Ryan Ruhl (Coldwater, MI) capped off a great weekend by putting on a dominating performance to win his third consecutive annual Mike Olrich Memorial last night at Crystal Motor Speedway.  The race was the final points race for Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt Presented by ARP 2017 season.  The 25 lap SOD feature was run caution-free and in record time.  Ruhl also won the SOD King Engine Bearing King of Michigan race at Hartford Speedway Friday night.

The speedway was the scene of an epic battle; there was also an impressive race too!  Track owner/promoter Ron Flinn went toe-to-toe for control of the track surface with Mother Nature.  Flinn, who takes pride in his track prep, was challenged after SOD heats but before the SOD feature.  Determined to win out, Flinn went to work bringing back the lost race surface.  Crystal’s track prep vehicles/push trucks went to work on track.  All 22 SOD cars then took over and wheel packed the track.  Everyone was rewarded with a lightning-fast, fan-pleasing track.

Jay Steinebach and Brett Mann led the field to the green with Mann taking the initial lead.  It was immediately obvious that the packed house was going to be treated to an all-out speed fest.  Lapped traffic quickly made the leaders work hard, and Steinebach took advantage of a Mann check up to grab the lead.  4^th starting Ruhl took the lead on lap seven though, and drove off into another time zone, expertly slicing through traffic.  Steinebach faced a little pressure first from Mann, then from Dain Naida, but eventually opened up a comfortable gap.  Mann got back by Naida on the last lap to claim 3^rd.

Steve Irwin’s 6^th place finish was enough to claim the Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt Presented by ARP 2017 Championship.  Thomas Schinderle finished 2^nd in points and is the 2017 Perfit Sprints On Dirt Series Rookie of the Year.  2015 SOD champion Gregg Dalman finished 3^rd in points.  Chris Jones came back from a heat race flip to start the feature and take 4th in points over Ryan Ruhl.  Andrew Scheid claimed the 2017 Perfit Sprints On Dirt Sprint Car Rookie of the Year title and finished 8^th in season points.

Qualifying – Lane Automotive/MSD Ignition Fast Masters (fast qualifiers) $50 each

Heat Races – Winners $100 each

Feature

KSE Racing Products Hard Charger – Tim Evilsizer (+6)
BR Motorsports Contingency (feature top 10 draw) – Dain Naida
DMI (Diversified Machine) Contingency (feature 12-16 draw) – Brian Slusarski
Perfit Corporation Lucky Dog – Chris Pobanz

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.

Ryan Ruhl (Coldwater, MI) charged from the 8^th starting position to win the King Engine Bearings King of Michigan finale at Hartford Speedway last night.  The race brought the curtain down on the last race for Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt Presented by ARP at Hartford Speedway.

The 29 qualifiers were led by Joe Swanson, Lane Automotive/MSD Ignition Fast Master (fast qualifier) in the Engler Machine & Tool heat and fastest overall at 14.200.  Swanson looked like he had the speed to be a contender for the feature win, but suffered an engine failure while leading his heat.  Chad Blonde was Lane Automotive/MSD Ignition Fast Master (fast qualifier) in the COMP Cams heat, and Steve Irwin for the RockAuto.com heat.  Ryan Grubaugh’s night ended in qualifying with engine woes.

Ruhl’s win came after he took the lead from race leader Steve Irwin (Fenton, MI) on lap 10, but it wasn’t an easy win.  12^th place starter Chad Blonde (Litchfield, MI), winner of the three previous King Engine Bearings KoM took 2^nd on lap 16, then the lead on the next lap.  Ruhl wasn’t to be denied and charged back around Blonde on the next lap.  While it looked like everything was settled, Irwin found new speed and battled back and forth with Blonde for 2^nd.  Irwin took 2^nd on lap 22, but lapped traffic in his low groove forced him to check up, and Blonde drove around the top back into 2^nd. Ruhl held on to take the action-packed 25 lapper over Blonde and Irwin.

Ruhl advanced 7 places in the feature, and Blonde advanced 12 places.  However, Brett Mann showed the most muscle by advancing from 19^th to a 4^th place finish, winning the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award at +15.  Irwin was the fastest car for several laps late in the race.

Blonde’s 2^nd place finish earned him the King Engine Bearings King of Michigan Championship.  Steve Irwin finished 2^nd, Gregg Dalman 3^rd, Thomas Schinderle 4^th, and Ryan Ruhl 5^th.

King Engine Bearings made it possible to take the SOD King of Michigan to a new level as a four-race mini-series instead of a single race.  Hartford Speedway’s Tim and Leah Dibble and their entire staff gave competitors a great race track that culminated with an excellent program and one of the season’s best features with action and passing everywhere.

Going into the 2017 SOD final points race tonight at Crystal Motor Speedway, Andrew Scheid will be the 2017 Perfit Corporation Sprint Car Rookie of the Year; Scheid’s feature ended early on the hook with a flat right front tire.  Thomas Schinderle has a lock on the 2017 Perfit Corporation Series Car Rookie of the Year; Schinderle drove to an 8^th place finish after an early race spin.

Qualifying – Lane Automotive/MSD Ignition Fast Masters (fast qualifiers) $50 each

Heat Races – Winners $100 each

B-Main

Feature

KSE Racing Products Hard Charger – Brett Mann (+15)
BR Motorsports Contingency (feature top 10 draw) – MaxStambaugh
DMI (Diversified Machine) Contingency (feature 12-16 draw) – Troy Chehowski
Perfit Corporation Lucky Dog – Andy Chehowski

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.

