Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP rolls into Merritt Speedway for round three of the MAHLE/ Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge five-race series.  Berkley, Michigan’s Thomas Schinderle is tied with Joe Swanson (Etna Green, Indiana) for the MAHLE/ Clevite BLC point lead.  They are followed by Steve Irwin (Fenton, Michigan), Dain Naida (Adrian, Michigan), and Chris Jones (Allen, Michigan).

Schinderle also leads the SOD season point standings and The Perfit Corporation SOD Series Rookie of the Year standings.

The first MAHLE/Clevite BLC race was at Baer Field Motorsports Park and was won by Delta, Ohio’s Shawn Valenti.  Round two was at Thunderbird Raceway where Chad Blonde made a last lap pass of Schinderle to take home the win.

Two SOD events were scheduled at Merritt last year, but one was rained out.  2016 SOD Champion Brian Smith (Fremont, Ohio) won the show that was completed.  Schinderle, racing a 305 cubic inch engine, finished a strong second.

Merritt Speedway management has made numerous changes to the already top-notch facility.  New lighting, additional new grandstands, and track resurfacing are just three of the upgrades that SOD competitors are anxious to see.

The BLC is being contested on five different speedways; Baer Field Motorsports Park, Thunderbird Raceway, Merritt Speedway, Crystal Motor Speedway, and Manistee County Fairgrounds Speedway.  The BLC also includes its own point fund with $1,000 going to the champion.

To learn more about Engine Pro, go to www.enginepro.com.  For more information about ARP, go to www.arp-bolts.com.  For complete information about all 2017 SOD events, follow SOD at www.sprintsondirt.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sprintsondirt.

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 (Fast Masters Sponsor), MSD Ignition (Fast Masters Sponsor), Engler Machine & Tool (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), COMP Cams (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), RockAuto.com (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), The Perfit Corporation (Lucky Dog Sponsor), KSE Racing Products (Hard Charger Sponsor), and XYZ Machining (Season Sportman & Crew Chief Sponsor).  In addition, SOD contingency sponsors include: Allstar Performance, ATL Racing Fuel Cells, BR Motorsports, Diversified Machine Inc. (DMI), Hepfner Racing Products (HRP), 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.

Chad Blonde made it 3 big Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP wins in two weekends at Butler Motor Speedway Saturday night.  Blonde drove from his 6^th place starting position to take the $2,100 win in the Driven Racing Oil Battlegrounds Bash WW III presented by Jim Coffey & Son Plumbing & Heating feature.

On a night where strong winds and high temperatures made track preparation a challenge, Butler’s crew was up to it and the race track held up remarkably well.  The action was fast and furious on the smooth, high banked 3/8-mile with the large crowd enjoying plenty of passing.  The SOD feature was over shortly after 10:30 PM.

With 23 cars still in competition after heat race action, Butler promoter Bob Garrett added 3 cars to the feature instead of running a B-Main.

Butler points leader Doug Zimmerman grabbed the early lead in the 25 lap feature from his pole position with Gregg Dalman starting and running 2^nd.  Thomas Schinderle started 6^th, but was up to 3^rd by lap3.  Chad Blonde moved into 2^nd on lap 7.

Zimmerman led the first 14 laps, but contact with a slower car in turn 2 caused him to spin to a stop, turning the lead over to Blonde.  On lap 16, Zimmerman went off turn 3 and by the time he came back on the track out of turn 4, the caution was thrown, and he retired to the pits.  On the restart, Boston Mead spun in turn 2, collecting Dain Naida and Joe Swanson, ending the night for all 3.

Blonde maintained a half a straight away lead for most of the last portion of the race.  Ryan Ruhl took 2^nd from Schinderle on lap 18 and looked fast, but couldn’t reel in the leader

Chris Jones won the KSE Hard Charger award by passing 12 cars.  Steve Irwin started 8^th, but a flat left tire on lap 6 sent him to the rear, but recovered to finish 7^th.

Heat Races – Winners $100 each

Feature

KSE Racing Products Hard Charger – Chris Jones (12)
BR Motorsports Contingency (feature top 10 draw) – Jay Steinebach
DMI (Diversified Machine) Contingency (feature 12-16 draw) – Robert Huisken
Perfit Corporation Lucky Dog – Robert Bulloch

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.

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The 2017 Driven Racing Oil Battlegrounds Bash three-race series will roll out this Saturday.  Butler Motor Speedway’s WW III presented by Jim Coffey & Son Plumbing and Heating will pay $2,100 to win.

In the past, SOD races at Butler, when held on Michigan International Speedway special events weekends have been known to attract both famous and not-so-famous spectators from MIS.  This year, all three Driven Racing Oil Battlegrounds Bash races at Butler are scheduled on MIS weekends.

Last year’s two SOD races were exciting to say the least.  In the first race, 2016 SOD champion Brian Smith passed former Butler champion Doug Zimmerman in the last corner of the last lap for the win.  Not about to let it happen again, Zimmerman thrilled the crowd as he charged to the win in the second show.

SOD races at Butler traditionally bring regulars from both SOD and Butler face to face for bragging rights.  Butler point leader Doug Zimmerman will be defending his home turf, driving for Tom Dale.  Boston Mead, currently 5^th in Butler points, has also run a couple SOD races and is the son of 1987 and 1988 SOD champion Mark Mead.  His car owner is reining Butler champion Shelby Bilton who is currently 2^nd in 2017 Butler points.

2001 SOD champion Steve Irwin leads SOD points going into the weekend with top SOD series rookie contender Thomas Schinderle in 2^nd; Dain Naida, 1999 SOD champion, is in 3^rd.

Also chasing the first Driven Racing Oil BB win will be veteran Chad Blonde, whose sprint car career began at Butler.  Although not pursuing either Butler or SOD points, Blonde won at Butler on May 13 and won both SOD races last weekend in his Sean Robinson-owned ride; Robinson is another former SOD champion.

Driven Racing Oil Battlegrounds Bash dates are Saturday, June 17, the first Michigan International Speedway 2017 NASCAR weekend, Saturday, July 22; the MIS Faster Horses Festival weekend; and Saturday, August 12, the final 2017 MIS NASCAR weekend.

The Driven Racing Oil Battlegrounds Bash will pay a five-place point fund for the three races, and the Driven Racing Oil Battlegrounds Bash 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.

Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt by ARP’s other two 2017 series, the King Engine Bearings King of Michigan and the MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge were part of last weekend’s action.

Get to know Driven Racing Oil at http://www.drivenracingoil.com.  For more information about Butler Motor Speedway, go to www.butlerspeedway.net.  To learn more 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 (Fast Masters Sponsor), MSD Ignition (Fast Masters Sponsor), Engler Machine & Tool (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), COMP Cams (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), RockAuto.com (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), The Perfit Corporation (Lucky Dog Sponsor), KSE Racing Products (Hard Charger Sponsor), and XYZ Machining (Season Sportman & Crew Chief Sponsor).  In addition, SOD contingency sponsors include: Allstar Performance, ATL Racing Fuel Cells, BR Motorsports, Diversified Machine Inc. (DMI), Hepfner Racing Products (HRP), 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.

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