Davis secures second PDTR 360 Sprint Car crown

By Jeff Pederson-Pedal Down Promotions

(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) September 28, 2019 – On a cool and crisp early fall evening, 106 Sprint Cars packed the pit area and a large contingent of dirt-track racing enthusiasts filled the stands as four drivers secured 2019 season championship hardware in five Sprint Car divisions at the season-ending Wisconsin Sprint Car Championships at The Plymouth Dirt Track at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds in Plymouth, Wis. on Saturday, Sept. 28.

The final event of the 2019 Plymouth Dirt Track Racing season saw former series champion Jeremy Schultz of Beaver Dam come home victorious in a wild incident-filled 30-lap Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association A main. Former PDTR 360 Sprint Car champ Brandon McMullen of Oshkosh used a dramatic late-race pass to earn the victory in the 25-lap Richard’s of Dunbar PDTR 360 Sprint Car A main. Derek Crane of Waukegan, Ill. posted a wire-to-wire victory in the Wisconsin Wingless Sprint Car A main and C.J. Malueg of Johnsburg, Ill. was victorious in the IRA Lightning Sprint Car A main.

Hartland’s Bill Balog wrapped up his ninth career IRA 410 Sprint Car Series title, Kurt Davis of South Milwaukee claimed his second PDTR 360 Sprint championship and fifth Midwest Sprint Car Association 360 Sprint Car title. Chris Dodd of Trevor earned the Wisconsin Wingless Sprint Car season title and Mike Neau of Kenosha secured the IRA Lightning Sprint Car championship.

In the headlining 30-lap IRA 410 Sprint Car Series A-main, Australia native and current Prairie City, Iowa resident Lynton Jeffrey used his outside front row starting spot to power into the lead on the opening lap with two-time IRA champion Scotty Neitzel of Beaver Dam in tow.

On lap 3, Joey Moughan of Springfield, Ill., who started fourth, used the high groove to power his way into second place. Moughan continued to hound the low-riding Moughan over the next several laps before the leaders caught the back of the 24-car field on lap 7.

Two laps later, three-time NASCAR Cup champion Tony Stewart of Columbus, Ind., who was the fast qualifier for the evening, move up from his third starting position to slide past Moughan into second place in heavy lapped traffic in turn four on lap 9.

On the following circuit, Stewart spun to a stop in turn four to bring out the first of five caution flags. Stewart, who won the previous IRA event at Plymouth on Aug. 31, restarted the race at the rear of the field and was closing in on ther top 10 in the running order before retiring from the race with less than 10 laps to go and finishing 22^nd.

On the restart, Moughan again used the high line to pressure Jeffrey, who stayed glued to the bottom of the track. The second caution flag appeared on lap 14 when rookie Hunter Custer of Chippewa Falls stopped on the backstretch.

When the race resumed, Jeffrey continued to fend off the determined Moughan as the two drivers pulled away from the rest of the field. On lap 23, the red flag appeared when Moughan hooked the thick cushion and flipped in turn four. Despite the flip, Moughan was able to return to the race at the rear of the field.

With Neitzel elevated to second and seventh starter Austin McCarl of Altoona, Iowa lining up third, McCarl got on a big run along the high groove on the restart to vault into second on lap 24 and immediately pressure Jeffrey for the lead.

McCarl pulled even with Jeffrey on lap 26 and the two Knoxville Raceway regular competitors dueled for the top spot as the leaders moved into lapped traffic. On lap 28, Jeffrey moved to the middle of the track to work past a lapped car, while McCarl used a big run off of the cushion in turn two to seize the lead down the backstretch. However, seconds later the two drivers made contact sending Jeffrey flipping and McCarl off the track with tire and suspension damage.

The incident gave the lead to Jeremy Schultz, who had worked his way to the front of the pack from the 16^th starting position. On the restart, Schultz worked the high groove, while Neitzel stayed low before the race was stopped for the fifth and final time when Plymouth’s Josh Walter flipped in turn four on lap 29.

Just as the race resumed, Neitzel lost power to give second place to 2018 IRA champion Jack Blackhurst of Hanna City, Ill., who started ninth. Schultz maintained the lead over during the final two laps to earn his fourth IRA A-main victory of the 2019 season, fourth IRA A-main win at Plymouth and 11^th career IRA main event triumph.

