Following eventful first season with Akright Auto Racing Team, Alex Pokorski looks forward to 2023
(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) November 16, 2022 – After two seasons of sharing time behind the wheel of his family’s familiar blue No. 4 Pokorski Motorsports 360 Sprint Car with his multi-time championship-winning father, Paul, Alex Pokorski seized the opportunity to stretch his legs on a full-time basis behind the wheel of the Spyder Akright-owned Akright Auto Racing Team red No. 4 machine, during an up-and-down 2022 season of competition with the Plymouth Dirt Track Racing and Midwest Sprint Car Association 360 Sprint Cars.
Pokorski completed his first full-time campaign with the PDTR 360 Sprint Cars 14th in the final 2022 PDTR 360 Sprint Car point standings. He also finished 15th in the 2022 MSA point standings, as his Akright Auto Racing Team No. 4 car competed in 17 of the series’ 19 events.
Pokorski’s 2022 MSA campaign featured one top-five, two top-10 and six top-15 A-main showings to go along with one heat race victory and one B-main triumph. The highlight of the 2022 season was a career-best-equaling fourth place A-main finish in an Akright Auto MSA 360 Sprint Car event at Wilmot Raceway in Wilmot, Wis. on Saturday, Aug. 27.
In addition, Pokorski’s father, Paul, who wrapped up his stellar career as a regular competitor during the 2021 season, entered a pair of MSA-PDTR 360 Sprint Car events at The Plymouth Dirt Track in Plymouth, Wis. on a fill-in basis during the 2022 campaign, while racking up one top-10 and a pair of top-15 A-main showings.
Due to a college commitment for Alex, Paul filled in behind the wheel of the Akright Auto No. 4 car for the 2022 PDTR 360 Sprint Car opener at The Plymouth Dirt Track on Saturday, May 7.
After advancing to the main event with a third place showing in the B main, Pokorski rolled off 19th in the PDTR 360 Sprint Car headliner and worked primarily the high line around the multi-groove racing surface en route to a 10th-place A-main finish to kick off the 2022 season.
On Saturday, May 14, Alex settled into the seat of the Akright Auto No. 4 machine at The Plymouth Dirt Track. The third-year 360 Sprint Car driver used a strong move to work past Blake Wondra on the final lap of the B main to secure the sixth and final transfer spot to the A main, where he finished 21st in a caution-free race.
One night later, Alex and the Akright Auto Racing Team ventured to Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wis. for an MSA event. After starting ninth in the main event, Alex was running 10th when he drifted high in turn four and hit the front stretch wall, which forced him to stop on the track to bring out the race’s lone caution flag. The damage was too extensive for Pokorski to return to the race as he was scored 15th in the race.
With the national touring Tezos All Star Circuit of Champions 410 Sprint Car Series making its annual visit to The Plymouth Dirt Track at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds along with the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series, Pokorski qualified 17th in the 31-car PDTR-MSA 360 Sprint Car field and transferred directly to the A main with a fifth place finish in heat race action. After starting 16th, Pokorski placed 17th in the PDTR 360 Sprint Car main event.
The PDTR 360 Sprint Car event on Saturday, May 28 saw both Alex and Paul in action on the same night for just the third time ever and the lone occasion during the 2022 season, as Alex steered the No. 4 Akright Auto Racing Team car and Paul guest drove Spyder Akright’s 53A machine.
In PDTR 360 Sprint Car group qualifying, Paul turned in the 16th fastest lap with a time of 12.791 seconds, while Alex qualified 20th with a lap of 12.896 before Paul finished sixth in the first 360 Sprint Car heat race and Alex placed fourth in the third heat race.
Both Alex and Paul found themselves in the B main needing to finish in the top six spots to earn a transfer position to the evening’s 25-lap A main with Alex lining up third and Paul starting fifth. Alex went on to claim his first B main victory of the 2022 season, while Paul placed third to advance to the main event.
