Dan McCarron takes SOD Allstar Performance Open Wheel Spectacular at Merritt Speedway
Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP invaded Merritt Speedway for the annual Allstar Performance Open Wheel Spectacular with Dan McCarron (Britton, MI) picking up his second career win at “Michigan’s Premier Dirt Track.”
“Danny Mac” started second, but was moved back one row for jumping the start. All that did was give him a chance to prove he was the class of the field as he took the lead on lap nine. Thirteen-year-old Andrew Scheid (Sparta, MI), leading SOD sprint car rookie, started on the pole and led the first lap before Gregg Dalman (Bellevue, MI) grabbed the lead. After McCarron took command, Dalman held second until lap sixteen when Steve Irwin (Fenton, MI) took the position. At times, it looked like Irwin had the speed in the low groove to overtake McCarron, but McCarron was up to the task and used the middle groove to perfection to pull away.
Lap eighteen saw a quick caution for a spin by Tyler Bearden , then disaster struck for Chris Jones when he flipped while trying to evade a spinning Mike Burkin.
Ryan Ruhl and Thomas Schinderle also looked like they could challenge for the win, but finished third and fourth respectively. 2016 SOD champion Brian Smith finished fifth.
Steve Irwin did double duty and won the non-winged portion of the Allstar Performance Open Wheel Spectacular over Brian Smith.
Qualifying – Lane Automotive/MSD Ignition Fast Masters (fast qualifiers) $50 each
| Group | Time | # | Driver |
| Engler Machine & Tool Heat | 14.528 | 0 | Steve Irwin |
| COMP Cams Heat | 14.286 | 16 | Ryan Ruhl |
| RockAuto.com Heat | 14.402 | 41 | Thomas Schinderle |
Heat Races – Winners $100 each
| Engler Machine & Tool Heat #1 | |||
| # | Driver | Contingency | |
| 1 | 49T | Gregg Dalman | |
| 2 | 0 | Steve Irwin | Kistler Racing Products |
| 3 | 77 | Andrew Scheid | Racing Optics |
| 4 | 10J | Chris Jones | |
| 5 | 17X | Dain Naida | |
| 6 | 58 | Tony Bures | |
| 7 | 89 | Chris Pobanz | |
| COMP Cams Heat #2 | |||
| # | Driver | Contingency | |
| 1 | 16 | Ryan Ruhl | |
| 2 | 22M | Dan McCarron | Allstar Performance |
| 3 | 8 | Justin Ward | Racing Optics |
| 4 | 20A | Andy Chehowski | |
| 5 | 3A | Mike Astrauskas | |
| 6 | 46 | Robery Huisken | |
| 7 | 10s | Jay Steinebach | |
| RockAuto.com Heat #3 | |||
| # | Driver | Contingency | |
| 1 | 41 | Thomas Schinderle | |
| 2 | 2+ | Brian Smith | Kistler Racing Products |
| 3 | 9E | Tim Evilsizer | Racing Optics |
| 4 | 21T | Troy Chehowski | |
| 5 | 91L | Mike Burkin | |
| 6 | 47 | Robert Bulloch | |
| 7 | 6 | Tyler Bearden | |
Feature
| # | Driver | Awards | Contingencies | |
| 1 | 22M | Dan McCarron | 2 | Rod End Supply |
| 2 | 0 | Steve Irwin | 8 | Rod End Supply |
| 3 | 16 | Ryan Ruhl | 3 | Rod End Supply |
| 4 | 41 | Thomas Schinderle | 6 | Schoenfeld Headers |
| 5 | 2+ | Brian Smith | 7 | ATL Racing Fuel Cells |
| 6 | 17X | Dain Naida | 13 | |
| 7 | 77 | Andrew Scheid | 1 | Allstar Performance |
| 8 | 49T | Gregg Dalman | 4 | |
| 9 | 20A | Andy Chehowski | 11 | King Racing Products |
| 10 | 9E | Tim Evilsizer | 5 | |
| 11 | 21T | Troy Chehowski | 12 | Keizer Aluminum Wheels |
| 12 | 10s | Jay Steinebach | 20 | |
| 13 | 46 | Robery Huisken | 17 | |
| 14 | 8 | Justin Ward | 9 | |
| 15 | 91L | Mike Burkin | 15 | |
| 16 | 89 | Chris Pobanz | 19 | |
| 17 | 3A | Mike Astrauskas | 14 | |
| 18 | 18 | Robert Bulloch | 18 | |
| 19 | 58 | Tony Bures | 16 | |
| 20 | 6 | Tyler Bearden | 21 | |
| 21 | 10J | Chris Jones | 10 |
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger – Jay Steinebach (+8)
BR Motorsports Contingency (feature top 10 draw) – Andy Chehowski
DMI (Diversified Machine) Contingency (feature 12-16 draw) – Robert Huisken
Perfit Corporation Lucky Dog – Dan McCarron
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.