By Jeff Pederson
Pedal Down Promotions
(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) June 25, 2020 – It is rare for a competitor to reach the level of multi-time champion in their chosen sport and it is even rarer for a competitor to reach “legend” status.
In the history of dirt track racing in Southeastern Wisconsin, Russ Scheffler was a one-of-a-kind racer that set himself apart from the pack in every way and raised the bar for each driver he raced against during his highly successful career.
This Friday, June 26 Plymouth Dirt Track Racing will honor the late Waukesha resident with the third annual Russ Scheffler Tribute presented by KSI Supply Inc., which has developed into one of the most highly anticipated events of the PDTR season.
During his 12-year PDTR Late Model career, Scheffler piled up a grand total of 45 A-main victories and 92 overall race triumphs, to go along with a PDTR Late Model division championship in 2007. His overall combined and A-main race victory tallies are PDTR records that still rank miles ahead of any other competitor in each of the track’s four regular divisions.
Scheffler, who last competed at The Plymouth Dirt Track in 2016, passed away in September 2017 at the age of 54. Scheffler, who owned and operated Suburban Drywall in Waukesha, a business founded by his late father, George, was inducted into the Southeastern Wisconsin Short Track Racing Hall of Fame in 2014.
In addition, to his impressive resume at The Plymouth Dirt Track, Scheffler tallied over 175 A-main triumphs in a Dirt Late Model, while racking up 22 track and series titles, including 10 track championships at the now defunct Hales Corners Speedway, four Wisconsin Dirt Late Model Association (WDLMA) series titles, four Eastern Wisconsin Stock Car (EWSC) Late Model titles at the now defunct Manitowoc Speedway, one track title at the Seymour Tri-Oval Raceway and two Wisconsin UMP Dirtcar state championships.
For the third consecutive year, PDTR will honor Scheffler with a special 30-lap Russ Scheffler Tribute Race in the Late Model division with an enhanced purse, including a first-place prize of $2,374, fittingly representing the No. 74 car that Scheffler wheeled throughout his career at PDTR.
As was the case last year, the purse will pay out generously throughout the entire A-main field all the way down to 20th place, which includes a pay day of $325. In addition, teams that do not transfer to the A main will also be compensated nicely for their efforts.
Under the direction of co-race promoters Greg Wester and Chad Marquardt, the first two editions of the special event have drawn a stellar field of 28 Late Models on both occasions. Wester is confident that this year’s field of competitors will be equally strong.
“We’re hoping for 30 to 40 Late Models,” Wester said. “Along with our Plymouth regulars, there will be few Late Model drivers from Illinois here, along with one of the hottest Late Model drivers in the state of Wisconsin, Jesse Glenz of Elk Mound. There is also a Late Model driver from Upper Michigan that is planning to join us for this special event. For driver, this is a really good payday for one night, no matter where you finish. Even if you don’t make the show, this race pays well. Also, there is no entry fee for the drivers.
“Russ was a great man, who always took time to talk to everyone and sign autographs for the fans, especially the kids,” he said. “Russ helped bring the old Hales Corners Late Models up to Plymouth in 2005. He was also a very successful businessman, husband and family man, so this is a race to honor everything he did as a racer and for the sport of Late Model racing at Plymouth.”
Two-time defending PDTR Late Model champion Justin Schmidt of Cleveland captured the inaugural Russ Scheffler Tribute A-main in 2018, while Rick Scheffler kept it in the family as he turned in a storybook performance last year to score the victory in the race run in his late brother’s memory.
