Justin Schmidt secures first PDTR Late Model title

By Jeff Pederson – Pedal Down Promotions

(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS, Plymouth, Wis.) August 25, 2018 – A pair of veteran racers visited victory lane for the first time in Plymouth Dirt Track Racing A-main competition and another earned his first career PDTR points title, during an action-packed night of competition at The Plymouth Dirt Track at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds in Plymouth, Wis. on Saturday, Aug. 25.

Kurt Davis of South Milwaukee racked up his third Richard’s of Dunbar Sprint Car A-main victory of the 2018 season. Mitch McGrath of Waukesha earned his first Gasroots Project Late Model A-main victory of the year. Plymouth’s Steven Weber notched his first career Klips & Tips Grand National A-main win. Cellcom B Mod points leader Tim Sheppard of Beaver Dam padded his advantage by posting his first career PDTR B Mod A-main victory. Dave Collins of Lake Mills collected his second Kristine Hartmann Pleasant View Realty Micro Sprint A-main victory of the 2018 campaign.

After coming into the night third in the PDTR Late Model point standings, eight points out of the lead, Cleveland’s Justin Schmidt secured his first PDTR Late Model points championship on the strength of a heat race victory and a fourth-place showing in the A main. Schmidt, who posted four PDTR Late Model A-main victories this season, edged out his father, Jim, by just two points, in the final 2018 standings.

Two of the most experienced drivers in the pit area lined up on the front row of the 25-lap Sprint Car A main as Jim Melis of Glenbeulah held the pole position with 2010 PDTR Sprint Car champion Kurt Davis lined up on the outside.

Melis got the jump on the drop of the green flag and held down the top spot along the low groove in the early going while Davis worked the high groove of the wide and smooth racing surface.

After hounding Melis along the cushion for several laps, Davis shot into the lead with a bold high move in turn one on lap 5. As 2017 PDTR Sprint Car champion Brandon McMullen of Oshkosh who started eighth, and Plymouth’s Josh Walter, who started fifth, dueled hard for fifth, the leaders began to encounter slower traffic on lap 10.

With lapped cars in the mix, Melis was able to close the gap on Davis using the high groove, while two-time PDTR Sprint Car champ Danny Schlafer of Sussex, who started third, moved in to make it a three-car battle up front.

Just as it appeared the action was going to get heated in lapped traffic, a red flag appeared on lap 11 when Doug Wondra and Robbie Pribnow collided on the frontstretch, sending Wondra flipping. Both drivers emerged uninjured.

On the restart, Schlafer made an aggressive move to power past Melis in second in turn two, while McMullen slipped past Walter to assume fourth on lap 12.

The final 14 laps clicked off quickly as the majority of the field held tight to the preferred high groove. Schlafer was able to close the gap slightly on Davis in the closing laps, but he was never able to mount a serious threat for the lead.

Davis went on to post his 20^th career PDTR Sprint Car A-main victory and the 57^th overall Midwest Sprint Car Association main event triumph of his long career. Schlafer finished second, Melis was third, McMullen placed fourth and Walter rounded out the top five.

Dan Schlieper of Milwaukee led the field to the green flag in the 25-lap Late Model A main from the pole position. The former Eldora Speedway World 100 winner and Lucas Oil Late Model Series regular held the top spot in the early stages of the race as 2014 PDTR Late Model champion Mitch McGrath made his way to the front from the sixth starting spot utilizing the outside line to secure second on lap 2.

By lap 10, McGrath had closed in to challenge Schlieper for the top spot along the cushion, as title contenders Justin Schmidt, who started eighth, and 2016 PDTR Late Model champ Tim Buhler of Greenbush, who started fifth, dueled for fifth.

On lap 13, Schmidt made what proved to be a championship-sealing move as he split Buhler and fourth-starting Chad Vetting of Valders to pass both drivers in turn three and vault into fourth.

After running the high groove throughout the first half of the race, McGrath dropped down low to challenge Schlieper on lap 18. Over the next six laps, McGrath tried several different lines in an attempt to seize the lead before diving under Schlieper in turn two on the final lap and surging ahead over the final circuit to notch his 10^th career PDTR Late Model A-main victory in the caution-free race.

Schlieper had to settle for second, third-starter Tom Naeyaert of Shawano, finished third in his first appearance of the year at Plymouth, Justin Schmidt finished fourth to secure his first PDTR Late Model championship and Buhler placed fifth.

