Schmidt, Scheffler, Kulow, Welter notch initial 2022 PDTR A-main triumphs
(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) July 9, 2022 – As the 2022 campaign hit the half-way mark, four drivers paid their first visits of the season to Plymouth Dirt Track Racing victory lane in A-main competition on Fan Appreciation Night at The Plymouth Dirt Track at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds in Plymouth, Wis. on Saturday, July 9.
In the 25-lap Kristine Hartmann Pleasant View Realty PDTR-MSA 360 Sprint Car A-main, 2011 PDTR 360 Sprint Car champion Ben Schmidt of Plymouth held off former track champions Travis Arenz of Sheboygan and Brandon McMullen of Oshkosh to claim his first A-main victory of the 2022 season.
Taylor Scheffler of Waukesha made the most of a rare appearance at The Plymouth Dirt Track by capturing the 25-lap Sheboygan’s Country B93.7 Late Model A main.
2019 PDTR Grand National champ Tyler Kulow of Plymouth earned his first 2022 triumph in the 25-lap Oostburg Automotive Grand National A-main.
Andy Welter of Hartford rolled to his first career PDTR B Mod A-main victory in the 25-lap Next Stop Insurance B Mod main event.
Polesitter Justin Erickson of Plymouth led the opening lap of the 25-lap 360 Sprint Car A main before outside front row starter Shane Wenninger of Kewaskum used the outside groove to sweep into the lead in turn two on lap two.
Seconds later, the lone caution flag of the event appeared for a five-car incident in turn one involving Tyler Brabant of Waupun, Doug Wondra of Oakfield, Tommy Colburn of New Berlin, Tony Wondra of Campbellsport and Mike Yurmanovich of Cascade. The incident knocked Colburn and Yurmanovich out of the remainder of the race, while Doug Wondra, Tony Wondra and Brabant were able to continue.
On the restart, Ben Schmidt, who started fourth, worked the high line to move past Erickson into second and quickly close in on Wenninger for the lead. Three laps later, Schmidt moved within striking distance, while 2021 PDTR 360 Sprint Car champion and current points leader Travis Arenz, who started sixth, moved into third.
On lap 9, Schmidt maneuvered his way past Wenninger in turn two to take the lead, while Arenz followed suit by moving around Wenninger into second on the following lap.
Over the final 16 laps, the leaders had their hands full as they sliced their way through heavy lapped traffic. As the laps wound down, Arenz worked primarily the low line to reel in the high-riding Schmidt, while two-time PDTR 360 Sprint Car champion Brandon McMullen, who started seventh, moved into third to join in a spirited three-car duel at the front of the field.
With Arenz and McMullen hot on his heels, Schmidt stayed smooth and consistent to successfully negotiate a dense gaggle of slower traffic in the closing laps en route to his 14th career PDTR 360 Sprint Car A-main victory and 31st career Midwest Sprint Car Association main event triumph.
Arenz had to settle for second, McMullen finished third, Wenninger placed fourth and Erickson wound up fifth.
Polesitter Joe Bongiorno of Milwaukee took the lead at the drop of the green flag of the 25-lap Late Model main event.
On lap 2, outside front row starter Turk Letizia of Milwaukee used the low line to pressure the cushion-running Bongiorno for the top spot. As Bongiorno and Letizia continued to wage an early duel at the front of the pack, Taylor Scheffler, who started fourth, dove low to move past Letizia into second on lap 5.
Scheffler then bolted past Bongiorno to assume the lead in turn one on lap six. The first of two caution flags appeared later on lap 6 for the slowing car of Charlie Schmidt Oostburg along the backstretch.
On the restart, Scheffler worked the preferred outside groove to open up a full straightaway cushion over Bongiorno. The second and final caution flag was displayed on lap 16 when Sawyer Specht of Sheboygan Falls spun in turn two.
Late Model rookie Bill Edler of Howards Grove charged up to briefly take second in the running order on the restart before four-time defending PDTR Late Model champion and current point leader Justin Schmidt of Cleveland, who started 10th, used a low move to take second from Edler on lap 17,
Schmidt cut into Scheffler’s lead over the final eight circuits, but he was not able to mount a serious challenge as Scheffler went on to notch his sixth career PDTR Late Model A-main victory in his second appearance of the 2022 season at The Plymouth Dirt Track.
