Dustin Daggett nabbed his fifth career “King of Michigan” title by topping Friday night’s 25-lap Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP main event at Hartford Motor Speedway.
Daggett took the lead away from Brett Mann on an early restart and slipped away from the field for an ASCS overall-best eleventh feature win of the season in front of Mann, who secured a second consecutive ASCS Sprints on Dirt championship with a runner-up finish.
While Mann outgunned pole starter Ryan Grubaugh for the lead at the drop of the green flag, Daggett disposed of Grubaugh for the runner-up position on the second circuit and set his sights on the leader.
After Robert Huisken lost a driveline to bring out a caution as the leaders were entering traffic with six circuits in the books, Daggett dove under Mann entering turn one on the restart and slid to the topside of turn two to take command.
Daggett motored away in the ensuing rounds aboard Phil Mott’s Gaerte-powered Steve Winnie Auto Sales/Miles Petroleum No. 2m Maxim for his 65th career Sprints on Dirt triumph, with Mann’s third runner-up showing of the year and 15th top-ten run in 17 feature events worthy of back-to-back championship honors.
Behind the lead duo, Grubaugh and Chad Blonde mixed it up in intense fashion before Blonde used his topside momentum to take the position. Blonde closed on Mann, but after being bogged down in traffic in the closing rounds, settled for the show position.
After Grubaugh slapped the wall and damaged his mount seven laps shy of the checkered as Jake Stebner coasted to a stop in turn four, three-time ASCS SOD champion Tim Norman took the fourth position for keeps.
After suffering rear end woes in his heat race, Gregg Dalman posted Hard Charger honors by racing from 20th to fifth, with Ben Rutan in sixth. Grubaugh returned to salvage seventh, with Ryan Ruhl, Andy Teunessen and Aaron Shaffer completing the top ten.
Mann, Daggett and Blonde posted heat race wins, with Grubaugh winning the night’s Fast Car Dash.
Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by Victor Reinz “A” Main Event
“A” Feature (25 Laps): 1. 2m – Dustin Daggett, 2. 79 – Brett Mann, 3. 1r - Chad Blonde, 4. 3g – Tim Norman, 5. 49t – Gregg Dalman, 6. 23 – Ben Rutan, 7. 00 – Ryan Grubaugh, 8. 27r – Ryan Ruhl, 9. 31 – Andy Teunessen, 10. 22 – Aaron Shaffer, 11. 50 – Mark Grabill, 12. 3w – Joe Bares, 13. 47 – Louie Carufel, 14. 70 – Jim Lingar, 15. 27k – Ryan Kirkendall, 16. 21 – Matt Lumbert, 17. 55 – Kirk Cheney, 18. 07 – Jake Stebner, 19. 19 – Jody Hunt, 20. 46 – Robert Huisken. DNS: 30 – Steve Irwin, 29s – Marques Huffer.
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