By Jeff Pederson
Pedal Down Promotions
(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) April 28, 2023 – It has been seven months since the roar of racing engines was last heard at The Plymouth Dirt Track at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds in Plymouth, but that is about to change as the 19-event 2023 Plymouth Dirt Track Racing season is scheduled to push off Saturday, April 29 at the venerable third-mile clay oval facility.
The opening night racing program will feature a bit of a change in the lineup of divisions as the Plymouth Dirt Track Racing 360 Sprint Cars, which will be featured during all 19 PDTR racing programs in 2023, will be joined by the other two regular PDTR divisions for the 2023 season, Grand Nationals and B Mods, with the Wisconsin wingLESS Sprint Cars joining in on the fun as a guest division.
In addition to the regular weekly program, which features 360 Sprint Cars, Grand Nationals and B Mods, the Late Model division will be featured a total of seven times in 2023, including six Super Six Series PDTR programs each paying $1,500 to win on May 6, May 13, June 10, July 15, July 22 and Aug. 12 to go along with a Dirt Kings Late Model Tour event on Friday, Aug. 25.
Other guest divisions scheduled to appear during the 2023 campaign include Wisconsin wingLESS Sprint Cars (April 29, Sept. 30), Badger Midgets (May 20, June 17), INEX Legends (June 24, July 8, Aug. 19) and Lightning Sprints (July 1, Aug. 5, Sept. 30).
“With the lower car counts and higher purse, it was rough financially to keep the Late Model division going on a weekly basis,” Plymouth Dirt Track Racing Marketing Director Bill Weinaug said. “Hopefully, the car counts increase and we can look bringing the Late Models back on a regular basis in the future.”
The 2023 PDTR season is also scheduled to feature a return appearance by the national touring Tezos All Star Circuit of Champions 410 Sprint Car Series for the $26,000-to-win Rayce Rudeen Foundation event in conjunction with the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association (IRA) Series on Saturday, June 3.
The Plymouth Dirt Track is the first track to host the Rayce Rudeen event for a second time.
“We are really excited to have the race back again as the 2020 event we had here was a great race,” Weinaug said. “To be the first track
that the Rudeen family chose to come back to is a huge honor.”
Another major highlight is a special weeknight IRA 410 Sprint Car Series event held in conjunction with the NASCAR Xfinity Series weekend at nearby Road America in Elkhart Lake on Friday, July 28. Both all-Sprint Car special events will also feature the PDTR 360 Sprint Cars.
PDTR is also slated to welcome four additional appearances from the Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series on Saturday, May 20, Saturday, July 1, Saturday, Sept. 2 and Saturday, Sept. 30.
“Having six IRA Sprint Car races this season just kind of worked out for both parties,” Weinaug said. “Both of us had open dates on our schedule and we came together to make these races happen.”
No racing will take place at The Plymouth Dirt Track on Memorial Day weekend (Saturday, May 27) or on Saturday, July 29 or Saturday, Aug. 26.
Vintage Modifieds are set to join the regular PDTR divisions on Saturday, July 15, which also serves as the second annual Plymouth Racing Wall of Fame Induction Night.
In addition, The Plymouth Dirt Track will host the annual Dairyland Classic motorcycle race on Friday, June 2.
As the lone division slated to compete in all 19 scheduled PDTR events during the 2023 campaign, the 360 Sprint Car division is looking to include an intriguing mix of returning champions, established veterans and promising newcomers.
With 2021 and 2022 PDTR and Midwest Sprint Car Association 360 Sprint Car champion Travis Arenz of Sheboygan Falls only expected to make a handful of starts in the 360 Sprint Car ranks in 2023 as he focuses on competing full time in the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series, the chase for the 2023 PDTR 360 Sprint Car title appears to be up for grabs.
Two of the top returning contenders in the PDTR 360 Sprint Car ranks are former champions Ben Schmidt of Plymouth, who finished second to Arenz in the 2022 PDTR and MSA point standings, along with two-time PDTR 360 Sprint Car champion Brandon McMullen of Oshkosh.