Outside front row starter Steven Weber of Plymouth grabbed the lead on the opening lap of the 25-lap Grand National A main. On lap 3, fourth starter Tyler Kulow moved into second with current PDTR Grand National point leader Luke Scholten of Oostburg moving into third from his sixth starting position.
The first of three caution flags was displayed on lap 5 for debris in turn four. On lap restart, Scholten used the high line to move around Kulow and pressure Weber for the top spot. Weber and Scholten battled side by side over the next several circuits as 2010 PDTR Grand National champion Brian Gilles of Plymouth, who started fifth, moved the Bender Racing No. 89 car into third on lap 9.
The second caution flag appeared on lap 10 when Scott Kafka of Kiel spun along the backstretch. On the restart, Kulow worked his way past Scholten into second as Weber built up a solid half-straightaway lead at the front of the field.
With three laps remaining, Weber’s machine began to slow, which allowed Kulow close the gap significantly. After slight contact with Kulow and the third-place car of Gilles on lap 23, the third and final caution flag of the race flew when Weber stopped along the backstretch and Gilles slowed with a flat right front tire.
With Weber out of the race, Kulow inherited the lead and he maintained the top spot over the final two circuits on the way to his 11th career PDTR Grand National A-main victory.
Scholten finished second, 2008 PDTR Grand National champion Matt Yancey of Sheboygan, who started third, finished third, Donny Kulow of Elkhart Lake, who started seventh, placed fourth and Gilles recovered to finish fifth.
After the initial start was aborted for a fourth car incident involving Shane Long of Sheboygan Falls, Jonathan Hitsman of Newton, Rory Welch of Grafton and Spencer Long of Sheboygan Falls, James Rautmann of Howards Grove seized the top spot from the pole position on the opening lap of the 25-lap B Mod A main.
On lap 5, third starter Travis Schmidt of Waldo worked the low line to move into second in turn one. By lap 10, Schmidt pulled up to challenge Rautmann for the top spot as the leaders held tight to the low groove.
The second caution flag was presented on lap 15 when Steve Lorier of Sheboygan spun in turn two. On the restart, Andy Welter made his presence felt as he moved up from his fifth starting spot to pressure Schmidt’s slowing car for second on lap 17.
The third and final caution flag appeared on lap 16 for a four car incident in turn three involving Jonathan Hitsman, Spencer Long, Patrick Hansen of Sheboygan Falls and Matthew Roehl of Fond du Lac.
Welter took second from Schmidt following the final restart on lap 17 and quickly set his sights on Rautmann. On lap 20, Welter powered his way past Rautmann into the lead in turn two.
Welter then pulled away to earn his first career PDTR B Mod A-main victory and assume the point lead in the B Mod division at The Plymouth Dirt Track.
Sixth starter Jonathon Baumann of Sheboygan rode the high line to a second-place finish, Rautmann placed third, third starter Brandon Knepprath of Boltonville took fourth and Steve Lorier bounced back after restarting at the rear of the field on lap 15 to round out the top five.
Butch Hafemann of Campbellsport captured the special 12-lap Vintage Modified A main.
Bill Taylor of Boltonville won the 12-lap 360 Sprint Car B main.
The seventh full PDTR program of the 2022 campaign, which was sponsored by Butch and Blondie Hafemann, drew a total field of 68 cars, including 26 PDTR 360 Sprint Cars, 12 Late Models, 8 Grand Nationals, 14 B Mods and 8 Vintage Modifieds.
The next PDTR racing program on Saturday, July 16 will include the first of two scheduled appearances of the 2022 season at The Plymouth Dirt Track for the Badger Midget Auto Racing Association, in addition to the PDTR 360 Sprint Cars, Late Models, Grand Nationals and B Mods.
Spectator gates open at 4:30 p.m. with 360 Sprint Car hot laps/group qualifying at 5:30 p.m. and racing to begin at 6 p.m. for the PDTR program sponsored by Pit Stop Pizza on July 16.
The new book “Racing Recollections – Plymouth Racetrack Fans & Drivers 1950-2021” by Dennis Darovich of Sheboygan, George Baumann of Waupun and Verla Peichl of Sheboygan Falls will be available for purchase at every race during the 2022 PDTR season, as well as at the Sheboygan County Fair office during regular business hours and online at www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com.
