Chad Blonde crowned 2018 Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt by ARP Champion

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