ERIE, MI (November 21, 2018) – For the 40th consecutive year, the Crystal Motor Speedway / Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP partnership continues in 2019. The 2019 SOD races at Crystal are scheduled for April 27th followed by July 13th and August 31st dates with a May 4th rain date for the opening race. Popular traditions will continue for Crystal/SOD races with the SOD season opening at Crystal and the Mike Olrich Memorial Race on Labor Day weekend.

Crystal Motor Speedway owner/promoter Ron Flinn was honored last February as the Region 3 Auto Racing Promoter of the Year by Racing Promotion Monthly and Charlotte Motor Speedway. He was inducted into the Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame in 2007, and has also been named “Promoter of the Year” from both the Michigan Speedway Promoters Association and the “Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club.”

At last year’s SOD season opener at Crystal, Zane DeVault (Plymouth, IN) drove to his first SOD victory by just 0.03 seconds over hard-charging 2018 SOD champion Chad Blonde (Litchfield, MI) and Matt Foos (Fremont, OH). Not only was the racing exciting, but SOD’s “Beyond Limits” format once again proved itself with DeVault winning with a 360 engine over Blonde’s 410 and the 305 of Foos. Shawn Valenti (Fostoria, OH) took the win on July 14th over 2018 Butler Speedway champion Boston Mead (Onsted, MI) and 2018 MTS champion Steve Irwin (Fenton, MI). The much-anticipated Mike Olrich Memorial on September 1st was rained out.

More information about the 2019 Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP schedule will be released in upcoming announcements.

For more information about Crystal Motor Speedway, go to www.crystalmotorspeedway.com. Go to its Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/CMSpeedway/.

For more information about Engine Pro, go to www.enginepro.com. For more information about ARP, go to www.arp-bolts.com. Follow Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP on the Sprints On Dirt Facebook page and at www.sprintsondirt.com.

ERIE, MI (November 2, 2018) – Over the years since its creation in November, 1979, Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP has been the leader in sprint car racing in Michigan.  A new chapter in SOD history is opening with the acquisition of SOD by Dave Muzzillo of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Muzzillo is well known in oval track racing.  He has been promoting racing and other public events for many years.  He is recognized as a personable innovative promoter who is willing to think out of the box.

Sprints On Dirt has been a pioneer in sprint car racing under John Naida, making strategic changes over its thirty-nine years.  In 2016, it transitioned from a 360 series and rolled out a radical new format known as “beyond limits” that has no engine or weight limits.  Naida took over active management of the series three years ago and introduced the new format and new spec rear tires.

Utilizing Hoosier Racing Tire right and left spec rear tires specifically built to meet SOD’s needs, the main objective of the “beyond limits,” achieving equality among different engine sizes and configurations, has been a success.

Muzzillo does not plan on making any changes to the “beyond limits” SOD format, adding, “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.”

Naida continues scheduling and working with SOD marketing partners and will help with race day operations when the new season begins.  “I will do everything I can to help Dave.  His passion for racing will be great for SOD’s future” said Naida of how the transition will take place.

Muzzillo has had a life-long involvement with racing and sprint cars in particular. His father was pit steward with Tri-Sac and his step father, Dale Miller, drove sprint cars.  Muzzillo is now the owner of Baer Field Speedway in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and operates the International Championship Auto Racing (ICAR) Modified series. Muzzillo has also acquired the crate sprint series that raced at Plymouth (IN) Speedway and it will now be a feeder class for Sprints On Dirt.

Since its first season in 1980, Sprints On Dirt has built a strong brand name that is recognized and respected throughout sprint car racing.  It has built a strong relationship with its many marketing partners due, in part, to its strong online presence.  It often states that “SOD puts the PRO in PROmotion.”  Muzzillo is committed to take Sprints On Dirt to new heights.

Sprints On Dirt can be contacted by email at director@sprintsondirt.com.

Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP was brought to you in 2018 by:
Engine Pro (Title Sponsor)
ARP (Title Sponsor)
Hoosier Racing Tire (Official SOD Tire)
MAHLE/Clevite (Beyond Limits Challenge Sponsor)
King Engine Bearings (Hartford King of Michigan Sponsor)
Motul (Leader of the Pack Sponsor)
Lane Automotive (Fast Masters Co-sponsor)
MSD Ignition (Fast Masters Co-sponsor)
Engler Machine & Tool (Heat Race Sponsor)
COMP Cams (Heat Race Sponsor)
RockAuto.com (Heat Race Sponsor)
ARP (Lucky Dog Sponsor)
KSE Racing Products (Hard Charger Sponsor)
Allstar Performance (Better Luck Next Time Sponsor)
Merritt Speedway (Series Rookie of the Year Sponsor)
Merritt Speedway (Sprint Car Rookie of the Year Sponsor)
Jim Coffey and Son Plumbing & Heating (Deuced It! Sponsor)
XYZ Machining (Sportsman of the Year Sponsor)
XYZ Machining (Crew Chief of the Year Sponsor)
Noizee 1 Motorsports (Special Awards)

SOD 2018 contingency marketing partners are:
Allstar Performance
ATL Racing Fuel Cells
Benic Enterprises
BR Motorsports
Diversified Machine Inc. (DMI)
Hepfner Racing Products (HRP)
J & J Auto Racing
Keizer Aluminum Wheels
King Racing Products
Maxim Racing
Motor City Racing Promotions
Racing Optics
Rod End Supply
Schoenfeld Headers
Simpson Racing Products
Walker Performance Filtration

Champ Chad Blonde shows off his SOD Big Money, Hoosier Racing Tires, and Beer Barrel Bourbon (the Drink of Champions)  at the SOD Awards Banquet
Jim DenHamer photo

ERIE, MI (October 28, 2018) – Chad Blonde (Litchfield, MI) was honored as the 2018 Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP Champion with points cash and awards of $9,420 of the $41,095 distributed to the top finishers in 2018 points.  Shawn Valenti (Fostoria, OH), finished 2^nd in points and earned $6,839. Jay Steinebach (Hudsonville, MI) finished 3^rd and earned $4,576.  Eric Smith (Lakeview, MI) received $1,133 for 12^th place.

The banquet payout brought the 2018 season total for contingency cash and awards to $90,876.

For the 3^rd year, the banquet was held at the Battle Creek (MI) Holiday Inn.  Wayne Bunn was the emcee, Kathie Naida was the event planner, and Pat Holzinger, Marcus Berglund, Mike Russell, and Tim Beebe presented the night’s awards.  Julie Beebe distributed door prizes.

Joining in the celebration were SOD marketing partner Scott Benic (Benic Enterprises), John Berglund (JohnnyB Imagery), and Scott Menlen (Motor City Racing Promotions).  Butler Speedway, Hartford Speedway, Crystal Motor Speedway, Tri-City Motor Speedway, and Berlin Raceway were recognized as SOD promoter partners in 2018.

Shawn Valenti took the MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits mini-series championship, collecting $1,000.  Chad Blonde, Thomas Schinderle (Berkley, MI), Ricky Ferkel (Mt. Pleasant, MI), and Jay Steinebach each shared a portion of the point fund.

Chad Blonde led the King Engine Bearings King of Michigan mini-series championship, worth $1,000.  Shawn Valenti was 2^nd, Jay Steinebach 3^rd, Dustin Shriver 4^th, and Ricky Ferkel 5^th and each shared a portion of the point fund.

Chad Blonde also won the Hog Creek Showdown mini-series championship and earned $1,000.  Shawn Valenti was 2^nd, Butler Speedway track champion Boston Mead finished 3^rd, Josh Turner took 4^th and Jay Steineback 5^th.  Each shared a portion of the Hog Creek Showdown point fund.

The MOTUL Leader of the Pack divided the season into 4 stages and the driver with the best average finish in the stages was crowned champion.  Once again, Chad Blonde took the $1,000 championship.  The other drivers sharing the MOTUL Leader of the Pack point fund are Shawn Valenti, Jay Steinebach, Ricky Ferkel, and Ryan Ruhl.

Ryan Ruhl was recognized for winning the most Lane Automotive/MSD Ignitions Fast Master awards with 6.  Chad Blonde won the most Engler Machine and Tool heat races with 3, Ryan Ruhl won the most COMP Cams heat races with 3, and no driver won more than 1 RockAuto.com heat. Chad Blonde won 4 KSE Racing Products Hard Charger awards and led the way in feature wins with 4.

