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SOD MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge rolls into Crystal

MAHLE BLC 2

 

The Engine Pro Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge for 2016 rolls into race 3 of 5 this Saturday at Crystal Motor Speedway for five-race.

The five-race BLC mini-series tried to get started at Crystal Motor Speedway on April 30th and May 14th, but both dates were rained out.  The BLC finally got the first race in at Merritt Speedway on Saturday, June 18th with Brian Smith victorious.  Once again, though, rain stopped round 2 at I-96 Speedway on Friday, July 8th.  The next night, July 9th, was a charm at Thunderbird Speedway, presenting the packed house with a very exciting second BLC win for Brian Smith.  After this Saturday’s Crystal show, round 4 will take place at Butler Speedway on Saturday, August 13th.  The MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge finale will be at I-96 Speedway on August 19th.

The BLC offers drivers the opportunity to focus on a mini-championship with its own point fund within the full Sprints on Dirt series points chase.  MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge Champion will be awarded $1,000.  Point fund monies will be paid out to the top seven finishers in the BLC.  To contend for the BLC championship, a driver must display SOD & all primary sponsors’ decals.

SOD points leader Brian Smith (Fremont, OH) also leads the BLC points, followed by Tom Schinderle, Dan McCarron, Steve Irwin, Brett Mann, John Gall, and Mark Aldrich.  Steve Irwin won the non-BLC July 16 SOD show at Crystal.

For more information about MAHLE/Clevite, go to https://catalog.mahle-aftermarket.com/eu/home/index.xhtml?l=EN.  For more information about Engine Pro, go to www.enginepro.com.  For more information about ARP, go to www.arp-bolts.com.  The full 2016 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 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), Engine Pro (Lucky Dog Sponsor), Lane Automotive (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), Engler Machine & Tool (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), COMP Cams (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), RockAuto.com (SOD Series Rookie of the Year Sponsor & SOD Sprint Car Rookie of the Year Sponsor), XYZ Machining (Sportsman of the Year Sponsor & Crew Chief of the Year Sponsor), KSE Racing Products (Hard Charger Sponsor).  In addition, SOD contingency sponsors include: ATL Racing Fuel Cells, Kistler Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Schoenfeld Headers, K2W Precision/Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Ti22 Performance, BR Motorsports, King Racing Products, License 2 Play, Simpson Racing Products, Rod End Supply, Diversified Machine Inc. (DMI), Racing Optics.

 

 

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Stevie Irwin Gets ‘Er Done in Engine Pro SOD by ARP Crystal Win

Steve & Adrianna infield cropped

Steve & Adrianna Irwin with the SOD Big Money @ Crystal Motor Speedway
(Photo by TW Photographics)

Stevie Irwin (Fenton, MI) finally got the monkey off his back, and mastered rush-hour traffic to take home the exciting Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt by ARP feature win at Crystal Motor Speedway (Crystal, MI) Saturday night.  Irwin started in 2nd place along SOD points leader Brian Smith on the front row, and chased Smith in the early stages of the race.  While Smith ran the middle groove and higher, Irwin eventually found the bottom to his liking.  As has been commonplace with SOD races having very few cautions in 2016, lapped traffic was heavy for the leaders.  Both Smith and Irwin made heart-stopping, crowd pleasing passes.  Initially it looked like Smith would cruise to his 4th win, but Irwin settled into his low-rider mode and started reeling in the leader, eventually catching Smith on lap 14.  The capacity crowd then got their money’s worth as the two traded the lead back and forth until Irwin finally took command for good.  While Smith continued within striking distance of the leader, it was clear that handling was going away on his 2+.

The race was interrupted only once, on lap 11, when Tom Schinderle, running 9th, hit the wall and came to a stop with a flat right rear tire.  Jay Steinebach had nowhere to go and came to a stop to avoid Schinderle’s car at the bottom of the track at the start/finish line.

Smith appeared to have a tire seal over, and while doing his best to hold onto a good finish, he bounced off the front straight wall.  Although the tire didn’t immediately go flat, his right rear wheel was about 3-4 inches narrower after the impact.  He held on, going one lap down on the last lap to finish in 10th place.

Irwin, who splits his time racing winged and non-winged sprints, has won non-winged races this season, but has struggled, for the most part, with wings.  Well aware of his issues, Irwin has focused on finding and fixing his issues.  While he struggled Friday at Winston Speedway, it was clear that he found the right combination for Crystal.

Irwin finished the race with a good-sized lead, followed by Dustin Stroup in 2nd, Shawn Valenti in 3rd, Dan McCarron in 4th, and Dain Naida in 5th.

