(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) June 7, 2016 – Following a disappointing showing over the Memorial Day weekend, Paul Pokorski and his Pokorski Motorsports Sprint Car racing team were aiming to get back on the competitive track Friday, June 3, in the Eastern Wisconsin Stock Car season opener at the Manitowoc Speedway.
With 24 Sprint Cars on hand, Pokorski opened the evening by starting second in the first Sprint Car heat race next to polesitter Tony Wondra. On the drop of the green flag, inside second row starter Brandon McMullen bolted past Pokorski to take over second place.
As the field stretched out over the third-mile oval, Pokorski settled into third place, which is where he finished behind McMullen and Wondra, who posted the heat race victory.
Just as he did in the heat race, Pokorski lined up for the 25-lap Sprint Car A main on the outside of the front row next to polesitter Tim Haddy. After the initial start was waved off due to the spinning car of rookie Tyler Brabant in turn two, Haddy used the high groove to grab the lead on the drop of the green flag.
In the opening laps, Pokorski tucked in behind Haddy along the preferred high line. By lap 5 the leaders began to encounter lapped traffic. On lap 6, Pokorski moved up next to Haddy, who was attempting to pass a slower car on the low side of the track. Just as Pokorski looked poised to assume the top spot in the running order, Josh Teunissen spun his machine in turn four just in front of the leaders.
After a wild restart, Pokorski found himself shuffled back to fourth place, as outside second row starter Kenjay Fiedler and 13th starter Kurt Davis slipped past to assume second and third place respectively on lap 7.
Pokorski battled back along the outside groove to pull even with Davis on several occasions over the next five laps. After Davis pulled away in lapped traffic to clear Fiedler for second place, Pokorski used a perfectly timed slide job to get by Fiedler for third place on lap 19.
As the laps wound down, 12th starter Danny Schlafer pressured Pokorski for third place before seizing the position in turn four on lap 24.
With one lap to go, a yellow flag for Lance Fassbender’s spin in turn two, tightened the field for a mad one-lap dash to the finish. After a frenzied restart, Pokorski held on to take fourth place behind race winner Haddy, Davis and Schlafer.
After failing to qualify for the Sprint Car A main one week earlier at Plymouth, Pokorski and his crew made some adjustments to the team’s new 2016 Maxim, which paid significant dividends at Manitowoc.
“We did make some changes to the car from the week before,” Pokorski said. “We also made some changes during the night that seemed to be in the right direction. We seem to be making some gains on this new car and we have a few more things to try yet.”
While happy with his season-best fourth place finish, Pokorski felt he had a car capable of winning if the caution flags had worked in his favor.
“I thought we had a shot at winning, but we would have needed a little luck with the cautions falling different to make that happen,” Pokorski said.
A scheduled Midwest Sprint Car Association (MSA) doubleheader weekend was washed out the following night, Saturday, June 4, when heavy rain forced the cancellation of the Plymouth Dirt Track program for the third time this season.
The team will return to action this Saturday, June 11 at the Plymouth Dirt Track.
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 Signs 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 Signs and Tisler Salvage Inc.
For more information on Pokorski Motorsports, check out Pokorski Motorsports on Facebook or visit www.pedaldownpromotions.com
PDTR racing action, which features Sprint Cars, Late Models, Grand Nationals, B Mods and Micro Sprints, starts at 6 p.m. this Saturday, June 11. Sheboygan County Fair Park is location at 229 Fairview Drive in Plymouth. 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 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, June 11 – Plymouth Dirt Track (MSA)
Saturday, June 18 – Plymouth Dirt Track (MSA)
Friday, June 24 – Manitowoc Speedway (MSA)
Saturday, June 25 – Plymouth Dirt Track (MSA)
2016 Pokorski Motorsports By The Numbers
Events – 6
A Main Victories – 0
Top Five A Main Finishes – 2
Top 10 A Main Finishes – 3
Heat Race Victories - 1
- Jeff Pederson on Jun 07, 2016
- Article Date: 6/7/2016 by Jeff Pederson-Pedal Down Promotions