Updated 04/28/2012 at 1:45 p.m: The event at Crystal Motor Speedway is STILL ON as schedule. We will post updates throughout the morning and afternoon.

From Cody Morris

Tulsa, OK — (April 24, 2012) — As the Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP enters into their impressive and historic 33rd season of sprint car action, it is only fitting that the season opener be held at the only venue that has hosted the Sprints On Dirt each year since its’ 1979 founding.

Crystal Motor Speedway will host the 2012 Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP season opener this coming Saturday night, April 28th.

The event will feature the first of three visits to the semi banked, 3/8 mile Crystal, Michigan oval, and the debut of a 2012 ASCS SoD slate that features 24 events spread across a dozen different tracks in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Canada.

A perennial powerhouse in ASCS SoD action, Grand Ledge, Michigan’s Dustin Daggett laid claim to his first ASCS SoD championship since the Michigan based Sprints on Dirt merged with Emmett Hahn’s nationwide American Sprint Car Series.

Daggett has piloted the Mott Motorsports no. 2m to ASCS SoD victory lane numerous times, but few were sweeter than the I-96 Speedway score late last season that clinched his first Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP championship.

This Saturday night’s season opener at Crystal Motor Speedway is only the beginning of a 2012 Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP campaign highlighted by three visits to Crystal Motor Speedway, a Memorial Holiday Weekend triple header versus NRA rivals in Ohio, including the famed Eldora Speedway; eight MAHLE/Clevite Short Track Challenge events, the annual Canadian Sprint Car Nationals in Ohsweken, Canada; and a highly anticipated ASCS SoD inaugural debut on June 16th at Indiana’s Plymouth Speedway.

Per ASCS Sprints on Dirt series’ director Mike Strevel:
The Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP is excited to announce two new additions to the level of support that Engine Pro of Grand Rapids, Michigan already provides. The first is an exciting Engine Pro Lucky Dog program that will award a driver an additional cash award amount of at least $100 per feature race. A random finishing position will be drawn by the feature race winner and that driver will be awarded the $100 prize if he has decided to participate in the Lucky Dog program and has placed the large Engine Pro decal on their nose wing. If the position drawn does not have the decal the amount will roll over to the next race and increase to $200. This will continue over the course of the season for all SOD sanctioned events. If someone wins the prize it will start again at $100 and this will be an exciting promotion for the entire 2012 season.

The second promotion is the July 21, 2012 Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP event scheduled for Crystal Motor Speedway. Crystal is the only track to host the series for every year of the 33 year history of the group and to celebrate this occasion the track will host a 33 lap feature event paying $2,033 to win and $300 to start the feature. Also the National Racing Alliance (NRA) series from Ohio has agreed to co-sanction the event and will add to what is expected to be an incredible night of 360 winged sprint car racing. The SOD/NRA challenge race will mark the return of the NRA to the Wolverine state after several years’ absence.

Crystal Motor Speedway is located in Crystal, MI, 5.5 miles north of SR 57 on Crystal Road, then east on Sidney. For more information, contact the track at 989-235-5200.

The 2012 season marks the 21st year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing for the American Sprint Car Series, which brings the best of Sprint Car racing to dozens of different tracks throughout the nation and into Canada. Anchored by the Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by MavTV, ASCS also consists of eleven different Regions throughout the nation.

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.

From Mike Strevel

Gun Lake, MI — (March 13, 2012) — The Plymouth Speedway and the Engine
Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt Presented by ARP are excited to announce the
signing of a title sponsor for this historic event.

Engine Pro of Grand Rapids, MI has signed on as Title sponsor and
brought in three great presenting sponsors to assist with this
tremendous event. The Hastings Manufacturing Company along with
MAHLE/Clevite and Melling Engine Parts have signed on to support this
can’t miss race.

The official title for this race set for Saturday June 16, 2012 will
be the following- ENGINE PRO BATTLE AT THE BULLRING PRESENTED BY
HASTINGS MANUFACTURING, MAHLE/CLEVITE & MELLING ENGINE PARTS.

