ERIE, MI (May 29, 2018) – The first month of the Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP 2018 season closes out, and we head into June, hoping that we have better luck with weather.  May was a struggle, as weather caused cancellation of two races and wasn’t helpful in getting two races in.

For the first time in several years, we got in the season opener at Crystal, not under the best of condition though, as the temperatures were frigid. It didn’t discourage the SOD fans as they filed the stands. In typical SOD fashion, the racing was exciting and caution free. Zane DeVault (360 engine), from Plymouth, Indiana, did an excellent job to take the feature win over Litchfield, Michigan’s Chad Blonde (410 engine) by just 0.03 seconds. Matt Foos (305 engine), Fremont, Ohio, finished third followed by Ryan Ruhl (410 engine), Coldwater, Michigan, and Bellevue, Michigan’s Gregg Dalman (360 engine).

The season opener was the first race of the five-race MAHLE/Clevite 2018 Beyond Limits Challenge. It was also the first race of stage one of the four-stage Motul Leader of the Pack.  Saturday, May 12, was to be the opening race of the four-race Hog Creek Showdown, but a relentless rain system resulted in the race being canceled early and rescheduled for May 19.  The fan-favorite King Engine Bearings King of Michigan at Hartford Speedway was scheduled to open on May 18. Promoter Tim Dibble put his best effort forward, but eminent bad weather caused him to pull the plug late in the afternoon. The decision proved to be the right one as the rain started and continued until early the next morning.

May 19 at Butler Speedway looked doubtful as wide spread rain caused many speedways to cancel, but promoter Bob Garrett was determined to get the race in, that he did. Chase Ridenour (Perry, Michigan) was the class of the field, mastering the newly reconfigured track. Boston Mead (Onsted, Michigan) grabbed second, followed by Chad Blonde, Shawn Valenti (Fostoria, Ohio), and Dan McCarron (Britton, Michigan).

With the month of May now in the books, Chad Blonde leads Sprints On Dirt Championship points, Zane DeVault leads MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits points, and Chase Ridenour leads Hog Creek Showdown points. Blonde won stage one of the Motul Leader of the Pack.

June will see SOD at three different speedways consisting of one race for each of the three mini-series. The finishes of the June races will determine the winner of the Motul Leader of the Pack Stage 2.

Hartford Speedway will once again try to open the King Engine Bearings 2018 King of Michigan on Friday, June 8. SOD returns to Butler on Saturday, June 16, to contest the Hog Creek Showdown race 1, Butler’s annual WWIII race. Friday, June 22, the MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge visits Tri-City Motor Speedway, Auburn, Michigan, for the first time since 2015.

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.

The winning Ridenour team by Johnny B Imagery

ERIE, MI (May 20, 2018) – “Kid Rocket” Chase Ridenour, from Perry, Michigan, used a lot of speed and a little luck to win the much-anticipated Hog Creek Showdown at Butler Motor Speedway Saturday night.  The first appearance of the Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP at Butler saw a huge crowd enjoy great racing while many other speedways suffered rain outs.

The youth movement led qualifying with Ridenour fastest overall, Quentin Blonde (Litchfield, Michigan) was fastest in his heat group and Onsted, Michigan’s Boston Mead was fastest in his heat group.

Quentin Blonde backed up his heat group quick time by charging to the Engler Machine & Tool heat win over early leader Dan McCarron.  Andy Teunessen, in the Home Pro Roofing Maxim, held off Ridenour to win the COMP Cams heat race.  Fostoria, Ohio’s Shawn Valenti took the RockAuto.com heat over Mead.

With twenty-seven cars, competition was stout in the B-main to make the feature.  Brad Lamberson, Mark Aldrich, Thomas Schinderle, Ricky Ferkel, and Justin Ward transferred to the feature.

Ridenour, in the seat of his father’s Maxim, worked his way from his fifth starting spot to second, and on lap six after a brief caution, charged around early leader Boston Mead.  Mead did his best to retake the lead, but Ridenour eventually drove off, leaving Mead to finish second.  Ridenour sliced through traffic and opened up his lead until lap 23 when disaster nearly struck.  Ridenour had to take evasive action to avoid a lapped car in turn four that got out of shape and, in spite of contact, kept his cool and his lead over Mead.  Ridenour then charged to the win followed by Mead, Chad Blonde, Shawn Valenti, and Dan McCarron.

Brad Lamberson, in the Kirkendall GFI, charged from the sixteenth starting spot to finish seventh, earning the KSE Hard Charger Award.  Joe Swanson had a frustrating night, dropping out of the feature early, earning the Allstar Performance Better Luck next Time Award.  Josh Turner and Ryan Ruhl saw decent runs evaporate when they had to go to the work area for tire changes.

