By Jeff Pederson-Pedal Down Promotions

(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) June 1, 2019 – Despite threatening skies and unseasonably cold temperatures, the Plymouth Dirt Track Racing show pressed on with a highly competitive night of racing action in all four regular divisions on a well-manicured, multi-groove racing surface at The Plymouth Dirt Track at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds in Plymouth, Wis. on Saturday, June 1.

Kevin Karnitz of West Bend became the first repear winner in PDTR A-main competition this season as he captured the 25-lap Richard’s of Dunbar 360 Sprint Car main event. After going winless at Plymouth during the 2018 season, four-time PDTR Late Model champion Brad Mueller of Random Lake broke into the victory column with a win in the 25-lap Gasroots Project Late Model A main. Oostburg’s Luke Scholten survived a heated duel with Tyler Kulow of Plymouth to capture the 25-lap Klips & Tips Grand National A main, while Chris Budzban of Appleton made his first-ever trip to The Plymouth Dirt Track pay off with a victory in the 25-lap Cellcom B Mod A main.

The initial start of the 360 Sprint Car A main was aborted when 2017 PDTR 360 Sprint Car champ Brandon McMullen of Oshkosh bicycled his machine in turn one and rolled to a stop in turn two to bring out the first of two caution flags in the event. McMullen made suspension repairs in the work area and returned to the track at the rear of the field.

On the complete restart, polesitter Tony Wondra of Campbellsport outpowered 2008 PDTR 360 Sprint Car champion Lance Fassbender of Burnett, who started second, to seize the lead in turn four of the opening lap. Two laps later, fourth starter Jim Melis of Glenbeulah found grip in the middle of the fast and smooth racing surface to work his way into second.

On lap 6, Melis used the middle lane to gain the top spot from Wondra in turn two. By lap 10, Melis had built up a half-straightaway cushion over Wondra, while fifth starter Kevin Karnitz passed Fassbender to gain third place on lap 12.

As Melis encountered lapped traffic, Wondra was able to cut the gap significantly as the hard-charging Karnitz, who was hooked up along the inside groove, moved in to make it a three-way duel for the top spot.

Entering turn four on lap 16, the trio went three-wide for the lead with Melis riding high, Wondra using the middle groove and Karnitz working the low line. Karnitz powered under both Wondra and Melis to grab the lead in a thrilling, hold-your-breath move exiting turn four.

Two laps later, Travis Arenz of Sheboygan brought out the second and final caution flag when he stopped in turn four. After Arenz went to the work area, made repairs and returned to the track, Karnitz seized the lead on the restart, while Shane Wenninger of Kewaskum, who started third, used the high groove to maneuver around Melis into second place in turn two on lap 19.

Karnitz held on the rest of the way en route to his fourth career PDTR 360 Sprint Car A-main victory and sixth career Midwest Sprint Car Association main event triumph. Wenninger finished second, Melis placed third, sixth starter Josh Walter of Plymouth wound up fourth and Wondra completed the top five.

In the Late Model A main, two caution periods for spins negated the first two attempts to start the race. The next attempt to start the race resulted in polesitter and defending PDTR Late Model champion Justin Schmidt of Cleveland and Taylor Scheffler of Waukesha being sent to the rear of the field for failing to comply with restart regulations.

With a revamped front row featuring polesitter and 2016 PDTR Late Model champion Tim Buhler of Greenbush and Brad Mueller on the outside of the front row, Buhler snagged the lead on lap 1 along the low groove while Mueller road the high groove and sixth starter Turk Letizia of Milwaukee ducked low to pressure Mueller for second place.

Mueller continued to work the high line to perfection in the opening laps to pressure Buhler for the lead. On lap 5, Mueller shot around Buhler with a high move in turn four to assume the top spot.

With Mueller holding his own at the front of the field, Schmidt was slicing way through the pack after restarting the race from the rear of the field. On lap 12, Schmidt moved into fourth along the outside lane.

Six laps later, Letizia dove low to slip underneath the high riding Buhler to assume second on lap 18 with Schmidt following into third on lap 19. By lap 20, Mueller had built up a half-lap cushion over Letizia. On lap 21, the hard-charging Schmidt bolted around Letizia with a high move in turn two and quickly cut into Mueller’s large advantage.

Schmidt’s stirring run through the field came up a bit short as he simply ran out of laps in the race, which went non-stop after the initial string of unsuccessful starts. Mueller beat Schmidt to the line by a quarter-straightaway margin to secure his 20^th career PDTR Late Model A-main victory, which ranks him second on the all-time PDTR Late Model A-main victory list. It was Mueller’s first PDTR Late Model A-main triumph since Sept. 9, 2017.