Justin Schmidt collected 979 points to capture the Late Model title by two points over his father Jim, who finished second with 977 points. Four-time PDTR Late Model champ Brad Mueller of Random Lake finished third with 971 points and Buhler was fourth with 969 points.

Outside front row starter Chad Espen of West Bend led the opening circuit of the 25-lap Grand National A main before polesitter Steven Weber seized the top spot on lap two.

After the first of two caution flags appeared on lap 6 for an infield tire pushed onto the track in turn one, sixth starter Kurt Davis charged in to pull off a three-wide pass for third on lap 8. On lap 11, Davis used the high groove to maneuver around Espen for second before the second caution flag flew on lap 12 for a two-car incident involving Jacob Muehlbauer and Derek Kaat in turn four.

Following the restart, Davis utilized the high groove to briefly surge into the lead in turn two on lap 16. However, Weber held strong along with the low line as the two veteran drivers dueled side by side over the next two laps with Weber regaining the top spot in turn one on lap 18.

Davis regrouped to mount one final challenge on the final lap pulling nearly even with Weber along the outside groove in turn two. However, again Weber fended off Davis’ advances and maintained the top spot en route to his first career PDTR Grand National A-main triumph.

Davis was second, Espen finished third, fourth starter J.J. Pagel of Campbellsport placed fourth and Dick Hed of Plymouth, who started third, wound up fifth.

Polesitter Justin Bauer of Sheboygan Falls assume the lead of the 25-lap B Mod A main at the drop of the green flag with second starter Travis Schmidt of Plymouth and third starter Jeff Steenbergen of Watertown falling into second and third respectively.

On lap 5, points leader Tim Sheppard, who started sixth, began to make his presence felt as he powered around Steenbergen along the high groove in turn two. One lap later, Sheppard moved past Schmidt into second and on lap 7, Sheppard shot around Bauer into the lead in turn one before a spin involving Phil Campanella brought out the first of four caution flags on lap 7.

On the restart, a six-car melee involving Derek Fehling, Nat Jakubowski, Mark Fieber (guest driving for Cody Eickberg), J.J. Walvoord, Steve Lorier and Phil Campanella triggered a lengthy caution period. Only Lorier and Campanella were able to continue.

When the race resumed, Schmidt dove under Sheppard to grab the lead in turn three on lap 8. On lap 9, the third caution appeared when Campanella spun in turn four.

Shortly after the ensuing restart, contact resulted in Schmidt spinning sideways in turn with Sheppard moving into the top spot on lap 11. Schmidt was able to recover to maintain third before the fourth caution flew on lap 21 for an incident involving Justin Bauer and Shane Long in turn four.

During the caution, Steenbergen was penalized two spots for aggressive driving, which placed him behind Schmidt and 13^th starter Marcus Hoeppner of Rubicon on the final restart.

Sheppard pulled away over the final four laps to score his first career PDTR B Mod A-main victory. Schmidt was second, Steenbergen finished third, Lorier placed fourth and Tim Lange of Dousman, who started 10^th, finished fifth.

In the 15-lap Micro Sprint A main, outside front row starter Dave Collins led flag to flag in the non-stop race to post his third career PDTR Micro Sprint A main victory.

Defending PDTR Micro Sprint champion and current points leader Preston Ruh of Elkhart Lake was second, Emily Portschy of Plymouth took third, Jack Vanderboom of Dousman finished fourth and Miles Quandt of Watertown placed fifth.

Tony Wondra of Cambpellsport won the Sprint Car B Main, while J.J. Walvoord of Howards Grove posted the victory in the B Mod B Main.

The PDTR program, which was sponsored by Roger and Dan’s Auto Service, showcased a total of 83 cars, including 26 Sprint Cars, 23 B Mods, 15 Grand Nationals, 13 Late Models and six Micro Sprints.

The next PDTR program featuring the Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series and PDTR 360 Sprint Cars will take place on Saturday, Sept. 1, during the Sheboygan County Fair.

NASCAR Legend Tony Stewart will also compete in the IRA portion of the program. On track action is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.

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

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For more information on Pedal Down Promotions, email pedaldownpromotions@gmail.com, visit www.pedaldownpromotions.com or call 920-323-7970.