Smith, Thomas tally triumphs in rain-shortened PDTR season opener

 

Wet weather washes out Sprint Car main events

(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) April 27, 2024 – On an evening hampered by on-and-off rain showers, Plymouth Dirt Track Racing fired up the 2024 racing season in truncated fashion at a damp Plymouth Dirt Track in Plymouth, Wis. on Saturday, April 27. 

After pressing through two separate rain delays, the third round of rain coupled with lightning brought the program to an early close with two of the four scheduled A-mains managing to make it to the checkered flag.

T.J. Smith of Greenville skillfully negotiated a slew of slower traffic to become the first Plymouth Dirt Track Racing A-main victor of the 2024 campaign in the 25-lap Oostburg Automotive Grand National main event. 

In his first career appearance at The Plymouth Dirt Track, PDTR rookie Cole Thomas of Franklin delivered a standout debut performance on the way to victory in the Sheboygan Flooring 25-lap B Mod A main.

The first rain delay came shortly after the completion of the heat race competition in each of the four divisions. After the track was worked back into racing condition for the Grand National main event, the ensuing B Mod A main was halted for another rain shower on lap eight.

Another round of track manicuring during the second rain delay resulted in the completion of the B Mod main event. However, rain hit the track for a third time as the 106.5 The Buzz Autometer Wisconsin wingLESS Sprint Cars pushed off for A-main action, which led to the cancellation of the remainder of the season-opening racing program.

As a result, points and payout were evenly divided among the scheduled A-main starters in the Akright Auto Plymouth Dirt Track Racing 360 Sprint Car and the Wisconsin wingLESS Sprint Car divisions. 

Outside front row starter T.J. Smith outdueled polesitter Brad Weiss of Cascade to take the lead of the 25-lap PDTR Grand National A main in turn two of the opening lap. Smith promptly built up a solid cushion at the head of the pack in the early going as fourth starter Dustin Weiss of Iron Ridge and Brad Weiss settled into second and third respectively.

On lap four, Smith already found himself negotiating slower traffic while maintaining a quarter-straightaway lead over Dustin Weiss. Four laps later, defending Grand National division co-champion Will Sorce of Franklin, who started third, slipped past Brad Weiss to assume third in the running order.

Smith got held up among a gaggle of slower cars on lap 11, which allowed Dustin Wess and Sorce to move in to challenge for the top spot. After Smith recovered to maintain a solid advantage, another swarm of lapped cars nearly caused the second-year PDTR 360 Sprint Car competitor and infrequent PDTR Grand National racer to surrender the lead as Dustin Weiss charged in to briefly duck underneath Smith in turn two on lap 21.

Once again, Smith rebounded to retain the top spot on the way to his second career PDTR Grand National A-main victory in the caution-free race, which was completed in a swift six minutes and fifty-six seconds. 

Dustin Weiss had to settle for second, Sorce placed third, 2022 PDTR Grand National champion Luke Scholten of Oostburg, who started 10th, charged up to place fourth and two-time and defending PDTR Grand National champion Brian Gilles of Plymouth moved up from the 12th starting position to finish fifth.

Outside front row starter Cole Thomas got the jump on polesitter Brandon Knepprath of Boltonville to lead the opening lap of the B Mod A main. On lap 3, the first of four caution flags appeared when ninth starter Travis Schmidt of Plymouth spun in turn three.

Thomas controlled the ensuing restart with Knepprath holding down second and third starter Rory Welch of Plymouth running in third. Steve Lorier of Sheboygan, who started sixth, overtook Welch for third before the second caution was displayed for the stalled car of Hunter Larson of Oshkosh along the front stretch wall. 

Following the next restart, Lorier moved past Knepprath into the runner-up spot as Thomas bolted away from the field. After two more cautions slowed the pace on lap 7 and lap 8, the first rain delay of the evening took hold.

After the completion of track restoration work, Thomas continued undeterred as he bolted away from the pack while seventh starter Barrett Hummelmeier of Beaver Dam powered past Lorier to take over second on lap nine. 

Thomas, who has competed primarily on asphalt during his racing career, built up a big half-lap lead over Hummelmeier by lap 17 and weaved his way through slower traffic over the final five laps on the way to his first career PDTR B Mod A-main victory.

Hummelmeier placed second, Lorier wound up third, Travis Schmidt rebounded from his lap 3 spin to place fourth and Knepprath rounded out the top five. 

T.J. Haddy of Waupun turned the overall fastest lap in Akright Auto Plymouth Dirt Track Racing 360 Sprint Car hot lap-heat race group qualifying in 12.883 seconds. 

John Fahl of Brown Deer claimed the fast qualifier award in the 106.5 The Buzz Autometer Wisconsin wingLESS Sprint Car division with a lap of 13.755 seconds. 

