Today (Saturday, June 10th) is Race Day! For the second time of the weekend, the Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP are back on the track. This time, it’s Race #2 of the MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge series at the 1/3 (0.333) mile semi-banked dirt oval of Thunderbird Raceway. This is the one and only appearance at the Muskegon, Michigan speed plant for the fire breathing, winged warriors of SOD.

In 16 all-time appearances at the track located along the Lake Michigan shoreline, 2001 SOD Champion, Steve Irwin is the only repeat winner with two Feature wins to his credit. The remaining 14 events had featured 14 different winners including one season ago when 2016 SOD Champion, Brian Smith went to victory lane. Prior to last season, the last appearance by SOD was in 2008 when Ben Rutan scored the victory.

Schedule of Events – Saturday, June 10th, 2017 – Thunderbird Raceway – Muskegon, Michigan

3:30 pm Pit Gates Open
3:30 pm SOD Sign In/Pill Draw Opens
4:45 pm SOD Sign In/Pill Draw Closes
5:00 pm SOD Drivers Meeting
5:15 pm SOD Engine Heat (on-track)
5:30 pm SOD Group Hot Laps/Qualifying
6:30 pm Racing Starts

Click on the link provided for more event information: thunderbirdracewaymi.com

Click on the link provided to follow live timing and scoring, via MCRP & Race Monitor: motorcityracing.co/livetiming

Follow SOD on Twitter with exclusive live updates for the Sprints throughout Race Day at: Twitter.com/SprintsOnDirt

Like SOD on Facebook for pictures and more from behind the scenes throughout Race Day at: Facebook.com/SprintsOnDirt 

In a night of firsts, Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP made their maiden appearance on the newly reconfigured Hartford Motor Speedway 3/8 mile oval, and the show, before a huge crowd, was a real hit.  Chad Blonde, winner of the last SOD feature on the old track configuration last September, charged to his first win of the season in the first of four King Engine Bearings King of Michigan 2017 races.

After battling rain for most of May, Hartford Speedway owner Tim Dibble and his track crew now had a sunny, hot, and windy race day to contend with.  Through their hard work, they were able to get the new clay surface under control.

The night started out with Chad Blonde, Joe Swanson, and Boston Mead winning the Lane Automotive/MSD Ignition Fast Master awards as fast qualifiers in their respective heat race qualifying sessions.  Unfortunately for 17-year-old Mead, his night was over due to engine problems.

Gregg Dalman showed early speed, leading flag to flag in the Engler Machine & Tool heat race from the pole position.  Mark Aldrich took the the COMP Cams heat race after the original start was called back. On the second start, point leader Dain Naida made heavy contact with the turn 3 wall ending his night early.  Thirteen-year-old Andrew Scheid lead the entire RockAuto.com heat race on his way to his first SOD race win.

After a complete restart for the King Engine Bearings King of Michigan 25-lap feature, Blonde wasted little time charging into the lead from 3^rd and driving away from the field.  The red flag flew on lap 7 when Brett Man flipped hard in turn 3.  Back under green, Blonde drove off to a convincing 10-second win over Chris Gurley and Jay Steinebach.  Joe Swanson took 4^th and top SOD sprint car rookie contender Andrew Scheid came home 5^th.

Qualifying – Lane Automotive/MSD Ignition Fast Masters $50 each

Heat Races – Winners $100 each

Feature

KSE Racing Products Hard Charger – Linden Jones
BR Motorsports Contingency (feature top 10 draw) – Andrew Scheid
DMI (Diversified Machine) Contingency (feature 12-16 draw) – Andy Chehowski
Perfit Corporation Lucky Dog – Jay Steinebach

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.

Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP is brought to you in 2017 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), Driven Racing Oil (Battlegrounds Bash Sponsor), King Engine Bearings (King of Michigan Sponsor), Lane Automotive/MSD Ignition (Fast Masters Sponsor), Engler Machine & Tool (Heat Race Sponsor), COMP Cams (Heat Race Sponsor), RockAuto.com (Heat Race Sponsor), The Perfit Corporation (Lucky Dog Sponsor), KSE Racing Products, and XYZ Machining.  In addition, SOD contingency sponsors include: Allstar Performance, ATL Racing Fuel Cells, BR Motorsports, Diversified Machine Inc. (DMI), K2W Precision/Keizer Aluminum Wheels, King Racing Products, Kistler Racing Products, Maxim Racing, Motor City Racing Promotions, Racing Optics, Rod End Supply, Schoenfeld Headers, Simpson Racing Products, Walker Performance Filtration.

Litchfield, Michigan veteran, Chad Blonde dominated the Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP Feature at Hartford Motor Speedway en route to his first win of the 2017 racing season…. The 38-year-old in his Flint Truck Service/Maxim Chassis/Krieger Racing Engines machine led all 30 laps to win Race #1 of the King Engine Bearings King of Michigan Series. It was also his second win in a row at Hartford dating back to 2016…. Chris Gurley finished second with Jay Steinebach, Joe Swanson and 13-year-old Rookie, Andrew Scheid completing the top five….

