By John Naida
ERIE, MI (August 25, 2017) – Steve Irwin (Fenton, MI) is the 2017 Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge champion. The four-race Challenge had four different winners with Irwin finishing in the top five in all four races to take the championship.
The MAHLE/Clevite BLC was scheduled for five different speedways; Baer Field Motorsports Park, Thunderbird Raceway, Merritt Speedway, Crystal Motor Speedway, and Manistee County Fairgrounds Speedway. The final scheduled BLC race at Manistee was rained out on August 4th, and the make-up date of August 18th also fell victim to inclement weather.
Shawn Valenti (Delta, OH) took the first BLC race at Baer Field Motorsports Part on May 21st after an exciting battle with Joe Swanson. Irwin finished 5th. Chad Blonde took race #2 at Thunderbird Raceway on June 10th with a last lap pass of Thomas Schinderle. Irwin finished 3rd. Ryan Ruhl won the 3rd BLC race at Merritt Speedway on July 8th. Brad Lamberson finished 2nd, Gregg Dalman 3rd, Mike Astrauskas 4th, and Irwin 5th. The 4th race, at Crystal Motor Speedway on July 15th, was just what Irwin needed. He drove to a convincing win on one of his favorite speedways over Thomas Schinderle and Shawn Valenti.
Irwin collected $1,000 for winning the MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge championship. Thomas Schinderle (2nd), Gregg Dalman (3rd), Chris Jones (4th), and Robert Bulloch (5th) also shared in the point fund. Irwin is now guaranteed a starting spot in the Mike Olrich Memorial Race at Crystal Motor Speedway on September 2nd.
MAHLE Original is the “Global Star” within the MAHLE Aftermarket brand portfolio. The brand MAHLE stands for engine parts, filters, thermo management and mechatronics of uncompromising quality – in original equipment and aftermarket. Clevite is an American brand with one of the oldest pedigrees and supplies pistons, assemblies, cylinder liners, bearings and valves for American commercial vehicles as well as construction and agricultural equipment applications.
Competitors may debate who is the best on the track, but under the hood, there is no debate that Clevite and MAHLE are the one constant of winning teams throughout American grass roots racing. For more information about MAHLE/Clevite, click HERE.
Meet 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 (Hard Charger Sponsor), XYZ Machining (Season Sportsman & Crew Chief Sponsor). 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.