Photo courtesy of TW Photographics

By T.J. Buffenbarger

Hartford, MI – (Friday May 20, 2016) – Ryan Ruhl kicked off the 2016 Engine Pro Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP season with a spectacular, rim riding display in route to a dominating feature win Friday night at Hartford Motor Speedway.  Ruhl from Coldwater, Michigan started on the front row and drove away just inches from Hartford’s unforgiving concrete wall every lap in route to the victory.

“The car was awesome.  I didn’t know what to expect with the (new) tires and the track being reconfigured,” said Ruhl following the first feature for SOD with its new open rule package with narrower spec tires Hartford’s first sprint car race on its widened race track.  “We did the same thing we always do and it was pretty close right off the bat.  Terry (Stewart) is awesome at getting (the car) to do whatever I tell him.”

For Ruhl the dominating victory was a bit of a surprise considering Hartford’s size and utilizing his 360 cubic inch engine against a number of cars with larger power plants.

“Because this track is huge, I figured more motor would help anyone else here. So when we were keeping up with the 410’s in hot laps I thought, ‘Maybe we’ve got a shot’.”

Dash winner and RockAuto.com SOD Series Rookie of the Year candidate Brian Smith started on the front row for the 20-lap main event.  Smith got the jump initially at the start before Ruhl gained momentum through turns one and two to take the lead coming off turn two.  Behind Ruhl and Smith Jay Steinebach and Steve Irwin raced for the third spot with Irwin getting a run on Steinebach off turn four on the bottom of the speedway to take away the second position.

Ruhl had motored away to a straightaway lead until encountering a group of slower cars on lap 13.  This allowed Smith to close briefly until Ruhl found an opening around the slower cars and motored away.  From there it was all Ruhl in dominating fashion lapping up to fourth position.  Smith claimed the runner up spot with Irwin, Joe Swanson, and Steinebach rounding out the top five.

Ruhl and Irwin won the heat race events while Smith won the dash.

Engine Pro Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP
Hartford Motor Speedway
Hartford, MI
Friday May 20, 2016

Engine Machine and Tool Heat Race #1 (8 Laps):  1. 16 – Ryan Ruhl, 2. 71H – Brad Lamberson, 3. 10S – Jay Steinebach, 4.2+ – Brian Smith, 5. 46 – Robert Huisken, 6. 7 – Joe Swanson, 7. 8 – Justin Ward, 8. 7X – Nic Rogers. DNS:  19 – Brett Mann. (First 3 finishers transferred to dash)

Lane Automotive Heat Race #2 (8 laps):  1. 0 – Steve Irwin, 2. 1A – Mark Aldrich, 3. 4 – Josh Turner, 4. 19X – Linden Jones, 5. 4 – Craig Karazim, 6. 1 – Eric Smith.  DNS:  81 – John Gall, 49T – Gregg Dalman. (First 3 finishers transferred to dash)

Comp Cams Dash (6 Laps):  1. 2+ – Brian Smith, 2. 16 – Ryan Ruhl, 3. 1A – Mark Aldrich, 4. 10S – Jay Steinebach, 5. 46 – Robert Huisken, 6. 0 – Steve Irwin. (Finish determines the first six starting spots in the A-Main)

A-Main (20 Laps):  1. 16 – Ryan Ruhl, 2. 2+ – Brian Smith, 3. 0 – Steve Irwin, 4. 7 – Joe Swanson, 5. 10S – Jay Steinebach, 6. 4T – Josh Turner, 7. 1A – Mark Aldrich, 8. 46 – Robert Huisken, 9. 8 – Justin Ward. 10. 1 – Eric Smith, 11. 19J – Linden Jones.  DNS:  7X – Nic Rogers, 49T – Gregg Dalman, 81 – John Gall, 71H – Brad Lamberson, 19 – Brett Mann, 4 – Craig Karazim.

