From John Naida
ERIE, MI (May 22, 2017) – Fostoria, Ohio driver, Shawn Valenti would led all 30 laps of the Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge Race #1 at Baer Field Motorsports Park to score his first career SOD victory.
The first race on the Baer Field Motorsports Park new ¼ mile track was originally scheduled for Saturday. Unfortunately very heavy rains turned the track into something referred to as “Baer Lake,” but promoter Dave Muzzillo didn’t give up and surprisingly was able to get the track in shape for the Sunday rain date.
Mark Aldrich, Brett Mann, and Thomas Schinderle were Lane Automotive/MSD Ignition Fast Masters for their respective heats. Landon Simon won the Engler Machine & Tool heat after a lap one flip by Greg Wheeler that ended his night early. Brett Mann won the COMP Cams heat, and Dain Naida won the RockAuto.com heat. Dan McCarron took the win in the B-Main.
Four laps into the feature, Mark Aldrich and Brett Mann came together between turns 1 and 2, ending their night. Due to an extended red period, the field was allowed to add fuel.
31-year-old Valenti, in his Log Cabin Tavern / Triple X Chassis entry, held off consistent challenges from former pavement sprint winner at Baer Field, Joe Swanson to take home the win. Swanson settled for 2nd as USAC Racing National Sprint Car Series regular, Landon Simon was third over RockAuto.com heat race Fast Master and series rookie of the year contender Thomas Schinderle who finished 4th, while 2001 SOD Champion, Stevie Irwin completed the top five.
Qualifying – Lane Automotive/MSD Ignition Fast Masters (fast qualifiers) $50 each
| Group | Time | # | Driver |
| Engler Machine & Tool Heat | 13.784 | 1a | Mark Aldrich |
| COMP Cams Heat | 13.716 | 16B | Brett Mann |
| RockAuto.com Heat | 13.537 | 41 | Thomas Schinderle |
Heat Races – Winners $100 each
| Engler Machine & Tool Heat #1 | |||
| # | Driver | Contingency | |
| 1 | 24 | Landon Simon | |
| 2 | 7J | Joe Swanson | Kistler Racing Products |
| 3 | 10J | Chris Jones | Racing Optics |
| 4 | 1a | Mark Aldrich | |
| 5 | 47 | Robert Bulloch | |
| 6 | 58 | Tony Bures | |
| 7 | 20A | Andy Chehowskli | |
| 8 | 48 | Greg Wheeler | |
| COMP Cams Heat #2 | |||
| # | Driver | Contingency | |
| 1 | 16B | Brett Mann | |
| 2 | 7 | Shawn Valenti | Allstar Performance |
| 3 | 0 | Steve Irwin | Racing Optics |
| 4 | 46 | Robert Huisken | |
| 5 | 21T | Troy Chehowski | |
| 6 | 10S | Jay Steinebach | |
| 7 | 6 | Tyler Bearden | |
| 8 | 57 | Tyler Fitzpatrick | |
| RockAuto.com Heat #3 | |||
| # | Driver | Contingency | |
| 1 | 17x | Dain Naida | |
| 2 | 0W | Brad Wyatt | Kistler Racing Products |
| 3 | 41 | Thomas Schinderle | Racing Optics |
| 4 | 71H | Ryan Ruhl | |
| 5 | 2 | Ricky Peterson | |
| 6 | 22M | Dan Mccarron | |
| 7 | 19J | Linden Jones | |
| 8 | 77 | Andrew Scheid | |
B-Main
| # | Driver | |
| 1 | 22m | Dan McCarron |
| 2 | 10S | Jay Steinebach |
| 3 | 20A | Andy Chehowski |
| 4 | 77 | Andrew Scheid |
| 5 | 6 | Tyler Bearden |
| 6 | 19J | Linden Jones |
| 7 | 57 | Tyler Fitzpatrick |
| 8 | 58 | Tony Bures |
Feature
| # | Driver | Contingencies | |
| 1 | 7 | Shawn Valenti | Rod End Supply |
| 2 | 7J | Joe Swanson | Rod End Supply |
| 3 | 24 | Landon Simon | Rod End Supply |
| 4 | 41 | Thomas Schinderle | Schoenfeld Headers |
| 5 | 0 | Steve Irwin | ATL Racing Fuel Cells |
| 6 | 0W | Brad Wyatt | |
| 7 | 17x | Dain Naida | Allstar Performance |
| 8 | 10J | Chris Jones | |
| 9 | 71H | Ryan Ruhl | King Racing Products |
| 10 | 22m | Dan Mccarron | |
| 11 | 46 | Robert Huisken | Keizer Aluminum Wheels |
| 12 | 2 | Ricky Peterson | |
| 13 | 20A | Andy Chehowski | |
| 14 | 10S | Jay Steinebach | |
| 15 | 47 | Robert Bulloch | |
| 16 | 21T | Troy Chehowski | |
| 17 | 6 | Tyler Bearden | |
| 18 | 77 | Andrew Scheid | |
| 19 | 16B | Brett Mann | |
| 20 | 1a | Mark Aldrich |
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger – Dan McCarron
BR Motorsports Contingency (feature top 10 draw) – Joe Swanson
DMI (Diversified Machine) Contingency (feature 12-16 draw) – Robert Bulloch
Perfit Corporation Lucky Dog – Robert Huisken
For more information about Engine Pro go to www.enginepro.com. For more information about ARP, go to www.arp-bolts.com. The full 2017 Sprints on Dirt schedule, rules, current news, and other information are available at www.sprintsondirt.com.
Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP is brought to you in 2017 by many important sponsor partners including: Engine Pro (Title Sponsor), ARP (Title Sponsor), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official SOD Tire), MAHLE/Clevite (Beyond Limits Challenge Sponsor), Driven Racing Oil (Battlegrounds Bash Sponsor), King Engine Bearings (King of Michigan Sponsor), Lane Automotive/MSD Ignition (Fast Masters Sponsor), Engler Machine & Tool (Heat Race Sponsor), COMP Cams (Heat Race Sponsor), RockAuto.com (Heat Race Sponsor), The Perfit Corporation (Lucky Dog Sponsor), KSE Racing Products, and XYZ Machining. In addition, SOD contingency sponsors include: Allstar Performance, ATL Racing Fuel Cells, BR Motorsports, Diversified Machine Inc. (DMI), K2W Precision/Keizer Aluminum Wheels, King Racing Products, Kistler Racing Products, Maxim Racing, Motor City Racing Promotions, Racing Optics, Rod End Supply, Schoenfeld Headers, Simpson Racing Products, Walker Performance Filtration.