Sprints on Dirt Merritt results 2006-07-22

Grubaugh Grabs ASCS Sprints on Dirt Honors at Merritt

MERRITT, Mich. (July 22, 2006) -- Ryan Grubaugh survived a variety of caution and red flag periods to pick up his first career Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by Victor Reinz victory in Saturday night's 25-lap feature at Merritt Speedway.

Grubaugh moved to the front row after the original front row starters tangled at the start, then held off furious charges from Tim Allison and Dustin Daggett from the back of the field for the win in the Dowker-powered Maple Rapids Lumber/Hamilton Lumber No. 00 Maxim.

"I was real nervous getting into lapped traffic towards the end," said Grubaugh. "I couldn't believe the lapped car slid up and opened up my lane. Mike Dutcher came on as my crew chief, I bought my car from him, and ever since we've been going really well."J Dain Naida and Daggett started on the front row of the feature event, but didn't stay there for long. Entering turn one, the pair made contact with Naida turning over and Daggett mounting the car of Naida. John Gall and Ben Rutan were also involved. After the cleanup and some work by their respective crews, all of the cars were able to restart although Naida would make an early exit soon after.

Joe Bares and Grubaugh made up the front row for the second attempt to start the feature, with Grubaugh immediately shooting into the lead. Grubaugh held a commanding lead until the caution flew for a turn two spin by Chris Webster with eight laps in the books.J On the restart, Allison moved from fourth to second around the top of Steve Irwin and Joe Bares in turns one and two and down the backstretch. The field went one more lap before Gregg Dalman spun in turn two and collected Kevin Atkins, Mike Galajda and point leader Ken Mackey. All four were able to restart.

With twelve laps in the books, Grubaugh led the field again during the restart in which Chris Webster flipped hard in turn three, collecting Galajda and Louie Carufel in the process.

As action continued, Grubaugh continued to feel pressure from Allison for the lead. Meanwhile, Daggett continued his wild charge through the field by moving past Tim Norman for the fifth spot. Then while working lap 15, Ben Rutan spun in turn four.

Daggett charged past Steve Irwin and Bares to take over third on the restart, setting his sights on Grubaugh and Allison. Meanwhile, Allison continued to put pressure on Grubaugh as the first two drivers pulled away from the rest of the field. With two laps to go, Grubaugh approached lapped traffic. Just when it appeared the slower car would block Grubaugh, the lapped car slid up and blocked Allison, allowing Grubaugh to pull away.

Allison continued to be picked by the lapped car as Daggett closed in to battle for second during the white flag. Grubaugh took the checkered flag while Allison climbed over a wheel and slid high, allowing Daggett to move into second by inches at the line.

Bares crossed the stripe fourth, with Tim Norman rounding out the top five. The balance of the top ten included Irwin, Kyle Patrick, Gary Fast, Kevin Atkins and Bill Johnson.

Naida, Daggett and John Gall won the heat race events, with Mike Galajda topping the "B" Main.

Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by Victor Reinz Results:

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

Ohsweken Speedway Heat Race #1 (8 Laps): 1. 6n -- Dain Naida, 2. 00 -- Ryan Grubaugh, 3. 37s -- J.R. Stewart, 4. 13 -- Davey Brown, 5. 34 -- Kevin Atkins, 6. 11 -- Tim Allison, 7. 26 -- Gary Fast, 8. 66 -- Ernie Kuehneman, Jr., 9. 72 -- Chris Webster.

Engler Machine and Tool Heat Race #2 (8 Laps): 1. 85 -- Dustin Daggett, 2. 19B -- Joe Bares, 3. 33 -- Bill Johnson, 4. 3G -- Tim Norman, 5. 33K -- Kyle Patrick, 6. 99 --Wayne Morrison, 7. 47x -- Louie Carufel, 8. 54J -- Joel Hummel, 9. 2T -- Ralph Brakenberry.

Lane Automotive Heat Race #3 (8 Laps ): 1. 81 -- John Gall, 2. 23 -- Ben Rutan, 3. 0 -- Steve Irwin, 4. 49T -- Gregg Dalman, 5. 25M -- Ken Mackey, 6. 2 -- Mike Galajda, 7. 22T -- Tank Brakenberry, 8. 41g - Jim Goetgeluck.

"B" Main (top four finishers advance to "A" Main)

Engine Pro/Victor Reinz "B" Feature (10 Laps): 1. 2 -- Mike Galajda, 2. 99 -- Wayne Morrison, 3. 26 -- Gary Fast, 4. 47x -- Louie Carufel, 5. 72 -- Chris Webster, 6. 41G -- Jim Goetgeluck, 7. 2T -- Ralph Brakenberry, 8. 54J -- Joel Hummel, 9. 22T -- Tank Brakenberry, 10. 66 -- Ernie Kuehneman, Jr.

Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by Victor Reinz "A" Main Event:

"A" Feature (25 Laps): 1. 00 -- Ryan Grubaugh, 2. 85 -- Dustin Daggett, 3. 11 -- Tim Allison, 4. 19B -- Joe Bares, 5. 3G -- Tim Norman, 6. 0 -- Steve Irwin, 7. 33K -- Kyle Patrick, 8. 26 -- Gary Fast, 9. 34 -- Kevin Atkins, 10. 33 -- Bill Johnson, 11. 49T -- Gregg Dalman, 12. 47x -- Louie Carufel, 13. 23 -- Ben Rutan, 14. 25m -- Ken Mackey, 15. 2 -- Mike Galajda, 16. 72 -- Chris Webster, 17. 81 -- John Gall, 18. 99 -- Wayne Morrison, 19. 13 -- Davey Brown, 20. 6n -- Dain Naida.

Engine Pro ASCS Sprints On Dirt presented by Victor Reinz Points (Top Ten): 1. Ken Mackey 1,861, 2. (tie) Dain Naida and Kyle Patrick 1,807, 4. Gary Fast 1,796, 5. Gregg Dalman 1,787, 6. Kevin Atkins 1,760, 7. Joe Bares 1,660, 8. Ryan Grubaugh 1,604, 9. Louie Carufel 1,603, 10. Davey Brown 1,524.

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