PLYMOUTH, Wis. — Two former track champions joined two first-time Plymouth Dirt Track Racing winners in victory lane in PDTR feature competition at The Plymouth Dirt Track on Saturday.
Ben Schmidt, who claimed the 2011 PDTR 360 Sprint Car championship, secured his second Akright Auto PDTR 360 Sprint Car feature victory of the 2023 season in the 25-lap main event.
Outside front row starter Alex Pokorski bolted into the lead along the high groove with 2021 and 2022 PDTR 360 Sprint Car champion Travis Arenz, who started on the pole, settling into second.
The first of four caution flags appeared on lap two when rookie Hayden Johnson stopped in turn four.
On the ensuing restart, the second caution flag flew when Spyder Akright, Tommy Colburn and Bill Taylor spun in turn two.
Another caution flag was displayed to the field on the next restart when Arenz and Pokorski collided in turn two after Arenz attempted a slide job, which resulted in Arenz’s car spinning to a stop before Tony Wondra, who had been running third, was collected in the incident.
After the third restart of the race, Schmidt, who started sixth, pulled off a slide job to slip past rookie Logan Julien, who started fifth, and assume the runner-up spot as Pokorski held down the lead.
The fourth and final caution flag of the event appeared on lap five when Colburn stopped in turn four.
Following a single-file restart, Schmidt wrestled the top spot away from Pokorski with a low move in turn four on lap six. Meanwhile, Pokorski began to feel pressure from two-time PDTR 360 Sprint Car champion Brandon McMullen, who started 10th beginning on lap eight.
The cushion-pounding Pokorski and the low-riding McMullen dueled side by side and back and forth over the next ten laps as the leaders weaved their way through slower traffic.
On lap 18, McMullen finally surged into the runner-up spot along the low groove. Schmidt skillfully worked his way through lapped traffic over the final seven laps to secure his 17th career PDTR, 35th career Midwest Sprint Car Association and third overall MSA 360 Sprint Car A-main triumph of the 2023 season.
“It is awesome to get this win,” Schmidt said. “This car is a dream to drive and I can’t thank my crew enough for what they do.”
McMullen finished second, Pokorski wound up third, Julien took fourth and PDTR-MSA 360 Sprint Car rookie T.J. Smith of Greenville placed fifth after starting ninth.
Brandon Waelti racked up his first career A-main victory at The Plymouth Dirt Track in the 25-lap 106.5 The Buzz Badger Midget headliner
In the 25-lap Oostburg Automotive 25-lap Grand National main event, Justin Pearson posted his first career PDTR A-main triumph.
Two-time PDTR B Mod champ Tim Warner of Malone nailed down his second PDTR Next Step Insurance B Mod A-main victory of the 2023 campaign in the 25-lap event.