Friday’s winner at Winston Speedway, Stuart Brubaker, was disqualified for the remainder of the show after an on-track incident during the COMP Cams (3rd) heat race.  Mark Aldrich, currently 3rd in points, lost ground to the front runners when a flat tire in the B main kept him from advancing to the feature.

The Crystal show added another gold star to the 2016 Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt by ARP season under the new SOD unlimited format on the new Hoosier spec tires.  Good car counts, very competitive racing, plenty of side-by-side racing, multiple racing grooves, and very few cautions, mostly due to mechanical issues have been the hallmarks of every show without exception; SOD races have won high praise from competitors and fans alike.

Engine Pro SOD by ARP Feature

Finish Car # Driver Start Awards Contingencies
1 0 Steve Irwin 2 Rod End Supply
2 1M Dustin Stroup 3 Rod End Supply
3 7 Shawn Valenti 8 Ti22 Draw Winner Rod End Supply
4 22M Dan McCarron 5 Racing Optics
5 17x Dain Naida 4 ATL Racing Fuel Cells
6 4T Josh Turner 10 King Racing Products
7 81 John Gall 9
8 27 Brad Lamberson 13
9 89 Chris Pobanz 17 KSE Hard Charger
10 2+ Brian Smith 1
11 10S Jay Steinebach 16 DMI Draw Winner
12 46 Robert Huiskin 15
13 3A Mike Austrauskas 11
14 8 Justin Ward 6
15 24 Eric Smith 14 Engine Pro Lucky Dog
16 27x Jared Lamberson 18
17 91L Lexi Adgate 19
18 31 Tanner Austrauskas 20
19 49T Gregg Dalman 7
20 41 Thomas Schinderle 12


Engler Machine & Tool Heat
Win – Brian Smith
2+, 7, 17x, 4t, 27, 10s, 1a, 91L

Lane Automotive Heat Win – John Gall
81, 1m, 8, 3a, 24, 89, 6, 31

COMP Cams Heat Win – Gregg Dalman
49t, 22m, 0, 41, 46, 27x, 35 (DQ)

B MAIN Win – Jay Steinebach
10s, 89, 27x, 91L, 31

Kistler Racing Products Contingencies – Shawn Valenti, Dan McCarron
BR Motorsports Contingency – Dain Naida
COMP Cams Contingency – Dustin Stroup
Allstar Performance Contingency – Justin Ward
Schoenfeld Headers Contingency – 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 2016 Sprints on Dirt schedule, rules, driver member form, news, and other information can be read at www.sprintsondirt.com.

Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP is brought to you 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), Engine Pro (Lucky Dog Sponsor), Lane Automotive (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), Engler Machine & Tool (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), COMP Cams (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), RockAuto.com (SOD Series Rookie of the Year Sponsor & SOD Sprint Car Rookie of the Year Sponsor), XYZ Machining (Sportsman of the Year Sponsor & Crew Chief of the Year Sponsor), KSE Racing Products (Hard Charger Sponsor).  In addition, SOD contingency sponsors include: ATL Racing Fuel Cells, Kistler Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Schoenfeld Headers, K2W Precision/Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Ti22 Performance, BR Motorsports, King Racing Products, License 2 Play, Simpson Racing Products, Rod End Supply, Diversified Machine Inc. (DMI), Racing Optics.

 




Stuart Brubaker Impressive in Engine Pro SOD by ARP Win at Winston Speedway

Todd Meyer winner

2nd Brian Smith, winner Stuart Brubaker with daughter Grace, 3rd Gregg Dalman
(Trailsendcustom Photo)

 

Fremont, Ohio’s Stuart Brubaker charged to a crowd-pleasing Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP feature win Friday night at Winston Speedway in Rothbury, Michigan.

Gregg Dalman grabbed the lead at the start from the pole with Brett Mann looking like he may have something for the leader.  Dalman started to pull away as Mann slipped high on turn 2 allowing Chris Pobanz to take 2nd and Stuart Brubaker 3rd.  Dalman looked to be the class until John Gall & Jay Steinebach tangled on lap four with Gall flipping.  Neither driver was able to continue.

After the red, Dalman continued to lead, but it soon became evident that the handle was going away on Dalman’s car and after a back and forth battle, Brubaker got by Dalman as he slid high in turn two.  Brubaker was an expert at negotiating traffic on the slick surface and easily held on for the win.  After the 4th lap red, the feature went nonstop and point leader Brian Smith was turning faster laps than the leader at the end, but it was too little, too late.