A huge list of marketing partners have stepped up to support this year’s Russ Scheffler Tribute, including KSI Supply Inc, KW Electric, Sorce Services, Professional Plating, TJS Asphalt Paving, Suburban Motors HD – In Memory of Scott Houpt, Pro Power Racing, Barricade Flasher Service, Advanced Compressor Technologies, Gibbsville Cheese, Oostburg Concrete Products, Eisentraut Ag Services, Redwing Boots of Sheboygan, Greg’s Tap, Pit Stop Pizza, Central Services Co. Inc., Waldo Oil, Full Throttle Ink, Goeden’s Auto Body, Keith’s Marina, N&S Towing, Wheels Racing, Kenjay Fiedler Excavating, Giebler Chiropractic, Lakehouse Bar & Grill, B&B Racing Engines, Roger & Dan’s, Napa – Plymouth/ Sheboygan/ Sheboygan Falls/ Random Lake, TA Motorsports, C-Marq Web Design & Photography, Randy Markwardt – In Memory of Ken Markwardt, Gasroots Project (lap leader $20 per lap), Hopf Farms (lap leader $20 per lap), In the Bag (heat race winners $50 per heat race), FYE Motorsports Promotions (lap leader challenge $74), Giebler Chiropractic (leader at halfway $74), In the Bag (highest finishing non-open motor $74), AI Appliance Repair (first car one-lap down $74), Roger & Dan’s (first car not to transfer $50 per B main), TySyd Racing – In Memory of Judy Davis Tyler Davis Racing Call Girl Motorsports, Joey Borth, BMRE, Al and Wendy Dickie (Longest Tow Award $200), Integra Shocks (hard charger $200), QA1 and Theel Auto (Hard Luck Award $250), Go Lithium (16v lithium battery/charger), Baileigh Industrial (portable MIG welder), FK Rod Ends (two $500 gift certificates), Victory Sign (50-percent off wrap includes install), Hooker Harness (ratcheting belts gift certificate), Total Seal Piston Rings (two $300 gift certificates), Swift Springs (two $200 gift certificates), Performance Bodies ($300 MD3 products gift certificate), VP Racing Fuel (three $100 gift certificates and fuel jug), MPI (steering wheel and $100 gift card), Stone Motorsports LLC (pit sky lights), Schaeffer’s Oil (three cases of oil), QA1 (ball joints gift certificate), Keyser Manufacturing (radiator), Racing Optics (two $100 gift certificates), Champ Pans (two set of champ mats), Wabam (three cases of 200ml bottles) and Wehrs Machine (two $50 gift certificates).
Non-qualifiers dash sponsors include: Theel Auto, Mike Stangl, Back Door Bike Shop.
“We encourage everyone to support all of our marketing partners and product sponsors,” Wester said. “Without them, this event would not be possible. All non-transfers to the A main will receive $200 through the Theel Auto non-qualifiers dashes. We are fortune this year to have some new purse and product sponsors for the random draw.”
In addition, to supporting the Late Model racers that attend handsomely, Wester says the event will also include a host of extra goodies for those that form the backbone of local dirt track racing by attending races and supporting the drivers, race teams and racetracks on a regular basis – the fans.
“For the fans there will be tables set up behind the grandstand that will have hats, shirts, sunglasses, can koozies, event stickers, frisbees, Road America tickets and Cupcake Wonders gift certificates, “Wester said. “We ask that fans please pick only one item per person, so a lot of people have something to take home as a ‘thank you’ for coming to our event. There are well over 100 fan giveaway items this year.
“We will also be having a Late Model driver meet and greet behind the grandstands from 5-5:30 p.m.,” he said.
Pit gates open at 3 p.m. with grandstand gates opening at 4:30 p.m. The start time will be pushed back by a half hour with hot laps at 6:15 p.m. and racing set to begin at 6:30 p.m. In addition, the regular Saturday night spectator admission price will be in place for the special event with no price increase.
Also on the card will be the PDTR 360 Sprint Cars, Grand Nationals and B Mods with A-main trophies sponsored by Cupcake Wonders of Sheboygan Falls.
“This year’s event is a must-attend race due to what we are doing to get more interactive with the fans, plus the quality of Late Models that are coming,” Wester said. “For only $15 for an adult admission ticket, you can’t beat that.”
Following the special Friday night event, there will be no racing at The Plymouth Dirt Track on Saturday, June 27 or Saturday, July 4. The next PDTR event at The Plymouth Dirt Track will by the third annual appearance of the Morton Buildings World of Outlaws Late Model Series on Saturday, July 11. B Mods and Grand Nationals will also be part of the July 11 program.
The Plymouth Dirt Track at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds is located at 229 Fairview Drive in Plymouth, Wis. For more information, visit www.plymouthdtr.com or check out Plymouth Dirt Track Racing on Facebook.
Pedal Down Promotions is a full-service public relations and media services company devoted to helping clients effectively communicate with targeted audiences through a diverse array of promotional strategies and methods, including 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.pedaldownpromotions.com or call 920-323-7970.
