Rutan Rumbles to ASCS Sprints on Dirt Victory at Thunderbird

T.J. Buffenbarger, MUSKEGON, Mich. (May 10, 2008) – Ben Rutan won the opening night feature event for the Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by Victor Reinz Saturday Night at the Thunderbird Race Park. Rutan started outside of row three and skirted around the bottom in a tremendous battle between himself, Brett Mann, and early leader Gregg Dalman before pulling away during the last half of the event in the Mike Yoder Racing owned machine.

“I had a heck of a run with Gregg (Dalman) and Brett (Mann). I was blasting around the and Brett was going around the top. Then I think Gregg just slipped off the bottom and I was able to get them both, so it worked out great,” said Rutan after the feature. “We never touched each other. Dalman is one of the guys you race with real hard. Man and I had a couple of great races on the straightways. We’ve raced really close in the past and he’s one of the guys you can do that with.

Dalman and Mike Galadja started on the front row with Dalman taking the lead into the first corner. While Dalman opened up his advantage Galadja, Mann, and Rutan battled for the second spot. Mann and Rutan eventually disposed of Galadja and caught Dalman in lapped traffic on lap 12. The duo battled before Rutan took the lead on lap 14. Rutan then stretched his advantage as Mann and Dalman battled for second.

Later in the race Mann dropped back as Galadja battled his way back into the top three. It was all Rutan up front taking the victory over Dalman, Galadja, Mann, and Kyle Patrick.

Defending ASCS Sprints on Dirt champion Tim Norman, Gary Fast, and Mann won heat race events. Norman also won the JE Pistons/Gaerte Engines Fast Car Dash. Dain Naida was the JE Pistons hard charger passing six cars after starting 17th to finish 11th.

The next event for the Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by Victor Reinz is Saturday May 17th at the South Buxton Raceway in Merlin, Ontario Canada.

Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by Victor Reinz

Heat Races (Top 16 in passing points to “A” main)

Engler Machine and Tool Heat Race #1 (8 Laps): 1. 3g – Tim Norman, 2. 33k – Kyle Patrick, 3. 2 – Mike Galajda, 4. 31 – Andy Teunessen, 5. 70 – Jim Lingar, 6. 22t – Tank Brakenberry.

Lane Automotive/Comp Cams Heat Race #2 (8 Laps): 1. 26 – Gary Fast, 2. 23 – Ben Rutan, 3. 49t – Gregg Dalman, 4. 22 – Aaron Shaffer, 5. 81 – John Gall. DNS: 8 – Tim Champlin.

Brodix Heat Race #3 (8 Laps): 1. 79 – Brett Mann, 2. 00 – Ryan Grubaugh, 3. 19 – Joe Bares, 4. 55 – Kirk Cheney, 5. 2t – Ralph Brakenberry. DNS: 6n – Dain Naida.

Total Seal Fast Car Dash presented by Gaerte Engines (4 Laps): 1. Norman, 2. Fast, 3. Patrick, 4. Rutan.

Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by Victor Reinz “A” Main Event

“A” Feature (25 Laps): 1. 23 – Ben Rutan, 2. 49t – Gregg Dalman, 3. 2 – Mike Galajda, 4. 79 – Brett Mann, 5. 33K – Kyle Patrick, 6. 3g – Tim Norman, 7. 19 – Joe Bares, 8. 00 – Ryan Grubaugh, 9. 22 – Aaron Shaffer, 10. 26 – Gary Fast, 11. 6n – Dan Naida, 12. 81 – John Gall, 13. 31 – Andy Teunessen, 14. 55 – Kirk Cheney, 15. 70 – Jim Lingar, 16. 2T – Ralph Brakenberry, 17. 22t – Tank Brakenberry. DNS – Tim Champlin.

Lap Leaders: Dalman 1-13, Rutan 14-25

Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by Victor Reinz Point Standings (Top Ten): 1. Ben Rutan 150, 2. Gregg Dalman 146, 3. Mike Galajda 144, 4. Brett Mann 142, 5. Kyle Patrick 140, 6. Tim Norman 138, 7. Joe Bares 136, 8. Ryan Grubaugh 134, 9. Aaron Shaffer 132, 10. Gary Fast 130.