth,  saw his advantage disappear for the restart.

38-year-old Blonde, the veteran driver from Litchfield, Michigan, in his #5B Flint Truck Service/Maxim Chassis/Krieger Racing Engines ride, went to the top side of Tom Schinderle and a lapped car going into turn one on the white flag lap to make the winning pass.   Schinderle settled for second with current points leader and 2001 Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP Champion, Stevie Irwin, Joe Swanson and 1999 SOD Champion, Dain Naida completing the top five.

Qualifying – Lane Automotive/MSD Ignition Fast Masters $50 each

Heat Races – Winners $100 each

Feature

KSE Racing Products Hard Charger – Chad Blonde (+7)
BR Motorsports Contingency (feature top 10 draw) – Andrew Scheid
DMI (Diversified Machine) Contingency (feature 12-16 draw) – Robert Huisken
Perfit Corporation Lucky Dog – Dain Naida

For more information about Engine Pro go to www.enginepro.com.  For more information about ARP, go to www.arp-bolts.com.

Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP is brought to you in 2017 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), Driven Racing Oil (Battlegrounds Bash Sponsor), King Engine Bearings (King of Michigan Sponsor), Lane Automotive/MSD Ignition (Fast Masters Sponsor), Engler Machine & Tool (Heat Race Sponsor), COMP Cams (Heat Race Sponsor), RockAuto.com (Heat Race Sponsor), The Perfit Corporation (Lucky Dog Sponsor), KSE Racing Products, and XYZ Machining.  In addition, SOD contingency sponsors include: Allstar Performance, ATL Racing Fuel Cells, BR Motorsports, Diversified Machine Inc. (DMI), K2W Precision/Keizer Aluminum Wheels, King Racing Products, Kistler Racing Products, Maxim Racing, Motor City Racing Promotions, Racing Optics, Rod End Supply, Schoenfeld Headers, Simpson Racing Products, Walker Performance Filtration.

Today (Saturday, June 10th) is Race Day! For the second time of the weekend, the Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP are back on the track. This time, it’s Race #2 of the MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge series at the 1/3 (0.333) mile semi-banked dirt oval of Thunderbird Raceway. This is the one and only appearance at the Muskegon, Michigan speed plant for the fire breathing, winged warriors of SOD.

In 16 all-time appearances at the track located along the Lake Michigan shoreline, 2001 SOD Champion, Steve Irwin is the only repeat winner with two Feature wins to his credit. The remaining 14 events had featured 14 different winners including one season ago when 2016 SOD Champion, Brian Smith went to victory lane. Prior to last season, the last appearance by SOD was in 2008 when Ben Rutan scored the victory.

Schedule of Events – Saturday, June 10th, 2017 – Thunderbird Raceway – Muskegon, Michigan

3:30 pm Pit Gates Open
3:30 pm SOD Sign In/Pill Draw Opens
4:45 pm SOD Sign In/Pill Draw Closes
5:00 pm SOD Drivers Meeting
5:15 pm SOD Engine Heat (on-track)
5:30 pm SOD Group Hot Laps/Qualifying
6:30 pm Racing Starts

Click on the link provided for more event information: thunderbirdracewaymi.com

Click on the link provided to follow live timing and scoring, via MCRP & Race Monitor: motorcityracing.co/livetiming

Follow SOD on Twitter with exclusive live updates for the Sprints throughout Race Day at: Twitter.com/SprintsOnDirt

Like SOD on Facebook for pictures and more from behind the scenes throughout Race Day at: Facebook.com/SprintsOnDirt 

In a night of firsts, Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP made their maiden appearance on the newly reconfigured Hartford Motor Speedway 3/8 mile oval, and the show, before a huge crowd, was a real hit.  Chad Blonde, winner of the last SOD feature on the old track configuration last September, charged to his first win of the season in the first of four King Engine Bearings King of Michigan 2017 races.

After battling rain for most of May, Hartford Speedway owner Tim Dibble and his track crew now had a sunny, hot, and windy race day to contend with.  Through their hard work, they were able to get the new clay surface under control.

The night started out with Chad Blonde, Joe Swanson, and Boston Mead winning the Lane Automotive/MSD Ignition Fast Master awards as fast qualifiers in their respective heat race qualifying sessions.  Unfortunately for 17-year-old Mead, his night was over due to engine problems.

Gregg Dalman showed early speed, leading flag to flag in the Engler Machine & Tool heat race from the pole position.  Mark Aldrich took the the COMP Cams heat race after the original start was called back. On the second start, point leader Dain Naida made heavy contact with the turn 3 wall ending his night early.  Thirteen-year-old Andrew Scheid lead the entire RockAuto.com heat race on his way to his first SOD race win.

After a complete restart for the King Engine Bearings King of Michigan 25-lap feature, Blonde wasted little time charging into the lead from 3^rd and driving away from the field.  The red flag flew on lap 7 when Brett Man flipped hard in turn 3.  Back under green, Blonde drove off to a convincing 10-second win over Chris Gurley and Jay Steinebach.  Joe Swanson took 4^th and top SOD sprint car rookie contender Andrew Scheid came home 5^th.

Qualifying – Lane Automotive/MSD Ignition Fast Masters $50 each

Heat Races – Winners $100 each

Feature

KSE Racing Products Hard Charger – Linden Jones
BR Motorsports Contingency (feature top 10 draw) – Andrew Scheid
DMI (Diversified Machine) Contingency (feature 12-16 draw) – Andy Chehowski
Perfit Corporation Lucky Dog – Jay Steinebach

For more information about Engine Pro go to www.enginepro.com.  For more information about ARP, go to www.arp-bolts.com.  The full 2017 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 in 2017 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), Driven Racing Oil (Battlegrounds Bash Sponsor), King Engine Bearings (King of Michigan Sponsor), Lane Automotive/MSD Ignition (Fast Masters Sponsor), Engler Machine & Tool (Heat Race Sponsor), COMP Cams (Heat Race Sponsor), RockAuto.com (Heat Race Sponsor), The Perfit Corporation (Lucky Dog Sponsor), KSE Racing Products, and XYZ Machining.  In addition, SOD contingency sponsors include: Allstar Performance, ATL Racing Fuel Cells, BR Motorsports, Diversified Machine Inc. (DMI), K2W Precision/Keizer Aluminum Wheels, King Racing Products, Kistler Racing Products, Maxim Racing, Motor City Racing Promotions, Racing Optics, Rod End Supply, Schoenfeld Headers, Simpson Racing Products, Walker Performance Filtration.