North Pole Nightmare Bill Balog and Paul Pokorski win at PDTR
IRA 410 Series & Aldag–Honald Mechanical Sprints were at Sheboygan County Fair Friday Night. About 60 drivers participated between the two events in which the crowd witnessed some impressive racing. A few drivers also tried their hand at pulling off double duty between the divisions.
“28 cars had presented for competition this evening, and with the field trimmed to 22 cars as the A-main event rolled trackside.
There was a festival like atmosphere, thanks to the running of the fair. The fair’s midway in the background made for a perfect backdrop as the field roared to life under starter Jim Barr’s green flag.
Local favorites Thiel, and multi-time Plymouth Dirt Track 360 sprint champion Ben Schmidt made up the front row, and the supporting crowd cheered their local racers who had turned many laps at the facility before moving on to IRA competition. Both drivers, contending for rookie of the year honors, gave those fans plenty to cheer about with Schmidt powering to the lead, and Thiel holding down the second slot.
Balog meanwhile had his hands full with Reinke in a battle for third. Reinke had established a new track record earlier in the program blistering the track with an orbit of 12.085 seconds. The former mark stood at 12.137 when Brian Kristan established the standard as the record book was rewritten when the track configuration was changed this season.
Out front Schmidt was rim riding his way around the track moving out to a slight lead on Thiel, and Balog. By the eighth lap the leaders had caught the tail of the field, and the lead trio began to slice through back markers.
Schmidt’s reign at the front came to an end on the backstretch on lap ten when he tagged the wall, slowing briefly. That allowed Thiel to take advantage of the opportunity, and dart into the lead. Balog also took advantage of the situation, scrambling to second by passing Schmidt.
Thiel’s time as the front proved to be brief, as on the next lap he slid wide in turn four, allowing Balog to drop to the bottom of the track and steal the lead. At the same time Reinke replaced Schmidt in the third spot.
The leaders were working heavy lapped traffic when they caught a break in the form of a caution created when Scott Biertzer performed a 360 spin in turn two on lap 18. The caution was the first slowdown in lRA main events the past two shows as the Seymour race had ran non-stop.
Racing quickly resumed with Balog holding a slim lead over Thiel, who in turn had a small advantage on Reinke. The trio again caught back markers with six laps to go in the event. Balog was briefly caught in traffic allowing Thiel to reel in the leader, but a bold move between two cars allowed Balog squirt out front.
Behind the lead trio Schmidt had been running solidly in the fourth spot then he suddenly left the racing surface with only a few laps remaining.
Thiel was able to follow Balog closely in the closing laps though he was unable to find a way by the high-flying Balog who accepted the checkered flag for the second straight event. Thiel earned his third runner-up performance of the year. Reinke’s third place effort was his third straight podium finish. Reinke has finished in the top four, six out of the last eight races showing remarkable consistency.
Two-time series champ, Scotty Neitzel, had elevated himself to the fourth spot when Schmidt had dropped from the contest holding the position to the finish. Kristan making a rare IRA start this season was able to earn his first top five effort of the season in fifth.”
Aldag-Honald Mechanical Sprints rolled out next with Ken Jay Fiedler and Josh Walters on the front row. At the drop of the green flag Walters was out front of Fiedler until Pokorski took over second a lap later. Tenth place was being battled out by Jason Johnson and Donny Goeden. Meanwhile Shane Wenninger was trying to pass Randy Walter for eighth. Walters was not able to pull away from a hard charging Pokorski. Pokorski got Walters at the line to lead lap 7. Lap traffic of Nick Melis did not possess any issues having a comfortable lead over Walters. Danny Schlafer was now up to fourth and part of a father son battle with Al Schlafer in third. Shane Wenninger spun in turn two bringing out our first caution on lap 14. Restart was not smooth with Justin Miller tipping over between turns three and four bringing out our only red. Miller returned with damaged wings and no laps down. Pokorski still maintained the lead over Walters after the second restart. Lap 18 brought out our final caution for wing debris of Justin Miller littering the backstretch. Danny Schlafer passed Walter on the restart to control second. Pokorski did not seem bothered by who was swapping positions behind as his car was on cruise control. As the checkers waved for Paul Pokorski (West Bend), second went to Al Schlafer and Danny Schlafer (both Sussex) got Josh Walters (Plymouth) between turns three and four, followed by Donny Goeden (Kewaskum).
Hard Chargers were Tim Melis and Donny Goeden both passing 11 cars.
B-Main Results: Rusty Egan (Round Lake Heights, IL.), Justin Miller (Plymouth), Doug Wondra (Oakfield), Kyle Marten (Sheboygan Falls), Tim Melis (Plymouth) and alternate Randy Sippel (Elkhart Lake).
Heat Race Winners: Brandon McMullen (Plymouth), John Krebsbach (Cascade), Danny Schlafer (Sussex) and Kurt Davis (West Allis).
Special thank you to Mayer Automotive for being the evening Trophy Sponsor. Please join us next week for full PDTR program with Super Modifieds. Season Championship for all divisions except 360 Sprints with an awards ceremony following the night’s program. For more information please visit http://www.plymouthdtr.com.
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