By Jeff Pederson – Pedal Down Promotions

(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) June 20, 2023 – Alex Pokorski’s breakout season behind the wheel of the No. 4 Akright Auto Racing Team 360 Sprint Car continued in Plymouth Dirt Track Racing – Midwest Sprint Car Association competition on Saturday, June 17 as the fourth-year racer racked up his third A-main podium finish of the 2023 season.

Pokorski came out of the box strong by timing in second in the 25-car PDTR-MSA 360 Sprint Car field with a qualifying lap of 13.114 seconds.

The West Bend, Wis. driver then started third in the third PDTR-MSA 360 Sprint Car heat race and bolted past the owner of his No. 4 Akright Auto machine, Spyder Akright of Sheboygan Falls, on the opening lap to slide into second in the running order. By lap 8, Pokorski had cut the gap behind leader Bill Taylor significantly before settling for second.

After starting the 25-lap PDTR-MSA A main on the outside of the front row, Pokorski outpowered 2021 and 2022 PDTR and MSA champion Travis Arenz of Sheboygan Falls, who started on the pole, to seize the lead in turn one of the opening lap.

The first of four caution flags appeared on lap 2 when rookie Hayden Johnson stopped in turn four. On the restart, Arenz attempted to steal the lead away from Pokorski with a slide job in turn two. However, Pokorski was able to work around Arenz’s attempt and maintain the top spot.

However, the race was slowed again later in the same lap when Spyder Akright, Tommy Colburn and Bill Taylor made contact in turn two. Arenz again attempted a slide job on Pokorski on the ensuing restart. However, he slipped up high near the wall and collided with the high riding Pokorski, resulting in Arenz spinning in turn two before collecting the third place car of Tony Wondra to bring out the third caution flag of the race.

Despite some slight front-end damage from the contact, Pokorski controlled the ensuing restart before the fourth caution appeared when Colburn stopped in turn four on lap 5. A single-file restart saw 2011 PDTR and MSA champion Ben Schmidt get a big run and slide past Pokorski to take over the top spot in turn four on lap 6.

Two laps later, Pokorski felt pressure from another former champion, four-time MSA and two-time PDTR champ Brandon McMullen, who worked the low groove to pull even for second on lap 8. Pokorski and McMullen dueled side by side for the next 10 laps before McMullen finally gained the spot to push Pokorski back to third.

Pokorski maintained the third position over the final seven laps to notch his third MSA-PDTR A-main podium, fifth top-five and eighth top-10 main event finish in nine A mains during the 2023 campaign in a race won by Ben Schmidt.

“The car was solid all night long,” Pokorski said. “We just needed a little bit more to get a fast time in qualifying one of these nights as we ended up second quick again. There was a lot of tight racing at the start of the feature and things got a little too tight early on. Travis [Arenz] attempted a couple short slide jobs and the second one did not leave me any space. For a second, I thought we might be pushed into the wall, but we were able to get out of that situation with only minor damage.

“Once the race restarted, it was fun to race with Ben [Schmidt] and Brandon [McMullen],” he said. “They got the better of me this week, but maybe we will get them next week. The A main was fun overall, and we got a top-three finish, which was a good points night.”

Pokorski and the Akright Auto Racing Team will be in action with the PDTR-MSA 360 Sprint Cars this Saturday, June 24 at The Plymouth Dirt Track in Plymouth, Wis.

Grandstand gates open at 4:30 p.m. with qualifying set at 5:30 p.m. and racing scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.

Sponsors and supporters for Alex Pokorski and the 2023 Akright Auto Racing Team include Akright Auto, Petersen Septic Systems, Goeden Auto Body, Novak’s Service Center, Mulch Express of Wisconsin, Countryside Designs, Wisconsin Bank and Trust, Homestead Auto, Cedar Valley Hunt Club, RC Custom Design and Pedal Down Promotions.

Alex Pokorski-Akright Auto Racing Team Sponsor Showcase – Mulch Express of Wisconsin

The Alex Pokorski – Akright Auto Racing Team is excited to welcome Mulch Express of Wisconsin as a brand new sponsorship partner for the remainder of the 2023 season.

Based in Newton, Wis., Mulch Express of Wisconsin was founded in 2000 out of a desire to help control the cost and efficiency of installing mulch, bark, soil and playground chips. Over the course of the past 23 years, the specialty landscaping company has found its niche as the to-go mulching provider for municipalities, school districts, commercial businesses and residences throughout Northeastern Wisconsin. In addition, Mulch Express of Wisconsin has proudly served one of the top motorsports facilities in the world as the official mulch provider of Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. over the past two seasons.

As a former Wisconsin-based 360 Sprint Car competitor, Mulch Express of Wisconsin owner Russ Wetenkamp is thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with Alex Pokorski and the Akright Auto Racing Team for the remainder of the 2023 Sprint Car campaign.

“We have a strong connection to Sprint Car racing after several years of competing in the 360 Sprint Car division with the number Gr8 car,” Wetenkamp said. “We feel Alex Pokorski is a good, up-and-coming 360 Sprint Car driver and a great individual to represent our Wisconsin-based specialty landscaping company.”

To contact or obtain additional information on Mulch Express of Wisconsin, call 920-726-4840, send an email to mulchexpressofwi@gmail.com or visit Mulch Express of Wisconsin on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Alex Pokorski-Akright Auto Racing Team Sponsor Showcase – Akright Auto

Located at 106 North Bluebird Lane in Sheboygan Falls, Wis. Akright Auto has served as a reliable source for auto parts since 1940.

With a highly trained staff of auto parts professionals, Akright Auto is well prepared to assist customers with vehicle repair needs with a wide assortment of affordable, high-quality auto parts available on site. If a part is not available, Akright Auto offers next-day delivery services.

In addition, Akright Auto provides full auto salvage services, along with a 90-day standard warranty on all parts purchases.

Contact Akright Auto by phone at 920-467-4201, toll free at 800-400-4201, via email at dakright12@gmail.com or visit www.akrightauto.com.

For more information on Alex Pokorski and the No. 4 Akright Auto Racing Team, check out Pokorski Motorsports on Facebook at https://facebook.com/pokorskimotorsports or visit www.pedaldownpromo.com.

Pedal Down Promotions is a full-service public relations and media services company devoted to helping its clients effectively communicate with targeted audiences through press releases, newsletters, profile and feature articles, website and social media content development, printed media, editing and layout, graphic design and book publishing services.

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

 

Alex Pokorski – Akright Auto Racing Team
2023 Upcoming Schedule

Saturday, June 24 – Plymouth Dirt Track, Plymouth, Wis.
Saturday, July 1 – Plymouth Dirt Track, Plymouth, Wis.                        
Saturday, July 8 – Plymouth Dirt Track, Plymouth, Wis.

Alex Pokorski
Akright Auto Racing Team 4
2023 Season
By The Numbers

Total Events – 9
A Main Victories – 1
B Main Victories – 0
Top Five A Main Finishes – 5
Top 10 A Main Finishes – 8
Top 15 A Main Finishes – 9
Heat Race Victories – 2
Fast Qualifier Award – 0

Paul Pokorski
Akright Auto 53A
2023 Season
By The Numbers

Total Events – 2
A Main Victories – 0
B Main Victories – 0
Top Five A Main Finishes – 0
Top 10 A Main Finishes – 1
Top 15 A Main Finishes – 1
Heat Race Victories – 0
Fast Qualifier Awards – 0