(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) July 9, 2019 – Paul Pokorski and his Pokorski Motorsports team competed in a pair of Midwest Sprint Car Association events with varying results at two very different tracks in opposite parts of the state during the Fourth of July holiday week.
On Wednesday, July 3, the Pokorski Motorsports team made its first of two scheduled MSA appearances during the 2019 season at the high-speed, wide-open Dodge County Fairgrounds “horsepower half mile” in Beaver Dam, Wis.
With 31 MSA competitors signed in for the evening, Pokorski lined up fifth in the fourth heat race. The 27-year veteran used a bold move in turn one of the opening lap to move past Nich Melis and Tyler Tischendorf into third place. Pokorski held on the rest of the way to secure a third-place finish and a starting spot in the 20-lap A main.
After starting ninth in the main event, the 2014 MSA Masters Series champion dropped back to 12th on lap 5 before a red flag for a four-car incident in turn two involving Kevin Karnitz, Danny Schlafer, Tim Haddy and Josh Walter slowed the pace.
Pokorski restarted eighth and found himself in 11th on lap 11 before engaging in a multi-lap duel with Al Schlafer beginning on lap 15. Pokorski eventually worked past Schlafer in turn three on lap 18 to secure 10th. He maintained the position over the final two laps to secure his sixth top-10 A-main showing of the 2019 season in a race won by Jim Melis.
“I was pretty disappointed with Dodge County,” Pokorski said. “I thought we’d be a little better. Overall, it was an okay night.”
The Pokorski Motorsports team travelled to the northwoods of Wisconsin to compete in the first of two scheduled 2019 MSA appearances at the tight, quarter-mile high-banked TNT Speedway in Three Lakes, Wis. on Saturday, July 6.
With 26 MSA cars on hand, Pokorski started second in the first heat race. Polesitter Bill Taylor got the jump on the green flag to lead the opening lap with Pokorski settling into second. On lap 8, Travis Arenz used the high groove to power around Pokorski, who wound up third at the checkered flag to advance to the A main.
Pokorski started on the outside of the front row in the 30-lap A main sponsored by Badger Steel. After some spirited jockeying at the front of the field in the opening laps, Pokorski was running sixth when a red flag was displayed on lap 13 for a multi-car incident in turn three involving Al Schlafer, Tyler Davis, Jack Vanderboom and Bill Taylor.
Following another multi-car incident on the ensuing restart attempt, Pokorski was involved in a four-car mishap in turn two on the third restart try after making contact with Tim Haddy and hitting the guardrail in turn two. The contact resulted in a broken axle, which forced Pokorski to drop out of the race with a 14th-place finish to his credit in a race won by Travis Arenz.
“TNT was going okay until we wrecked,” Pokorski said. “We lost some spots on the restart, but that was just a result of starting on the bottom and make a few bad choices during the first lap.”
Pokorski Motorsports will compete in an MSA doubleheader this weekend, which kicks off with an event on Friday, July 12 at Outagamie Speedway in Seymour, Wis. Grandstands open at 5 p.m. with racing at 6:30 p.m. The program will also feature IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Sport Mods, Street Stocks and Sport Compacts.
On Saturday, July 13, the team will return to The Plymouth Dirt Track to compete with the PDTR 360 Sprint Cars. Grandstands open at 4:30 p.m. with hot laps at 5:30 p.m. and racing at 6 p.m.
“We wrecked a bunch of stuff at TNT on Saturday,” Pokorski said. “Thanks to my family, friends, Goeden's Auto Body R&H Racing and Behling Racing Equipment, I think we are going to get it all together in time for Friday night at Outagamie, unless we have unexpected problems. I'm really looking forward to returning to Outagamie Speedway this Friday night.”
Off the track, it was a tough week for Pokorski Motorsports as one of the team’s biggest supporters, Dave “Hagar” Nelson of Hagar’s Half-Pounder Cookies, passed away on Friday, July 5.
“It is with a heavy heart that we say, ‘goodbye,’ to our friend Dave ‘Hagar’ Nelson,” Pokorski said. “Hagar was a great supporter of local auto racing and bluegrass music/musicians. He often came to events with his famous half-pound cookies, a warm smile and a story. He will be missed.”
Sponsors for the 2019 Pokorski Motorsports team are Hopf Farms, Petersen Septic Systems, Gasroots Project, Quest Engineering Inc., Acme Armature Works Inc., Goeden's Auto Body, Goodwin Racing Engines, Lakeshore Family Funeral Homes, Kettle Moraine Landscaping, Novak's Service Center, Pedal Down Promotions, Tisler Salvage Inc., Hagar’s Half-Pounder Cookies, Allied Bearing Corporation and The Cawley Company.
For more information on Pokorski Motorsports, check out Pokorski Motorsports on Facebook or visit www.pedaldownpromo.com.
Pokorski Motorsports Sponsor Showcase – Goeden’s Auto Body
As one of Pokorski Motorsports’ longest-running and most-valued sponsors, 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 offers classic vehicle restoration and rust repair. In addition, it 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 Auto Body tradition, free loaner cars are also available.
“At Goeden’s Auto Body, we were born to perform,” Dave “Dusty” Goeden, Goeden’s Auto Body owner said. “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.”
For more information on Goeden’s Auto Body, call 262-334-2759 or e-mail goedenauto@gmail.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.pedaldownpromo.com or call 920-323-7970.
2019 Pokorski Motorsports Upcoming Schedule.
Friday, July 12 – Outagamie Speedway, Seymour, Wis.
Saturday, July 13 – Plymouth Dirt Track, Plymouth, Wis.
Saturday, July 20 – Plymouth Dirt Track, Plymouth, Wis.
Sunday, July 21 – Angell Park Speedway, Sun Prairie, Wis.
Thursday, July 25 – Plymouth Dirt Track, Plymouth, Wis.
Friday, August 2 – Outagamie Speedway, Seymour, Wis.
Saturday, August 3 – Plymouth Dirt Track, Plymouth, Wis.
2019 Pokorski Motorsports By The Numbers
Total Events – 13
MSA events – 12
IRA events - 1
A Main Victories – 0
B Main Victories – 1
Top Five A Main Finishes – 2
Top 10 A Main Finishes – 6
Heat Race Victories – 1