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We know everyone is anxious for the 2012 Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP schedule to be released. There are a handful of dates that are being finalized, but this will be a schedule worth waiting for with some new venues joining familiar stops on the tour. Stay tuned!

By Mike Strevel

The Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP series is excited to announce that again in 2012 Engine Pro has signed on as the series title sponsor with ARP again on board as presenting sponsor. ASCS SOD is proud to have these great supporters for its 33rd season.

Series Director Mike Strevel was quoted “it is wonderful to have such great supporters of the Sprints on Dirt such as Engine Pro and ARP.” “This great relationship started years ago and continues to grow, this shows that SOD remains attractive to sponsors, racetracks and race teams such as the many that are currently involved with one of the longest running series in the Great Lakes area.”

“We are excited to once again be affiliated with the Sprints on Dirt Series. This series is full of action packed racing and all-around good people so it’s very easy to be a partner with them at the grass roots level of racing. The Sprints on Dirt Series has also become a valuable marketing partner by promoting the Engine Pro name along with the products that are now manufactured by Engine Pro and sold under the Engine Pro label. We look forward to a season of fun and exciting racing in 2012,” stated Scott Overlund, Sales & Marketing Manager of Engine Pro in Grand Rapids, MI.

The Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP series sanctions winged Sprint Car races at speedways throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and the Canadian province of Ontario.
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 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.

In its 20th 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 K&N Filters, ASCS also consists of a dozen different Regions throughout the nation.

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

By Mike Strevel

Grand Ledge, MI driver Dustin Daggett celebrated his third Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt Presented by ARP Championship during Friday evening’s festivities which were held at Firekeepers Casino in Battle Creek, MI.
The 29 year old racer picked up cash awards of nearly $5,000 as he was congratulated by his fellow competitors. Daggett, the racer who has the most feature victories in the 32 year history of the winged sprint car group thanked his car owner Phil Mott and the incredible crew that helped him capture the 2011 championship.
A total of twelve different drivers were awarded with trophies and a share of the $20,000 cash point fund. There were several great supporters of the series in attendance including series title sponsor representative Scott Overlund of Engine Pro of Grand Rapids, Barry Marlow of Miles Petroleum Group and long time track promoter and the only track to host an ASCS Sprints on Dirt event Ron Flinn of Crystal Motor Speedway.
After an opening video presentation celebrating the past year, Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt Series Director Mike Strevel gave a short review of the 2011 season and then it was time to award the top eleven point finishers, the 2011 rookie of the year and several special awards to cap the 32nd season for the Michigan based sprint car group.
There were two 2012 scheduling announcements that were announced near the end of the presentation. The first was that for the 33rd year Crystal Motor Speedway will host the series on three occasions including the traditional opener on Saturday April 28. The second is that the new dirt track at Plymouth Speedway in Plymouth, IN will host a new event will be a part of the 2012 schedule. The inaugural Engine Pro Battle at the Bullring Presented by Hastings Manufacturing, MAHLE/Clevite & Melling Engine Parts will he held on Saturday June 16, 2012. This event expected to be one of the higher paying events of the 2012 season will also see two time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Tony Stewart compete against the Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt competitors. The owner of the historic Eldora Raceway only makes a few short track appearances per year and this will mark his debut with the Sprints on Dirt series. There will be several more announcements regarding this exciting event throughout the off season that will make this an event that open wheel fans from across the Midwest will not want to miss.
The complete 2012 series schedule is expected to be released by Jan 1, 2012.

Awards that were presented Friday evening include the following-
MAHLE/Clevite Short Track Challenge Champion-Brett Mann

JE Pistons Passmaster winner- Andy Teunessen

Engine Pro Rookie of the Year- Andy Chehowski

2011 Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt favorite race track- Cherry Raceway

2011 Engine Builder of the year- Gaerte Engines

2011 Crew Chief of the Year- Robert Flanigan 3w car

2011 Car Owner of the Year-Tracy Rice 10 & 14 cars.

2011 Driver of the Year- Dustin Daggett

2011 Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt Presented by ARP top eleven points finishers awarded on Friday November 11, 2011 at Firekeepers Casino Battle Creek, MI-
11. Ryan Grubaugh St Johns MI 1237
10. Marques Huffer Eagle MI 1286
9. Joe Bares Traverse City MI 1314
8. Jim Lingar South Bend IN 1428
7. Matt Lumbert Dowling MI 1465
6. Andy Teunessen Hastings MI 1485
5. Davey Brown Eaton Rapids MI 1595
4. Robert Huisken Marne MI 1736
3. Ryan Ruhl Angola IN 1782
2. Brett Mann Goshen IN 2047
1. Dustin Daggett Grand Ledge MI 2229

Check the photo gallery in sprintsondirt.com for photos from the Banquet

The 2011 Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP awards banquet will be held at 6:30 on Friday Nov 11, 2011 at Firekeepers Casino near Battle Creek, Michigan. Tickets are $30 each. Deadline for ordering tickets is November 4th. To order tickets,call Mike Strevel at 616-204-0622.

