(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) June 12, 2019 – Josh Walter and his Torque Racing team experienced the kind of night on Saturday, June 8 at The Plymouth Dirt Track at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds in Plymouth, Wis. that is best tucked away in file 13.
With 35 Plymouth Dirt Track Racing Sprint Cars in the pit area for an all-open wheel racing program, which also featured the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series and Badger Midget Auto Racing Association, Walter drew the third starting spot in the fourth PDTR 360 Sprint Car heat race.
Things went wrong quickly for Walter when outside front row starter Chris Larson’s car failed to get up to speed on the opening lap creating a log jam on the backstretch. An accordion affect ensued, which led to Walter making contact with Larson and Scott Conger and flipping end over end in entering turn three.
Walter emerged uninjured, but heavy damage to the top wing and suspension of the car led to the battered machine being removed from the track on a wrecker with Walter credited with a seventh-place finish.
“Prior to the start of the heat race, we were rolling into turn three slowly picking up pace and the front row jackrabbited the start by slowing down then taking off,” Walter said. “The 51 car [Chris Larson] had an itch to get to the bottom, cutting in front of me. Then the 51 slid up mid corner in turns one and two, so I tried ducking underneath.
“The at the exit of turn two, the 51 came down into my right front tire,” he said. “As that happened, he turned off of me and the 24 car [Scott Conger] got jacked up and turned both of the cars across my nose leaving me nowhere to go. It was all just a racing deal and par for the course with our format.”
The Torque Racing pit crew went to work quickly and made the necessary repairs to get Walter back on track for the second PDTR 360 Sprint Car B main.
“As for the car, it was in pretty bad shape,” Walter said. “Hats off to my crew and several others for disassembling and building a car from scratch. We didn't know if we'd get it done in time, but I'm extremely thankful and blessed with all the support.”
Starting eighth in the 12-lap race, Walter was faced with the task of advancing into the top three to gain a spot in the A main. Walter went to work on the drop of the green flag to advance three spots into fifth place on the opening lap. Walter then moved up to pressure Bill Taylor for fourth place on lap 7.
However, he fell back over the next four laps and eventually stalled on the final lap of the race without reaching the finish line. He was scored ninth in the race and failed to advance to the A main for the first time this season.
“The car didn't handle as well as I hoped in the B, but it was a car I felt deserved to be in the A,” Walter said. “There’s nothing worse than doing all that work and not making the show. However, we won't hang our heads and we'll be back out this Saturday with the same goals we started the season with.
“There is a long season left,” he said. “My confidence is at an all-time high right now. When something like this happens and you see the results of the hard work everyone is putting in, you feel like you can't fail for the team’s sake and mine as well.”
Josh Walter and the Torque Racing team will return to action this Saturday, June 15 at The Plymouth Dirt Track at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds in Plymouth, Wis. four a four-division program featuring the PDTR 360 Sprint Cars, Late Models, Grand Nationals and B Mods. Hot laps are scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. with racing to follow at 6 p.m.
Torque Racing sponsors for the 2019 season include JDV Lawncare, Brittany's School of Dance, Sheboygan by Owner, Plymouth Tap, Doug's Quality Beef, Tiffany's Wildtree, Cow Pies, Full Throttle Ink, Lakehouse Bar & Grill, Home Transitions, Oostburg Concrete, Kombucha Brothers, Ruh Custom Woodworking, RC Custom Design and Pedal Down Promotions.
Torque Racing Sponsor Showcase – Plymouth Tap
Josh Walter and the Torque Racing team is pleased to welcome back Plymouth Tap as a returning sponsor for the 2019 season.
Plymouth Tap is the fourth tavern founded by the late Kevin Fetterer. After four years of renovations, Plymouth Tap opened at 101 East Mill St. in Plymouth on the day before Thanksgiving in 2016.
As a 5,000-square-foot bar and grill located in the heart of downtown Plymouth, Plymouth Tap features several televisions, pool tables, dartboards and many other games, along with an expansive food and drink menu.
“I like to think there is a little something for everyone here,” Plymouth Tap owner Nate Fetterer said. “We have a large menu and plenty of drink choices. We also have ample space to accommodate groups, both small and large.”
Fetterer has a close connection to the local racing scene and has jumped at the opportunity to be involved as a sponsor with the Torque Racing team.
“I used to go to PDTR as a small child with my grandfather and really enjoyed spending that time with him,” Fetterer said. “As a teenager, I became a pit mechanic for Sean Conrad, who raced motorcycles and just so happened to be my neighbor in Sheboygan Falls. We traveled across the Eastern United States chasing Kawasaki contingency money in several different motorcycle series including AMA, WERA, CRA.
“Josh is persistent and a hard worker,” he said. “He also helps out at the bar a ton. He is a great person to have on board when it’s not racing season. Along with the Torque Racing brat fry that is held every year, one of the highlights of this year’s event was the Plymouth Tap/Torque Racing Bar Olympics that we organized and ran together.”
For more information on Plymouth Tap, visit www.plymouthtap.com.
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2019 Josh Walter-Torque Racing Upcoming Schedule
Saturday, June 15 – Plymouth Dirt Track, Plymouth, Wis.
Friday, June 21 – SK Speedway, Unity, Wis.
Saturday, June 22 – Plymouth Dirt Track, Plymouth, Wis.
Friday, June 28 – Plymouth Dirt Track, Plymouth, Wis.
Wednesday, July 3 – Dodge County Fairgrounds, Plymouth, Wis.
Saturday, July 6 – TNT Speedway, Three Lakes, Wis.
2019 Josh Walter-Torque Racing By The Numbers
Total Events – 7
MSA events – 6
IRA events – 1
A-Main Victories – 1
B-Main Victories – 1
Top Five A-Main Finishes – 2
Top 10 A-Main Finishes – 3
Heat Race Victories – 2