Today (Friday, June 9th) is Race Day! The Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP return to action with the first race of the King Engine Bearings King of Michigan Series at Hartford Speedway in Hartford, Michigan. The newly reconfigured 3/8s (0.375) mile high-banked dirt oval will see the fire breathing, winged warriors of SOD for the first time since the track was altered.

This is the first of four appearances by SOD in southwest Michigan as 2007 Rookie of the Year, Ryan Ruhl made history with his victory in what was the first ever race under the “Beyond Limits” format on May 20^th, 2016. In the second race at Hartford, held over the Labor Day Holiday Weekend on September 2^nd, 2016, Litchfield, Michigan veteran. Chad Blonde scored that elusive first career SOD Feature Win. This event is the 68th all-time appearance by SOD at the Hartford, Michigan speed plant.

Schedule of Events – Friday, June 9th, 2017 – Hartford Speedway – Hartford, Michigan

4:30 pm Pit Gates Open
4:45 pm SOD Sign In/Pill Draw Opens
5:45 pm SOD Sign In/Pill Draw Closes
6:00 pm SOD Drivers Meeting
6:15 pm SOD Engine Heat (on-track)
7:00 pm SOD Group Hot Laps/Qualifying

8:00 pm National Anthem
8:00 pm Track Class Dash
SOD Heat Races (8 laps)
Stock Car Heats
Modified Heats
Cyber Stock Heats

SOD Redraw (on front straight)
SOD B-Main(s) if needed (10 laps)
Other B-Mains if needed
Intermission

SOD Feature (20 laps)
Stock Car Feature
Modified Feature
Cyber Stock Feature 

Click on the link provided to follow live timing and scoring, via MCRP & Race Monitor:
motorcityracing.co/livetiming

Follow SOD on Twitter with exclusive live updates for the Sprints throughout Race Day at: Twitter.com/SprintsOnDirt

Like SOD on Facebook for pictures and more from behind the scenes throughout Race Day at: Facebook.com/SprintsOnDirt

Click on the link provided for more event information: HartfordSpeedway.net

Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP is gearing up for a big weekend, kicking off the King Engine Bearings King of Michigan series at Hartford Speedway Friday, then the second race of the MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge Saturday at Thunderbird Raceway.

Dain Naida, Adrian, Michigan, has the early SOD point lead over brother-in-law Steve Irwin from Fenton, Michigan.  Sugar Land, Texas, transplant Thomas Schinderle, Berkley, Michigan, is third in points.  Schinderle leads The Perfit Corporation SOD series rookie of the year points.

Friday’s race at Hartford Speedway will be the first of SOD’s four-race King Engine Bearings King of Michigan series at the speedway.  The KoM includes its own point fund with $1,000 going to the champion.  SOD competitors can’t wait to get their first look at Hartford’s newly reconfigured 3/8 mile track.

Saturday’s race at Thunderbird Raceway will be the second race of the five-race 2017 MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge.  Unlike the King of Michigan series, the Beyond Limits Challenge will be contested at five different speedways.  Delta Ohio’s Shawn Valenti leads the BLC points over Joe Swanson, Etna Green, Indiana, and Landon Simon, Indianapolis, Indiana.  The BLC also includes its own point fund with $1,000 going to the champion.  The ¼ mile, nearly circular track, is a favorite of SOD competitors, producing excellent racing last season.

To learn more about Engine Pro, go to www.enginepro.com.  For more information about ARP, go to www.arp-bolts.com.  For complete information about all 2017 SOD events, follow SOD at www.sprintsondirt.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sprintsondirt.

Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP is brought to you in 2017 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), Driven Racing Oil (Battlegrounds Bash Sponsor), King Engine Bearings (King of Michigan Sponsor), Lane Automotive (Fast Masters Sponsor), MSD Ignition (Fast Masters Sponsor), Engler Machine & Tool (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), COMP Cams (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), RockAuto.com (Primary Heat Race Sponsor), The Perfit Corporation (Lucky Dog Sponsor), KSE Racing Products (Hard Charger Sponsor), and XYZ Machining (Season Sportman & Crew Chief Sponsor).  In addition, SOD contingency sponsors include: Allstar Performance, ATL Racing Fuel Cells, BR Motorsports, Diversified Machine Inc. (DMI), Hepfner Racing Products (HRP), K2W Precision/Keizer Aluminum Wheels, King Racing Products, Kistler Racing Products, Maxim Racing, Motor City Racing Promotions, Racing Optics, Rod End Supply, Schoenfeld Headers, Simpson Racing Products, Walker Performance Filtration.