The first event of the 2024 PDTR campaign, which was sponsored by Vesta accounting, wealth, and financial advisory firm drew a total of 81 entries, including 23 PDTR 360 Sprint Cars, 23 Wisconsin wingLESS Sprint Cars, 20 Grand Nationals and 15 B Mods. 

The next Plymouth Dirt Track Racing program on Saturday, May 4 will feature the 2024 Seubert Calf Ranches Super Six Late Model Series season opener, along with PDTR-MSA 360 Sprint Cars, Grand Nationals and B Mods. 

Earlier start times will again be in place with pit gates opening at 2 p.m. grandstand gates opening at 4 p.m. and racing beginning at 5 p.m.

Weather information for all Plymouth Dirt Track Racing events will be posted on the Plymouth Dirt Track Racing Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram pages, as well as the Plymouth Dirt Track Racing website – www.plymouthdtr.com. 

The Plymouth Dirt Track at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds is located at 229 Fairview Drive in Plymouth, Wis. For more information, visitwww.plymouthdtr.com or check out Plymouth Dirt Track Racing on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

AKRIGHT AUTO PLYMOUTH DIRT TRACK RACING 360 SPRINT CARS

A Main (25 Laps): Rained Out

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 24-Scott Conger [2]; 2. 69S-TJ Smith [1]; 3. 22B-Brandon Berth [3]; 4. 7-Lance Fassbender [4]; 5. 25-Danny Schlafer [5]; 6. 11-Tony Wondra [7]; 7. 46-Steven Ruh [8]; 8. 66T-Tristan Koenings [6]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 35-Ben Schmidt [2]; 2. 21H-TJ Haddy [4]; 3. 08-Katelyn Krebsbach [1]; 4. 63K-Kevin Karnitz [3]; 5. 3-Justin Erickson [5]; 6. 52-Cody Schlafer [8]; 7. 12P-JJ Pagel [6]; 8. 54-Randy Post [7]

Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 4-Alex Pokorski [2]; 2. 09-Clayton Rossmann [4]; 3. 33-Josh Bilicki [1]; 4. 69-Bill Taylor [3]; 5. 30-Doug Wondra [5]; 6. 51-Chris Larson [7]; 7. 53A-Spyder Akright [6]

Qualifying Heat Race Group 1 (3 Laps): 1. 7-Lance Fassbender, 13.050 [3]; 2. 22B-Brandon Berth, 13.098 [2]; 3. 24-Scott Conger, 13.296 [5]; 4. 69S-TJ Smith, 13.341 [1]; 5. 25-Danny Schlafer, 13.343 [7]; 6. 66T-Tristan Koenings, 13.365 [4]; 7. 11-Tony Wondra, 13.433 [6]; 8. 46-Steven Ruh, 13.459 [8]

Qualifying Heat Race Group 2 (3 Laps): 1. 21H-TJ Haddy, 12.883 [7]; 2. 63K-Kevin Karnitz, 12.905 [5]; 3. 35-Ben Schmidt, 12.954 [6]; 4. 08-Katelyn Krebsbach, 13.008 [3]; 5. 3-Justin Erickson, 13.186 [4]; 6. 52-Cody Schlafer, 13.328 [8]; 7. 12P-JJ Pagel, 13.965 [1]; 8. 54-Randy Post, 14.109 [2]

Qualifying Heat Race Group 3 (3 Laps): 1. 09-Clayton Rossmann, 12.898 [4]; 2. 69-Bill Taylor, 12.923 [2]; 3. 4-Alex Pokorski, 13.070 [5]; 4. 33-Josh Bilicki, 13.192 [7]; 5. 30-Doug Wondra, 13.214 [6]; 6. 53A-Spyder Akright, 13.240 [3]; 7. 51-Chris Larson, 13.833 [1]

OOSTBURG AUTOMOTIVE GRAND NATIONALS

A Main (25 Laps): 1. 69-TJ Smith [2]; 2. 53W-Dustin Weiss [4]; 3. 14X-Will Sorce [3]; 4. 80-Luke Scholten [10]; 5. 89-Brian Gilles [12]; 6. 5M-Jeff Muehlbauer [11]; 7. 23-Scott Kafka [7]; 8. 55-Tony Miller [5]; 9. 95-Donny Kulow [14]; 10. 15-Derek Kaat [13]; 11. 54-Austin Yancey [18]; 12. 24K-Tyler Kulow [9]; 13. 14-Benjamin Mccoy [17]; 14. (DNF) 35-Jared Weiss [16]; 15. (DNF) 52W-Jack Wiroll [8]; 16. (DNF) 23B-Trent Bogart [15]; 17. (DNF) 53B-Brad Weiss [1]; 18. (DNF) 5MM-Nate Ruh [6]; 19. (DNS) 34-Steven Weber; 20. (DNS) 6-Dick Hed

