Doug Zimmerman photo by Kimber Cramer.

In spite of nearby rain and surrounded by threatening weather, the Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt by ARP Butler Bash ACL Race Series High Performance Engine Bearing drew a full field of competitors and thrilled fans with a typically exciting SOD program.  The feature line up was led by a couple drivers who likely have the most combined win and championships in the Butler Speedway sprint division, Doug Zimmerman and Ken Mackey. Making them more formidable was the fact that Mackey won the regular Butler show last week and Zimmerman finished second.

Mackey jumped into the lead at the start and held a narrow margin over Zimmerman for two laps until Zimmerman made a turn four pass to take the top spot and begin to pull away.  While Zimmerman was flying in his customary high groove, Mackey tried to find a quicker line.  Mackey’s night ended a few laps later when he pulled to the infield with mechanical woes.

Zimmerman was flying high and opening a full straightaway lead as seventh place starter Ryan Ruhl suddenly was in second and when Zimmerman slipped of the top of three and four, Ruhl jumped into the lead as Zimmerman lost several positions.  Now Ruhl appeared to be in command, holding a several car length lead over Zimmerman who had worked his way back up to second.  Then, on lap twenty, the caution flew for the first time due to debris on the track.  The ensuing restart had Zimmerman right on Ruhl’s rear bump, and on lap twenty-three Ruhl slipped high in turn two, allowing Zimmerman to pull even with his. As the leaders charged through three and four, they touched and Ruhl spun to a stop off of turn four.  Ruhl was able to restart at the rear, but Zimmerman drove off to the impressive SOD Butler Bash ACL Race Series Bearings feature win and the $1,700 SOD / ACL Bearings / Steve Smith & Robert Flannigan Big Money check.

As has been the norm in every SOD show under the new, beyond limits package on SOD’s Hoosier spec tires, close competitive racing and few cautions highlighted the racing.

ACL Race Series High Performance Engine Bearings Feature

Fast Qualifier – Doug Zimmerman, 13.074

Engler Machine & Tool Heat winner – Brett Mann
19, 19Z, 1a, 21T, 2+, 8, 14, 6

Lane Automotive Heat winner – Ryan Ruhl
16, 0, 25m, 7, 71H, 7k, 1, 10S

COMP Cams Heat winner – Josh Turner
4, 27, 20A, 35, 81, 91L, 52, 12 (DNS)

B Main winner – Robert Bulloch
7k, 8, 14, 52, 1, 91L, 12, 10S, 6 (DNS)

Kistler Racing Products Contingencies – Doug Zimmerman, Shelby Bilton
BR Motorsports Contingency – Mark Aldrich
COMP Cams Contingency – Steve Irwin
Allstar Performance Contingency – Ken Mackey
Schoenfeld Headers Contingency – Andy Chehowski

To learn more about ACL Race Series Performance Engine Bearings, go to http://www.aclraceseries.com/ 

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.

This Saturday is the highly anticipated return of the Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP to Butler Speedway for the Butler Bash presented by ACL Race Series Engine Bearings.  People are still talking about the SOD show at Butler on May 21 that was highlighted by the largest sprint car field of the year at Butler and a dramatic finish line pass for the win by SOD point leader Brian Smith over former Butler champion Doug Zimmerman.

With all the anticipation, who has the most to prove?  Is it Smith who wants to prove the win was no fluke and the only question should be why he didn’t take the lead sooner?  Or is it Doug Zimmerman who will be out to prove that the only reason he didn’t win was that he was maybe a little over-confident?

Maybe it is Steve Irwin, second in SOD points, who finally overcame struggles with the wings to win the last SOD show at Crystal on July 16.  Could be Fremont, Ohio’s Dustin Stroup or Fostoria, Ohio’s Shawn Valenti who finished second and third at Crystal.

How about Butler point leader Shelby Bilton who can prove he isn’t intimidated by SOD’s or Butler’s best.  Or will it be senior citizen Ken Mackey who won at Butler last week?

Don’t forget veterans Mark Aldrich, third in SOD points, and John Gall, fourth in SOD points, who both have countless laps with both SOD and Butler.  We certainly can’t forget SOD’s Brad Lamberson who already has a win and a second at Butler this year.

What about 305 cubic inchers Tom Schinderle and Dan McCarron?  They are out to prove that bigger isn’t necessarily better, giving away 105 cubic inches to the big dogs.  Schinderle has a second and third and McCarron has three top fives in SOD competition this season

Or is there someone else lurking in the shadows with something to prove and is ready to pounce?  So who is going to be the 2016 Sprints On Dirt Butler Speedway ACL Bash Master?  We will know Saturday night.

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.

ACL Race Series Performance Engine Bearings presents the Butler Bash Sprints On Dirt
with UMP Modifieds, Street Stocks, and Front Wheel Drives

Admission: Adults $15.00, Seniors $12.00, Kids $7.00
Pit Passes $25.00

Camping for the weekend is $25.00.  The band Flyte will be playing both nights of the Butler Bash.

This will be the second appearance of the unlimited SOD sprints at Butler this season. Brian Smith won the first show with an exciting finish-line pass of Doug Zimmerman on May 21.

ACL Race Series Performance Engine Bearings will be the SOD feature sponsor for the Bash.  Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, ACL Race Series Performance Engine Bearings are recognized as a premier brand throughout the motorsports world. Race Series rod and main bearings are standard components in race engines that have set records and won championships from Mexico to Bonneville. They are used extensively in the US. and Canada and are the overwhelming choice of racers and engine builders worldwide. The unique combination of design, metallurgy and engineering provides Race Series performance bearings with the endurance and capability to perform where others cannot. These exceptional bearings are available for a variety of American, Asian and European performance engines.

To learn more about ACL Race Series Performance Engine Bearings, go to http://www.aclraceseries.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.

Mother Nature has wreaked havoc on the 2016 Engine Pro Sprints on Dirt schedule, and all four rain outs have been MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge events.

Due to the rain outs and associated scheduling conflicts, the five-race BLC schedule has been adjusted as follows:

1. Saturday, June 18^th, Merritt Speedway, won by Brian Smith,
2. Saturday, July 9^th, Thunderbird Speedway, won by Brian Smith,
3. Friday, August 19, I-96 Speedway,
4. Friday, September 2^nd, Hartford Speedway,
5. Saturday, September 3^rd, Crystal Motor Speedway.

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.  The 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.

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.

For the fourth time in 2016, Mother Nature came out on top in the Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge at Crystal Motor Speedway Saturday night over a large field of competitors from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Ontario.

Overnight rain ended around mid-day on Saturday, and at 2:30 PM the track surface looked ready for a great night of racing.

The late afternoon prediction was for a few, scattered light showers, but when the rain returned, it returned to stay. Although there was never a heavy rain, the unending precipitation took its toll, and the infield became flooded and the pit area unusable. In spite of giving it everything they had, Crystal Motor Speedway owner/promoter Ron Flinn and his crew finally had to throw in the towel, and Flinn officially canceled the show around 5:45 PM.

Originally scheduled as the SOD season opener, the Crystal MAHLE/Clevite BLC race was rained out on April 30th, then again on May 14th. It is now scheduled to close out the five-race MAHLE/Clevite BLC and the SOD season at the Mike Olrich Memorial Race on September 3rd. The next MAHLE/Clevite BLC race will be on August 13th at Butler Speedway, followed by I-96 Speedway on August 19th.

For more information about MAHLE/Clevite, go to https://catalog.mahle-aftermarket.com/na/home/index.xhtml?l=de. 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, MAHLE/Clevite BLC point standings, rules, current news, and other information are available on the SOD website, 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.