Opening Night at Plymouth Dirt Track Racing

Best night of weather on opening night at Plymouth Dirt Track Racing in over 10 years. Rookie and veteran drivers were amongst the 80 cars that signed into the pits.

Aldag Honald Mechanical Sprints pushed off first, front row consisted of Jason Johnson and AJ Modjeski. Sprints went four wide as a salute to fans before taking the green from guest flagman Ben Schmidt. Johnson pulled out to an early lead over Danny Schlafer until a caution waved for Rusty Egan and Drew Ludwig spinning in turns 3 and 4. Schlafer passed Johnson after the restart, now the only car that separated him from the charging Donny Goeden. A slick black track proved challenging for drivers to pass until a second groove on the high side developed at the halfway point. Lap 14 Schlafer started to lap traffic, which allowed for Goeden to pass Johnson for second. Another caution waved for Todd King and Rusty Egan spinning. Goeden passed Schlafer on the restart to take control. Brandon McMullen slid into second but hard charging Robbie Pribnow crept through traffic after starting 19. Schlafer pulled his car into the infield with mechanical issues. White flag waved for Donny Goeden and a sudden red flew for Tim Melis, Kevin Karnitz and Kurt Davis as they tangled and came to rest on the turn one wall. Donny Goeden (Kewaskum) won followed by Brandon McMullen (Plymouth), Robbie Pribnow (Knowels), Jim Melis (Glenbeulah) and Paul Pokorski (West Bend).
B-Main Results: Tim Melis (Plymouth), Chris Clayton (Waldo), Kurt Davis (West Allis), Robbie Pribnow (Knowels) and Todd King (Sheboygan Falls).
Sprint Heat Winners: Jason Johnson (Campbellsport), Nich Melis (Plymouth), Kevin Karnitz (West Bend) and Justin Miller (Plymouth).

Feldmann Sales and Service Grand Nationals rolled trackside with Don Sorce Jr. setting the pace. As the green flag waved drivers quickly tried to settle in. Roger Lee was going to retire but decided that he wasn’t quite ready, built a brand new car and was with us Saturday. Brian Cesar, Barry Maas, Matt Loehr and Brad Lubach were not settling for seventh they continued to race three wide for 2 laps. Dick Hed, Tim Simon and Mark Fieber competed for sixth place for two complete laps going three wide. Lap 9 brought a whole new challenge; Don Sorce was over a half a lap ahead of second place Kevin Lubach. Barry Maas discovered the high groove on lap 10. Jonathon Singer and Tim Simon pulled off to the attention of their crew. Brandon Frank’s right rear brakes were glowing brighter and brighter until he bounced off of turn 4 wall on lap 17 sending him to the attention of his crew. Mark Fieber and Jeff Lammers were touching as they battled for ninth, until Fieber went around and Lammers was docked two spots for rough driving. Sorce ran into lapped traffic on his mission to win the first Grand National race of the year. When the checkers flew it was Don Sorce Jr. (West Allis) who crossed first followed by Brian Cesar (Sheboygan), Matt Loehr (Mt. Calvaqry), Roger Lee (Windlake) and Kevin Lubach (Elkhart Lake).
Grand National Heat Winners: Dick Hed (Plymouth), Tyler Kulow (New Holstein) and Don Sorce Jr. (West Allis)

Johnsonville Sausage Late Models rumbled out next with Ted Dolhun Sr. and Rick Scheffler setting the pace as the field took the green flag. Rick Scheffler pulled out to the lead right away as son Taylor Scheffler settled in behind. Mitch McGrath spun bringing out the first caution. Brad Mueller trailed behind the leaders as Tim Buhler quietly crept towards the front. Kyle Odekirk and Justin Schmidt stayed patient behind the leaders. Taylor Scheffler tried to pass dad Rick a few times putting on their own little battle for a few laps. Ron Stroika retired to the pits for mechanical reasons. Eric Michaels and Randy Markwardt were the first cars to be lapped. Rick Scheffler started to put cars between himself and son Taylor as the race continued. Billy Rezitek, Charles Schmidt and Turk Letezia were the next victims of Rick Scheffler. Father and son Schefflers (Waukesha) crossed the checkers followed by Tim Buhler (Glenbeulah) after passing seven cars, next were Brad Mueller (Random Lake) and Ted Dolhun Sr. (Franklin) rounding out the top five.
Late Model Heat Winners: Ted Dolhun Sr. (Franklin) and Rick Scheffler (Waukesha).

Cellcom Outlaw Compacts took to the track last with Tim Tiedt and James Rautmann who lead the field to the green. Brody Rivest led lap one after starting eighth. Cody Pankow crept into second on lap 2 followed closely by Rautmann. Chris Maas pulled off to the attention of his crew for mechanical issues. Pankow and Rivst battled intensely swapping the lead and till Rivest took control again. Rautmann also retired to the pits for the evening. Pankow didn’t settle for second and regained control and even put Tim Tiedt down a lap. Justin Erickson was now third and wasn’t settling, passing Rivst. Rivst didn’t agree spinning Erickson in turn 3, regaining second until being black flagged as a result of rough driving. Pankow continued to lead the field of only eight cars. Cody Pankow (Lomira) crossed the checkers first followed closely by Scott Schlafke (Cleveland), Justin Erickson (Plymouth), Tim Tiedt (Fond du Lac) and Chris Maas (Oakfield) rounding out the top five.
Outlaw Compact Heat Winner: Brody Rivest (Sheboygan)

Please join us next week. For more information please check out our website at www.plymouthpdtr.com.

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