The Plymouth Dirt Track at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds is located at 229 Fairview Drive in Plymouth, Wis. For more information, visit www.plymouthdtr.com or check out Plymouth Dirt Track Racing on Facebook.
KRISTINE HARTMANN PLEASANT VIEW REALTY 360 SPRINT CARS
HEAT 1
1, Blake Wondra 2, Chris Larson 3, Justin Erickson 4, Preston Ruh 5, Mike Yurmanovich 6, Will Gerrits 7, Dylan Winkel 8, J.J. Pagel 9, Lance Fassbender.
HEAT 2
1, Scott Conger 2, Shane Wenninger 3, Ben Schmidt 4, Justin Miller 5, Tommy Colburn 6, Bill Taylor 7, Tony Wondra 8, Chris Clayton 9, Randy Post.
HEAT 3
1, Brandon McMullen 2, Travis Arenz 3, Katelyn Krebsbach 4, Tyler Brabant 5, Alex Pokorski 6, Tim Haddy 7, Doug Wondra 8, Kevin Seidler.
B MAIN
1, Bill Taylor 2, Tommy Colburn 3, Doug Wondra 4, Tony Wondra 5, Dylan Winkel 6, Lance Fassbender 7, Chris Clayton 8, J.J. Pagel 9, Randy Post 10, Kevin Seidler.
A MAIN
1, Ben Schmidt 2, Travis Arenz 3, Brandon McMullen 4, Shane Wenninger 5, Justin Erickson 6, Chris Larson 7, Justin Miller 8, Will Gerrits 9, Scott Conger 10, Blake Wondra 11, Lance Fassbender 12, Tyler Brabant 13, Tim Haddy 14, Alex Pokorski 15, Bill Taylor 16, Preston Ruh 17, Dylan Winkel 18, Tony Wondra 19, Katelyn Krebsbach 20, Doug Wondra 21, Mike Yurmanovich 22, Tommy Colburn.
SHEBOYGAN’S COUNTRY B93.7 LATE MODELS
HEAT 1
1, Taylor Scheffler 2, Jon Bongiorno 3, Turk Letizia 4, Sawyer Specht 5, Tony Peterson 6, Justin Schmidt.
HEAT 2
1, Bill Edler 2, Jim Schmidt 3, Donny Singer 4, Chad Ludwigson 5, Charlie Schmidt 6, Eric Michaels.
A MAIN
1, Taylor Scheffler 2, Justin Schmidt 3, Joe Bongiorno 4, Bill Edler 5, Turk Letizia 6, Tony Peterson 7, Jim Schmidt 8, Eric Michaels 9, Donny Singer 10, Sawyer Specht 11, Charlie Schmidt 12, Chad Ludwigson.
OOSTBURG AUTOMOTIVE GRAND NATIONALS
HEAT
1, Luke Scholten 2, Brian Gilles 3, Tyler Kulow 4, Matt Yancey 5, Steven Weber 6, Donny Kulow 7, Scott Kafka 8, Shaun Goetsch.
A MAIN
1, Tyler Kulow 2, Luke Scholten 3, Matt Yancey 4, Donny Kulow 5, Brian Gilles 6, Scott Kafka 7, Steven Weber, 8, Shaun Goetsch.
NEXT STEP INSURANCE B MODS
HEAT 1
1, Steve Lorier 2, Brandon Knepprath 3, Travis Schmidt 4, Shane Long 5, Rory Welch 6, Spencer Long 7, Michael Strean.
HEAT 2
1, Jonathon Baumann 2, Jonathan Hitsman 3, Andy Welter 4, James Rautmann 5, Patrick Hanson 6, Gary Glander 7, Matthew Roehl.
A MAIN
1, Andy Welter 2, Jonathon Baumann 3, James Rautmann 4, Brandon Knepprath 5, Steve Lorier 6, Rory Welch 7, Jonathan Hitsman 8, Matthew Roehl 9, Spencer Long 10, Patrick Hanson 11, Travis Schmidt 12, Shane Long 13, Gary Glander (DNS) 14, Michael Strean (DNS).