Schmidt, who claimed the 2011 PDTR and MSA 360 Sprint Car titles before embarking on a successful IRA 410 Sprint Car Series career, is set to return to compete for another PDTR 360 Sprint Car title in 2023, after coming close to earning the top spot following a spirited season-long duel with Arenz in 2022, while posting a pair of A-main victories.
Entering his 24th season of racing, Schmidt ranks seventh on the PDTR 360 Sprint Car all-time A-main victory list with 15 main event triumphs and stands fourth on the all-time MSA 360 Sprint Car A-main wins list with 32 triumphs.
“Our 2022 season ended on a good note,” Schmidt said. “However, we came up a little short of the championship. Even though we had less feature wins than we had in 2021, I feel our team was more consistent with the top-five and top-three finishes. We hope to build off that consistency going into 2023.
“We all have the same goal again this year, and that’s the Plymouth Dirt Track Racing and MSA 360 Sprint Car championships,” he said. “Plymouth has been home to all of us since we got into the sport. Being close to home allows us to enjoy racing with our fans, our sponsors and our families. The MSA and PDTR are great groups of people and a very competitive series. It’s always tough when half the field is capable of winning on any given night.”
Despite missing two of nights of racing at Plymouth in 2022, McMullen enjoyed a strong season placing fourth in the final PDTR 360 Sprint Car point standings and earning three A-main victories at Plymouth, while moving to the top of the all-time PDTR 360 Sprint Car A-main victory list by earning his 27th career main event triumph at Plymouth on Sept. 3, 2022.
McMullen, who ranks third on the all-time MSA A-main victory list with 38 career A-main triumphs, owns a pair of PDTR 360 Sprint Car season titles in 2017 and 2020 to go along with four MSA championships earned in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2020.
“It was nice to reach some of the milestones that we did last year as a team and it’s a testament to the work everyone puts into the car,” McMullen said. “We had a solid season last year and ended it strong with a bunch of wins at the end. Hopefully, we can continue building off of that for a quick start this year.”
While his team has not focused on racing for points over the past two seasons, McMullen is intending to pursue a full season of competition at Plymouth in 2023.
“We don’t have a set schedule in mind currently, other than being at Plymouth full time,” McMullen said. “I’d like to try some of the traveling MSA shows, but we’ll see where we’re at as the season goes on.
“Our goal is to go out and have fun again,” he said. “We got away from points racing last year due to commitments and really enjoyed racing again. This year we’re just going to go out and try to win as much as we can and let the points picture take care of itself.”
No matter the result on the track from night to night, racing at The Plymouth Dirt Track continues to be special for McMullen and his close-knit family-based racing team.
“Plymouth has always been my hometown track,” McMullen said. “I grew up at the Plymouth track and attended the races since I was little watching my dad race. Racing at Plymouth just means more with all of our family and friends supporting us, and it’s great to have them all visit us in the pits after the program is done. PDTR has also done a nice job with upgrading the facility and improving the safety of the drivers.”
***
During the 2023 season, PDTR race fans will be treated to a $3 price reduction at the gate with adult general admission tickets dropping to $15 for regular PDTR racing programs.
Students between the ages of 12 and 15 will be admitted to regular 2023 PDTR racing programs for $7 with children 11 and under admitted free if accompanied by an adult and for $7 if unaccompanied by an adult. Pit passes are $30 for regular PDTR racing programs.
Akright Auto has stepped up to serve as the new PDTR 360 Sprint Car division sponsor for the 2023 season, along with returning division sponsors Oostburg Automotive (Grand Nationals), Next Step Insurance (B Mods) and B-93 FM Radio (Late Models and guest divisions).
The new winner’s circle sponsor for the 2023 season is Millenium Technologies.
In addition, Weinaug says a few new special promotions and kids events will be added for fans, along with the addition of the My Race Pass app and scoring system, which will allow improved access to results and race information for both fans and racing teams.
