Cap Henry in a wet victory lane (Jim DenHamer photo)

Erie, MI (September 30, 2018) – Cap Henry (Republic, OH) returned to victory lane in Lane Racing’s (Armada, MI) J&J Auto Racing #4 for the second year in a row for the Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP season finale.  The COMP Cams End-of-the-Year Shootout at Berlin Speedway also overwhelmingly repeated as part of the season’s biggest dirt track race in Michigan.

There was nothing easy about the event, to say getting the show in was challenging would be an understatement.  The huge crowd braved frigid temperatures but rain, predicted to move in after 2:00 AM, made an early visit to the raceway.  Before the sprint feature, the AELMT 50-lap feature was halted at 28 laps due to relatively light but persistent rain.  Eventually, after much track prep by the Berlin track crew, the race was completed.  Before the sprints could roll out, rain increased.  Once again, the track crew went to work and the sprint car feature cars showed their determination to race by working the track for 31 laps.  Not wanting to take time to refuel the cars, the feature was reduced to 20 laps from the scheduled 30.

Ryan Ruhl (Coldwater, MI) was overall fast qualifier overall.  Joining Ruhl, Engler Machine & Tool heat Lane Automotive/MSD Ignition Fast Master, were Ricky Ferkel (Mt. Pleasant, MI) in the COMP Cams heat and Max Stambaugh (Elida, OH) in the RockAuto.com heat.

Cap Henry won the Engler Machine & Tool heat, Josh Turner (Osseo, MI) won the COMP Cams heat, and Dylan Westbrook (Scotland, ON), won the RockAuto.com heat.

Boston Mead (Onsted, MI) won the B-main.  Andrew Scheid was impressive, motoring around the high side of the track to finish 2^nd from his 7^th starting position.  Chad Blonde (Litchfield, MI), Steve Irwin (Fenton, MI), and John Gurley (Mishawaka, IN) also transferred to the feature.

Dylan Westbrook Ohsweken Speedway 360 sprint track champion, took the lead at the start of the feature from the pole with Ryan Ruhl right behind.  Westbrook gradually opened up a several car length lead while fifth starter Cap Henry worked his way up to 2^nd.  As Westbrook was held up by heavy traffic, Henry was able to charge by him in turn 3 on lap 9.  From there on, Henry was the class of the field taking a commanding lead while Westbrook did his best to hold on to 2^nd.  A lap 14 caution gave Westbrook a shot at Henry, but Henry maintained his mastery of the challenging track to cruise to the victory.

Ryan Ruhl took 3^rd, Tyler Gunn (Napoleon, OH) 4^th, and Zane DeVault (Plymouth, IN) 5^th.  2018 SOD champion Chad Blonde struggled early in the night, but earned the KSE Hard Charger Award to finish 6^th from his 18^th starting spot.

As the checkered flag flew over the COMP Cams End-of-the-Year Shootout, the skies opened up; it wouldn’t have been possible to have run two more laps.

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

Heat Races, $100 to win, $30 for 2nd

Feature

KSE Racing Products Hard Charger – Chad Blonde (+12)
BR Motorsports Contingency (feature top 10 draw) – Tyler Gunn
DMI (Diversified Machine) Contingency (feature 12-16 draw) – John Gurley
Perfit Corporation Lucky Dog – Steve Irwin
Allstar Performance Better Luck Next Time – Andrew Scheid

For more information about COMP Cams, go to www.compcams.com.  Visit Berlin Raceway at www.berlinraceway.com.  Follow Berlin Raceway on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wherespeedbelongs.

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

Erie, MI (September 24, 2018) – For the second consecutive year, Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP closes out the season at Michigan’s renowned Berlin Raceway, the most unique venue on the Sprints On Dirt schedule.

In what promises to be Michigan’s largest dirt track event, this Saturday, September 29, Berlin Raceway will present SOD’s COMP Cams End-of-the-Year Shootout with promotional considerations by Merritt Speedway and Noizee 1 Motorsports.

As with last year’s COMP Cams GLSCC, the Shootout will be part of an event that includes Michigan’s three leading dirt series, Sprints On Dirt, the American Ethanol Late Model Tour (AELMT), and the American Ethanol Modified Tour.