Lap Leaders: Ruhl 1 – 20

Engine Pro Lucky Dog: Josh Turner
KSE Race Products Hard Charger Award: Joe Swanson
Kistler Racing Products contingency awards: Brad Lamberson, Ryan Ruhl
COMP Cams contingency award: Mark Aldrich
BR Motorsports contingency award: Jay Steinebach
Allstar Performance contingency award: Josh Turner
Schoenfeld Headers contingency award: Mark Aldrich
Rod End Supply contingency awards: Ryan Ruhl, Brian Smith, Steve Irwin
Racing Optics contingency award: Joe Swanson
ATL Fuel Cells contingency award: Jay Steinebach
King Racing Products contingency award: Josh Turner
Ti22 Performance contingency award: Brian Smith
DMI contingency award: Brad Lamberson

Erie, MI (May 18) – Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP is heading toward our season opener at Hartford Speedway Friday night with a full head of steam. We are confident that we will finally get our new unlimited format off the ground after two rain outs at Crystal Motor Speedway. Then on Saturday, we move on to Butler Motor Speedway.

We are excited to share with you the fact that in just over three days, more than 30,000 people have viewed SOD’s Facebook event post for Hartford. If anyone ever had any doubt about the level of interest in SOD 2016, this answers the question.

Reaching 30,000 people did create a little problem for us. We wanted to be sure we shared our sponsor partnerships with everyone viewing our post, so we created an event photo for Hartford that includes all of our sponsor partners’ logos. Since Facebook limits event photo size and we have so many, the images are not as big as we would like, but we did what we could.

Both races pay competitors $350 to start the feature.

Erie, MI (May 14, 2016) – Over 1″ rain during the night made the track unusable for the second attempt at getting the first race of the MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge in.  However, never one to give up, Crystal Motor Speedway promoter Ron Flinn has rescheduled the event for July 30th.

Learn how MAHLE Aftermarket technology makes the difference in your vehicle today at https://catalog.mahle-aftermarket.com/na/home/index.xhtml. Learn more about Crystal Motor Speedway, visit www.crystalmotorspeedway.com.  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, driver member form, news, and other information can be read at www.sprintsondirt.com.

> > > ATTENTION SOD RACERS < < <

Saturday’s opening race at Crystal WILL NOT BE CANCELED DUE TO COLD WEATHER. Due to pending cold temperatures, the entire program will be run as quickly as possible. After SOD preliminary events are completed, one or to Crystal classes will run preliminary events to allow SOD competitors time to prepare for our feature. The SOD feature will then be run as soon as possible. Please be prepared to race with very little down time.

Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP thanks Crystal Motor Speedway personnel for doing everything they can to ensure an exciting, successful show under less than optimal circumstances.

Erie, MI (May 10, 2016) – Engine Pro sprints On Dirt presented by ARP heads to Crystal Motor Speedway this Saturday for the season-opening MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge Race #1.   Originally scheduled for April 30, Mother Nature had other ideas and persistent rain forced promoter Ron Flinn to postpone the race. The rescheduled date of May 14, however, keeps Crystal’s tradition of holding the SOD season opening race intact.

Competitors will waste no time getting things going in a big way for 2016. Engler Machine & Tool, Lane Automotive, and COMP Cams will each pay $100 to win for their respective heat races. The first race of the MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge five-race mini-series will pay $400 to start the feature. The BLC five-race series will pay the top five drivers in points with the driver who scores the most points collecting $1,000.

Racers needing methanol fuel before Saturday should call Allen Walblay @ Corrigan Oil (810-625-1170).   Hoosier SOD spec tires will be available at the track Saturday.

Discover how MAHLE Aftermarket technology makes the difference in your vehicle today at https://catalog.mahle-aftermarket.com/na/home/index.xhtml. To learn more about Crystal Motor Speedway, visit www.crystalmotorspeedway.com. For more information about Engine Pro, go to www.enginepro.com.   For more information about ARP, go to www.arp-bolts.com.