>>> I-96 BLC race for July 8th has rained out <<<

Erie, MI (July 5, 2016) – The MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP mini-series swings back into action in a big way this weekend.

BLC race #2 is at I-96 Speedway (Lake Odessa, MI) this Friday, July 8^th.  I-96 has been a regular stop for the SOD series, last racing their on July 31^st of last year.  Friday’s event will be the first of two for SOD at I-96 in 2016, with the unlimited sprints returning on Friday, August 13^th.

Race #3, the next day, July 9^th, is at Thunderbird Raceway in Muskegon, Michigan.  Long-time racer and promoter Tom Sprague reopened the 50-year-old Thunderbird Raceway after the track was closed three years ago.  Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP last raced at Thunderbird on May 10, 2008; Ben Rutan was the winner.

Each race will pay competitors $300 to start the feature, $100 to win heat races, and $100 for the Engine Pro Lucky Dog winner drawn from all competitors.  The weekend will also pay $2,386 in contingency cash and certificates, and $1,000 in bonuses.

With race #1 of the five-MAHLE/Clevite BLC in the books, SOD point leader Brian Smith holds the early BLC point lead with his win at Merritt Speedway on June 18^th.  Thomas Schinderle is currently in 2^nd place, and Dan McCarron is 3^rd.

The challenge offers drivers the opportunity to compete in a mini-championship within the full Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP schedule for an additional, separate point fund.  The 4^th race will be on July 30^th at Crystal Motor Speedway (Crystal, MI).  The final race of the mini-series will take place on August 13^th at Butler Speedway (Quincy, MI).

The 2016 MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge was originally set to pay the top five positions, but has been expanded to seven positions.  The payout will be paid at the 2016 SOD banquet as follows: 1) $1,000, 2) $600, 3) $400, 4) $300, 5) $200, 6) $150, 7) $100.

Every weekend it is on dirt short tracks across America on Friday and Saturday nights where modern day gladiators fight in arenas to see who can be the best.  Grass roots’ racing is the heart of motor sports, Clevite® engine bearings and MAHLE® engine parts are there to make sure these weekend warriors can go the distance and win the trophies. Debates carry on over who is the best on the track, but there is no debate that Clevite and MAHLE are the one constant of winning teams throughout grass roots racing.

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: Allstar Performance, ATL Racing Fuel Cells, BR Motorsports, Diversified Machine Inc. (DMI), Kistler Racing Products, King Racing Products, K2W Precision/Keizer Aluminum Wheels, License 2 Play, Maxim Racing, Racing Optics, Schoenfeld Headers, Simpson Racing Products, Rod End Supply, and Ti22 Performance.

2nd place Thomas Schinderle, winner Brian Smith, 3rd place Dan McCarron

Erie, Michigan (June 19, 2016)- Joshua Turner jumped out to an early lead after starting on the front row with Steve Irwin for the first round of the MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge for the unlimited sprints of the Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP at Merritt Speedway Saturday night.  However, it only took fourth place starter Brian Smith from Fremont, Ohio, a couple laps to reel in Turner and charge into the lead.  Smith steadily built up a straightaway lead as he soon got into lapped traffic on the racy quarter mile.  In spite of being the last of seven features run on the track, the track was dust-free and with plenty of passing with the 2016 SOD spec tire that continue to impress everyone.

Smith, ran a very smooth, consistent race, masterfully handling lapped cars.  As the race approached midway though, Dan McCarron started turning faster times and closed the gap on Smith to several car lengths when the red flag flew with only five laps to go in the 25-lap main event.  Joshua Turner (4T) and Nic Rogers (81x) tangled in turn one, both flipped hard and collected Steve Irwin (0) in the melee.  Irwin made repairs and restarted, but Turner and Rogers were finished for the night.

With the green flying once again, Smith had a clear track while McCarron had to take evasive action to avoid a lapped car, and was passed by #41 Thomas Schinderle.  The caution flew one last time for a spin two laps later.  On the restart, once Schinderle disposed of a lapped car, he started closing the gap on Smith, but time ran out, and Smith scored his second SOD victory in a row.  The enthusiastic crowd was treated to Smith’s victory dirt angel after his win.

The new Sprints On Dirt spec Hoosier Racing Tire rear tires produced exciting racing, engine equity, and stiff competition among racers regardless of engine size on the quarter mile Merritt track in spite of hot, sunny weather and a seven division program. Smith’s 410 won, Schinderle was second in a 305, McCarron was third in a 305, and Mike Astrauskas finished fourth in a 360.