The winged sprint cars of the Sprints on Dirt will be making their
debut on the racy 1/5 mile clay oval at Plymouth Speedway. A field of
drivers from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Ontario
are expected to compete in this ASCS sanctioned event.

To add to the excitement of an already tremendous event is has been
recently announced that three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Tony
Stewart has agreed to make an appearance at Plymouth Speedway and he
is bringing his potent 360 powered sprint car to do battle with the
stars of the Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt series.

This will mark the debut for Stewart with the SOD series and the
drivers of the group are looking forward to going wheel to wheel with
the owner of Eldora Speedway.

“I can’t wait to see the S.O.D series at the bullring says Eric
Saunders. Tony has been a huge part of my motocross career before my
crash. I am just glad that he and I are back together here at Plymouth
Speedway. It should be a sellout!!!

Plymouth Speedway is an awesome place. Ed Kennedy has done something
there that is no were in the country, a combination Asphalt/Dirt
track. Says Stewart. I am looking forward to supporting Eric as I have
in the past in his Motocross racing. And running the Bullring should
put on some great racing!

The Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP series sanctions
winged Sprint Car races at speedways throughout Michigan, Indiana,
Ohio and the Canadian province of Ontario and will enjoy its 33rd
season of operation. The 2012 schedule can be viewed at
www.sprintsondirt.com.

In its 21st year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing, the American Sprint
Car Series brings the best of Sprint Car racing to approximately 100
different tracks throughout 30 states and Canada. Anchored by the
Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by MavTv, ASCS also consists of
ten different Regions throughout the nation.

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is
available at www.ascsracing.com.

Mike Strevel spoke to Davey Brown today. Mike reports that Davey sounded great and wanted to thank everyone for all of the cards and letters and concern. Davey hopes to be at Crystal next month.

From Mike Strevel

The Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt Presented by ARP is excited to announce that the MAHLE/Clevite Short Track Challenge is back again for 2012.

The challenge will consist of a total of eight races that drivers will be able to earn extra winnings as they compete in these select events. This point fund is an addition to the standard race purse each event pays out and the season long championship point fund that Engine Pro and ARP support as title sponsors.

The Short Track Challenge will be held at eight different Michigan speedways giving race fans the opportunity to see the best winged sprint car drivers in the state do battle for this championship race within the championship chase. The events that will be a part of this exciting chase will be on the following dates: Saturday June 2 Cherry Raceway, June 29 Mt. Pleasant Speedway, June 30 Merritt Raceway, July 7 Owendale Speedway, August 3 Tri City Motor Speedway, August 31 Winston Speedway, September 1 Crystal Motor Speedway and September 27 at Mid-Michigan Raceway Park.

If all eight events are completed the driver earning the most points will be awarded a $1,000 payment as the winner of the MAHLE/Clevite Short Track Challenge. Point fund monies will be available for the top ten in the 2012 MAHLE/Clevite Short Track Challenge.

MAHLE Original engine parts take the heritage of quality synonymous with both Clevite and MAHLE and bring it to an even higher level. MAHLE Original is the perfect complement to an engine parts line already featuring superior brands like Clevite, Victor Reinz and Perfect Circle. MAHLE Original is now an exclusive NASCAR performance brand, for more information visit MAHLE Clevite Inc. online.

The 2012 Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt Presented by ARP will begin Saturday April 28 at the Crystal Motor Speedway in Crystal, MI. For more information please visit www.sprintsondirt.com.

The American Sprint Car Series is the largest sprint car sanctioning body in the world. With the Lucas Oil National Series backed by 10 regional series, one can catch all the excitement of an ASCS Sprint Car race at more than 70 different racetracks throughout 18 states and into Canada!

The top winged and non-winged sprint car drivers across the country compete in ASCS competition, with the best of the best gunning for that precious and prestigious Lucas Oil ASCS National Championship!

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.