Shawn Valenti won the 2018 SOD Series Rookie of the Year award sponsored by Merritt Speedway.  Shawn is extremely versatile and will race anything with four wheels on dirt.  He has enjoyed much success in Ohio & Indiana in dirt trucks and super streets as well as sprints.

Josh Ward followed in big brother Justin’s footsteps, earning this year’s SOD Sprint Car Rookie of the Year award sponsored by Merritt Speedway.  Justin won the award in 2016.

XYZ Machining, Tim & Cindy Norman, recognized Justin Ward (Benzonia, MI) as this year’s Sportsman of the Year.  Justin has now been racing full-size sprints for three years and presents a level of professionalism that represents SOD well.  Justin, his father James, and brother Josh were committed to running the entire 2018 SOD schedule in spite of a lot of travel and frequent threatening weather.  Justin was presented with a MAC 24-piece hand tool set compliments of Jeff Schejbal and Noizee 1 Motorsports.

XYZ Machining, Tim & Cindy Norman, recognize Sean Robinson as this year’s crew chief of the year.  Sean made sure every time SOD champion Chad Blonde went on the track, his equipment was in top shape.  Sean quietly went about his business without any drama and SOD is honored to recognize his efforts.  Sean was presented with a MAC hammer set compliments of Jeff Schejbal and Noizee 1 Motorsports.  JohnnyB Imagery also presented Sean with a large metal print of the NEFCO Metal Sales & Fabrication 5B Maxim powered by Krieger Engines.

Checks, awards, and trophies were presented to drivers in attendance:

• 12^th place Eric Smith, 24, trophy sponsored by Strpko Engineering, Machining & Engines and Mike Ball Racing,
• 10th place Michael Schumacher (Constantine, MI), trophy sponsored by Roger & Pat Holzinger,
• 9^th place Mark Aldrich (Addison, MI) , trophy sponsored by Lane Automotive,
• 8^th place Quentin Blonde (Litchfield, MI), trophy sponsored by John & Kathie Naida,
• 7^th place Josh Ward (Benzonia, MI), trophy sponsored by Aldrich Racing,
• 6^th place Justin Ward, trophy sponsored by Aldrich Racing,
• 5^th place trophy presented to Tom Ruhl on behalf of Ryan Ruhl (Coldwater, MI), trophy sponsored by Jim Coffey & Son Plumbing & Heating,
• 4^th place Ricky Ferkel, trophy sponsored by Butler Speedway,
• 3^rd place Jay Steinebach, trophy sponsored by T. C. Paintball,
• 2^nd place Shawn Valenti, trophy sponsored by JohnnyB Imagery,
• 1^st place Chad Blonde, trophy sponsored by NEFCO Metal Sales & Fabrication.

JohnnyB Imagery recognized drivers with perfect attendance through the 2018 points season with large metal prints of their cars.  The drivers are Chad Blonde, Shawn Valenti, Jay Steinebach, Ricky Ferkel, Justin Ward, and Josh Ward.  Mark Aldrich received a large metal print for his 38 years of dedication as a sprint car driver.

SOD officials in attendance were recognized and thanked for their hard work.  The officials were flagman Tim Beebe,  scorer Julie Beebe, infield and tech official Marcus Berglund, event manager Pat Holzinger, tire sales and contingency manager Kathie Naida, and pits official Mike Russell.

Hoosier Racing Tire and Hoosier Tire Midwest were recognized for their dedication and support in making the SOD “beyond limits” format successful.  Jim Coffey & Son Plumbing & Heating and Steve Smith were recognized for sponsorship of the 2018 Deuced It award that presented $100 to the 2^nd place finisher in every SOD feature.

SOD marketing partners that presented awards for the banquet were:

• Hoosier Racing Tire – Set of SOD spec tire to the champion, jackets to the champion, series RoY, sprint car RoY, and 3^rd place in point.
• Walker Performance Filtration – Complete set of stacks & filters, 40% off a set, a cleaning kit.
• Simpson Race Products – Driver gloves, hood, underwear top, underwear bottom, gear bag.
• Allstar Performance – Numerous products compliments of Sprints On Dirt
• Ti22 Performance – Set of front spindles, set of front hubs, front axle.
• Hepfner Racing Products – Wing certificate.
• Maxim Racing – Contingency certificates.
• Noizee 1 Motorsports – MAC Tools sets, cash awards.
• Schoenfeld Headers – Header set certificate.
• New Holland Spirits & Lane Racing – Beer Barrel Bourbon, Bourbon & Cola

In spite of 6 rain outs and several other races impacted by inclement weather, Sprints On Dirt still paid points money and awards to Sprints On Dirt Champion Chad Blonde of $9,420 as well as points money and awards to Sprints On Dirt competitors of $90,867 for the 2018 season.  It was a bad year weather-wise but the 2018 payout increased over 2017 by 19% thanks to increased support from our marketing partners.

