Cody Morris/Mike Strevel, Crystal, Michigan (April 28, 2012) – Darren Long made the long drive from Elida, Ohio worthwhile by picking up the feature win to kick off the 2012 Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP season at
Crystal Motor Speedway.
Long started on the pole and led every lap in
route to his first victory of the 2012 season driving his family owned Gaerte powered KPC chassis.
“I knew my motor would take off really well, and the car was driving really well. On the restarts I was able to pull the wing back to
drive off the corner better,” said Long. “I was trying to be real
patent through the lapped traffic. I have to thank my guys that work
on my team; they are doing a great job.”
Long and Brett Mann started on the front row for the 25-lap feature
event. After the first start was negated by Brad Lamberson and Steve
Irwin spinning off the third corner, Long got the jump at the start
with Dustin Daggett moving past Brett Mann for second. Long and
Daggett pulled away from the rest of the field while eight starting
Jared Horstman started moving through the field into the top five by
lap four.
By lap seven Long began to encounter slower traffic and allowed
Daggett to close in to challenge for the lead. On lap 12 Long got
held up by a slower car and allowed Daggett to pull up to his back
bumper. One lap later though Long moved by two lapped cars crossing
outside to inside that ended up blocking Daggett and allowed Long to
open up some breathing room.
On lap 14 that advantage was erased by a pair of cautions. The first
for Andy Chehowski spinning in front of the leaders in turn two, then
one lap later for Dain Naida’s spin off of turn four. This allowed
Daggett to move around the lapped cars between himself and Long for
the restart. Long was up for the challenge though and pulled away
from Daggett to open up a half straightaway lead.
Further back in the field Gregg Dalman mounted a late race charge from
13th starting position into the top five. Dalman then was able to
move Ruhl and Horstman to advance to the third position with five laps
to go.
Up front it was all Long blasting through the lapped traffic to take
the victory over Daggett, Dalman, Horstman, and Ruhl.
Daggett, Long, Chehowski, and Mann won heat race events, Lambertson
won the Brodix cylinder heads dash, and Naida won the Engine Pro
B-Main Event. Chehowski also picked up a cash bonus for his name
being drawn for the Engine Pro Lucky Dog Prize.
Featured Photo: T.J. Buffenbarger
The next event for the Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by
ARP series takes place Friday May 25th at Limaland Motorsports Park in
Lima, Ohio.
Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt Presented by ARP
April 28th, 2012 / Event 1 of 33
Crystal Motor Speedway / Crystal, Michigan
A Feature (25 Laps): 1. 7-Darren Long; 2. 2m-Dustin Daggett; 3. 49t-Gregg Dalman; 4. 17-Jared Horstman; 5. 16-Ryan Ruhl; 6. 00-Ryan Grubaugh; 7. 88-Mike Daggett; 8. 3w-Brett Mann; 9. 5-Keith Dempster; 10. 46-Robert Huisken; 11. 20A-Andy Chehowski; 12. 27-Brad Lamberson; 13. 10-Steve Irwin; 14. 31-Andy Teunessen; 15. 16c-Greg Wheeler; 16. 81-John Gall; 17. 50-Mike Burns; 18. 14-Ben Rutan; 19. 07x-Dain Naida; 20. 29s-Marques Huffer
Lap Leaders: Darren Long 1-25
Engine Pro B Feature (10 Laps): 1. 07x-Dain Naida; 2. 16c-Greg Wheeler; 3. 14-Ben Rutan; 4. 29s-Marques Huffer; 5. 10s-Jay Steinbach; 6. 81L-Keith Love; 7. 8-Tim Champlin; 8. 70-Jim Lingar; 9. 2G-Joe Geibe; 10. 36-Nate Bostrum; 11. 4-Eric Smith; 12. 21-Matt Lumbert; DNS 49-Shawn Dancer
Top 4 advance to A Feature
Brodix Cylinder Heads Fast Car Dash (4 Laps): 1. 27-Brad Lamberson; 2. 10-Steve Irwin; 3. 16-Ryan Ruhl; 4. 31-Andy Teunessen
Determined starting positions 9-12 in A Feature
Engler Machine & Tool Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 2m-Dustin Daggett; 2. 10-Steve Irwin; 3. 16-Ryan Ruhl; 4. 00-Ryan Grubaugh; 5. 16c-Greg Wheeler; 6. 07x-Dain Naida; 7. 36-Nate Bostrum; 8. 4-Eric Smith
Allstar Performance Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 7-Darren Long; 2. 17-Jared Horstman; 3. 49t-Gregg Dalman; 4. 46-Robert Huisken; 5. 70-Jim Lingar; 6. 49-Shawn Dancer; DNF 81L-Keith Love
*Love disqualified after failing to report to scales
ButlerBuilt Racing Seats Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 20A-Andy Chehowski; 2. 27-Brad Lamberson; 3. 31-Andy Teunessen; 4. 81-John Gall; 5. 50-Mike Burns; 6. 21-Matt Lumbert; DNS 8-Tim Champlin
Hoosier Tires Heat 4 (8 Laps): 1. 3w-Brett Mann; 2. 5-Keith Dempster; 3. 88-Mike Daggett; 4. 14-Ben Rutan; 5. 10s-Jay Steinbach; 6. 29s-Marques Huffer; 7. 2G-Joe Geibe
- Cody Morris on Apr 29, 2012
- Article Date: 4/28/2012