Last year’s COMP Cams Great Lakes Sprint Car Classic was won by Republic, Ohio’s Cap Henry aboard the Lane Racing #4 from Armada, Michigan.  Ryan Ruhl (Coldwater, Michigan) made an impressive late race charge in an attempt to run down Henry, but it was too little, too late.  Jordan Ryan (Castalia, Ohio), Dylan Westbrook (Scotland, Ontario), and Steve Irwin (Fenton, Michigan) rounded out the top five.

The Shootout will pay $4,200 to win and $350 to start for the thirty-lap feature.  Engler Machine & Tool, COMP Cams, RockAuto.com, and Engine Pro will pay $100 to each heat race winner and $30 for second.  Lane Automotive and MSD Ignition will pay $50 to the fast qualifier in each heat group.  $1,500 in contingency cash and awards will be available to competitors.

In case it is needed, a rain date of Saturday, October 6, has been set for the Shootout.

The COMP Cams End-of-the-Year Shootout will bring the curtain down on the 2018 racing season, with only the 2018 awards banquet on tap for Saturday, October 27 at the Battle Creek Holiday Inn, Battle Creek, Michigan.

For more than 35 years, the COMP Cams® mission has never changed: to produce the highest-performing products possible, provide customers with superior service, and to lead the industry in technological development. While the COMP Performance Group™ has grown to multiple companies and hundreds of employees, we still retain the competitive spirit and desire to be the very best that has positioned COMP Cams® as the absolute leader in valve train components.  Visit COMP Cams at www.compcams.com.

Visit Berlin Raceway at www.berlinraceway.com.  Follow Berlin Raceway on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wherespeedbelongs.

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

Jim DenHamer photo

Erie, MI (September 22, 2018) – The temperature may have been in the low forties with a brisk north wind, but the action on the track was hot for the Dual on Dirt Take 2 backed by Noizee 1 Motorsports at I-96 Speedway for Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt last night as “Mad Max” Stambaugh earned a hard-fought win in the 27-lap feature in memory of Greg Hodnett who passed away in a sprint car crash in Pennsylvania Thursday night; Hodnett’s car number was 27.

Ryan Ruhl (Coldwater, Michigan) took the lead at the start of the feature from his outside front rows starting position, but the caution flew as pole starter Mark Aldrich (Addison, Michigan) broke a front hub coming out of turn 2 on lap 1, spinning in front of the pack; everyone avoided Aldrich’s disabled car, but his night was done early.

Jay Steinebach (Hudsonville, Michigan) looked like he was shot out of a cannon as he charged around the top of Ruhl and Stambaugh who spent most of the race battling for 2^nd to take the lead on lap 9.  Steinebach negotiated traffic and was strong on several restarts with Stambaugh pulling alongside once only to have Steinebach drive away once again.  The red flew on lap 10 when Josh Shantz (St. Agatha, Ontario) caught the outside wall going into turn one, flipping off the end of the track; he was okay, but the same couldn’t be said for his badly damaged car.

On lap 23, with just four laps to go, Steinebach suddenly slowed going into turn 3 and coasted to a stop on the front stretch due to a rear end failure.  Stambaugh (Elida, Ohio) then powered his Home Pro Roofing #51 to a 20-car length win over Ryan Ruhl and 2018 SOD Champion Chad Blonde (Litchfield, Michigan) on the masterfully prepped, fast track.

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

Heat Races

Feature

KSE Racing Products Hard Charger – Chad Blonde (+9)
BR Motorsports Contingency (feature top 10 draw) – Joe Swanson
DMI (Diversified Machine) Contingency (feature 12-16 draw) – Michael Schumacher
Perfit Corporation Lucky Dog – Boston Mead
Allstar Performance Better Luck Next Time – Josh Ward, Jay Steinebach

Check out I-96 Speedway at www.i96speedway.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/I96Speedway/.

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

ERIE, MI (September 8, 2018) –   Chad Blonde (Litchfield, Michigan) drove his Krieger Racing Engine powered Maxim to a well-deserved 2018 Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP Championship.