Paul rolled off 19th in the 25-lap 360 Sprint Car A main and put together a solid run up through the field, including a brief side-by-side duel with Alex, in the early going. The 30-year racing veteran advanced seven spots in the event to come home with a 12th place finish in what turned out to be his final race of the 2022 campaign.
Meanwhile, Alex was involved in a pair of spins during the event, which impeded his progress. Alex’s second spin on lap 22 brought out a caution flag when Lance Fassbender was unable to avoid contact with his spinning car in turn three. After restarting at the rear of the field, Alex recovered to record a 17th place showing.
Alex’s night got off to a promising start in a PDTR 360 Sprint Car event on Saturday, June 18, as he ripped off the second fastest qualifying lap in the 26-car PDTR 360 Sprint Car field with a lap of 12.435 seconds.
The third-year 360 Sprint Car competitor started a 2022 season-best eighth in the PDTR 360 Sprint Car main event and was running sixth when his car suddenly lost power and rolled to a stop on lap 8 with an engine failure, which resulted in a 22nd place finish.
With a different power plant under the hood, Pokorski returned to action during the special Road America Challenge all-Sprint Car event at The Plymouth Dirt Track on Thursday, June 30, which proved to be challenging.
After qualifying 10th in the 29-car PDTR 360 Sprint Car field, Pokorski placed seventh in his heat race before starting 11th in the B main. He advanced up to ninth at the finish of the 12-lap race to fall three spots short of advancing to the main event, which was the only time he failed to qualify for an MSA-PDTR A main during the 2022 season.
On Saturday, July 9, Pokorski placed fifth in his heat race to earn the 13th starting spot in the PDTR 360 Sprint Car A main. Pokorski was running 11th when the front wing of his car became dislodged, which caused him to drop back to 14th at the finish.
With a strong field of 32 PDTR 360 Sprint Cars on hand, the Plymouth Dirt Track Racing program on Saturday, July 16 got off to a fast start as Pokorski turned the second-fastest qualifying time in the first heat race grouping and the 17th fastest overall qualifying lap with a time of 12.816 seconds.
After finishing second in his heat race, Pokorski lined up on the outside of the front row for the 25-lap PDTR 360 Sprint Car A main on a lightning fast and undulating track surface. Pokorski was running second on lap 5 when his car dug into the treacherous turn four cushion, launching him into a series of hard flips into the turn four fence ending his weekend with a 21st place finish to his credit.
Pokorski opened the July 30 PDTR 360 Sprint Car with the 19th fastest qualifying lap before finishing fifth in his heat race. He then started 12th and finished 13th in the 25-lap main event to record a season-best A-main showing.
One week later, the West Bend, Wis. driver added another 13th-place A-main finish on Saturday, Aug. 6 at The Plymouth Dirt Track before posting a 16th place main event showing, after stating 15th in a PDTR 360 Sprint A main at The Plymouth Dirt Track on Friday, Aug. 26.
The highlight of Pokorski’s 2022 campaign came one night later in his debut appearance at Wilmot Raceway in Wilmot, Wis. for an MSA 360 Sprint Car event on Saturday, Aug. 27.
Pokorski was quick right out of the gate behind the wheel of the No. 4 Akright Auto Racing Team 360 Sprint Car as he registered the fourth fastest overall time among the 29-car MSA group qualifying field with a lap of 14.068 seconds.
The West Bend driver rolled off from the pole position of the fourth eight-lap MSA heat race and bolted into the lead on the drop of the green flag before quickly building up a half-straightaway lead over defending MSA champion and current point leader Travis Arenz of Sheboygan Falls. Pokorski held strong throughout the eight-lap event en route to his first heat race victory of the 2022 season.
After starting fourth, Pokorski rode the momentum in the 25-lap MSA A main to place a career-best fourth in his first-career A main at Wilmot Raceway.
After starting 18th in the 25-lap PDTR 360 Sprint Car A main at The Plymouth Dirt Track during the Sheboygan County Fair on Saturday, Sept. 3, Pokorski moved up to 12th on lap 14. However, an off-track excursion late in the race spoiled Pokorski’s bid for a top-10 finish and resulted in a 17th place showing.