Qualifying – Lane Automotive/MSD Ignition Fast Masters (fast qualifiers) $50 each

Heat Races

B-Main

Feature

KSE Racing Products Hard Charger – Brad Lamberson
BR Motorsports Contingency (feature top 10 draw) – Zane DeVault
DMI (Diversified Machine) Contingency (feature 12-16 draw) – Josh Turner
Perfit Corporation Lucky Dog – Joe Swanson
Allstar Performance Better Luck Next Time – Joe Swanson

For more information about Butler Motor Speedway, go to www.butlerspeedway.net and the speedway’s Facebook page at https://goo.gl/csxUkX.  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.

ERIE, MI (May 13, 2018) – Thanks to a little mischief by Mother Nature yesterday, Engine Pro Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP competitors will do battle in two big races this Friday and Saturday.

King Engine Bearing King of Michigan – On Friday, the King is back!  SOD travels to Hartford Speedway for the first 2018 King Engine Bearing King of Michigan race.

This year, with King Engine Bearings returning as the KoM title sponsor, the series has expanded to five races.  The KoM opens on May 18, followed by June 8, July 6, July 27, and the finale on August 31.

Chad Blonde won the first three 2017 KoM races including a record 5 minute and 25 second, non-stop feature on August 11^th; Ryan Ruhl won the KoM finale.  Blonde won the KoM points championship over Steve Irwin (2001 & 2017 SOD champion), Gregg Dalman (2015 SOD champion), and Thomas Schinderle (2017 SOD Series Rookie of the Year).

All SOD races award competitors at least $2,033 in cash and contingency awards.  Friday’s KoM, however, will add as much as $1,200 more.  The Lane Automotive Heat Race Challenge will award all heat race winners a special prize package worth over $300 including product certificates from Lane Automotive, Allstar Performance, QuickCar Racing Products, Holley, MSD Ignition, and Royal Purple Lubricants. Special winner’s hats as well as additional apparel items will also be a part of the package. Images of winners will be featured on social media from participating partners as well as on the track pages.

The 2018 KoM Champion will be crowned at the series finale on August 31.  The champion will have a guaranteed starting spot in the Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP Mike Olrich Memorial Race at Crystal Motor Speedway on September 1^st.  The King Engine Bearings King of Michigan will pay a point fund to the top five at the 2018 Awards Banquet.

For more information about King Engine Bearings, go to www.kingbearings.com.  Check out Hartford Speedway at www.hartfordspeedway.net.

Butler vs. SOD Hog Creek Showdown – After being washed out last week, the much anticipated four-race Butler Motor Speedway/Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP Hog Creek Showdown kicks off this Saturday.  Many SOD drivers will get their first laps on the newly reconfigured home of weekly sprint car racing in Michigan.

The race will be the last 2018 Motul Leader of the Pack Stage 1 race.  The LoP consists of four stages including all SOD races through September 1.  Each stage finish is based on SOD points earned during the stage.  The Motul Leader of the Pack Champion will be the driver with the best average finishing position for all stages and will pay a five-place point fund at the 2018 Awards Banquet.

The 2018 Hog Creek Showdown will include two major annual races at Butler, WWIII and the two-day Butler Bash.  Hog Creek Showdown dates are Saturday, May 19; Saturday, June 16 – WWIII; Friday, August 3 – Butler Bash Day 1; and Saturday, August 4 – Butler Bash Day 2.

The 2018 Hog Creek Showdown Champion will be crowned at the series finale on August 4.  The champion will have a guaranteed starting spot in the Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP Mike Olrich Memorial Race at Crystal Motor Speedway on September 1^st.  The Hog Creek Showdown series will pay a point fund to the top five at the 2018 Awards Banquet.

Last year’s Driven Racing Oil Battlegrounds Bash between Butler and SOD racers saw Chad Blonde, Joe Swanson, and Thomas Schinderle pick up wins.  Schinderle’s win in the series finale propelled him to the championship over Joe Swanson, Chad Blonde, Jay Steinebach, and Steve Irwin.

Butler Motor Speedway and Sprints On Dirt are working together to ensure a strong future for sprint car racing in Michigan.  In a move that is sure to benefit fans and competitors alike, Butler has reduced the track banking by about one-third and widened the racing surface over the offseason.

