Schmidt gets back on track in Plymouth

The 10th Plymouth Dirt Track Racing program of the 2020 season featured a little bit of everything last Saturday at The Plymouth Dirt Track at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds in Plymouth.

Races included a newly crowned three-time repeat late model champion, a first-time B Mod A-main winner, a photo finish in the Grand National main event and the first A-main victory of the year for a former Sprint Car champion plagued by bad luck for much of the 2020 season.

In the 25-lap Kristine Hartmann Pleasant View Realty 360 Sprint Car A main, 2011 PDTR 360 Sprint Car champ Ben Schmidt of Howards Grove got his incident-plagued 2020 season back on track by notching his first A-main victory of the 2020 season.

Schmidt vaulted into the lead in the first turn of the opening lap from the pole position as outside front row starter Kevin Karnitz of West Bend settled into second.

By lap four, Schmidt had opened up a full straightaway cushion over Karnitz on the slick and smooth track surface. Three laps later, Schmidt began to work his way through heavy lapped traffic, which allowed Karnitz to close the gap.

On lap 13, the first of two caution flags appeared when Waupun’s Tim Haddy spun in turn two. Schmidt again bolted out to a commanding lead on the restart utilizing the preferred outside groove.

By lap 21, Schmidt had again built up a full-straightaway lead as point leader Travis Arenz of Sheboygan, who started 12th , and 2017 PDTR 360 Sprint Car champ Brandon McMullen of Oshkosh, who started seventh, traded slide jobs for fifth on lap 22.

The second and final caution appeared on lap 24 when Anthony Knierim of Franksville spun in turn four to set up a single-file green, white, checkered flag finish.

On the restart, Schmidt again charged away from Karnitz, while Arenz made a daring move to sweep past two-time PDTR 360 Sprint Car champ Kurt Davis of South Milwaukee, who started fifth, and Shane Wenninger of Kewaskum, who started fourth, to move from fifth to third on the final lap.

Schmidt, who suffered a series of motor failures and a hard crash at Beaver Dam Raceway early in the season, pulled away to secure his 10th career PDTR 360 Sprint Car A-main victory and 26th career Midwest Sprint Car Association main win.

Karnitz finished second, Arenz placed third, Wenninger was fourth and Davis was fifth.

In other races:

• Charlie Schmidt of Oostburg cruised over the final 10 laps to take the the 25-lap PDTRpoints season-ending A-main race.

It was his 13th career PDTR late model A-main victory and his third consecutive track title by two points over Turk Letizia of Waukesha.. Justin Ritchie of New London placed second, Tim Buhler of Greenbush was third, Letizia was fourth and Brad Mueller of Random Lake was fifth.

n In a near photo finish, Aaron Stolp of Milwaukee edged Don Sorce Jr. of West Allis by .03 seconds at the finish line for his third career PDTR Grand National A-main victory.

Sorce Jr. was second in the 25-lap race. Luke Scholten of Oostburg was third, Steven Webet of Plymouth was fourth and defending PDTR Grand National champ Tyler Kulow of Plymouth placed fifth.

• Brian Wieland of Sheboygan Falls won his first career PDTR B Mod victory in flag-to-flag fashion.

Trevor Frank of Sheboygan was second. Tim Warner of Fond du Lac was third, Travis Schmidt of Waldo was fourth and Jerry Duggan of Manitowoc was fifth.

• Lance Fassbender of Burnett won the 15-lap 360 Sprint Car B main.

The 10th PDTR racing program of the 2020 season drew 82 cars, including 28 PDTR 360 Sprint Cars, 15 late models, 15 Grand Nationals and 24 B Mods.

PDTR action will resume on Thursday, Aug. 27 with the third annual Russ Scheffler Tribute Night event featuring an added purse for the Late Model division, including a full points night for the PDTR 360 Sprint Car, Grand National and B Mod divisions.

On Friday, Aug. 28, PDTR will host the Dirt Kings Late Model Tour for the Mueller Sales and Service 30. The evening also includes a full points program for the PDTR 360 Sprint Cars, as well as non-points programs for the

Grand National and B Mod divisions.

Grandstand gates open at 4:30 p.m. with hot laps at 5:30 p.m. and racing at 6:30 p.m. on both nights.