Smith (Fremont, Ohio), the current SOD point leader, started the feature in eleventh place after not making the feature nine-car draw for the top starting positions.  Smith was the KSE Hard Charger Award winner.  Dalman held on to finish third, and discovered that a tire pressure bleeder had stuck open causing his handling problem.  Brett Mann, driving Tony Bures’ #58 finished 4th, and Mark Aldrich was 5th.

Engine Pro SOD by ARP Feature

Finish Car # Driver Start Awards Contingencies
1 35 Stuart Brubaker 3 Rod End Supply
2 2+ Brian Smith 11 KSE Hard Charger Rod End Supply
3 49T Gregg Dalman 1 Rod End Supply
4 58 Brett Mann 5 Ti22 Draw Winner Racing Optics
5 1A Mark Aldrich 8 ATL Racing Fuel Cells
6 89 Chris Pobanz 2 Engine Pro Lucky Dog King Racing Products
7 46 Robert Huiskin 4
8 7 Shawn Valenti 12
9 0 Steve Irwin 9
10 41 Thomas Schinderle 16
11 71H/27 Brad Lamberson 7
12 4T Josh Turner 6
13 8 Justin Ward 10
14 27x Jared Lamberson 14
15 91L Lexi Adgate 18 DMI Draw Winner
16 1 Eric Smith 19
17 6 Tyler Beardon 17
18 10S Jay Steinebach 13
19 81 John Gall 15

 

Engler Machine & Tool Heat Winner  – Brett Mann
58, 89, 0, 8, 10s, 41, 24

Lane Automotive Heat Winner – Mark Aldrich
1a, 4t, 46, 2+, 27x, 6

COMP Cams Heat Winner – Gregg Dalman
49t, 35, 27, 7, 81, 91L

Kistler Racing Products Contingencies – Chris Pobanz, Stuart Brubaker
BR Motorsports Contingency – Steve Irwin
COMP Cams Contingency – Josh Turner
Allstar Performance Contingency – Robert Huiskins
Schoenfeld Headers Contingency – Brad Lamberson

For more information about Engine Pro, go to www.enginepro.com.  For more information about ARP, go to www.arp-bolts.com.  The full 2016 Sprints on Dirt schedule, rules, driver member form, news, and other information can be read at www.sprintsondirt.com.

Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP is brought to you 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), Engine Pro (Lucky Dog Sponsor), Lane Automotive (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), Engler Machine & Tool (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), COMP Cams (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), RockAuto.com (SOD Series Rookie of the Year Sponsor & SOD Sprint Car Rookie of the Year Sponsor), XYZ Machining (Sportsman of the Year Sponsor & Crew Chief of the Year Sponsor), KSE Racing Products (Hard Charger Sponsor).  In addition, SOD contingency sponsors include: ATL Racing Fuel Cells, Kistler Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Schoenfeld Headers, K2W Precision/Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Ti22 Performance, BR Motorsports, King Racing Products, License 2 Play, Simpson Racing Products, Rod End Supply, Diversified Machine Inc. (DMI), Racing Optics.

 




Brubaker & Irwin post Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt weekend wins

FULL RESULTS FOR BOTH NIGHTS TO FOLLOW

WINSTON SPEEDWAY, FRIDAY, JULY 15
Results

CRYSTAL MOTOR SPEEDWAY< SATURDAY< JULY 16
Steve & Adrianna infield cropped
Stevie & Adrianna Irwin in victory lane @ Crystal Motor Speedway
(Photo by TW Photographics)

Crystal 7-16 Finish




Punchie Scores Knock Out in Engine Pro SOD presented by ARP MAHLE/Clevite BLC

Punchie's Big Money
Punchie & the Sprints On Dirt Big Money (Photo courtesy of Todd Smith)

Brian “Punchie” Smith took his 3rd SOD feature win in Saturday’s Engine Pro Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP victory in the MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge 25-lap feature at Muskegon’s Thunderbird Raceway.  Before a standing-room only crowd, it didn’t take long for outside front row starter Steve Irwin (Flying Zero) to open a lead on pole starter Mark Aldrich (1a).  Irwin set a torrid pace that quickly got him into lapped traffic early in the race that had only caution, on lap 3, when mechanical gremlins brought Jay Steinebach (10s) to a stop in turn 2.

Meanwhile SOD point leader Punchie (2+) worked his way up to 2nd from his 5th place starting position and set sail for Irwin.  While traffic helped his pursuit of Irwin, it also created a couple of close calls, and Smith noticeably became more cautious.  Lap 13 proved to be unlucky for the leader when he got boxed in and Smith finally made the pass for the lead he would hold until the finish.  In spite of searching for quicker line around the almost circular track, Irwin (0) was not able to catch Smith and finished 2nd.  Tom Schinderle (41) finished 3rd and Dain Naida (17X) 4th after a nearly race-long spirited battle with 5th place finisher Dan McCarron (22M) in which McCarron thrilled the crowd with an all-out attempt to take over the spot.  19 cars started the feature and 18 finished clearly thrilling the enthusiastic crowd.