Blackhurst was second, Bill Balog, who started 21^st after a heat race accident, secured his ninth IRA series championship with a hard-charging third-place finish, sixth starter Russel Borland of Kewaskum finished fourth and Steve Meyer of Sheboygan Falls, who started 10^th, rounded out the top five.

After the first attempt to start was negated by a three-car incident in turn two involving Anthony Knierim of Franksville, Chris Larson of Greenfield and Chris Clayton of Waldo, Kurt Davis, who came into the night looking to secure both the PDTR and MSA 360 Sprint Car titles, grabbed the lead on the drop of the green flag of the 25-lap PDTR 360 Sprint Car A main from the pole position.

On lap 3, 2017 PDTR 360 Sprint Car champion Brandon McMullen used the high groove to sweep past second starter Brandon Berth of Cascade to take second. Three laps later, 2018 PDTR 360 Sprint Car champ Justin Miller of Plymouth worked around Berth to secure third.

By lap 12, the low-riding Davis had built up a half-straightaway lead over McMullen, who was using multiple lines to try to track down the leader. With lapped traffic becoming a factor on lap 12, McMullen began to gradually reel in Davis.

By lap 21, McMullen had pulled to within five car lengths of Davis and two laps later the three-time MSA champion used the high line to power around Davis and into the lead exiting turn two.

McMullen pulled away over the final two laps to earn his second PDTR 360 Sprint Car A-main victory of the 2019 season, 17^th career PDTR main event win and 23^rd career MSA A-main triumph.

Davis secured his second PDTR 360 Sprint Car title and fifth career MSA championship with a second-place finish, eighth starter Travis Arenz of Sheboygan placed third, Justin Miller was fourth and Berth completed the top five.

Derek Crane grabbed the lead of the Wisconsin Wingless Sprint Car A main from the pole with third starter Allen Hafford of Beach Park, Ill. following in second and Tim Cox of Park City, Ill., who started sixth, in third.

The first of two red flags appeared on lap 4 when Randy Stanford of Kenosha and Vince Bartolotta of Muskego flipped simultaneously in turn two. On the follow lap, a seven-car incident in turn three resulted in Dennis Spitz of Lewisburg, Ky. flipping.

On the result, Crane continued to hold down the top spot with Hafford hot on his heels. Second starter Zach Raidart of Gurnee, Ill., who was one of the only drivers to venture up to the high groove, worked his way into fourth place and was challenging for third when he collided with the front stretch wall and flipped on the final lap just as the leaders took the checkered flag.

Crane held on to score his first A-main victory of the 2019 season in flag-to-flag fashion. Hafford was second, Cox finished third, fifth starter Chris Klemko of Bristol placed fourth and third starter Ryan Zielski of Oconomowoc placed fifth.

Chris Dodd placed 14^th in the final A main of the 2019 campaign to complete a championship season in the Wisconsin Wingless Series.

C.J. Malueg of Johnsburg, Ill. grabbed the lead on the opening lap of the 20-lap IRA Lightning Sprint Car A main from his outside front row starting spot with Mark Heinert of Oak Creek, who started sixth, falling into second.

The two drivers stayed first and second throughout the 20-laps and two caution periods, with Malueg leading all the way en route to the commanding victory. Heinert placed second, Mike Neau wrapped up the 2019 IRA Lightning Sprint Car title with a third-place finish, after starting fifth, Ron Brannam finished fourth and Jeff Schmidt, who started 10^th, completed the top five.

Bill Balog won the IRA 410 Sprint Car B main, Nich Melis of Plymouth and Lance Fassbender of Burnett each notched Plymouth 360 Sprint Car B-main victories and George Gaertner Jr. of Salem captured the Wisconsin Wingless Sprint Car B main.

Tony Stewart was the fast qualifier in IRA 410 Sprint Car Series time trials with a lap of 11.905 around the third-mile clay oval.

After 39 years in the cockpit, Jim Melis of Glenbeulah announced his retirement following the PDTR 360 Sprint Car A main. He ended his long and successful racing career with a second-place finish in his heat race and seventh-place showing in the A main.

Melis’ career began in the Eastern Wisconsin Stock Car Winged Super Modified division at Plymouth in 1981 and included many years competing with the IRA 410 Sprint Car Series and PDTR and MSA 360 Sprint Cars mainly at The Plymouth Dirt Track.

Melis’ final year of racing saw him finish fourth in the PDTR 360 Sprint Car point standings and tally A-main victories at The Plymouth Dirt Track and the Dodge County Fairgrounds in Beaver Dam.