Sprints On Dirt extends its deepest appreciation to our title sponsors Engine Pro and ARP for making it all possible.

Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP is brought to you in 2018 by:
Engine Pro (Title Sponsor)
ARP (Title Sponsor)
Hoosier Racing Tire (Official SOD Tire)
MAHLE/Clevite (Beyond Limits Challenge Sponsor)
King Engine Bearings (Hartford King of Michigan Sponsor)
Motul (Leader of the Pack Sponsor)
Lane Automotive (Fast Masters Co-sponsor)
MSD Ignition (Fast Masters Co-sponsor)
Engler Machine & Tool (Heat Race Sponsor)
COMP Cams (Heat Race Sponsor)
RockAuto.com (Heat Race Sponsor)
ARP (Lucky Dog Sponsor)
KSE Racing Products (Hard Charger Sponsor)
Allstar Performance (Better Luck Next Time Sponsor)
The Perfit Corporation (Series Rookie of the Year Sponsor)
The Perfit Corporation (Sprint Car Rookie of the Year Sponsor)
Jim Coffey and Son Plumbing & Heating (Deuced It! Sponsor)
XYZ Machining (Sportsman of the Year Sponsor)
XYZ Machining (Crew Chief of the Year Sponsor)
Noizee 1 Motorsports (Special Awards)

SOD 2018 contingency sponsor partners are:
Allstar Performance
ATL Racing Fuel Cells
Benic Enterprises
BR Motorsports
Diversified Machine Inc. (DMI)
Hepfner Racing Products (HRP)
J & J Auto Racing
Keizer Aluminum Wheels
King Racing Products
Maxim Racing
Motor City Racing Promotions
Racing Optics
Rod End Supply
Schoenfeld Headers
Simpson Racing Products
Walker Performance Filtration

ERIE, MI (October 3, 2018) – The 2018 Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP Awards Banquet will take place at the Battle Creek (MI) Holiday Inn on Saturday, October 27th.

The season championship point fund will be distributed to the top 12 finishers in points who attend the banquet as well as mini point funds and contingency cash and awards.  This season’s top 12 are:

Shawn Valenti will be honored as The Perfit Corporation Sprints On Dirt Series Rookie of the Year for the top finishing driver who has previous sprint car experience, but ran their first season with Sprints On Dirt.

Josh Ward will be honored as The Perfit Corporation Sprints On Dirt Sprint Car Rookie of the Year for the top finishing driver who is a first-year sprint car driver.

The 2018 XYZ Machining Crew Chief of the Year and the 2018 XYZ Machining Sportsman of the Year will also be announced and honored at the banquet.

2018 points money consists of the season championship point fund, the MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge, the King Engine Bearings King of Michigan, the Hog Creek Showdown, and the Motul Leader of the Pack.  The top 5 finishers in each will also be recognized at the banquet.

The MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge, SOD’s original mini-series was hit by two rain outs including the much-anticipated Mike Olrich Memorial at Crystal Motor Speedway.  Final 2018 SOD MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge points are:

The King Engine Bearings King of Michigan at Hartford Speedway fell victim to 3 rain outs.  SOD King Engine Bearings  King of Michigan Final points are:

The 2018 Hog Creek Showdown was run at Butler Speedway.  Final points are:

The MOTUL Leader of the Pack divided the points season into four stages with the best average determining the winner.  Final 2018 points are:

Racers, teams, friends, fans, everyone is invited to attend the family-friendly banquet.  Tickets are $35.00 per person and must be purchased by Thursday, October 18^th.  For full banquet information and to order tickets, click here.

Would you like to sponsor one of SOD’s custom-made trophies?  Call 734-309-RACE (7223) or email director@sprintsondirt.com for more information.

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.

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.