By T.J. Buffenbarger
TULSA, Okla. (July 20, 2010) – The World’s Largest Free Fair sets the backdrop for the Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP. Friday night the series ventures to the Ionia Fairgrounds in Ionia, Michigan as the featured grandstand attraction at the Ionia Free Fair.
Friday will be the third event on the Ionia Fairgrounds ½-mile oval since the track was widened in 2008, each being wildly popular amongst fair patrons and race fans alike. The Ionia event is the only race on the 2010 ASCS SOD calendar taking place at a fairground facility while the fair actually is taking place.
The sights, smells, and sounds surrounding the event are a throwback to yesterday with open wheel racing cars racing around Ionia’s blistering fast race track with the lights of carnival rides in the background.
Last weekend Dain Naida broke the tie between himself and Ryan Grubaugh in the point standings highlighted by winning Friday night’s feature at Winston Speedway. Grubaugh, a former winner at the Ionia Free Fair, will look to mount a comeback in the point standings on Friday.
Last Saturday night’s feature winner Dustin Daggett also looks forward to racing in his hometown during the Ionia Free Fair. Daggett has two runner-up finishes during the previous pair of Ionia Free Fair events and looks to better that position by one in front of a large contingent of family and friends.
Gregg Dalman, another driver with family roots in the mid-Michigan area, looks to continue his resurgence in the point standings. Dalman, now just 67 points behind Naida, sits in third position in the standings after a pair of top five finishes last weekend at Winston and Crystal.
The Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP is in its 31st season of competition. Twenty-seven races are on the calendar scheduled throughout Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Ontario.
The American Sprint Car Series, in its 19th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing events, brings the best of Sprint Car racing to nearly 100 different tracks throughout 25 states and Canada in 2009. Anchored by the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series, ASCS also consists of several different regions throughout the nation.
Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.