Pokorski Motorsports doubles its pleasure in 2020 MSA season finale
(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) Sept. 29, 2020 – Since debuting in 1993, the Pokorski Motorsports team has enjoyed many firsts over the course of a highly successful tenure competing in the sport of open-wheel racing on dirt tracks throughout the state of Wisconsin.
On Saturday, Sept. 26, the team enjoyed another landmark occasion as the father-son driving tandem of Paul and Alex Pokorski each competed in in separate 360 Sprint Car entries in the same racing program as the team’s 2020 season drew to a close at the Wisconsin Sprint Car Championships at The Plymouth Dirt Track at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds in Plymouth, Wis.
After sharing driving duties of the Pokorski Motorsports 360 Sprint Car with his father during the 2020 season, the younger Pokorski jumped at the opportunity to wheel the Doug Pietz-owned 4A car, while the elder Pokorski also competed in the team’s familiar blue No. 4 car in the final race of the season at Plymouth.
With 31 Plymouth Dirt Track Racing-Midwest Sprint Car Association 360 Sprint Cars signed in for the program, Paul started eighth in the first 10-lap 360 Sprint Car heat race.
The 28-year veteran maintained the eighth spot on the fast and tacky track surface until lap 7 when he worked past Chris Larson into seventh in turn four. On the final lap, Paul slipped past Bill Taylor on the final lap to finish sixth.
Paul then lined up fourth in the 15-lap 360 Sprint Car B main with a spot in the 22-car A-main field on the line. After dropped to fifth on lap five, Tyler Davis ducked under the high-riding Pokorski on lap 7 to fall to sixth. Preston Ruh closed on Pokorski along the low line on lap 11. However, Pokorski moved to the low line on lap 12 and held the sixth spot over the final three laps to secure a berth in the season-ending A main.
After starting 22nd in the 25-lap A main, Paul worked the high line in the early going to work his way up through the field. By lap 17, Pokorski had advanced to 16th in the running order as the rapidly changing track surface had begun to slick off considerably.
On lap 23, Pokorski powered past Tyler Brabant to secure 15th, which is where he finished in the race, which was won by Will Gerrits.
After a motor issue ended the team’s night early in an MSA event at the Dodge County Fairgrounds in Beaver Dam, Wis. on Friday, Sept. 24, Pokorski was pleased to have an incident-free close to the 2020 season after spending extra time on Saturday changing motors in the No. 4 car.
“Saturday was a long day,” Paul Pokorski said. “The motor swap took longer than I anticipated, but went reasonably smoothly. We got to the track with plenty of time. However, it was a bit difficult for me. I thought it was stressful enough for me to watch Alex in our car, but it was really stressful to watch him in a borrowed car.
“I can’t thank Doug Pietz enough for giving Alex the chance to run some laps and end the season on a positive note,” he said. “We struggled a bit in the heat race, made it a little better for the B main and took a big swing for the A main and it was much better. After all this time, I’m still learning. In the end, I was not thrilled, but we went in the right direction.”
The 2014 MSA Masters Series champion enjoyed the opportunity to race side by side with Alex for the first time in the early stages of the A main.
“I was happy to be able to race with Alex,” Paul Pokorski said. “I was hoping to get to race with him at some point, I just didn’t foresee it happening this way. Again, can’t thank Doug enough. I was very happy that we both had so much support to make it work. The crew responded well. Everyone did anything they could do or were asked to do. We are blessed.”
Alex Pokorski opened his first race behind the wheel of the Doug Pietz-owned 4A car from the third starting spot in the fourth 10-lap 360 Sprint Car heat race.
On the opening lap, Tyler Tischendorf worked around Pokorski to seize third. However, Alex battled back to regain third with a nice low pass in turn three on lap 2. Pokorski held the third spot throughout the race to earn a spot in the 25-lap A main.
After starting 12th, Alex dropped to 21st in the running order on lap 9. Pokorski, who was competing in his third career 360 Sprint Car A main, stayed smooth and steady over the course of the 25-lap event to come home 20th in the race.
“I was excited to be back behind the wheel,” Alex Pokorski said. “Being in Doug’s car didn’t really change anything about how I drove it. The heat race wasn’t my smoothest race by any stretch, but the car was pretty fast and I had a good starting spot that I was able to hold on to.