The 4^th annual Mike Olrich Memorial Race is this Saturday, September 2nd at Crystal Motor Speedway.  2017 was SOD’s 38^th consecutive season at the speedway.

The race will be the final points race of the Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP season.  Currently, Steve Irwin (Fenton, MI) holds the SOD Championship point lead over Thomas Schinderle and Gregg Dalman.  The SOD champion will have a guaranteed starting position in SOD’s season finale, the COMP Cams Great Lakes Sprint Car Classic at Berlin Raceway on September 30^th.

The 30 lap Mike Olrich Memorial Race will honor the memory of former Sprints On Dirt official and series director Mike Olrich who was very congenial and well-liked by everyone in the series.

Professionally, Mike was a greenhouse researcher at Michigan State University.  His work lives on through a complex computer-based tool that he co-authored that provides assistance to flower growers in production scheduling.  Mike was a dedicated family man who always found time to be deeply involved coaching youth sports.  Michael Steven Olrich, passed away suddenly August 3, 2013, at the age of 43.  SOD continues to operate with the honesty and integrity Mike was known for, and honors him every year with the Mike Olrich Memorial Race.

Ryan Ruhl drove his 360-powered #16 to a decisive win last year, leading all 30 laps of the non-stop feature in front of a very large and enthusiastic crowd.  Ruhl also won the 2015 Mike Olrich Memorial.  Ohio’s Randy Hannagan won the 2014 Mike Olrich Memorial.

Check out www.enginepro.com, and ARP at www.arp-bolts.com.  For Sprints on Dirt points, events, rules, current news, and other information go to 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.

This Friday, September 1, Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP makes its last appearance of the season at Hartford Speedway for the King Engine Bearing King of Michigan Championship.

The King of Michigan, a SOD tradition as a single race before 2017, was expanded to include all four 2017 SOD races at Hartford Speedway.  The always-popular King Engine Bearings King of Michigan returned bigger and better with heightened excitement about the four-race format and the newly reconfigured 3/8 mile track.

Litchfield, Michigan’s Chad Blonde has dominated the series, winning all three KoM races run this season.  Blonde leads Steve Irwin, Gregg Dalman, Thomas Schinderle, and Linden Jones in points.  The 2017 champion will be crowned Friday, and will receive $1,000; the top five will win a share of the point fund.

In addition, the champion will have a guaranteed starting spot in the Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP Mike Olrich Memorial Race at Crystal Motor Speedway on September 2^nd, along with MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Champion Steve Irwin and Driven Racing Oil Battlegrounds Bash Champion Thomas Schinderle.

The King Engine Bearings team are bearing specialists. King Engine Bearings was founded in 1960 with one simple objective: to supply the highest quality bearings available in the marketplace. By specializing in engine bearings, King has built an extensive product offering that includes a wide range of engine bearings for automobiles, light duty and heavy duty trucks, marine, aviation, standby power and many other types of internal combustion engines. Every King bearing utilizes the highest quality materials and the most advanced designs to ensure complete customer satisfaction.

For more information about SOD’s KoM series sponsor partner, go to www.kingbearings.com.  Check out Hartford Speedway at www.hartfordspeedway.net for more information about the speedway.

Check out www.enginepro.com, and ARP at www.arp-bolts.com.  For Sprints on Dirt points, events, rules, current news, and other information go to 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.

Steve Irwin (Fenton, MI) is the 2017 Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge champion.  The four-race Challenge had four different winners with Irwin finishing in the top five in all four races to take the championship.

The MAHLE/Clevite  BLC was scheduled for five different speedways; Baer Field Motorsports Park, Thunderbird Raceway, Merritt Speedway, Crystal Motor Speedway, and Manistee County Fairgrounds Speedway.  The final scheduled BLC race at Manistee was rained out on August 4^th, and the make-up date of August 18^th also fell victim to inclement weather.

Shawn Valenti (Delta, OH) took the first BLC race at Baer Field Motorsports Part on May 21^st after an exciting battle with Joe Swanson.  Irwin finished 5^th.  Chad Blonde took race #2 at Thunderbird Raceway on June 10^th with a last lap pass of Thomas Schinderle.  Irwin finished 3^rd.  Ryan Ruhl won the 3^rd BLC race at Merritt Speedway on July 8^th.  Brad Lamberson finished 2^nd, Gregg Dalman 3^rd, Mike Astrauskas 4^th, and Irwin 5^th.  The 4^th race, at Crystal Motor Speedway on July 15^th, was just what Irwin needed.  He drove to a convincing win on one of his favorite speedways over Thomas Schinderle and Shawn Valenti.

Irwin collected $1,000 for winning the MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge championship.  Thomas Schinderle (2^nd), Gregg Dalman (3^rd), Chris Jones (4^th), and Robert Bulloch (5^th) also shared in the point fund.  Irwin is now guaranteed a starting spot in the Mike Olrich Memorial Race at Crystal Motor Speedway on September 2^nd.

MAHLE Original is the “Global Star” within the MAHLE Aftermarket brand portfolio. The brand MAHLE stands for engine parts, filters, thermo management and mechatronics of uncompromising quality – in original equipment and aftermarket.  Clevite is an American brand with one of the oldest pedigrees and supplies pistons, assemblies, cylinder liners, bearings and valves for American commercial vehicles as well as construction and agricultural equipment applications.

Competitors may debate who is the best on the track, but under the hood, there is no debate that Clevite and MAHLE are the one constant of winning teams throughout American grass roots racing.  For more information about MAHLE/Clevite, click HERE.

Meet 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.