7.15.17 Sprints on Dirt Results
Engine Pro Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP 2001 champion Steve Irwin drove his familiar Flying Zero, Krieger Engine powered Maxim to the win in the exciting MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge Race #3 at Crystal Motor Speedway last night.
Starting outside, front row, the Fenton, Michigan, SOD point leader took the lead at the start over pole starter Brad Lamberson. Irwin maintained a small lead for five laps before 2015 SOD champion Gregg Dalman charged around Lamberson and then Irwin for first. Dalman was clearly the class of the field and opened up a commanding lead. Meanwhile, Jay Steinebach’s hard work paid off as he grabbed second from Irwin and began closing in on Dalman who had to contend with heavy traffic as the race wound down.
Steinebach was just four car length behind Dalman when he made hard contact with the outside wall at the flag stand completing lap nineteen. Steinebach ended up against the wall facing turn four with a flat right front tire bringing out the caution flag and ending his impressive drive.
With five laps to go, Dalman had early leader Irwin behind him and things dramatically changed. It was clear that Dalman’s handing had gone south as Irwin charged into the lead and drove away. Dalman continued to struggle as first Thomas Schinderle, then Shawn Valenti passed him also. Schinderle narrowed Irwin’s lead and pulled alongside the leader once, but it was a wakeup call for the leader as he opened up a small lead and was in complete command at the end.
Irwin (Engler Machine & Tool heat) and Valenti (COMP Cams heat) drove to convincing heat wins. Early engine wows turned leading SOD sprint car rookie of the year into a spectator for the entire program.
Irwin now leads the MAHLE/Clevite BLC points over Schinderle, Dalman, Chris Jones, and Robert Bulloch. He also leads SOD championship points over Dalman, Schinderle, Jones, and Robert Huisken.
Heat Races – Winners $100 each
Engler Machine & Tool Heat #1
# Driver Contingency
1 0 Steve Irwin
2 10s Jay Steinebach Kistler Racing Products
3 49T Gregg Dalman Racing Optics
4 41 Thomas Schinderle
5 8 Justin Ward
6 10J Chris Jones
7 2K Matt Kinzinger
8 24 Eric Smith
9 58 Tony Bures
DNS 77 Andrew Scheid
COMP Cams Heat #2
# Driver Contingency
1 7 Shawn Valenti
2 27 Brad Lamberson Allstar Performance
3 9E Tim Evilsizer Racing Optics
4 3A Mike Astrauskas
5 89 Chris Pobanz
6 47 Robert Bulloch
7 91 Lexi Adgate
8 6 Tyler Bearden
9 31 Tanner Astrauskas
Feature
# Driver Start Contingencies
1 0 Steve Irwin 2 Rod End Supply
2 41 Thomas Schinderle 8 Rod End Supply
3 7 Shawn Valenti 7 Rod End Supply
4 49T Gregg Dalman 4 Schoenfeld Headers
5 27 Brad Lamberson 1 ATL Racing Fuel Cells
6 9E Tim Evilsizer 3
7 10J Chris Jones 11 Allstar Performance
8 3A Mike Astrauskas 5
9 89 Chris Pobanz 10 King Racing Products
10 8 Justin Ward 9
11 47 Robert Bulloch 12 Keizer Aluminum Wheels
12 91 Lexi Adgate 14
13 58 Tony Bures 17
14 6 Tyler Bearden 16
15 31 Tanner Astrauskas 18
16 10s Jay Steinebach 6
17 2K Matt Kinzinger 13
18 24 Eric Smith 15
DNS 77 Andrew Scheid
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger – Thomas Schinderle (+6)
BR Motorsports Contingency (feature top 10 draw) – Shawn Valenti
DMI (Diversified Machine) Contingency (feature 12-16 draw) – Tyler Bearden
Perfit Corporation Lucky Dog – Chris Jones
For more information about Engine Pro go to www.enginepro.com. For more information about ARP, go to www.arp-bolts.com. The full 2017 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 in 2017 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), Driven Racing Oil (Battlegrounds Bash Sponsor), King Engine Bearings (King of Michigan Sponsor), Lane Automotive/MSD Ignition (Fast Masters Sponsor), Engler Machine & Tool (Heat Race Sponsor), COMP Cams (Heat Race Sponsor), RockAuto.com (Heat Race Sponsor), The Perfit Corporation (Lucky Dog Sponsor), KSE Racing Products (Hard Charger Sponsor), XYZ Machining (Season Sportsman & Crew Chief Sponsor). In addition, SOD contingency sponsors include: Allstar Performance, ATL Racing Fuel Cells, BR Motorsports, Diversified Machine Inc. (DMI), K2W Precision/Keizer Aluminum Wheels, King Racing Products, Kistler Racing Products, Maxim Racing, Motor City Racing Promotions, Racing Optics, Rod End Supply, Schoenfeld Headers, Simpson Racing Products, Walker Performance Filtration.