Along with three IRA 410 Sprint Car Series A-main victories, Melis captured 21 MSA 360 Sprint Car A-main wins, including 17 career PDTR 360 Sprint Car main event victories in his career.

A total of 106 cars checked in for the event, including 33 PDTR/MSA 360 Sprint Cars, 31 IRA 410 Sprint Cars, 30 Wisconsin Wingless Sprint Cars and 12 IRA Lightning Sprint Cars.

BUMPER TO BUMPER INTERSTATE RACING ASSOCIATION SPRINT CARS

Date of Race: September 28, 2019

HEAT 1

1, Steve Meyer 2, Russel Borland 3, Tony Stewart 4, Mike Reinke 5, Danny Schlafer 6, Jereme Schroeder 7, Robbie Pribnow 8, Al Schlafer.

HEAT 2

1, Terry McCarl 2, Scotty Thiel 3, Lynton Jeffrey 4, Wayne Modjeski 6, John Fahl 7, Austin Deblauw 7, Bryce Schmitt 8, Brian Strane.

HEAT 3

1, Austin McCarl 2, Jake Blackhurst 3, Ben Schmidt 4, Kris Spitz 5, Josh Walter 6, Nick Matuszewski 7, Chris Klemko 8, Matt Wiese.

HEAT 4

1, Scotty Neitzel 2, Dave Uttech 3, Joey Moughan 4, Jeremy Schultz 5, Hunter Custer 6, Sean Rayhall 7 Bill Balog.

B MAIN

1, Bill Balog 2, Jereme Schroeder 3, Robbie Pribnow 4, Al Schlafer 5, Chris Klemko 6, Matt Wiese 7, Brian Strane 8, Sean Rayhall 9, Nick Matuszewski 10, Bryce Schmitt 11, Austin Deblauw.

A MAIN

1, Jeremy Schultz 2, Jake Blackhurst 3, Bill Balog 4, Russel Borland 5, Steve Meyer 6, Mike Reinke 7, Terry McCarl 8, Danny Schlafer 9, Kris Spitz 10, Ben Schmidt 11, Wayne Modjeski 12, Robbie Pribnow 13, Jeremy Schroeder 14, John Fahl 15, Al Schlafer 16, Hunter Custer 17, Joey Moughan 18, Scotty Neitzel 19, Josh Walter 20, Lynton Jeffrey 21, Austin McCarl 22, Tony Stewart 23, Scotty Thiel, 24, Dave Uttech.

QUALIFYING

1. 14-Tony Stewart, 00:11.905[18]; 2. 83-Lynton Jeffrey, 00:11.909[9]; 3. 73-Jake Blackhurst, 00:11.942[8]; 4. 17B-Bill Balog, 00:11.971[15]; 5. 23-Russel Borland, 00:12.002[4]; 6. 4-Terry McCarl, 00:12.022[14]; 7. 17A-Austin McCarl, 00:12.028[30]; 8. 73AF-Joey Moughan, 00:12.030[20]; 9. 02-Mike Reinke, 00:12.141[28]; 10. 14AJ-Wayne Modjeski, 00:12.167[24]; 11. 12W-Josh Walter, 00:12.209[13]; 12. 68-Dave Uttech, 00:12.219[29]; 13. 85M-Steve Meyer, 00:12.251[10]; 14. 64-Scotty Thiel, 00:12.298[25]; 15. 14AJX-Ben Schmidt, 00:12.314[27]; 16. 2W-Scott Neitzel, 00:12.319[3]; 17. 11-Danny Schlafer, 00:12.360[16]; 18. 0-John Fahl, 00:12.413[12]; 19. 4K-Kris Spitz, 00:12.435[23]; 20. 5J-Jeremy Schultz, 00:12.442[7]; 21. 43-Jereme Schroeder, 00:12.563[5]; 22. 22S-Brian Strane, 00:12.654[1]; 23. 63-Nick Matuszewski, 00:12.699[11]; 24. 29-Hunter Custer, 00:12.702[31]; 25. 25-Al Schlafer, 00:12.807[22]; 26. 18S-Bryce Schmitt, 00:12.877[2]; 27. 70-Chris Klemko, 00:12.953[6]; 28. 14R-Sean Rayhall, 00:12.960[17]; 29. 20R-Rob Pribnow, 00:12.986[26]; 30. 65D-Austin Deblauw, 00:13.023[21]; 31. 45-Matt Wiese, 00:13.568[19].

