Ryan Ruhl Rules MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge At Merritt Speedway
2007 Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP Rookie of the Year, Ryan drove from his 7th place starting position to win Saturday’s caution-free 25 lap MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge at Merritt Speedway, Michigan’s Premier Dirt Track.
Mike Astrauskas took the lead from the pole and held the lead for twenty laps, fighting off challenges by Brad Lamberson who pulled alongside at one point. Meanwhile, Ruhl steadily moved through the field and took the lead out of turn 4 from race long leader Astrauskas with five laps to go and went on to win his second feature of the 2017 racing season. The 30-year-old from Coldwater, Michigan in his popular #16 C&C Contractors/J&J Chassis/Rider Racing Engines sprinter would score career win #15 and the victory moves him into a tie for ninth all-time in SOD history. Brad Lamberson finished second ahead of two-time SOD Champion, Gregg Dalman while Astrauskas and 2001 SOD Champion, Steve Irwin completed the top five in the third race of the MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge Series Race #3.
Thomas Schinderle, leading both SOD Championship and MAHLE/Clevite BLC points going into the show, experienced engine problems that ended his night before qualifying, costing him both point leads. Steve Irwin now leads Gregg Dalman and Schinderle in SOD Championship points. Irwin also leads the MAHLE/Clevite BLC points over Schinderle and Robert Huisken now.
Qualifying – Lane Automotive/MSD Ignition Fast Masters (fast qualifiers) $50 each
| Group | Time | # | Driver |
| Engler Machine & Tool Heat | 14.557 | 27 | Brad Lamberson |
| COMP Cams Heat | 14.862 | 49T | Gregg Dalman |
Heat Races – Winners $100 each
| Engler Machine & Tool Heat #1 | |||
| # | Driver | Contingency | |
| 1 | 16 | Ryan Ruhl | |
| 2 | 27 | Brad Lamberson | Kistler Racing Products |
| 3 | 71H | Ryan Grubaugh | Racing Optics |
| 4 | 6 | Tyler Bearden | |
| 5 | 47 | Robert Bulloch | |
| 6 | 16x | Nic Rogers | |
| 7 | 31 | Tanner Astrauskas | |
| 8 | 10J | Chris Jones | |
| 9 | 58 | Tony Bures | |
| 10 | 41 | Thomas Schinderle | |
| COMP Cams Heat #2 | |||
| # | Driver | Contingency | |
| 1 | 49T | Gregg Dalman | |
| 2 | 0 | Steve Irwin | Allstar Performance |
| 3 | 3A | Mike Astrauskas | Racing Optics |
| 4 | 46 | Robert Huisdken | |
| 5 | 77 | Andrew Scheid | |
| 6 | 8 | Justin Ward | |
| 7 | 1a | Mark Aldrich | |
| 8 | 27x | Jared Lamberson | |
| 9 | 81 | Ricky Ferkel | |
Dash – $100 to win
| RockAuto.com Dash for Cash | |||
| # | Driver | Contingency | |
| 1 | 77 | Andrew Scheid | |
| 2 | 47 | Robert Bulloch | Kistler Racing Products |
| 3 | 8 | Justin Ward | Racing Optics |
| 4 | 16x | Nic Rogers | |
| 5 | 31 | Tanner Astrauskas | |
| 6 | 1a | Mark Aldrich | |
Feature
| # | Driver | Starting Position |
Contingencies | |
| 1 | 16 | Ryan Ruhl | 7 | Rod End Supply |
| 2 | 27 | Brad Lamberson | 5 | Rod End Supply |
| 3 | 49T | Gregg Dalman | 2 | Rod End Supply |
| 4 | 3A | Mike Astrauskas | 1 | Schoenfeld Headers |
| 5 | 0 | Steve Irwin | 8 | ATL Racing Fuel Cells |
| 6 | 46 | Robert Huisken | 3 | |
| 7 | 8 | Justin Ward | 11 | Allstar Performance |
| 8 | 16x | Nic Rogers | 12 | |
| 9 | 77 | Andrew Scheid | 9 | King Racing Products |
| 10 | 71H | Ryan Grubaugh | 4 | |
| 11 | 1a | Mark Aldrich | 14 | Keizer Aluminum Wheels |
| 12 | 47 | RobertBulloch | 10 | |
| 13 | 27X | Jared Lamberson | 16 | |
| 14 | 81 | Ricky Ferkel | 17 | |
| 15 | 10J | Chris Jones | 15 | |
| 16 | 6 | Tyler Bearden | 6 | |
| 17 | 31A | Tanner Astrauskas | 13 | |
| DNS | 58 | Tony Bures | ||
| DNS | 41 | Thomas Schinderle |
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger – Ryan Ruhl (+6)
BR Motorsports Contingency (feature top 10 draw) – Brad Lamberson
DMI (Diversified Machine) Contingency (feature 12-16 draw) – Robert Bulloch
Perfit Corporation Lucky Dog – 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 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 (Hard Charger Sponsor), XYZ Machining (Season Sportsman & Crew Chief Sponsor). 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.