Blonde, in the 5B owned and wrenched by 1999 SOD Champion Sean Robinson, picked up three second place finishes and two thirds in the season’s first five races. Blonde won the first of his four races on July 13^th, the season’s second King Engine Bearings King of Michigan race at Hartford Motor Speedway.  Blonde’s worst finish was fourth on July 14^th at Crystal Motor Speedway for the MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge race #2.  Besides his July 13^th win, Blonde won the KoM race at Hartford on July 22, night one of the Butler Bash/Hog Creek Showdown on August 3^rd, and the KoM Championship Race on August 31^st.

Shawn Valenti (Fostoria, Ohio) finished second in the championship in his Gressman Powersports Triple X.  Valenti picked up three wins, a MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge win at Tri-City Motor Speedway on June 22nd, another BLC win at Crystal Motor Speedway on July 14th, and the Butler Bash/Hog Creek Showdown finale on August 4th.

Valenti also captured the 2018 Sprints On Dirt Series Rookie of the Year Award.  Josh Ward followed in his brother Justin’s footsteps.  Justin was 2016 Sprints On Dirt Sprint Car Rookie of the Year; Josh is the 2018 Sprints On Dirt Sprint Car Rookie of the Year.

XYZ Machining Sportsman of the Year and XYZ Crew Chief of the Year will be announced at the awards banquet.

The top twelve in season championship points will be recognized at the 2018 Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP Awards Banquet on October 27^th.  They are:
‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ 1. 5b, Chad Blonde, 1644
‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ 2. 7, Shawn Valenti, 1523
‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ 3. 10s, Jay Steinebach, 1335
‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ 4. 0, Ricky Ferkel, 1282
‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ 5. 71H, Ryan Ruhl, 1176
‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ 6. 8, Justin Ward, 1166
‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ 7. 8W, Josh Ward, 1113
‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ 8. 5QB, Quentin Blonde, 1101
‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ 9. 1a, Mark Aldrich, 1001
‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍10. 24+, Mike Schumacher, 874
‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍11. 41, Thomas Schinderle, 759
‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍12. 24, Eric Smith, 756

The season championship point fund and all other 2018 mini point funds will be paid out at the family-friendly banquet on October 27^th at the Battle Creek (MI) Holiday Inn.  Racers, teams, sponsors, promoters, fans, families, friends are all invited.  Tickets are $35 per person.  Email director@sprintsondirt.com to order yours.

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

(Jim DenHamer photo)

ERIE, MI (September 6, 2018) – The Motul Leader of the Pack for Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP 2018 competitors had a unique format.  The entire season was divided into four stages and the best average finish for all stages determined to champion.  Chad Blonde showed his season-long strength by winning three stages and finishing second in the other stage.

The 2018 top five for each stage were:
‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Stage 1. – Chad Blonde, Zane DeVault, Boston Mead, Shawn Valenti, Gregg Dalman
‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Stage 2. – Shawn Valenti, Chad Blonde, Jay Steinebach, Ricky Ferkel, Ryan Ruhl
‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Stage 3. – Chad Blonde, Shawn Valenti, Ricky Ferkel, Jay Steinebach, Eric Smith
‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Stage 4. – Chad Blonde, Shawn Valenti, Quentin Blonde, Ryan Ruhl, Jay Steinebach

2018 Motul Leader of the Pack final top five are:
‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ 1. 5b, Chad Blonde, 1.3
‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ 2. 7, Shawn Valenti, 2.3
‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ 3. 10s, Jay Steinebach, 5.0
‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ 4. 0, Ricky Ferkel, 6.8
‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ 5. 71H, Ryan Ruhl, 8.8

Chad Blonde will collect $1,000 at the Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt Awards Banquet on October 27 at the Battle Creek Holiday Inn, Battle Creek, Michigan.  Second through fifth in Motul LotP will also be awarded a portion of the point fund.

Motul Leader of the Pack complete final standings and all other Sprints On Dirt points can be found on the SOD website by clicking on the “2018 Points” tab.

Motul displays a dedication to the best, from its suppliers, through its innovation to its clients.  Motorsport has been Motul’s prime creative and innovative laboratory since its first steps in racing disciplines in the 1950s and introduced its cutting-edge technology to dirt track sprint car racing with Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP this season.

For more information about Motul, visit its website at www.motul.com/us/en-US.  To learn more about Engine Pro, go to www.enginepro.com.  For more information about ARP, go to www.arp-bolts.com.  Follow SOD at www.sprintsondirt.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sprintsondirt.