Zane DeVault, from Plymouth, Indiana, currently leads SOD points over Litchfield, Michigan’s Chad Blonde.  Fremont, Ohio’s Matt Foos currently sits 3^rd in points, but is a regular competitor in the Fremont (OH) Speedway 305 division.  Ryan Ruhl, Coldwater, Michigan, is 4^th in points, and two-time SOD champion Gregg Dalman, Bellevue, Michigan, is 5^th in points.

For more information about Butler Motor Speedway, go to www.butlerspeedway.net and the speedway’s Facebook page at https://goo.gl/csxUkX.

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.

ERIE, MI (May 7, 2018) – The much anticipated four-race Butler Motor Speedway/Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP Hog Creek Showdown kicks off this Saturday.  Many SOD drivers will get their first laps on the reduced banking of the storied 3/8 speedway, the home of weekly sprint car racing in Michigan.

The 2018 Hog Creek Showdown will include two major annual races at Butler, WWIII and the two-day Butler Bash.  Hog Creek Showdown dates are:

1. Saturday, May 12
2. Saturday, June 16 – WWIII
3. Friday, August 3 – Butler Bash 1
4. Saturday, August 4 – Butler Bash 2

Plymouth, Indiana’s Zane DeVault holds the early SOD season points lead over Litchfield, Michigan’s Chad Blonde.  Fremont, Ohio’s Matt Foos currently sits 3^rd in points, but is a regular competitor in the Fremont (OH) Speedway 305 division.  Ryan Ruhl, Coldwater, Michigan, is 4^th in points, and two-time SOD champion Gregg Dalman, Bellevue, Michigan, is 5^th in points.

In last year’s Driven Racing Oil Battlegrounds Bash between Butler and SOD racers, Chad Blonde picked up the win on June 17 over Ryan Ruhl and Thomas Schinderle.  On July 22, Joe Swanson took the lead with two laps to go and won over Jay Steinebach and Ryan Ruhl.  On August 12^th, Thomas Schinderle won his first SOD feature after passing early leader Joe Swanson.  Swanson held on for 2^nd and Butler’s 2017 Rookie of the Year Boston Mead finished 3^rd.

The partnership between Butler Motor Speedway and Sprints On Dirt focuses on ensuring a strong future for sprint car racing in Michigan.  In a move that is sure to benefit fans and competitors alike, Butler has reduced the track banking by about one-third and widened the racing surface over the offseason.

For more information about Butler Motor Speedway, go to www.butlerspeedway.net and the speedway’s Facebook page at https://goo.gl/csxUkX.  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.

ERIE, MI (April 29, 2018) – If last night’s Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP season opening MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge Race #1 was any indication of what lies ahead, SOD fans will be treated to an exciting, action packed season.

Johnny B photo

Zane DeVault, Plymouth, Indiana, drove to his first SOD victory by just 0.03 seconds over hard-charging 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 305 of Foos.

The temperature may have been frigid, but the action couldn’t have been hotter!  A huge crowd braved the cold and were rewarded with a “caution-free zone” at Crystal Motor Speedway as the Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt drivers put on a spectacular show that saw the SOD races go without a single caution.

Adam Cruea led the field to the start of the feature but was penalized two rows for jumping the start.  Matt Foos and Jay Steinebach then led the field to the start with Steinebach taking the early lead.  As the leaders quickly encountered traffic, Steinebach slipped high in turn two and Zane DeVault took the lead.  Chad Blonde methodically moved from his sixth starting position into third, then made a late race pass of Foos to take second.  Heavy traffic was a challenge and Blonde closed in on DeVault.  On the last lap, Blonde took the lead in the high line by a couple feet down the back straight, but DeVault was able to squeeze below a lapped car to retake the lead in turns three and four to take the win over Blonde.

Gregg Dalman grabbed overall fast time in his 360 and Ryan Ruhl and Shawn Valenti scored Lane Automotive/MSD Ignition Fast Master fast time for their heats.  2017 SOD Sprint Car Rookie of the Year Andrew Scheid won the Allstar Performance Better Luck Next Time award after fighting gremlins all night, not being able to start his heat, then finishing nineteenth in the feature.

Qualifying – Lane Automotive/MSD Ignition Fast Masters (fast qualifiers) $50 each

Heat Races

Feature

KSE Racing Products Hard Charger – Chad Blonde
BR Motorsports Contingency (feature top 10 draw) – Gregg Dalman
ARP Lucky Dog – Shawn Valenti
Allstar Performance Better Luck Next Time – Andrew Scheid

For more information about Engine Pro go to www.enginepro.com.  For more information about ARP, go to www.arp-bolts.com.  The full 2018 Sprints on Dirt schedule, rules, current news, and other information are available at www.sprintsondirt.com.