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 53W-Dustin Weiss [2]; 2. 80-Luke Scholten [1]; 3. 14X-Will Sorce [4]; 4. 5M-Jeff Muehlbauer [5]; 5. 15-Derek Kaat [6]; 6. 23B-Trent Bogart [7]; 7. (DNF) 6-Dick Hed [3]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 24K-Tyler Kulow [1]; 2. 89-Brian Gilles [2]; 3. 52W-Jack Wiroll [3]; 4. 23-Scott Kafka [4]; 5. 95-Donny Kulow [5]; 6. 35-Jared Weiss [6]; 7. 54-Austin Yancey [7]

Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 5MM-Nate Ruh [2]; 2. 69-TJ Smith [4]; 3. 53B-Brad Weiss [5]; 4. 55-Tony Miller [3]; 5. 34-Steven Weber [1]; 6. 14-Benjamin Mccoy [6]

SHEBOYGAN FLOORING B MODS

A Main (25 Laps): 1. 91-Cole Thomas [2]; 2. 33H-Barrett Hummelmeier [7]; 3. 66-Steve Lorier [6]; 4. 3-Travis Schmidt [9]; 5. 17-Brandon Knepprath [1]; 6. 9-Hunter Larson [5]; 7. 59S-Spencer Long [11]; 8. 73-Rory Welch [3]; 9. 11B-Brad Buckman [12]; 10. 2-Joe Shelby [13]; 11. (DNF) 19-Parker Glander [10]; 12. (DNF) 11S-Zachary Schmidt [8]; 13. (DNF) 22M-Barry Maas [4]; 14. (DNF) 31W-Kelan Wolfe [14]; 15. (DNS) 25-Jim Fischer

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 17-Brandon Knepprath [1]; 2. 66-Steve Lorier [3]; 3. 22M-Barry Maas [8]; 4. 19-Parker Glander [2]; 5. 73-Rory Welch [5]; 6. 59S-Spencer Long [4]; 7. 11B-Brad Buckman [6]; 8. 2-Joe Shelby [7]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 91-Cole Thomas [2]; 2. 3-Travis Schmidt [1]; 3. 33H-Barrett Hummelmeier [5]; 4. 9-Hunter Larson [3]; 5. 11S-Zachary Schmidt [4]; 6. 25-Jim Fischer [7]; 7. 31W-Kelan Wolfe [6]

106.5 THE BUZZ AUTOMETER WISCONSIN WINGLESS SPRINT CAR SERIES

A Main (20 Laps): Rained Out

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 50-Rusty Egan [3]; 2. 40-Tim Cox [5]; 3. 0-John Fahl [4]; 4. 38-Allen Hafford [2]; 5. 14Z-Ryan Zielski [6]; 6. 7-Trinity Uttech [7]; 7. 29OG-Tom Eller [1]; 8. (DNS) 17-Bryce Andrews

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 7X-Ryan Marshall [2]; 2. 91-Jimmy Sivia [4]; 3. 23Z-Zach Raidart [3]; 4. 70H-Tate Hensley [1]; 5. 11-Austin Hansen [5]; 6. 29J-Ralph Johnson [6]; 7. 4G-George Gaertner III [7]

Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 70-Chris Klemko [2]; 2. 57F-Tristan Furseth [3]; 3. 711-Tyler Kuxhouse [4]; 4. 7D-Josh Davidson [6]; 5. 13A-Dave Wallace [7]; 6. (DNF) 99J-Seth Johnson [1]; 7. (DNF) 4L-Lance Thompson [5]

Qualifying: 1. 0-John Fahl, 13.755 [2]; 2. 91-Jimmy Sivia, 13.816 [7]; 3. 711-Tyler Kuxhouse, 13.849 [13]; 4. 50-Rusty Egan, 13.897 [3]; 5. 23Z-Zach Raidart, 13.941 [19]; 6. 57F-Tristan Furseth, 13.977 [10]; 7. 38-Allen Hafford, 14.016 [4]; 8. 7X-Ryan Marshall, 14.027 [12]; 9. 70-Chris Klemko, 14.046 [8]; 10. 29OG-Tom Eller, 14.136 [6]; 11. 70H-Tate Hensley, 14.200 [1]; 12. 99J-Seth Johnson, 14.249 [16]; 13. 40-Tim Cox, 14.254 [22]; 14. 11-Austin Hansen, 14.280 [20]; 15. 4L-Lance Thompson, 14.411 [21]; 16. 14Z-Ryan Zielski, 14.435 [9]; 17. 29J-Ralph Johnson, 14.485 [11]; 18. 7D-Josh Davidson, 14.496 [5]; 19. 7-Trinity Uttech, 14.616 [18]; 20. 4G-George Gaertner III, 15.264 [17]; 21. (DNF) 13A-Dave Wallace [14]; 22. (DNF) 17-Bryce Andrews [15]