Note: You must be 21 years of age to attend due to casino rules, thanks Mike.

From ASCS

HARTFORD, Mich. (September 30, 2011) – For the second time in as many tries, Harford Motor Speedway’s “King of Michigan” event featuring the Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP has fallen victim to inclement weather.

Friday night’s card, the final event of the season for the ASCS Sprints on Dirt, will not be rescheduled.

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

By Lonnie Wheatley

TULSA, Okla. (September 26, 2011) – The Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP brings the curtain down on the season with this Friday night’s “King of Michigan” event atop the semi-banked, ½-mile Hartford Motor Speedway clay oval.

Friday’s card is a makeup of the event originally scheduled for September 9 that fell victim to rain.

Friday’s action will mark the 21st night of competition for the ASCS Sprints on Dirt in 2011, with current series points leader Dustin Daggett victorious in eight of 18 main events thus far to extend his series best career win total to 84.

Holding a 182-point advantage over Brett Mann after winning Saturday night’s feature at I-96 Speedway, Daggett has locked up his third ASCS Sprints on Dirt championship.

With Daggett and Mann atop the point charts, Ryan Ruhl, Robert Huisken and Davey Brown round out the current top five with the rest of the top ten in points including Andy Teunessen, Matt Lumbert, Jim Lingar, Joe Bares and Marques Huffer.

Daggett has topped eight of the last nine SOD events contested at Hartford Motor Speedway, including the event earlier this year in May. He has claimed Hartford’s King of Michigan crown on six previous occasions, including three of the last four years. Brett Mann took top honors in 2008.

Friday’s action at Hartford Motor Speedway fires off at 8:00 p.m.

Hartford Motor Speedway is located in Hartford, MI, off I-94 Exit 46, then 1.3 miles north on Center Street, then four blocks west on Prospect Street. For more information, contact the track at 269-621-4482.

The 32nd year of competition for the Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP consists of 27 scheduled nights of action at 13 different tracks throughout Michigan, Ohio and Ontario.

The 2011 season marks the 20th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing for the American Sprint Car Series, with approximately 200 nights of competition at tracks throughout the nation and into Canada. Anchored by the Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters, ASCS also consists of ten different Regions throughout the nation.

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

SOD Family….We will be having a potluck at Hartford after the races. Everyone is welcome to stop by and get a bite to eat. If you would like to bring a dish to pass that would be great. Mike and I will be bring hotdogs, buns, condiments, plates, utensils, a 6′ table and of coarse cookies. Pat Holzinger will be bringing her “special recipe” baked beans. Kelli Mann and family will be bringing BBQ and buns. The Lingar family will be bring a salad and brownies.

From T.J. Buffenbarger

Lake Odessa, MI – (September 24, 2011) – Dustin Daggett won a spectacular Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP feature event Saturday night at I-96 Speedway. Daggett battled former ASCS SOD champion Brett Mann swapping the lead back and forth before Daggett pulled away for the victory. The win also allowed Daggett to clinch the 2011 ASCS SOD Point Championship.

“That was so much fun racing side by side with (Mann),” said Daggett in victory lane. “If you didn’t like that race you must not like racing. It was a great way for us the clinch the championship.”

Gregg Dalman and Davey Brown started on the front row for the 25-lap feature event. Dalman led off turn two while Brett Mann moved into the second spot. That duo opened up some sizeable distance between themselves and the rest of the field while Dustin Daggett, Dain Naida, and Jamie Collard raced for third through fifth.

Daggett moved past Naida on lap four to take the fourth spot while Collard and Mann raced for the second spot. Dalman opened up about a five car length lead as he approached slower traffic. Daggett then went to the outside of Collard to take third in turn three. Collard crossed back over, but could not retain the position off turn four.

By lap seven Dalman started catching slower traffic and allowed Mann to close with Daggett close behind. Daggett got a look under Mann, but was blocked by a slower car. Soon the top three cleared slower traffic and were right together on the race track.

