Hartford and Crystal to close out highly successful 2016 Sprints On Dirt season

This weekend is the much anticipated season-finale weekend for the unlimited sprint cars of the Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP at Hartford Speedway and Crystal Motor Speedway.

This Friday, September 2^nd, SOD rolls into Hartford Speedway for the last time in 2016.  On May 20^th, the SOD season opened at Hartford Speedway after two rain outs at Crystal Motor Speedway.  It was Hartford’s first race of the season on the widened track and SOD’s first race under the new, unlimited sprint format. With all the wild rumors and predictions that nothing but a 410 cubic inch motor could win under the new SOD rules, everyone was watching.  Ryan Ruhl quickly shattered the 410 myth by dominating the feature in his 360 on SOD’s biggest, fastest speedway.  Brian Smith, running a twenty year old 410 that has no horsepower advantage over current top-line 360s ran a solid second.  The new SOD Hoosier spec tires performed flawlessly, as they have all season, and competitors were very comfortable on them.

Friday’s race is the fourth in the five-race Beyond Limits Challenge mini-series presented by MAHLE/Clevite.  Current SOD points leader Brian Smith is also the BLC points leader over Steve Irwin, Mark Aldrich, Brett Mann, John Gall, Bill Jacoby, and Eric Smith.

The final race of the Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP takes place Saturday, September 3^rd at Crystal Motor Speedway where SOD has raced every year since its first season in 1980.  This is the biggest, most prestigious race of the season, the Nitro Black Mike Olrich Memorial Race in support of Racing Awareness.com.  As if that wasn’t enough, it will also be the last race of the MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge.

The 30 lap Nitro Black Mike Olrich Memorial Race in support of Racing Awareness.com will pay $2,000 to win and $400 to start.  Heat races will pay $100 to win and $1,500 in sponsor contingencies will be distributed to competitors.

Mike Olrich is a former Sprints On Dirt official and series director who was very congenial and well-liked by everyone in the series.  Professionally, Mike was a greenhouse researcher at Michigan State University.  His work lives on through a complex computer-based tool that he co-authored that provides assistance to flower growers in production scheduling.  Mike was a dedicated family man who always found time to be deeply involved coaching youth sports.  Michael Steven Olrich, passed away suddenly August 3, 2013, at the age of 43.  SOD continues to operate with the honesty and integrity Mike was known for, and honors him every year with the Mike Olrich Memorial Race.

2015 Mike Olrich Memorial winner Ryan Ruhl with Mike’s daughters Joslyn and Taylor

Engine Pro’s line of Nitro Black products is the 2016 title sponsor of the Mike Olrich Memorial Race.  Nitro Black is the designation reserved by Engine Pro for its premium high-end performance products.  Many Nitro Black products incorporate technologies only available in the most advance performance products available.  To learn more about Nitro Black products, click here.

Engine Pro/Nitro Black is taking the opportunity to promote the efforts of Racing Awareness through the memorial race. Engine Pro’s entire VIP admission of fifty guests has been donated to the charity through the cooperation and generosity Crystal Motor Speedway owner and promoter Ron Flinn.

RacingAwareness.com and Racing Awareness Inc. are two separate entities that were created with the sole intent of providing children and their families from Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, of West Michigan, who are experiencing or have experienced an illness or injury of a child, a diversion from the healthcare process utilizing the sport of auto racing.  To date Racing Awareness has raised over $300,000.  Distribution of VIP race vouchers will be through the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.  To learn more about RacingAwareness.com and Racing Awareness Inc., click here.  To learn more about Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, click here.

The Nitro Black Mike Olrich Memorial Race will determine the 2016 MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge champion.  Brian Smith currently holds a 49 point lead over Steve Irwin in BLC points.  The top 16 drivers still have a mathematical chance of winning the championship.

MAHLE Aftermarket technology can make the difference in your vehicles today.  The highly acclaimed MAHLE/Clevite is an American brand with one of the oldest pedigrees and supplies pistons, assemblies, cylinder liners, bearings and valves for American commercial vehicles as well as construction and agricultural equipment applications. For more information about MAHLE/Clevite, click here.

Last but not least, this weekend’s action will determine the 2016 Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP champion.  Brian Smith has a 91 point lead over Steve Irwin followed by Mark Aldrich, John Gall, and Brett Mann.  Only Irwin, Aldrich, and Gall have a mathematical chance at the championship.

For more information about Engine Pro, click here.  For more information about ARP, click here.  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, Maxim Racing, Simpson Racing Products, Rod End Supply, Diversified Machine Inc. (DMI), Racing Optics