Schmidt had to settle for second, Letizia was third, Buhler finished fourth and Joe Bongiorno of Milwaukee finished fifth after originally starting seventh.

Donny Kulow of Elkhart Lake worked around polesitter Josh Pierce of Random Lake to lead the opening lap of the Grand National A main, while 2018 PDTR Grand National champion Matt Loehr of Dotyville, who was behind the wheel of J.J. Pagel’s car, worked the high groove from his fourth starting spot to take over second lap 2. A pair of caution flags for spins on lap 3 and lap 5 slowed the pace before third starter Tyler Kulow used a well-timed restart to seize the top spot with a high move on lap 6.

Meanwhile, Luke Scholten was making his presence felt moving into third place from his eighth starting spot on lap 8. On lap later, Scholten moved in to pressure Tyler Kulow along the low line. With Scholten running low and Tyler Kulow riding high, the two drivers battled side by side for five consecutive laps before Scholten finally surged ahead in turn four on lap 13.

As the leaders began to encounter slower traffic on lap 15, Tyler Kulow cut the gap and moved into the lead in turn four on lap 19. After two more cautions for spins on lap 19 and lap 21, Tyler Kulow held the top spot as Pierce grabbed ahold of the high line to power into second on lap 22.

However, the fifth and final caution slowed the pace one again for a single-car spin in turn two. On the restart, Scholten used the high groove to find some extra bite, which launched his car into the top spot for good exiting turn two on lap 23.

Scholten then pulled away over the final two laps to secure his 11^th career PDTR Grand National A-main victory and his first of the 2019 season. Tyler Kulow took second, Pierce placed third, Steven Weber of Plymouth finished fourth after starting sixth and 10^th starter Dustin Weiss of Iron Ridge placed fifth in his first appearance of the season at Plymouth.

The B Mod A main featured a pair of visiting drivers to PDTR as Bill Edler of Howards Grove rolled off from the pole with Chris Budzban, who was making his first-ever appearance at Plymouth, on the outside of the front row.

After a close battle through the first three corners, Edler grabbed the initial lead in turn four of the opening lap. The first of three caution flags appeared on lap 2 for a spin involving Marcus Hoeppner of Hartford. On the restart, Budzban flexed his muscle to challenge Edler utilizing the inside lane, pulling even briefly on lap 6.

As the leaders negotiated slower traffic, Budzban used the slower cars to his advantage and slipped ahead of Edler and into the lead on lap 9. Not one to back down, Edler regrouped and mounted another challenge for the lead starting on lap 15 as the leaders encountered more lapped machines.

The pace slowed again on lap 18 when Steve Lorier of Sheboygan spun in turn two. Another caution appeared on lap 19 for a Marcus Hoeppner spin. On the restart, Budzban powered away from Edler and was not to be denied as he racked up his first career PDTR B Mod A-main victory in his debut main event start at the Plymouth track.

Edler was second, Gary Glander of Sheboygan Falls, who started fourth, placed third, Cascade’s Barry Maas came up from his ninth starting spot to place fourth and seventh starter Travis Schmidt of Waldo rounded out the top five.

Justin Miller of Plymouth won the first 12-lap 360 Sprint Car B main and Kurt Davis of South Milwaukee captured the second 12-lap 360 Sprint Car B main. Brandon Knepprath of Kewaskum was victorious in the B Mod B main.

The fourth PDTR program of the 2019 season, which was presented by Pit Stop Pizza, featured a total of 92 cars, including 35 PDTR 360 Sprint Cars, 25 B Mods, 19 Grand Nationals and 13 Late Models.

PDTR officials have announced that the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions national touring 410 Sprint Car series combined challenge event with the regional touring Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series, which was postponed by weather on Saturday, May 18, has been rescheduled for Thursday, July 25. The PDTR 360 Sprint Cars will also be on the card.

Recent NASCAR Hall of Fame selection Tony Stewart of Columbus, Ind. is expected to compete along with a large contingent of top national and regional touring 410 Sprint Car competitors. All advance tickets purchased for the May 18 event will be good on July 25. Those unable to use their previously purchased reserved tickets for the original May 18 All Stars date, can receive a refund by returning their tickets to the Sheboygan County Fair office.

With the Morton Buildings World of Outlaws Late Model Series scheduled to compete at The Plymouth Dirt Track just four days later on Monday, July 29, the regular PDTR racing program on Saturday, July 27 has been cancelled. The PDTR Grand National and B Mod divisions will also compete with the World of Outlaws Late Models on Monday, July 29.

The next PDTR racing program on Saturday, June 8 will feature the first of four scheduled appearances during the 2019 season for the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series, which will be joined by the PDTR 360 Sprint Cars and Badger Midgets. Hot laps will start at 5:30 p.m. with IRA qualifying and racing to follow.

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.