From T.J. Buffenbarger
Muskegon, MI – (July 9, 2016) – Brian Smith used the middle of the track to perfection in route to winning Saturday night’s Engine Pro Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP feature at Thunderbird Raceway. Smith ran down early leader Steve Irwin and raced side by side through heavy traffic before Smith got a run under Irwin just past halfway of the 25-lap main event and pulled way for the victory. The win was Smith’s third of the season with the series this season.
“It was a great race with Steve. I had a couple of shots at him, but he slid up coming out of two a couple of times, so I decided to back out of it and give him the room,” said Smith. “We got into lapped traffic and he started to adjusting his line. That was all I needed to get a shot underneath of him.
Mark Aldrich and Irwin started on the front row with Irwin leading into turn one. Smith rolled the top side around Aldrich for second through turns one and two and began perusing Irwin for the lead.
Following the only caution flag of the event when Jay Steinebach slowed in turns on and two Irwin pulled away with Smith in pursuit. As the duo approached slower traffic Smith closed in and started to challenge for the lead. Through traffic Smith kept getting beside Irwin, but could not make the pass. Finally coming off two in traffic Smith got a run under Irwin for the lead. From there Smith pulled away as Irwin tried to keep pace.
Behind the leaders Aldrich found himself in a multiple car race for third on back with Thomas Schinderle, Dain Naida, and Dan McCarron.
Up front though it was all Smith taking the checkered flag over Irwin, Schinderle, Naida, and McCaron.
Heat race victories for the 19 car field went to McCarron, Aldrich, and Robert Huisken.
Engine Pro Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP
Thunderbird Raceway
Muskegon, MI
Saturday July 9, 2016
Engler Machine and Tool Heat Race #1 (8 Laps): 1. 1. 22M – Dan McCarron, 2. 10S – Jay Steinebach, 3. 2+ – Brian Smith, 4. 10J – Chris Jones, 5. 24 – Eric Smith, 6. 6 – Tyler Bearden.
Lane Automotive Heat Race #2 (8 Laps): 1. 1A – Mark Aldrich, 2. 81 – John Gall, 3. 17X – Dain Naida, 4. 8 – Justin Ward, 5. 58 – Tony Bures, 6. 91L – Lexi Adgate.
COMP Cams Heat Race #3 (8 Laps): 1. 46 – Robert Huisken, 2. 0 – Steve Irwin, 3. 41 – Tomas Schinderle, 4. 19 – Brett Mann, 5. 49T – Gregg Dalman, 6. 77X – Alex Hill, 7. 44J – Bill Jacoby.
Feature (25 Laps): 1. 2+ – Brian Smith, 2. 0 – Steve Irwin, 3. 41 – Thomas Schinderle, 4. 17X – Dain Naida, 5. 22H – Dan McCarron, 6. 1A – Mark Aldrich, 7. 46 – Robert Huisken, 8. 81 – John Gall, 9. 19 – Brett Mann, 10. 10J – Chris Jones, 11. 77X – Alex Hill, 12. 49T – Gregg Dalman, 13. 8 – Justin Ward, 14. 44J – Bill Jacoby, 15. 58 – Tony Bures, 16. 24 – Eric Smith, 17. 91L – Lexi Adgate, 18. 6 – Tyler Bearden, 19. 10S – Jay Steinebach.