Feature Finish – 1) Brian Smith (4), 2) Thomas Schinderle (5), 3) Dan McCarron (3), 4) Mike Astrauskus (6), 5) Brett Mann (10), 6) Craig Karazim (12), 7) Ken Mackey (11), 8) Steve Irwin (2), 9) John Gall (8), 10) Robert Bulloch (15), 11) Jared Lamberson (14), 12) Bill Jacoby (13), 13) Mark Aldrich (19), 14) Eric Smith (16), 15) Tyler Bearden (18), 16) Brad Lamberson (9), 17) Jay Steinebach (20), 18) Joshua Turner (1), 19) Nic Rogers (7), 20) Justin Ward (17), 21) Tanner Astrauskas (21).

Smith won the Engler Machine & Tool heat race, Steve Irwin earned the Lane Automotive heat win, and Dan McCarron won the COMP Cams heat.

Contingency Awards:

Engine Pro Lucky Dog Award – Brad Lamberson
KSE Race Products Hard Charger Award – Mark Aldrich
Kistler Racing Products contingency awards: Josh Turner, Tom Schinderle
COMP Cams contingency award: Mike Astrauskas
BR Motorsports contingency award: Nic Rogers
Allstar Performance contingency award: John Gall
Schoenfeld Headers contingency award: Brad Lamberson
Rod End Supply contingency awards: Brian Smith, Tom Schinderle, Dan McCarron
Racing Optics contingency awards: Mike Astrauskas, Ken Mackey
ATL Fuel Cells contingency award: Brett Mann, Mike Astrauskas
King Racing Products contingency award: Craig Karazim, Brett Mann
Ti22 Performance contingency award: Thomas Schinderle
DMI contingency award: Eric Smith

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.

Saturday night, the kids lucky enough to be selected to participate in the Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP draw for top driver starting positions in the MAHLE/Clevite BLC feature will not only receive a Bubble Mighty Wand with Bubbles from SOD’s draw sponsor License 2 Play, but a bicycle courtesy of Houghton Lake’s Hardcore Performance!

For more information and details about Saturday’s race, visit the Merritt Speedway Facebook page, the Hardcore Performance Facebook page, and the Sprints On Dirt Facebook page.

 ERIE, MI (June 14, 2016) – Long -time Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP supporter XYZ Machining, located in Warsaw, Indiana, is providing increased awareness for two prestigious SOD awards for 2016 by sponsoring the Sportsman of the Year Award and Crew Chief of the Year Award.

The sportsman of the year award does not receive the recognition it deserves. The award goes to the SOD driver who best exemplifies the basics of sportsmanship.  Adults and children alike  who see a driver behaving in a sportsmanlike way come to understand that the real winners in racing are those who know how to persevere and to behave with dignity — whether they win or not.  Veteran SOD competitor Mark Aldrich won the 2015 Sportsman of the Year Award.

It is readily seen who the winning driver is for each race, but what did it take to win?  There are very talented crew chiefs that know their drivers and equipment, and make crucial changes and adjustments that result in wins.  Two-time SOD champion Gregg Dalman’s son, Keegan Dalman, received the 2015 Crew Chief of the Year Award.

XYZ Machining owners Tim and Cindy Norman have been a part of SOD since 1984.  Tim, who started his career as a sprint car driver in 1983, was SOD rookie of the year in 1984, and won his first Sprints On Dirt championship the next year.  He then went on to win two more SOD championships in 2005 and 2007 and collected over 40 career feature victories during his career.  Tim was inducted into the Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.

Tim Norman in his familiar 5J

XYZ Machining produces CNC manufactured aluminum and titanium racing components, as well as custom products for other industries, that are sold worldwide.  If you race a sprint car, it is a good bet that you use XYZ parts, either with XYZ’s own name on them or the name of one of many leading sprint car racing manufactures that XYZ produces parts for.

To learn more about XYZ Machining, go to www.xyzmachining.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: Allstar Performance, ATL Racing Fuel Cells, BR Motorsports, Diversified Machine Inc. (DMI), Kistler Racing Products, King Racing Products, K2W Precision/Keizer Aluminum Wheels, License 2 Play, Maxim Racing, Racing Optics, Schoenfeld Headers, Simpson Racing Products, Rod End Supply, and Ti22 Performance.

Erie, MI (June 12, 2016) – Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP rolls into Merritt Speedway this Saturday, June 18^th, for the first race of the five-race MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge (BLC).

The five-race MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge (BLC) has its own point fund paying the top five.  The driver earning the most total points in this 5 race mini-series will be awarded $1,000.

Merritt Speedway has been turned into one of the premier dirt tracks in Michigan by owner/promoter Mike Blackmer, former track manager of Berlin Speedway in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  The speedway ran its first Sprints On Dirt race in 1980, SOD’s first season.  Last year’s August SOD race was won in exciting fashion by Dan McCarron who came from his sixth starting position to the win with his 305 cubic inch motor.

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.