(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) May 11, 2024 - T.J. Smith of Greenville led all but two laps en route to his first career Akright Auto Midwest Sprint Car Association - Plymouth Dirt Track Racing 360 Sprint Car A main triumph on You're Our Heroes Night at The Plymouth Dirt Track in Plymouth, Wis. on Saturday, May 11.
The program served as a tip of the cap to the sacrifice and dedication of U.S. military, police, fire and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel by providing free admission to those who have worked to preserve the freedom, safety and health of United States citizens both near and far.
Outside front-row starter Tony Wondra of Campbellsport outpowered polesitter Bill Taylor of Boltonville to seize the lead at the start of the 25-lap MSA- PDTR 360 Sprint Car main event with fourth starter T.J. Smith seizing second on the opening circuit.
On lap 3, Smith reeled off a well-applied slide job entering turn three to pry the lead away from Wondra. Wondra battled back to pull even with Smith entering turn one on lap 4. However, Smith pounded the cushion to nail down the lead for good exiting turn two.
Sticking primarily to the outside line, the second-year PDTR 360 Sprint Car competitor began to encounter lapped traffic on lap 8. Smith, who has acquired nine track and series championships in 10 different racing divisions during his stellar career behind the wheel, expertly sliced his way through dense lapped traffic to build up a half-straightaway lead over Wondra on lap 19.
With two laps to go, sixth starter Kevin Karnitz of West Bend dipped under Wondra to secure second in the running order.
Smith, who has collected over 70 A-main victories in his distinguished racing career, went on to post his first career PDTR 360 Sprint Car A-main victory in the caution-free race.
Karnitz went on to finish second, Wondra was third, 2011 PDTR 360 Sprint Car champion Ben Schmidt of Plymouth placed fourth after starting ninth and Taylor placed fifth.
2008 PDTR 360 Sprint Car champion Lance Fassbender of Burnett registered the overall fastest lap in Akright Auto Plymouth Dirt Track Racing 360 Sprint Car hot lap-heat race group qualifying in 12.666 seconds.Â
The second event of the 2024 PDTR campaign, which was sponsored Sheboygan Falls Fire Department, drew 22 360 Sprint Cars.Â
The next Plymouth Dirt Track Racing program on Saturday, May 18 will feature the first of five 2024 scheduled appearances at The Plymouth Dirt Track for the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series. Also on the card for the all-Sprint Car program are the Akright Auto PDTR 360 Sprint Cars and Autometer Wisconsin wingLESS Sprint Cars.
Grandstand gates open at 4:30 p.m. with on-track action starting at 5:30 p.m.
Weather information for all Plymouth Dirt Track Racing events will be posted on the Plymouth Dirt Track Racing Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram pages, as well as the Plymouth Dirt Track Racing website – www.plymouthdtr.com.Â
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, Twitter and Instagram.Â
AKRIGHT AUTO PLYMOUTH DIRT TRACK RACING 360 SPRINT CARS
A Main (25 Laps): 1. 69S-TJ Smith [4]; 2. 63K-Kevin Karnitz [6]; 3. 11-Tony Wondra [2]; 4. 35-Ben Schmidt [9]; 5. 69-Bill Taylor [1]; 6. 7-Lance Fassbender [10]; 7. 4-Alex Pokorski [14]; 8. 3-Justin Erickson [5]; 9. 22B-Brandon Berth [8]; 10. 51-Chris Larson [3]; 11. 21H-TJ Haddy [11]; 12. 09-Clayton Rossmann 7]; 13. 0-Blake Wondra [18]; 14. 54-Randy Post [12]; 15. 24-Scott Conger [15]; 16. 14J-Joseph Hintz [22]; 17. 30-Doug Wondra [13]; 18. 66T-Tristan Koenings [17]; 19. 53A-Spyder Akright [19]; 20. 08-Katelyn Krebsbach [16]; 21. 46-Kevin Ruh [21]; 22. 12P-JJ Pagel [20]
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 22B-Brandon Berth [2]; 2. 09-Clayton Rossmann [1]; 3. 35-Ben Schmidt [3]; 4. 7-Lance Fassbender [4]; 5. 3-Justin Erickson [5]; 6. 66T-Tristan Koenings [6]; 7. 0-Blake Wondra [7]; 8. 46-Kevin Ruh [8]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 69S-TJ Smith [2]; 2. 51-Chris Larson [1]; 3. 63K-Kevin Karnitz [4]; 4. 11-Tony Wondra [5]; 5. 30-Doug Wondra [7]; 6. 53A-Spyder Akright [6]; 7. (DNS) 08-Katelyn Krebsbach
Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 69-Bill Taylor [4]; 2. 4-Alex Pokorski [1]; 3. 21H-TJ Haddy [3]; 4. 54-Randy Post [2]; 5. 24-Scott Conger [5]; 6. 14J-Joseph Hintz [6]; 7. (DNS) 12P-JJ Pagel
Qualifying 1 (3 Laps): 1. 7-Lance Fassbender, 12.666 [6]; 2. 35-Ben Schmidt, 12.750 [4]; 3. 22B-Brandon Berth, 12.773 [1]; 4. 09-Clayton Rossmann, 12.807 [5]; 5. 3-Justin Erickson, 12.983 [2]; 6. 66T-Tristan Koenings, 13.110 [3]; 7. 0-Blake Wondra, 13.331 [7]; 8. 46-Kevin Ruh, 14.702 [8]
Qualifying 2 (3 Laps): 1. 63K-Kevin Karnitz, 12.969 [5]; 2. 08-Katelyn Krebsbach, 13.053 [4]; 3. 69S-TJ Smith, 13.085 [1]; 4. 51-Chris Larson, 13.118 [2]; 5. 11-Tony Wondra, 13.167 [7]; 6. 53A-Spyder Akright, 13.595 [3]; 7. 30-Doug Wondra, 13.599 [6]
Qualifying 3 (3 Laps): 1. 69-Bill Taylor, 13.330 [1]; 2. 21H-TJ Haddy, 13.496 [2]; 3. 54-Randy Post, 13.553 [4]; 4. 4-Alex Pokorski, 13.632 [5]; 5. 24-Scott Conger, 13.731 [6]; 6. 14J-Joseph Hintz, 13.802 [7]; 7. 12P-JJ Pagel, 13.997 [3]
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