Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP is proud to announce that Engler Machine & Tool has agreed to continue its long-running sponsorship of Sprints On Dirt as a 2016 primary heat race sponsor.

Engler Machine & Tool was started in 1980 by Tim Engler.  His main line of business at that time was plastic injection molds. Over the years he has diversified very widely, leaning more towards “high performance products.”

Engler has been involved in tractor pulling and holds 13 national titles in that sport. He no longer pulls himself, but has been influential to the success of many other pullers through his advice and building capabilities.  In 2006, Engler was inducted into the National Tractor Pullers Hall of Fame.  In 2008, he was recognized by Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League and presented the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Engler Machine & Tool is best known in open wheel racing today for its fuel injection systems for micro sprints, midgets, and sprints.  He raced winged sprint cars in the 90s, which was something he truly liked, but now enjoys helping others in the sport succeed.

For more information about Engler Machine & Tool, go to www.englermachine.com.  For more information about Engine Pro, go to www.enginepro.com.  For more information about ARP, go to www.arp-bolts.com.

The Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP 2016 schedule has been posted at the Schedule tab above.  Thirteen race dates at seven different tracks make up the schedule. There are five two-day weekends that have become more popular with competitors and fans.

SOD races will be at Crystal Motor Speedway, Hartford Speedway, Butler Speedway, Merritt Speedway, I-96 Speedway, Thunderbird Raceway, and Winston Speedway.  SOD will race at each track once before returning to a second race at any track.  Crystal Motor Speedway presents the season opener on Saturday, April 30th; it will also be the location of the last 2016 race on Saturday, September 3rd.

To see a lighthearted YouTube video of the schedule, click here: 2016 SOD Schedule.

Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP will return to the popular I-96 Speedway for two races in 2016.

Prior to 38-year-old Mike Mouch’s ownership, the speedway was known by several names over its long history, including Clark’s Motor Speedway, Ionia Raceway Park, Ionia County Speedway, and New 96 Speedway.  Today, I-96 Speedway is a growing part of Ionia County with its rich history and steady growth.

Mouch purchased the Lake Odessa, Michigan, speedway and started his promotional career 12 years ago.  He was the Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club Promoter of the Year in 2015.  Past awards include the Refurbishment Award from the Ionia Area Chamber of Commerce.  He attributes his success to his employees and his family.  His children, 12-year-old Jaden and 9-year-old Evan, spend a lot of time at the track with him, helping with clean up and other tasks.

I-96 Speedway is very family oriented, with a kids’ area for arts and crafts that includes their own rest room, and a huge playground complete with licensed aides.  They also boast the best food in the state for short tracks, including being known for their hamburgers. “Our burgers are the best,” said Mouch. “When you pay, you get a bun, and then go get the burger, hot off the grill.”

Mouch, began racing go-karts at age seven, then moved to sprint cars at age fifteen. He raced go karts at Flat Rock, Michigan, and in Florida; he was the Ford Thunderbird Cart Club champion at Flat Rock. Ironically, his first sprint car race was at I-96.

Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP will race at I-96 Speedway on Friday, July 8 and Friday, August 19.

As we roll toward the 2016 season, inquiring minds would like to get the inside scoop on Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP drivers.  With this in mind, we have started a series of driver spotlight posts on the Sprints On Dirt Facebook page.  You can go there at https://www.facebook.com/sprintsondirt/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel to like your favorite driver’s spotlight and read each one as they are posted.

Additionally, the Driver Spotlights tab above will take you to a list of the driver spotlights already posted.

ERIE, Mich. (January 15, 2016) – Butler Speedway owner/promoter Denny Donaldson and promoter partners Bob and Karen Garrett have announced that the two leaders in sprint car racing in Michigan, Butler Speedway and Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP, will continue their partnership that began in 1982 by teaming up for two races this season.

Louis Heyward built Butler Speedway in 1952.  Louie Freeburn, along with his brother and father Virgil, bought the track from Heyward in 1957.  Butler was a dying track and they proceeded to turn it around and into one of the most successful short tracks in Michigan and the birthplace of sprint car racing in the state.  Freeburn was the promoter of Butler Speedway for nearly 25 years.

Legendary driver Denny Donaldson is now into his twentieth year as the owner of Butler Speedway, continuing the speedway’s rich history as the home of weekly sprint car racing in Michigan.

Donaldson raced for twenty years and won six track championships at Butler Speedway and 150 feature events overall before retiring in 1991.  Donaldson was a winner whether racing sprint cars, modifieds, or late models.  Denny’s father, Ralph Donaldson was also a standout driver; both Ralph and Denny are members of the Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame.  The next two generations, Derek Donaldson and Nick Nelson, are carrying on the family tradition, following Ralph and Denny with micro sprint careers of their own.

Butler Speedway will host Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP races on Saturday, May 21, and Saturday, August 13.

For more information about Butler Speedway, go to www.butlerspeedway.net.  For more information about Engine Pro, go to www.enginepro.com.  For more information about Sprints On Dirt, go to www.sprintsondirt.com.