Tough luck hounds Pokorski Motorsports
(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) August 17, 2016 – In a season filled with ups and downs, Paul Pokorski and his Pokorski Motorsports team experienced the low end of the pendulum during a Midwest Sprint Car Association doubleheader last Saturday, Aug. 13 at the Plymouth Dirt Track and Sunday, Aug. 14 at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie.
While the weekend’s action saw Pokorski race his blue No. 4 Maxim past a total of 16 cars in heat race, B main and A main competition, he was unable to steer clear of trouble in both A main events, as a multi-car accident at Plymouth and a huge nine-car pileup at Angell Park derailed his efforts to record a top finish.
On Saturday night at the Plymouth Dirt Track, a field of 26 PDTR Sprint Cars checked into the pit area with sights set on claiming an added $600 to win the A main courtesy of the family of the late Paul Coppersmith, who was a big supporter of racing at Plymouth for many years.
Pokorski got things off to a flying start in the first PDTR Sprint Car heat race. After starting ninth, Pokorski powered past Justin Miller, Josh Teunissen and Jason Johnson to move into sixth place on the opening lap.
On lap 2, Pokorski got by Garrett Timothy in turn two before sneaking past Tyler Brabant for fourth place on lap 4. Pokorski was closing on the third place car of Mitchell Yurmanovich when a rear end gear problem flared up on lap 7. As the car popped in and out of gear over the final three laps, Pokorski limped home with an eighth place finish.
The gear issue relegated Pokorski to the third starting spot in the B main. Pokorski held his own throughout the 12-lap race to place third and earn a transfer spot to the A main.
The three-time Eastern Wisconsin Stock Car Winged Super Modified champion, who was honored at intermission along with many other past Plymouth track champions, lined up 18th in the 22-car 25-lap A main event.
Pokorski used the high line on the fast and uneven track surface to move into 16th place on lap 9. However, disaster struck one lap later, when contact with another car sent Justin Miller flipping in front of Pokorski and Ryan Mayr with all three cars making contact in turn three.
The incident forced Pokorski to retire from the race with a 21st place finish. Brandon McMullen went on to post the victory over Lance Fassbender and Tim Haddy.
“We had a good car in the heat race Saturday at Plymouth, but mechanical gremlins got us and put us in a bad spot for the feature,” Pokorski said.
On Sunday night, the Pokorski Motorsports team ventured south to the historic Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie for the first MSA Sprint Car race at the track since 2010.
With a strong field of 24 MSA Sprint Cars on hand, Pokorski started fourth in the second heat race. On the opening lap Pokorski swept past Al Schlafer with a high move in turn one shortly after the drop of the green flag.
On lap three, MSA point leader Kurt Davis moved in to briefly challenge Pokorski for third place. However, Pokorski fended off the challenge before pulling away to close in on the second place car of Josh Walter in the final laps en route to a third place finish.
The 2014 MSA Masters Series champion started fifth in the A main and found himself in seventh place on the opening lap. He battled back to pass Chris Clayton along the outside groove to move into sixth place on lap 2, before Mitchell Yurmanovich hit the backstretch wall to bring out the first caution of the event.
On the restart, Pokorski got tangled up in a nine-car pileup in turn four, which brought out a red flag. After going to the work area, Pokorski restarted the race in the 17th position. He then went to work passing five cars (Garrett Timothy, Zach Raidart, Dannon Tessmer, Tony Wondra and Josh Teunissen) over the final 13 laps of the race to post a 12th place finish in the shortened 15-lap race.
Scotty Neitzel raced the Bob Hood-owned 10W car normally driven by Donny Goeden, to the A-main victory with a last corner pass on Kurt Davis.
“Sunday night we had a good heat race and got caught up in somebody’s wreck in the feature, which seems to be happening to us a lot lately,” Pokorski said. “The weekend did not quite go as planned. The last month or so has had its fair share of ups and downs, but we’ve been doing this long enough to know that it’s part of the deal and won’t last forever.”
This Saturday night the Pokorski Motorsports team will be in action at the Plymouth Dirt Track. Spectator gates open at 4:30 p.m. with racing set to begin at 6 p.m.
On Wednesday, Aug. 24, the team will travel to the Manitowoc Speedway for the annual Manitowoc County Fair race. It will be the second to last race ever at the Manitowoc Speedway, which will close at the end of the season to make way for a Meijer store. Racing begins at 7 p.m.
Pokorski Motorsports Sponsor Showcase – Goeden’s Auto Body
| Goeden’s Auto Body, located at 2417 Highway 28 East in Kewaskum, has been in business since 1971. In 2015, David “Dusty” Goeden took over ownership of the family-owned business.
Goeden’s Auto Body specializes in quality, top-notch auto body repair, with a focus on collision work. Goeden’s also offer classic vehicle restoration and rust repair, and will work with all insurance companies. Goeden’s Auto Body uses PPG paints and clear coats, offers towing services and a locked fenced storage area. Continuing the Goeden’s Auto Body tradition, free loaner cars are also available. “At Goeden’s Auto Body, we were born to perform. With over 50 years of doing business and our racing involvement on and off the track, we know how to treat our customers like winners. With every job, we push ourselves to improve our performance and deliver a winning product. We work with all insurance companies, provide free computerized estimates and loaner vehicles while we repair your vehicle. Give us a call when you need a tow or some auto body work. Remember you, not your insurance company, have the right to choose where to take your vehicle for repairs.” – Dave “Dusty” Goeden, Goeden’s Auto Body owner. For more information on Goeden’s Auto Body, call 262-334-2759 or e-mail goedenauto@gmail.com. |
Pokorski Motorsports would like to direct special recognition to R&H Enterprises, Goeden’s Auto Body, Christel Sign and Goodwin Racing Engines for helping to get the team’s new 2016 Maxim on the track this season.
The Pokorski Motorsports sponsors for the 2016 season include: Goeden’s Auto Body, Goodwin Racing Engines, Jens, Reinbold & Pfeffer Family Funeral Services & Crematory, Kettle Moraine Landscaping, Novak’s Service Center, Pedal Down Promotions, Christel Sign, Tisler Salvage Inc. and The Cawley Company.
For more information on Pokorski Motorsports, check out Pokorski Motorsports on Facebook or visit www.pedaldownpromotions.com
Pedal Down Promotions is a full-service public relations and media services company devoted to helping its clients effectively communicate with targeted audiences through 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.
2016 Pokorski Motorsports Upcoming Schedule
Saturday, August 20 – Plymouth Dirt Track (MSA)
Wednesday, August 24 – Manitowoc Speedway (MSA)
Saturday, August 27 – Plymouth Dirt Track (MSA)
Friday, September 2-Plymouth Dirt Track (MSA)
Saturday, September 3-Manitowoc Speedway (MSA)
2016 Pokorski Motorsports By The Numbers
Total Events – 21
MSA events – 18
IRA events – 3
A Main Victories – 0
Top Five A Main Finishes – 4
Top 10 A Main Finishes – 9
Heat Race Victories – 4