Arenz leads from start to finish in PDTR victory

By JEFF PEDERSON

Pedal Down Promotions

Three first-time winners collected main-event hardware on a night that featured the Badger Midget Auto Racing Association at the Plymouth Dirt Track at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds on Saturday.

In the 25-lap Kristine Hartmann Pleasant View Realty PDTR-MSA 360 Sprint Car A-main, defending champ and points leader Travis Arenz of Sheboygan notched his fifth win of the season in leading from flag to flag.

Arenz led from the pole position on the opening lap, outpowering outside front-row starter Alex Pokorski of West Bend, and opened a comfortable lead.

On lap five, Pokorski got sideways and flipped into the turn four fence, while Justin Miller of Plymouth simultaneously flipped in turn three to bring out the red flag.

One lap after the restart, the caution flag was displayed for the stalled car of Bill Taylor of Boltonville in turn four.

When the race resumed, Arenz again bolted into the lead while Ben Schmidt of Plymouth moved into third. Two laps later, the hard-charging Schmidt worked past Troy Wondra of Campbellsport to advance to second in turn four.

As the leaders worked their way through slower traffic on lap 10, Brandon McMullen of Oshkosh moved into third on lap 15 before powering past Schmidt into second on lap 20.

Arenz successfully negotiated his way through the rear of the field as the laps wound down to secure his 15th career PDTR 360 Sprint Car A-main victory and 27th career Midwest Sprint Car Association main event triumph.

McMullen was second, followed by Schmidt, Shane Wenninger of Kewaskum  and Kurt Davis of South Milwaukee.

In other races:

ν 2016 Plymouth Dirt Track Racing Micro Sprint champion Zach Boden of Cambridge posted his second career Badger Midget A-main victory in the 25-lap Badger Midget Auto Racing Association main event.

Aaron Muhle of Beaver Dam was second, followed by Todd Kluever of Sun Prairie, R.J. Corson of Markham, Ill., and Datyn England of Springfield, Ill.

ν Late model newcomer Paul Niznik of Medford used a late-race pass to secure his first PDTR late model A-main victory in the 25-lap  Sheboygan’s Country B93.7 Late Model A main in his debut PDTR appearance.

Joe Bongiorno of Milwaukee was second, followed by Charlie Schmidt of Oostburg, Jim Schmidt of Cleveland and Turk Leitzia of Milwaukee.

ν Matt Loehr of Dotyville cruised to his third 25-lap Oostburg Automotive PDTR Grand National A-main triumph of the 2022 campaign.

Josh Pierce of Fredonia was second, followed by Luke Scholten of Oostburg, Tyler Kulow of Plymouth and Steven Weber of Plymouth.

ν Shane Long of Sheboygan Falls led from start to finish to earn his first career PDTR B Mod A-main victory in the 25-lap Next Stop Insurance B Mod main event.

Andy Welter of Hartford was second, followed by Brendan Ostrowski of Milwaukee, James Rautmann of Howards grove and Brian Konitzer of Sheboygan.

Ben Schmidt was the fastest 360 sprint car overall qualifier with a lap of 12.03 seconds.

Zach Boden earned the Badger Midgets fast qualifier award with a lap of 13.186.

Anthony Knierim of Caledonia won the 15-lap 360 sprint car B main.

On Saturday, July 23 the inaugural Plymouth Racing Wall of Fame Class of 2022 induction of 10 drivers, four track workers and three racing families honored.

Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with qualifying at 5:30 p.m. and racing at 6 p.m.