rebelracewriter Posted June 22, 2016 Report Share Posted June 22, 2016 MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits ChallengeEngine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP Erie, Michigan (June 19, 2016)- On a hot, sunny night and a seven division program, the stars of the Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP were shining bright for first round of the MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge at Merritt Speedway Saturday night. Joshua Turner jumped out to an early lead after starting on the front row with Steve Irwin for 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 and unlimited sprint format 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) Nic Rogers (7), 19) Joshua Turner (1), 20) Justin Ward (17), 21) Tanner Astrauskas (21). Brian 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 LambersonKSE Race Products Hard Charger Award – Mark AldrichKistler Racing Products contingency awards: Josh Turner, Tom SchinderleCOMP Cams contingency award: Mike AstrauskasBR Motorsports contingency award: Nic RogersAllstar Performance contingency award: John GallSchoenfeld Headers contingency award: Brad LambersonRod End Supply contingency awards: Brian Smith, Tom Schinderle, Dan McCarronRacing Optics contingency awards: Mike Astrauskas, Ken MackeyATL Fuel Cells contingency award: Brett Mann, Mike AstrauskasKing Racing Products contingency award: Craig Karazim, Brett MannTi22 Performance contingency award: Thomas SchinderleDMI contingency award: Eric Smith For more information about MAHLE/Clevite, go to 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.