Fastest hot lap times were posted by a 305 driven by Dundee, Michigan’s Dan McCarron.  He was followed by two 360s, Dain Naida (Tecumseh, MI) and Alex Hill, the Six Nation Sensation, from Wilsonville, Ontario.  They were followed by the 410 of feature winner Brian Smith from Fremont, Ohio, and the 360 of 2015 SOD champion Gregg Dalman from Bellevue, Michigan.

The Engler Machine & Tool heat race was won by Dan McCarron (305 cubic inch motor) who was also the fastest car in hot laps.  Veteran driver Mark Alrich (410 cubic inch motor) dominated the Lane Automotive heat race showing that the hot, windy weather wasn’t going to slow the speedy SOD competitors.  Robert Huiskin (360 cubic inch motor) wasn’t about to be out performed and charged to a decisive COMP Cams heat race win.

The top 3 heat race finishers were paired up with kids for the License 2 Play Feature Draw to determine the first 9 feature start positions.

License 2 Play draw

 

Racing with SOD at Thunderbird Raceway were lady competitors Lexi Adgate and Alex Hill.  Both have had successful mini-sprint careers and are now ready to show the boys they can do the job in full size sprints.  Hill passed the most cars in the feature.

MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge

PlaceCar NoNameLapsLag
12+Smith, Brian250
20Irwin, Steve25-3.678
341Schinderle, Tom25-4.41
417XNaida, Dain25-4.754
522MMcCarron, Dan25-5.342
61AAldrich, Mark25-6.7
746Huiskin, Robert25-12.449
881Gall, John25-20.516
919Mann, Brett24-1 Laps
1010JJones, Chris24-1 Laps
1177xHill, Alex24-1 Laps
1249TDalman, Gregg24-1 Laps
138Ward, Justin24-1 Laps
1444JJacoby, Bill24-1 Laps
1558Bures, Tony24-1 Laps
1624Smith, Eric23-2 Laps
1791LAdgate, Lexi23-2 Laps
186Bearden, Tyler23-2 Laps
1910SSteinebach, Jay3-22 Laps

Engler Machine & Tool Heat Race: 1 McCarron, 2 Steinebach, 3 B Smith, 4 Jones, 5 E Smith, 6 Bearden
Lane Automotive Heat Race: 1 Mark Aldrich, 2 Gall, 3 Naida, 4 Ward, 5 Bures, 6 Adgate
COMP Cams Heat Race: 1 Robert Huiskin, 2 Irwin, 3 Schinderle, 4 Mann, 5 Dalman, 6 Hill, 7 Jacoby

Contingency Awards:

Engine Pro Lucky Dog Award – Alex Hill
KSE Race Products Hard Charger Award – Bill Jacoby
Kistler Racing Products contingency awards: Jay Steinebach, Steve Irwin
COMP Cams contingency award: John Gall
BR Motorsports contingency award: Brian Smith
Allstar Performance contingency award: Dain Naida
Schoenfeld Headers contingency award: Tom Schinderle
Rod End Supply contingency awards: Brian Smith, Steve Irwin, Tom Schinderle
Racing Optics contingency award: Dain Naida
ATL Fuel Cells contingency award: Dan McCarron
King Racing Products contingency award: Mark Aldrich
Ti22 Performance contingency award: John Gall
DMI contingency award: Justin Ward

For more information about MAHLE/Clevite, go to https://catalog.mahle-aftermarket.com/eu/home/index.xhtml?l=EN.  For more information about Engine Pro, go to www.enginepro.com.  For more information about ARP, go to www.arp-bolts.com.  The full 2016 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 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), Engine Pro (Lucky Dog Sponsor), Lane Automotive (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), Engler Machine & Tool (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), COMP Cams (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), RockAuto.com (SOD Series Rookie of the Year Sponsor & SOD Sprint Car Rookie of the Year Sponsor), XYZ Machining (Sportsman of the Year Sponsor & Crew Chief of the Year Sponsor), KSE Racing Products (Hard Charger Sponsor).  In addition, SOD contingency sponsors include: ATL Racing Fuel Cells, Kistler Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Schoenfeld Headers, K2W Precision/Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Ti22 Performance, BR Motorsports, King Racing Products, License 2 Play, Simpson Racing Products, Rod End Supply, Diversified Machine Inc. (DMI), Racing Optics.