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.

Litchfield, Michigan veteran, Chad Blonde dominated the Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP Feature at Hartford Motor Speedway en route to his first win of the 2017 racing season…. The 38-year-old in his Flint Truck Service/Maxim Chassis/Krieger Racing Engines machine led all 30 laps to win Race #1 of the King Engine Bearings King of Michigan Series. It was also his second win in a row at Hartford dating back to 2016…. Chris Gurley finished second with Jay Steinebach, Joe Swanson and 13-year-old Rookie, Andrew Scheid completing the top five….

Today (Friday, June 9th) is Race Day! The Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP return to action with the first race of the King Engine Bearings King of Michigan Series at Hartford Speedway in Hartford, Michigan. The newly reconfigured 3/8s (0.375) mile high-banked dirt oval will see the fire breathing, winged warriors of SOD for the first time since the track was altered.

This is the first of four appearances by SOD in southwest Michigan as 2007 Rookie of the Year, Ryan Ruhl made history with his victory in what was the first ever race under the “Beyond Limits” format on May 20^th, 2016. In the second race at Hartford, held over the Labor Day Holiday Weekend on September 2^nd, 2016, Litchfield, Michigan veteran. Chad Blonde scored that elusive first career SOD Feature Win. This event is the 68th all-time appearance by SOD at the Hartford, Michigan speed plant.

Schedule of Events – Friday, June 9th, 2017 – Hartford Speedway – Hartford, Michigan

4:30 pm Pit Gates Open
4:45 pm SOD Sign In/Pill Draw Opens
5:45 pm SOD Sign In/Pill Draw Closes
6:00 pm SOD Drivers Meeting
6:15 pm SOD Engine Heat (on-track)
7:00 pm SOD Group Hot Laps/Qualifying

8:00 pm National Anthem
8:00 pm Track Class Dash
SOD Heat Races (8 laps)
Stock Car Heats
Modified Heats
Cyber Stock Heats

SOD Redraw (on front straight)
SOD B-Main(s) if needed (10 laps)
Other B-Mains if needed
Intermission

SOD Feature (20 laps)
Stock Car Feature
Modified Feature
Cyber Stock Feature 

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

Click on the link provided for more event information: HartfordSpeedway.net

Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP is gearing up for a big weekend, kicking off the King Engine Bearings King of Michigan series at Hartford Speedway Friday, then the second race of the MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge Saturday at Thunderbird Raceway.

Dain Naida, Adrian, Michigan, has the early SOD point lead over brother-in-law Steve Irwin from Fenton, Michigan.  Sugar Land, Texas, transplant Thomas Schinderle, Berkley, Michigan, is third in points.  Schinderle leads The Perfit Corporation SOD series rookie of the year points.

Friday’s race at Hartford Speedway will be the first of SOD’s four-race King Engine Bearings King of Michigan series at the speedway.  The KoM includes its own point fund with $1,000 going to the champion.  SOD competitors can’t wait to get their first look at Hartford’s newly reconfigured 3/8 mile track.

Saturday’s race at Thunderbird Raceway will be the second race of the five-race 2017 MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge.  Unlike the King of Michigan series, the Beyond Limits Challenge will be contested at five different speedways.  Delta Ohio’s Shawn Valenti leads the BLC points over Joe Swanson, Etna Green, Indiana, and Landon Simon, Indianapolis, Indiana.  The BLC also includes its own point fund with $1,000 going to the champion.  The ¼ mile, nearly circular track, is a favorite of SOD competitors, producing excellent racing last season.

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.

Photo by Thomas Michael

On a night when rain was a persistent threat, Ryan Ruhl drove to the win in the Engine Pro Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP Jim Coffey & Son Plumbing & Heating Dirty 30 portion of the NUVU Fuels Dual On Dirt.  Ruhl mastered the 26 car field by being the fastest overall qualifier, dominating the Engler heat, and taking home the SOD Big Money check of $2,000 for winning the feature.

Although rain wiped out several other Michigan race events, it didn’t stop I-96 Speedway’s near-capacity crowd from the rare opportunity to see two headline classes, the Engine Pro Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP and the American Ethanol Late Model Tour in one event.  The show was a real crowd pleaser as light rain fell for hours during the program, but never enough to stop the action.

Ruhl, in his familiar blue #16, showed his strength early, being the Lane Automotive/MSD Ignition Fast Master in the Engler Machine & Tool Heat group.  He then drove from his 4^th place heat race starting position to an easy win.  Not to be outdone, Chad Blonde showed his strength by taking the COMP Cams heat.  Steve Irwin took the RockAuto.com heat from 3^rd.

Eric Smith suffered mechanical woes early in the program as did Brad Lamberson and Thomas Schinderle keeping them out of competition.

Jay Steinebach overcame heat problems to take the B-Main from his 6^th place starting position.

Gregg Dalman took the early lead in the feature over pole sitter Chris Jones.  By lap 6, Chad Blonde was on the move taking 2^nd and setting sail after Dalman.  Blonde took the lead on lap 12 and looked like the car to beat.  Dain Naida spun off of turn four on lap 15 just after moving into the top 5 from 10^th.  At half way it was Blonde, Dalman, Ruhl, Boston Mead, and Joe Swanson.  Two laps later, Chris Jones race ending when he flipped off the back straight. A lap later, Ruhl, who started 9^th, snatched the lead from Blonde. Brett Mann spun in turn 4 on the next lap and rookie Andrew Scheid was collected by Mann and flipped hard, ending a frustrating night for him.  After refueling during the red for Scheid, Steve Irwin, who was in 4^th, dropped out with engine problems.  Back under green, Ruhl charged to win with Blonde staying within striking distance, but not able to mount a serious challenge.

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

Heat Races – Winners $100 each

B-Main

Feature

KSE Racing Products Hard Charger – Ryan Ruhl (8)
BR Motorsports Contingency (feature top 10 draw) – Jay Steinebach
DMI (Diversified Machine) Contingency (feature 12-16 draw) – Andy Chehowski
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, 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.