An appearance at the Dodge County Fairgrounds Speedway in Beaver Dam, Wis. on Friday, Sept. 23 resulted in a 16th place A-main showing for Pokorski.
Pokorski then capped off his 2022 campaign on a strong note by driving his Akright Auto Racing Team 360 Sprint Car from 18th to 10th in the 2022 season-ending PDTR 25-lap A main during the Wisconsin Sprint Car Championships at The Plymouth Dirt Track on Saturday, Sept. 24 to record his second top-10 showing of the season and season-best main event finish at Plymouth.
“Overall, I would say 2022 was a season of learning and growth,” Pokorski said. “We didn’t end up finishing as well as I had hoped in points, but we will take what we learned to help us get better results next year. My season high point would be finishing fourth at Wilmot amongst a lot of fast cars. The season was made possible by the Akrights, my parents, our sponsors, as well as our crew. The support and camaraderie of family and friends makes racing unique and fun.”
With his first season in the seat of the No. 4 Akright Auto Racing Team car now under his belt, Pokorski is looking forward to continuing the racing partnership in 2023.
“Racing has been such a great part of my life and I’m happy to continue with the same team next year,” Pokorski said. “We will be making plenty of equipment changes with switching to a Triple X chassis for next year.”
Sponsors and supporters for Alex Pokorski and the 2022 Akright Auto Racing Team include Akright Auto, Petersen Septic Systems, Goeden Auto Body, Novak’s Service Center, Wisconsin Bank and Trust, RC Custom Design and Pedal Down Promotions.
Alex Pokorski-Akright Auto Racing Team Sponsor Showcase – Akright Auto
Located at 106 North Bluebird Lane in Sheboygan Falls, Wis. Akright Auto has served as a reliable source for auto parts since 1940.
With a highly trained staff of auto parts professionals, Akright Auto is well prepared to assist customers with vehicle repair needs with a wide assortment of affordable, high-quality auto parts available on site. If a part is not available, Akright Auto offers next-day delivery services.
In addition, Akright Auto provides full auto salvage services, along with a 90-day standard warranty on all parts purchases.
Contact Akright Auto by phone at 920-467-4201, toll free at 800-400-4201, via email atdakright12@gmail.com or visit www.akrightauto.com.
Alex Pokorski-Akright Auto Racing Team Sponsor Showcase – Novak Service Center
Alex Pokorski and the Akright Auto Racing Team would like to acknowledge the support of long-time sponsor Novak’s Service Center of Manitowoc, which is celebrating its 50th year in business in 2022.
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 920-684-5737or visit www.novaks1320.com.
For more information on Alex Pokorski and the No. 4 Akright Auto Racing Team, check out Pokorski Motorsports on Facebook at https://facebook.com/pokorskimotorsports or visit www.pedaldownpromo.com.
Pedal Down Promotions is a full-service public relations and media services company devoted to helping its clients effectively communicate with targeted audiences through press releases, newsletters, profile and feature articles, website and social media content development, printed media, editing and layout, graphic design and book publishing services.
For more information on Pedal Down Promotions, email pedaldownpromotions@gmail.com, visit www.pedaldownpromo.com or call 920-323-7970.
Alex Pokorski
Akright Auto Racing Team 4
Final 2022 Season
By The Numbers
Total Events – 16
A Main Victories – 0
B Main Victories – 1
Top Five A Main Finishes – 1
Top 10 A Main Finishes – 2
Top 15 A Main Finishes – 6
Heat Race Victories – 1
Final Plymouth Dirt Track Racing 360 Sprint Car Points Finish – 14th
Final Midwest Sprint Car Association Points Finish – 15th
Paul Pokorski
Akright Auto 53A/Akright Auto Racing Team 4
Final 2022 Season
By The Numbers
Total Events – 2
A Main Victories – 0
B Main Victories – 0
Top Five A Main Finishes – 0
Top 10 A Main Finishes – 1
Top 15 A Main Finishes – 2
Heat Race Victories – 0