“For the A main we made some changes to the car and they didn’t quite work like we hoped,” he said. “I started on the outside, but I was a bit hesitant to try to run the cushion because I’ve never done it before. I ended up having to run through the middle for the first few laps and that’s not the place to be on a dry slick track. When I was able to get to the bottom, I felt more comfortable and was able to do a little better. It never feels good when you go backwards, but sometimes it happens.”
Alex savored the opportunity to race side-by-side with his father in an A-main event.
“The laps I was racing next to my dad were cool,” Alex Pokorski said. “I have never gotten to race him competitively before. I was always something I’ve wanted to do, so I have to thank Doug Pietz for giving me the chance to do it.
“Unfortunately, my dad beat me on this occasion,” he said. “I’m glad he did well though after starting from the back. Next year my dad and I are hoping to do something similar to what we did this year with splitting seat time, but nothing is set in stone as of right now.”
On Friday, Sept. 25, Paul Pokorski competed in the Midwest Sprint Car Association Fuzzy Fassbender Memorial event at the Dodge County Fairgrounds in Beaver Dam, Wis.
With 24 MSA 360 Sprint Car signed in for the event, Pokorski started fourth in the first eight-lap heat race. Pokorski passed Scott Conger in turn two on the opening lap to take third and was closing rapidly on the second-place car of Brandon Berth and leader Tyler Davis when the car began to slow on the final lap.
With smoke billowing from the engine compartment, Pokorski pulled into the infield with a broken piston and was credited with a seventh-place finish in the race.
The engine issue forced the team to scratch from the remainder of the program and prompted an engine change in the No. 4 car for the 2020 PDTR-MSA 360 Sprint Car season finale at Plymouth on Saturday, Sept. 26.
“Any time the night is cut short, it is disappointing, but especially at Dodge County,” Paul Pokorski said. “It is such a unique place and we only go a few times a year. The car felt good in the heat race. I was having fun and was starting to think we were going to have a shot at winning it. Then it went up in smoke.”
After competing in a COVID-19-shortened, 17-event season in 2020, Paul Pokorski is looking forward to returning for what he hopes will be a full season of racing in 2021.
“Our only plan for certain at this point is to do it all again, hopefully free of COVID-19 or other restrictions, next year,” Paul Pokorski said. “I can’t wait. For us, 2021 starts now.”
Sponsors for the 2020 Pokorski Motorsports team are Hopf Farms, Petersen Septic Systems, Quest Engineering Inc., Goeden’s Auto Body, Goodwin Racing Engines, Lakeshore Family Funeral Homes, Kettle Moraine Landscaping, Novak’s Service Center, Pedal Down Promotions, Tisler Salvage Inc., Allied Bearing Corporation and The Cawley Company.
Pokorski Motorsports Sponsor Showcase – Novak’s Service Center
Pokorski Motorsports would like to acknowledge the support of long-time sponsor Novak’s Service Center of Manitowoc, which is celebrating its 48th year in business in 2020.
Novak’s Service Center is a locally-owned, second-generation, family-owned, five-bay auto repair center, which has been serving customers in the Lakeshore area since 1972.
Novak’s Service Center offers comprehensive auto repair services, including 4 x 4 services, brakes, car and truck care, domestic cars and trucks, electrical services, electronic services, engine and transmission, engine maintenance, expired warranty care, general service, heating and cooling services, import cars and trucks, quick lube services, tires, towing, transmission and undercar services.
Located at 1320 Washington St. in Manitowoc, Novak’s Service Center is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
To schedule an appointment, call 920-684-5737 or visit www.novaks1320.com.
For more information on Pokorski Motorsports, check out Pokorski Motorsports on Facebook or visit www.pedaldownpromo.com.
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For more information on Pedal Down Promotions, email pedaldownpromotions@gmail.com, visit www.pedaldownpromo.com or call 920-323-7970.
2020 Pokorski Motorsports By The Numbers
Total Events – 17
MSA events – 16
IRA events – 0
A Main Victories – 1
B Main Victories – 1
Top Five A Main Finishes – 1
Top 10 A Main Finishes – 3
Heat Race Victories – 0