By Jeff Pederson
Pedal Down Promotions
(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) June 17, 2022 – In his fifth season behind the wheel of a 360 Sprint Car, Chris Larson of Greenfield appears to be hitting his stride as he strives to string together a career-best season of competition at The Plymouth Dirt Track at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds in Plymouth.
Through the first four official completed nights of the 2022 season, Larson has achieved a career-best streak of four consecutive A-main appearances in Plymouth Dirt Track Racing 360 Sprint Car action. In addition, Larson qualified for the June 4 PDTR 360 Sprint Car A main through his heat race. However, the remainder of PDTR racing program, including all five A-main events, was cancelled after a 360 Sprint Car B main incident resulted in extensive damage to the turn three fence.
“All of my career highlights have come this year,” Larson said. “I am proud to say that I have made five A mains in a row. This may not seem like a big accomplishment, but this is a big success for me. At the start of my career in racing, my wife and I talked about making sure that we never lost sight of family first. And even though my wife and kids come to the races, we still have a lot of family commitments. We have given up race nights to make sure to attend other family events.
“With that being said, before the 2022 season began, we had made 70 races,” he said. “Most racers race a full schedule and have done 70 races in about two years. I did a lot of learning in my first four years as a Sprint Car driver. This year it feels like things are finally beginning to click and make sense. I feel like I am a much better driver this year.”
While his initial connection to the racing world came through an entirely different type of motorsports, Larson’s draw to the power, thrill and flair of Winged Sprint Cars developed at an early age.
“My love for motorsports began when I was a child,” Larson said. “I grew up helping out on a Modified NTPA pulling team. We traveled the United States for pulls and I got to experience a lot. I also grew up in Burlington and spent many nights at Wilmot Raceway watching the Sprint Cars, which definitely grew my love for the sport.”
After several years of admiring Sprint Cars as a spectator, Larson decided to dive in head first five years ago.
“In 2017, I decided to sign up for Randy Sippel’s Open Wheel Driving School,” Larson said. “The experience was better than I could have imagined and I fell in love even more with the sport. At that time, we had just welcomed our daughter into the world and had just bought a new house. My wife did not think it was the right time to try to put together a team, due to the high cost of racing. But what she did say was that if I could find enough sponsors to support the racing, that she would support my dream. So, that’s just what I did.
“Over the next several months, I talked to everyone I knew, trying to get enough financial support to be able to race the 2018 season,” he said. “One of the sponsors I signed, happen to know Randy Sippel well, and knew that he offered the chance to rent a Sprint Car. I got in touch with Randy and that’s how my racing career started. I started my racing career driving a 360 Sprint Car and so far, I’ve never raced anything other than a Sprint Car.”
Larson’s personable nature and competitive spirit has helped him develop a close camaraderie with many of his fellow racers within the PDTR racing family, while also helping to fortify the bond within his own family.
“The things I enjoy the most about racing are the rush of adrenaline and all of the learning that goes along with it,” Larson said. “Every night I learn something new. I also really enjoy the racing family. I like getting to know the other drivers and talking with them. Some of the guys really offer some great support and advice. It has also been great seeing my kids learn and help out on race nights. Every night they walk away learning a little bit more on how to set up the car.”
Larson, who stands 13th in the PDTR 360 Sprint Car point standings through the first month of the 2022 season, currently has his sights set on continuing his progress toward the front of the field.
“One of my big goals is to win a race,” Larson said. “But to be honest, just to continue to grow and keep getting better every night is a goal. I would also like to make more A Mains this year compared to last year. I made nine out of 22 A-main races last year and this year I have made the first five A mains.”
Larson’s sponsors for the 2022 season include All City Towing, Olson’s Power Equipment, Olde Madrid, Longshots Sports Bar, Make-A-Wish Wisconsin, Hockey Locker, Accu Trailer, RC Custom Design and Sippel Racin’.
The pit crew members for Larson’s 2022 Sprint Car team are Randy Sippel (crew chief), Dave Becker, Tom Becker, Tanya Petersons, along with Larson’s wife Melissa and kids Colton, Bentley and Piper.
“I have been fortunate enough to have Randy Sippel as my crew chief,” Larson said. “He is a very accomplished racer and his knowledge is something that I couldn’t get from anyone else. I have really enjoyed racing for him.
“I also drive with a purple ribbon on my car in honor of my son, Colton, who lives with cystic fibrosis,” he said.
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After last night’s Plymouth Dirt Track Racing program had to be cancelled due to a delay in obtaining the necessary equipment to repair the turn three fence, which was extensively damaged in an accident during the 360 Sprint Car B Main on Saturday, June 4, PDTR is set to return to action this Saturday, June 18.
This week is PDTR Gives Back Night, during which all adult and students will receive $5 off general admission with the donation of two food items. All food donations will be distributed to a local food pantry.
The program will feature the PDTR 360 Sprint Cars, Late Models, Grand Nationals and B Mods.
Spectator gates open at 4:30 p.m. with 360 Sprint Car hot laps/group qualifying at 5:30 p.m. and racing to begin at 6 p.m.
With the cancellation of the June 11 PDTR program, Fan Appreciation Night has been rescheduled for Saturday, July 9 with all adults and students in attendance receiving $5 off the regular general admission price with adults admitted for $13 with students between the ages 12 and 15 gaining entry for $5. Kids 11 and under receive free entry, if accompanied by an adult.
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.
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