Paul Pokorski opens PDTR season with thrilling victory
Rookie Alex Pokorski set to make Sprint Car debut
(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) June 9, 2020 – In his final race as the full-time driver of the No. 4 Pokorski Motorsports 360 Sprint Car, West Bed driver Paul Pokorski turned in a performance to remember in claiming a stirring 25-lap A-main victory in the Plymouth Dirt Track Racing season opener at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds in Plymouth, Wis. on Saturday, June 6.
The evening began on a strong note for Pokorski, who lined up fifth in the first 10-lap PDTR 360 Sprint Car heat race. The 28th-year driver worked around Nick Daywalt of Slinger with a high move in turn four on lap 3 to take over the fourth spot. On lap 6, Pokorski dipped low to slip past Sean Rayhall of Marietta, Ga. to take over third in the running order, which is where he finished the race.
“Things definitely fell into place for us really all night,” Pokorski said. “The car started out good. It felt good in the heat race. It was maybe a bit too tight, but I was happy.”
The passing points inversion draw put Pokorski on the pole for the 25-lap 360 Sprint Car A main with Waupun’s Tyler Brabant starting alongside on the front row. The 2014 Midwest Sprint Car Association Masters Series champion and three-time Eastern Wisconsin Stock Car Winged Super Modified champ jumped out to the lead in turn one before Brabant got together with Brandon McMullen of Oshkosh in turn two, which triggered a five-car red flag incident.
Following a complete restart, Pokorski bolted out the lead with Brabant settling into second followed by sixth starter Arenz in third. By lap 6, Pokorski built a half-straightaway cushion over Brabant by sticking to the extreme inside line of the dry slick racing surface.
On lap 8, Brabant began to close and six laps later Brabant dove low in turn one, only to have Pokorski shut the door. However, Brabant battled back to wrestle the lead away from Pokorski with a low move in turn three on lap 17.
Two laps later, Brabant made contact with the slowing car of Josh Teunissen of Waldo, which caused his car to twitch exiting turn four and gave Pokorski an opening to regain the lead in turn one on lap 20.
On lap 22, Travis Arenz worked the outside groove to pull past Brabant and draw even with Pokorski. However, Pokorski held strong to maintain the lead as both Brabant and Arenz continued to dig for the victory.
Pokorski, who is planning to share the driver’s seat of the No. 4 Pokorski Motorsports car with his 21-year-old son Alex this season, stayed precise along the low groove in the closing laps to fend off both challengers en route to his fourth career PDTR 360 Sprint Car A-main triumph, 11th overall 360 Sprint Car main event win and 46th career A-main victory in Sprint Car and Winged Super Modified competition.
“A good invert draw helped us a lot,” Pokorski said. “The plan was to commit to the bottom until somebody showed me the top was working. I couldn’t believe when we got to halfway and I hadn’t seen anyone outside yet. We all know the bottom isn’t my thing, so I knew that someone had to be right on my bumper looking for an opportunity. I messed up a couple of times and Tyler was able to pounce. After I gave up the lead, I was having a debate in my own head about whether or not to stay on the bottom and ride in second or to try the outside.
“Luckily, I stayed on the bottom until Tyler made a mistake and was able to capitalize on that,” he said. “Once we got back in front, I just kept talking to myself and made sure that I didn’t make the mistake of opening up the bottom again. I thought for a lap or so that Travis Arenz was going to make the middle work. I was pleasantly surprised to see him fall back a little bit and out of view after a lap. That just reassured me that I was doing the right thing by taking it easy on the bottom and staying tight to the inside. It definitely feels great to get a win after a bit of a dry spell.”
Pokorski, who broke a three-year A-main victory drought with the win, will relinquish the driver’s seat to his 21-year-old son, Alex, beginning this Saturday, June 13 at The Plymouth Dirt Track.
“This week I turn over the reins to Alex,” Pokorski said. “Of course, I have mixed feelings. I’d love to go out and keep doing it myself but, as most parents would understand, I am looking forward to the opportunity to watch him and hope he has some success.”
While Alex is scheduled to compete in the majority of races this summer, Paul will still make occasional appearances behind the wheel, most notably in the upcoming MSA traveling events on Friday, July 3 and Friday, Sept. 25 at the Dodge County Fairgrounds in Beaver Dam.
Grandstand gates open at 4:30 p.m. with hot laps at 5:30 p.m. and racing at 6 p.m. for the next Plymouth Dirt Track Racing program at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds in Plymouth, Wis. on Saturday, June 13.
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.
For more information on Pokorski Motorsports, check out Pokorski Motorsports on Facebook or visit www.pedaldownpromo.com.
Pokorski Motorsports SponsorShowcase – Petersen Septic Systems
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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.
2020 Pokorski Motorsports Upcoming Schedule.
Saturday, June 13 – Plymouth Dirt Track, Plymouth, Wis.
Saturday, June 20 – Plymouth Dirt Track, Plymouth, Wis.
Friday, June 26 – Plymouth Dirt Track, Plymouth, Wis.
2020 Pokorski Motorsports By The Numbers
Total Events – 2
MSA events – 1
IRA events – 0
A Main Victories – 1
B Main Victories – 0
Top Five A Main Finishes – 1
Top 10 A Main Finishes – 1
Heat Race Victories – 0
