Shawn Valenti powers to SOD MAHLE/Clevite BLC win at Crystal

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Shawn and crew

ERIE, MI (July 15, 2018) – Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP took on the racy 3/8 mile Crystal Motor Speedway last night for the second time in 2018 for the MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge Race #3.  Fostoria, Ohio’s Shawn Valenti drove an impressive race to take the victory, his second SOD win of the year utilizing a Gressman Powersports engine.

In spite of challenging hot, sunny weather, speedway owner/promoter Ron Flinn had the track surface ready for fast qualifying times.  Jay Steinebach, Hudsonville, Michigan; Steve Irwin, Fenton, Michigan; and Thomas Schinderle, Berkley, Michigan; were heat race fast qualifiers.  Irwin was overall fast-timer at 12.303.

Brad Lamberson, Parma, Michigan, took the Engler Machine & Tool heat over Steinebach and John Gall, Elsie, Michigan.  Chad Blonde, Litchfield, Michigan, Friday’s King Engine Bearings King of Michigan feature winner, looked strong, winning the COMP Cams heat over Irwin and Valenti.  Robert Huisken, Marne, Michigan, in his first 2018 SOD race, took the RockAuto.com heat over Ricky Ferkel, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, and Schinderle.

The twenty-five-lap feature started with pole sitter Steve Irwin grabbing the early lead.  Fourth starter Jay Steinebach showing some early speed, but a rear end issue ended his race early.  It was eighth starter Valenti quickly driving to the front and after a couple laps challenging Irwin; he then set a torrid pace, opening up a several car-length lead over Irwin.  The race was slowed by a pair of cautions, but it had little effect on Valenti as he motored away from the field, each time.  Eleventh place starter Boston, Mead, Onsted, Michigan quietly cut through the field and passed Steve Irwin for second late in the race.  Valenti charged to a straight away win over Mead and Irwin.

Qualifying – Lane Automotive/MSD Ignition Fast Masters (fast qualifiers) $50 each

Group Time # Driver
Engler Machine & Tool Heat 12.675 10S Jay Steinebach
COMP Cams Heat 12.303 0 Steve Irwin
RockAuto.com Heat 13.266 41 Thomas Schinderle

Heat Races

Engler Machine & Tool Heat #1
  # Driver Contingency
1 27K Brad Lamberson
2 10s Jay Steinebach
3 81 John Gall Benic Enterprises
4 5QB Quentin Blonde Racing Optics
5 91L Lexi Adgate
6 52 Zac Broughman
7 29 Daryl Shaffer
8 89 Chris Pobanz

 

COMP Cams Heat #2
  # Driver Contingency
1 5B Chad Blonde
2 0 Steve Irwin
3 7 Shawn Valenti Benic Enterprises
4 27B Boston Mead Racing Optics
5 3A Mike Astrauskas
6 35 Justin Ward
7 24 Eric Smith

 

RockAuto.com Heat #3
  # Driver Contingency
1 46 Robert Huisken
2 0 Ricky Ferkel
3 41 Thomas Schinderle Benic Enterprises
4 77 Andrew Scheid Racing Optics
5 5 Andy Teunessen
6 31 Tanner Astrauskas
7 8W Josh Ward

Feature

  # Driver Awards Contingencies
1 7 Shawn Valenti Rod End Supply
2 27B Boston Mead Jim Coffey & Son Rod End Supply
3 0 Steve Irwin Rod End Supply
4 5B Chad Blonde Schoenfeld Headers
5 41 Thomas Schinderle
6 0 Ricky Ferkel Allstar Performance
7 5 Andy Teunessen
8 46 Robert Huisken
9 5QB Quentin Blonde King Racing Products
10 3A Mike Astrauskas
11 81 John Gall
12 91L Lexi Adgate
13 35 Justin Ward
14 89 Chris Pobanz
15 24 Eric Smith
16 29 Daryl Shaffer
17 31 Tanner Astrauskas
18 77 Andrew Scheid
19 27K Brad Lamberson
20 10S Jay Steinebach
21 52 Zac Broughman
DNS 8W Josh Ward

KSE Racing Products Hard Charger – Boston Mead (+9)
BR Motorsports Contingency (feature top 10 draw) – Jay Steinebach
ARP Lucky Dog – Zac Broughman
Allstar Performance Better Luck Next Time – Jay Steinebach, Josh Ward

For more information about Engine Pro go to www.enginepro.com.  For more information about ARP, go to www.arp-bolts.com.  The full 2018 Sprints on Dirt schedule, rules, current news, and other information are available at www.sprintsondirt.com.

 

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