RICHARD’S OF DUNBAR 360 SPRINT CARS

HEAT 1

1, Brandon McMullen 2, Kurt Davis 3, Kevin Karnitz 4, Tim Haddy 5, Chris Clayton 6, Blake Wondra 7, Shane Wenninger 8, Paul Pokorski 9, Don Kiel.

HEAT 2

1, Tyler Tischendorf 2, Jim Melis 3, Ben Schmidt 4, Brandon Berth 5, Will Gerrits 6, Sean Rayhall 7, Josh Teunissen 8, Tyler Brabant.

HEAT 3

1, Tony Wondra 2, Travis Arenz 3, Anthony Knierim 4, Nich Melis 5, Bill Taylor 6, Scott Conger 7, Tyler Nelson 8, Preston Ruh.

HEAT 4

1, Justin Miller 2, Chris Larson 3, Jack Vanderboom 4, Lance Fassbender 5, Nick Daywalt 6, Mike Decker 7, Danny Schlafer 8, Adam Miller.

B MAIN 1

1, Nick Melis 2, Adam Miller 3, Will Gerrits 4, Mike Decker 5, Scott Conger 6, Josh Teunissen 7, Paul Pokorski 8, Preston Ruh 9, Tyler Brabant.

B MAIN 2

1, Lance Fassbender 2, Danny Schlafer 3, Nick Daywalt 4, Blake Wondra 5, Shane Wenninger 6, Sean Rayhall 7, Tyler Nelson 8, Don Kiel.

A MAIN

1, Brandon McMullen 2, Kurt Davis 3, Travis Arenz 4, Justin Miller 5, Brandon Berth 6, Tyler Tischendorf 7, Jim Melis, 8, Kevin Karnitz 9, Will Gerrits 10, Lance Fassbender 11, Ben Schmidt 12, Tony Wondra 13, Jack Vanderboom 14, Bill Taylor 15, Danny Schlafer 16, Adam Miller 17, Blake Wondra 18, Chris Clayton 19, Nick Daywalt 20, Chris Larson 21, Anthony Knierim Tim Haddy (DNS), Nich Melis (DNS).

WISCONSIN WINGLESS SPRINT CARS

HEAT 1

1, Jordan Paulsen 2, Charles Spoonmore 3, Nick Petska 4, Natalie Klemko 5, Shawn Swim 6, Greg Alt 7, Zach Hansen 8, Jordan Mattson 9, Jim Wehrman 10, George Gaertner III.

HEAT 2

1, Vince Bartolotta 2, Dennis Spitz 3, Jake Kouba 4, Randy Stanford 5, James Walldan, 6, George Gaertner Jr. 7, Seth Johnson 8, Tommy Colburn 9, William Huck, 10, Tom Eller.

B MAIN

1, George Gaertner Jr. 2, Zach Hansen 3, Jordan Mattson 4, Greg Alt 5, Tom Eller 6, Seth Johnson 7, Tommy Colburn 8, George Gaertner III 9, Jim Wehrman 10, William Huck.

A MAIN

1, Derek Crane 2, Allen Hafford 3, Tim Cox 4, Chris Klemko 5, Ryan Zielski 6, Charlies Spoonmore 7, Natalie Klemko 8, Rusty Egan 9, Zach Hansen 10, Vince Bartolotta 11, Jordan Mattson 12, Greg Alt 13, Jake Kouba 14, Chris Dodd 15, Jordan Paulsen 16, Nick Petska 17, Greg Olsen 18, Tom Eller 19, George Gaertner Jr. 20, Zach Raidart 21, Jimmy Sivia 22, Dennis Spitz 23, Shawn Swim 24, Randy Stanford 25, James Walldan.

INTERSTATE RACING ASSOCIATION LIGHTNING SPRINT CARS

HEAT 1

1, C.J. Malueg 2, Mark Heinert 3, Tim Brannam 4, Jeff Schmidt 5, Kevin Fredrikson 6, Bob Jeziorski.

HEAT 2

1, Mike Neau 2, Michael Unger 3, John Kirk 4, Ron Brannam 5, Max Brannam.

A MAIN

1, C.J. Malueg 2, Mark Heinert 3, Mike Neau 4, Ron Brannam 5, Jeff Schmidt 6, Tim Brannam 7, Kevin Fredrikson 8, Shawn McGill 9, Michael Unger 10, Max Brannam 11, Bob Jeziorski 12, John Kirk.