Shawn Valenti powers to SOD MAHLE/Clevite BLC win at Crystal

ERIE, MI (July 15, 2018) – Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP took on the racy 3/8 mile Crystal Motor Speedway last night for the second time in 2018 for the MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge Race #3. Fostoria, Ohio’s Shawn Valenti drove an impressive race to take the victory, his second SOD win of the year utilizing a Gressman Powersports engine.

In spite of challenging hot, sunny weather, speedway owner/promoter Ron Flinn had the track surface ready for fast qualifying times. Jay Steinebach, Hudsonville, Michigan; Steve Irwin, Fenton, Michigan; and Thomas Schinderle, Berkley, Michigan; were heat race fast qualifiers. Irwin was overall fast-timer at 12.303.

Brad Lamberson, Parma, Michigan, took the Engler Machine & Tool heat over Steinebach and John Gall, Elsie, Michigan. Chad Blonde, Litchfield, Michigan, Friday’s King Engine Bearings King of Michigan feature winner, looked strong, winning the COMP Cams heat over Irwin and Valenti. Robert Huisken, Marne, Michigan, in his first 2018 SOD race, took the RockAuto.com heat over Ricky Ferkel, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, and Schinderle.

The twenty-five-lap feature started with pole sitter Steve Irwin grabbing the early lead. Fourth starter Jay Steinebach showing some early speed, but a rear end issue ended his race early. It was eighth starter Valenti quickly driving to the front and after a couple laps challenging Irwin; he then set a torrid pace, opening up a several car-length lead over Irwin. The race was slowed by a pair of cautions, but it had little effect on Valenti as he motored away from the field, each time. Eleventh place starter Boston, Mead, Onsted, Michigan quietly cut through the field and passed Steve Irwin for second late in the race. Valenti charged to a straight away win over Mead and Irwin.

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

Group	Time	#	Driver
Engler Machine & Tool Heat	12.675	10S	Jay Steinebach
COMP Cams Heat	12.303	0	Steve Irwin
RockAuto.com Heat	13.266	41	Thomas Schinderle

Heat Races

Engler Machine & Tool Heat #1
	#	Driver	Contingency
1	27K	Brad Lamberson
2	10s	Jay Steinebach
3	81	John Gall	Benic Enterprises
4	5QB	Quentin Blonde	Racing Optics
5	91L	Lexi Adgate
6	52	Zac Broughman
7	29	Daryl Shaffer
8	89	Chris Pobanz

COMP Cams Heat #2
	#	Driver	Contingency
1	5B	Chad Blonde
2	0	Steve Irwin
3	7	Shawn Valenti	Benic Enterprises
4	27B	Boston Mead	Racing Optics
5	3A	Mike Astrauskas
6	35	Justin Ward
7	24	Eric Smith

RockAuto.com Heat #3
	#	Driver	Contingency
1	46	Robert Huisken
2	0	Ricky Ferkel
3	41	Thomas Schinderle	Benic Enterprises
4	77	Andrew Scheid	Racing Optics
5	5	Andy Teunessen
6	31	Tanner Astrauskas
7	8W	Josh Ward

Feature

	#	Driver	Awards	Contingencies
1	7	Shawn Valenti		Rod End Supply
2	27B	Boston Mead	Jim Coffey & Son	Rod End Supply
3	0	Steve Irwin		Rod End Supply
4	5B	Chad Blonde		Schoenfeld Headers
5	41	Thomas Schinderle
6	0	Ricky Ferkel		Allstar Performance
7	5	Andy Teunessen
8	46	Robert Huisken
9	5QB	Quentin Blonde		King Racing Products
10	3A	Mike Astrauskas
11	81	John Gall
12	91L	Lexi Adgate
13	35	Justin Ward
14	89	Chris Pobanz
15	24	Eric Smith
16	29	Daryl Shaffer
17	31	Tanner Astrauskas
18	77	Andrew Scheid
19	27K	Brad Lamberson
20	10S	Jay Steinebach
21	52	Zac Broughman
DNS	8W	Josh Ward

KSE Racing Products Hard Charger – Boston Mead (+9)
BR Motorsports Contingency (feature top 10 draw) – Jay Steinebach
ARP Lucky Dog – Zac Broughman
Allstar Performance Better Luck Next Time – Jay Steinebach, Josh Ward

For more information about Engine Pro go to www.enginepro.com. For more information about ARP, go to www.arp-bolts.com. The full 2018 Sprints on Dirt schedule, rules, current news, and other information are available at www.sprintsondirt.com.