Weinaug believes PDTR’s top-notch facilities, high quality food offerings and unique blend of weekly and guest racing divisions, along with a wide variety of regional and national touring series appearances help it to stand apart from other dirt track racing venues in the area.
“Our food is the best in the region along with a grandstand that gets washed every week and new clean bathrooms and facilities,” Weinaug said. “Not to mention all of the different divisions that we will be featuring throughout the season, including our weekly divisions and a number of different touring series.”
Start times for the first three racing programs nights of the season will move up one hour with pit gates opening at 2 p.m., grandstand gates opening at 3:30 p.m. with hot laps at 4:30 p.m. and racing to begin at 5 p.m.
On normal race nights beginning on June 3, pit gates will open at 3 p.m., grandstand gates will open at 4:30 p.m. with hot laps at 5:30 p.m. and racing to follow at 6 p.m.
For more information about Plymouth Dirt Track Racing or to inquire about 2023 sponsorship opportunities at the track, call Bill Weinaug at 627-1217, send an email to bweinaug@shebcofair.com or visit www.plymouthdtr.com.
2023 PDTR SCHEDULE
Saturday, April 29 – Opening Night Weekly Program featuring 360 Sprint Cars, Grand Nationals, B Mods, Wisconsin wingLESS Sprint Cars, 5 p.m.
Saturday, May 6 – Weekly Program featuring 360 Sprint Cars, Grand Nationals, B Mods, Late Models, 5 p.m.
Saturday, May 13 – Weekly Program featuring 360 Sprint Cars, Grand Nationals, B Mods, Late Models, 5 p.m.
Saturday, May 20 – Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Cars, PDTR 360 Sprint Cars, Badger Midgets, on-track 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 27 – No Racing
Friday, June 2 – Dairyland Classic Motorcycle Race
Saturday, June 3 – All Star Circuit of Championships-Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Cars, PDTR 360 Sprint Cars, on-track 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 10 – Weekly Program featuring 360 Sprint Cars, Grand Nationals, B Mods, Late Models, 6 p.m.
Saturday, June 17 –Weekly Program featuring 360 Sprint Cars, Grand Nationals, B Mods, Badger Midgets, 6 p.m.
Saturday, June 24 – Weekly Program featuring 360 Sprint Cars, Grand Nationals, B Mods, INEX Legends, 6 p.m.
Saturday, July 1 – Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Cars, PDTR 360 Sprint Cars, Lightning Sprints on-track 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 8 – Weekly Program featuring 360 Sprint Cars, Grand Nationals, B Mods, INEX Legends, 6 p.m.
Saturday, July 15 – Plymouth Racing Wall of Fame Night, Weekly Program featuring 360 Sprint Cars, Grand Nationals, B Mods, Late Models with Vintage Modifieds, 6 p.m.
Saturday, July 22 – Weekly Program featuring 360 Sprint Cars, Grand Nationals, B Mods, Late Models, 6 p.m.
Friday, July 28 – Special NASCAR Weekend Road America Dirt Challenge Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Cars, PDTR 360 Sprint Cars, on-track 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 5 – Weekly Program featuring 360 Sprint Cars, Grand Nationals, B Mods, Lightning Sprints, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 12 – Weekly Program featuring 360 Sprint Cars, Grand Nationals, B Mods, Late Models, championship night for Late Models, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 19 – Weekly Program featuring 360 Sprint Cars, Grand Nationals, B Mods, INEX Legends, 6 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 25 – Dirt Kings Late Model Series with 360 Sprint Cars Grand Nationals, B Mods, championship night for Grand Nationals and B Mods, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 2– Sheboygan County Fair Race featuring Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Cars and PDTR 360 Sprint Cars, on-track 5 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 30 – Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Cars, 360 Sprint Cars, Wisconsin Wingless Sprint Cars, Lightning Sprints championship night, on-track 5 p.m.
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.
Comments