Then on lap 10 Mann found an opening and slid by Dalman for the lead, one lap later Daggett moved past Dalman for second and closed in on Mann to challenge for the lead. From the next four laps Daggett and Mann swapped the lead in every corner until the caution flew for Collard, who ended up backwards in turn one with front end damage. Collard was unable to continue.

Daggett held the lead during the restart, but was immediately under pressure from Mann. Mann was better in turns one and two and could get along side or by Daggett, but each time Daggett was better off turns three and four and would retain the lead at the start finish line.

With five laps to go Mike Daggett and Joe Bares tangled in turn two to bring out the caution flag. Both drivers went pit side after the incident.

Mann mounted one last challenge, but Daggett was able to pull away while Mann tried holding off Dalman for second. Daggett held on to win over Mann, Dalman, Naida, and Jared Horstman.

Mann, Dalman, Naida, and Collard won heat race events. Joe Bares and Andy Chehowski won the “B” features. During the second heat race Tim Champlin took a wild end over end flip down the front straightway. Champlin emerged from his car uninjured.

Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP
I-96 Speedway – Lake Odessa, MI
Saturday September 24, 2011

Heat Race events (Top 16 drivers in passing points transferred to the “A” Feature)

Engler Machine at Tool Heat Race #1 (8 Laps): 1. 3w – Brett Mann, 2. 16 – Ryan Ruhl, 3. 21t – Troy Chehowski, 4. 4 – Josh Turner, 5. 89 – Chris Pobanz, 6. 50B – Mike Burns, 7. 77 – Keith Love. DNS: 2t – Ralph Brakenberry

Lane Automotive/Comp Cams Heat Race #2 (8 Laps): 1. 49t – Gregg Dalman, 2. 31 – Andy Teunessen, 3. 10 – Davey Brown, 4. 91 – Joe Bares, 5. 46 – Robert Huisken, 6. 70 – Jim Lingar, 7. 21 – Matt Lumbert, 8. 8 – Tim Champlin

ARP Fasteners Heat Race #3 (8 Laps): 1. 07x – Dain Naida, 2. 88 – Mike Daggett, 3. 5 – Keith Dempster, 4. 0 – Dave Dykstra, 5. 10s – Jay Steinbach, 6. 27K – Ryan Kirkendall, 7. 29s – Marques Huffer, 8. 77 – Keith Love

Hoosier Tire Heat Race #4 (8 Laps): 1. 7x – Jamie Collard, 2. 17 – Jared Horstman, 3. 2m – Dustin Daggett, 4. 20A – Andy Chehowski, 5. 11 – Trey Smith, 6. 55 – Kirk Cheney, 7. 2G – Joe Geibe, 8. 22T – Tank Brakenberry

B-Mains (Top two finishers transferred to the “A” Feature)

B-Main #1 (8 Laps): 1. 91 – Joe Bares, 2. 11 – Trey Smith, 3. 89 – Chris Pobanz, 4. 2G – Joe Geibe, 5. 50B – Mike Burns, 6. 21 – Matt Lumbert, 7. 22t – Tank Brakenberry. DNS: 2t – Ralph Brakenberry

B-Main #2 (8 Laps): 1. 20A – Andy Chehowski, 2. 10s – Jay Steinbach, 3. 55 – Kirk Cheney, 4. 77 – Keith Love, 5. 27K – Ryan Kirkendall, 6. 29s – Marques Huffer, 7. 70 – Jim Lingar. DNS: 8 – Tim Champlin

A-Main (25 Laps): 1. 2m – Dustin Daggett, 2. 3w – Brett Mann, 3. 49t – Gregg Dalman, 4. 07 – Dain Naida, 5. 17 – Jared Horstman, 6. 0 – Dave Dykstra, 7. 16 – Ryan Ruhl, 8. 22 – Aaron Shaffer, 9. 21t – Troy Chehowski, 10. 5 – Keith Dempster, 11. 31 – Andy Teunessen, 12. 4 – Josh Turner, 13. 11 – Trey Smith, 14. 46 – Robert Huisken, 15. 10s – Jay Steinbach, 16. 10 – Davey Brown, 17. 91 – Joe Bares, 18. 88 – Mike Daggett, 19. 7x – Jamie Collard, 20. 20A – Andy Chehowski.

Lap Leaders: Dalman 1-10, Mann 11-15, D. Daggett 16-25