Lake Odessa, MI – (July 31, 2015) – Often times a driver’s ability to navigate through slower traffic can win or lose a race. Dustin Daggett proved that to be true on Saturday night taking the lead from Chase Ridenour in slower traffic and then holding off a late race surge by Gregg Dalman to win the Engine Pro Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP feature at I-96 Speedway. Daggett’s drove to the Mott Motorsports car to his 101st in Sprints on Dirt competition.
“I saw (Dalman) down there, but knew if I kept my momentum around the top I’d be okay,” said Daggett. “You can get in a lot of trouble following a lapped car into the corner, so I didn’t want to waste any time getting around them.”
Ridenour and Brett Mann started on the front row for the 25-lap feature. Ridenour took the lead early with Kyle Pitts and Daggett in pursuit. Following a restart on lap three Daggett overtook Pitts for second and set out after Ridenour for the lead. Daggett closed as the duo ran up on slower traffic. Then on lap 11 Ridenour made contact with a slower car going into turn one, allowing Daggett to ride the rim into the lead.
Two more cautions on lap 12 and 15 allowed Gregg Dalman to work the bottom of the race track and move into the runner up spot. Following the final restart Dalman chipped away at Daggett’s lead, eventually running side by side for several laps until getting boxed in on the bottom by slower traffic. This allowed Daggett to pull ahead over the final five laps to claim the victory. Dalman held on for second while Pitts passed Ridenour for the final podium position. Craig Karazim rounded out the top five.
Heat race events for the 21 car field were won by Daggett, Ridenour, and Trey Smith. The Engine Pro Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP series continues Saturday night at the Montpelier Motor Speedway.
Engine Pro Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP
I-96 Speedway
Lake Odessa, MI
Friday July 31, 2015
Comp Cams / Lane Automotive Heat Race #1 (8 Laps): 1. 2M – Dustin Daggett, 2. 4 – Craig Karazim, 3. Kyle Pitts, 4. 31 – Andy Teunessen, 5. 20 – 20A – Andy Chehowski, 6. 23 – Joe Geibe, 7. 21T – Troy Chehowski, 8. 27J – Jared Lamberson
Kistler Racing Products Heat Race #2 (8 Laps): 1. 11R – Chase Ridenour, 2. 49T – Gregg Dalman, 3. 19 – Brett Mann, 4. 27 – Brad Lamberson, 5. 1A – Mark Aldrich, 6. 10S – Jay Steinebach, 7. 21 – Matt Lumbert
Allstar Performance / Engler Machine and Tool Heat Race #3 (8 Laps): 1. 11 – Trey Smith, 2. 19J – Linden Jones, 3. 89 – Chris Pobanz, 4. 27R – Kyle Locke, 5. 84 – Kyle Poortenga, 6. 70 – Jim Lingar. DNS: 24 – Eric Smith
Engine Pro Feature (25 Laps): 1. 2M – Dustin Daggett, 2. 49T – Gregg Dalman, 3. 7K – Kyle Pitts, 4. 11R – Chase Ridenour, 5. 4 – Craig Karazim, 6. 19 – Brett Mann, 7. 10S – Jay Steinebach, 8. 31 – Andy Teuenssen, 9. 27 – Brad Lamberson, 10. 27R – Kyle Locke, 11. 84 – Kyle Poortenga, 12. 20A – Andy Chehowski, 13. 11 – Trey Smith, 14. 21T – Troy Chehowski, 15. 1A – Mark Aldrich, 16. 23G – Joe Geibe, 17. 70 – Jim Lingar, 18. 19J – Linden Jones, 19. 21 – Matt Lumbert, 20. 27J – Jared Lamberson, 21. 89 – Chris Pobanz. DNS: 24 – Eric Smith.