By Jeff Pederson
Pedal Down Promotions
(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) – Following a seven-week delay due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) public health emergency, the 16th season of Plymouth Dirt Track Racing action at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds in Plymouth is finally set to push off on Saturday, June 6.
The 60th overall racing season at the tradition-rich Plymouth one-third mile dirt track is tentatively scheduled to feature 17 events through the 2020 season finale on Saturday, Sept. 26.
In accordance with Sheboygan County’s Safe Restart guidelines, the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds facility will be operating under several COVID-19 safety restrictions for the foreseeable future.
“As of now, we are allowed 25-percent capacity in the grandstands,” Plymouth Dirt Track Racing Marketing and Promotions Director Bill Weinaug said. “We are adding additional bleachers in the turn one area to allow people to spread outand also to gain some additional seating, Twenty-five percent capacity is around 1,100 people. The additional bleachers will help expand that number. In the pit area we will ask the drivers to allow proper distancing between haulers.There is a possibility that under Sheboygan County’s plan that by June 6th, wecould be up to 50-percent capacity.
“We are asking people in the seats and pit area to be respectful ofeach other’s space and follow the guidelines set out by Sheboygan County,” he said.
In addition, the attendance limitations will restrict people from moving between the pit area and the grandstands during the racing program and prevent fans from entering the pit area at the end of the evening’s races.
“Under the attendance restrictions, we cannot allow people who buy pit passes into the grandstand seats and grandstand ticket holders will not be allowed into the pits atthe end of the night,” Weinaug said. “This restriction is because of the capacity limitsthat have been put in place.”
For those looking forward to sampling Plymouth’s renowned food offerings, there will also be a few changes in store.
“Condiments will now be in single serve packets,” Weinaug said. “We will also have our concession workers use masks and gloves often and clean the serving areas more often. The bathrooms will be cleaned during the race program as well. We are also going to be power washing the bleachers weekly during the season. In general, the facility will go through deeper cleaning that it normally would during the season.”
Those entering the pit area will be asked to sign a COVID-19 waiver that will cover the 2020 racing season.
“A COVID-19 waiver form will need to be signed by participants andemployees,” Weinaug said. “However, nothing will need to be signed by the spectators in the grandstand area. We have also changed the pre-race driver’s meeting format. We will now use a FM radio transmitter that we usein the barns during the county fair to broadcast the pre-race driver’s meeting. Drivers and crews will be able to stay at their haulers and listen to it over the radioversus in a group.”
“Our hope is to have a fun and action-packed opening night andrace the remaining schedule without any interruptions,” Weinaug said. “As far asadjustments to the schedule, that’s a possibility. If some of the touringseries are having trouble racing in other states. there might bepotential for us to host them. However, everything is so fluid right now. We will have to see on that. “My best advice is for fans, drivers and teams to stay up to date withchanges that are being made in regard to capacity levels and restrictions. This is a fluid situation that changes by the hour and our hope is to get into the next phase of the plan and keep moving forward.”
In addition to the regular weekly program, which features 360 Sprint Cars, Late Models, Grand Nationals and B Mods, the 2020 PDTR season is currently scheduled to feature return appearances by the national touring Morton Buildings World of Outlaws Late Model Series on Saturday, July 11 and the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions 410 Sprint Car Series on Thursday, July 30.
The Rayce Rudeen Foundation All Star Circuit of Champions versus Interstate Racing Association challenge event on July 30 will feature largest first-place prize in Wisconsin Winged Sprint Car history with $26,000 set to go to the winner.
Last season Australian standout James McFadden captured the victory aboard retired NASCAR star Kasey Kahne’s No. 9 machine in the first All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car A-main at the Plymouth facility since 1995. The July 30 all-Sprint Car event will also feature the PDTR 360 Sprint Cars.
Former NASCAR Cup champion Tony Stewart of Columbus Ind., who made a pair of appearances at The Plymouth Dirt Track last year while recording an IRA A-main victory on Aug. 31, is among the top touring drivers likely to compete along with two-time defending All Star Series champion Aaron Reutzel of Clute, Texas, two-time All Star Series champ Greg Wilson of Benton Ridge, Ohio, Cory Eliason of Visalia, Calif., Paul McMahan of Nashville, Tenn., Brock Zearfoss of Jonestown, Penn. and two-time defending ASCS champion Sam Haftertepe Jr. of Sunnyvale, Texas.
New Berlin, Ill. driver Brandon Sheppard, the 2017 and 2019 World of Outlaws Series Late Model Series champion, has won the last two World of Outlaws Late Model series visits to Plymouth. Among the drivers expected for this year’s event are former series champions Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn. and Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ken., along with top national competitors Chris Madden of Grey Court S.C., Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., Chase Junghans of Manhattan, Kansas and Ricky Weiss of Headingley, Manitoba, Canada.
PDTR is also currently scheduled to host the regional touring IRA 410 Sprint Car Series on Saturday, Aug. 1, during the Sheboygan County Fair on Saturday, Sept. 5 and the IRA season finale on Saturday, Sept. 26.
The Aug. 1 IRA event will also feature the PDTR 360 Sprint Cars, as well as a appearance by the Badger Midget Series. The Badger Midget Series will return to Plymouth, along with the 360 Sprint Cars, Grand Nationals and B Mods on Saturday, Sept. 12.
The Sept. 26 IRA season finale event will also be the capstone of the 2020 campaign for the PDTR 360 Sprint Cars, Wisconsin Wingless Sprint Car Series and Wisconsin-Illinois Mini Sprint Series.
The third annual Russ Scheffler Tribute Race, which will include all four regular PDTR divisions highlighted by an increased purse for the Late Model A-main event, is set to take place on Friday, June 26. The event honors Scheffler, who passed away in September 2017 as the most successful driver in PDTR history.
In addition, PDTR will host two Dirt Kings Late Model Series in 2020. The Diamond 42 paying $4,200 to the race winner will take place at Plymouth on Friday, Aug. 14, along with Grand Nationals and B Mods.
The Dirt Kings Late Model Series will return on Friday, Aug. 28 along with all four regular PDTR divisions.
No racing will take place at PDTR on Saturday, July 4, Saturday, Aug. 29 and Saturday, Sept. 19.
“We strive every year to maintain a top-notch racing facility,” Weinaug said. “From the track, to the grandstand, concession stand and bathrooms, we want everything to be at the top of the line for a dirt track. Each year we make an effort to improve the quality of the facility from the fans’ and racers’ perspective. Over the past year and during the off season, we upgraded the north bathrooms, renovated the main concession stand and added new embedded infield tires in both corners of the track, which we feel with help improve the racing action throughout the night.
“I’ve been to a lot of different race tracks over the years, and our food selection is top-notch,” he said. “We get a lot number of new cars and drivers racing with us each year, which says a lot. Our race committee and fair board does a good job of noticing what we need to improve and getting what we need to make the experience of attending a race and competing in a race at Plymouth a positive and memorable one.”
Division sponsors for the 2020 include Kristine Hartmann-Pleasant View Realty (360 Sprint Cars), Gasroots Project (Late Models), Klips & Tips Salon (Grand Nationals) and Cellcom (B Mods).
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.
Regular weekly admission prices for the 2020 season are $15 for adults 17 and over and $7 for kids 5-16 with children 4 and under admitted free.
For more information about Plymouth Dirt Track Racing, call Bill Weinaug at 627-1217 or send an email to bweinaug@shebcofair.com or visit www.plymouthdtr.com
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.
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For more information on Pedal Down Promotions, email pedaldownpromotions@gmail.com, visit www.pedaldownpromotions.com or call 920-323-7970.
