By Jeff Pederson
Pedal Down Promotions
(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) September 23, 2022 – As the 2022 Midwest Sprint Car Association 360 Sprint Car Series season draws to close during a doubleheader weekend of competition culminating with the 2022 Plymouth Dirt Track Racing season finale at The Plymouth Dirt Track in Plymouth, Wis. on Saturday, Sept. 24, two former champions are seeking to wear the crown for the second time.
After claiming the 2021 Midwest Sprint Car Association and Plymouth Dirt Track Racing 360 Sprint Car titles, fifth-year 360 Sprint Car competitor Travis Arenz of Sheboygan Falls has put together another remarkable season, highlighted by seven MSA A-main victories, including six main-event triumphs in PDTR 360 Sprint Car competition.
Arenz, who also has the 2013 PDTR Outlaw Compact championship in his collection, heads into the final two races of the 2022 MSA campaign – Friday, Sept. 23 at the Dodge County Fairgrounds in Beaver Dam, Wis. and Saturday, Sept. 24 at The Plymouth Dirt Track – with a 17-point lead over 2011 MSA and PDTR 360 Sprint Car champ Ben Schmidt of Plymouth.
The former Sport Mod/B Mod racer, who also holds a commanding 73-point cushion over Schmidt at the top of the PDTR 360 Sprint Car standings heading into the 2022 PDTR curtain closer at The Plymouth Dirt Track on Saturday, Sept. 24, did not originally plan to compete for the 2022 MSA and Plymouth 360 Sprint Car titles.
“We were planning to run a selection of 360 and 410 races this year without sticking to a particular series or schedule,” Arenz said. “However, that changed as we found ourselves waiting for our 410 engine to come back from the engine builder and then we had a motor failure with the 410 during an IRA event at Seymour in July, which set us back.
“With the cost of everything going up, we decided to stay closer to home this season,” he said. “We’re glad to be able to represent our sponsors and support our local tracks by doing so.”
In 17 MSA events during the 2022 campaign, Arenz has tallied 15 top-five and 16 top-10 A-main showings, along with four heat race victories, while posting seven main-event wins to move into fifth place on the all-time MSA A-main victory list with 29.
Arenz, who owns a division-best 17 career PDTR Outlaw Compact A-main victories and three career PDTR B Mod main-event triumphs, is hoping to carry the momentum from a strong 2022 season into MSA-PDTR championship weekend.
“My goal every night is to have a podium finish, so overall my goals in the 360 have been met with what we have accomplished this year,” Arenz said. “We are hoping to end the season strong with another win or two.
“My approach to the finally two nights of race season are simple – stay smooth, focused and humble,” he said.
In addition to his 360 Sprint Car duties, Arenz will be in action behind the wheel of his 410 Sprint Car this weekend at both the Dodge County Fairgrounds and The Plymouth Dirt Track with a motor provided courtesy of Gibbsville Cheese and Ozzie Wesener.
“We plan on finishing out the remainder of the season with the IRA,” Arenz said. “It would not be possible without the generosity and support from Gibbsville Cheese and Ozzie Wesener.”
As for the 2023 racing season, Arenz isn’t completely sure at this point what the future might hold.
“Our plans for the 2023 season have not been solidified,” Arenz said. “We are going to run a couple of races in a Dirt Late Model with Jake Van Engen Racing. We would like to run full-time with the IRA Sprint Car Series in 2023, but our options are open. We are interested in partnering up with someone for the 410 program.”
Schmidt, who is seeking his second MSA 360 Sprint Car championship, has enjoyed an equally strong 2022 season with one main event victory to go along with 11 top-five and 15 top-10 A-main finishes, as well as one heat race victory, during the 2022 campaign.
“In 2021, we were second in the MSA points championship,” Schmidt said. “Coming into the 2022 season, our goal was to be one spot higher. Our season has been very good, with only one A-main DNF [did not finish] so far, which was on opening night battling with Brandon McMullen for the win. Unfortunately, that DNF has been the difference, as Travis [Arenz] has finished every race.”
Schmidt, who was a regular competitor with the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series between 2014 and 2019, collecting three IRA A-main victories and a runner-up showing in the 2016 IRA point standings during his six-season tenure, returned to 360 Sprint Car competition in 2020 and has been a top racer with the MSA over the past three seasons.
After starting his long and successful racing career in the Eastern Wisconsin Stock Car Super Stock division at The Plymouth Dirt Track in 2000, Schmidt says earning another MSA title would be particularly special for the members of his pit crew.
“The approach has been the same all year – to make points every time we hit the track and be consistent,” Schmidt said. “Hopefully, the end result will be a championship. That would mean a lot for the crew. Our crew chief, Dave ‘Dusty’ Goeden, has had championships before with his brother, Donny, and I have had championships in the past also, but our crew has not. To get a championship would be crossing off another goal for the season.”
Schmidt, who stands fourth on the all-time MSA 360 Sprint Car A-main victory list with 31, is hoping to continue to compete in the 360 Sprint Car ranks for the foreseeable future.
“I’m not sure what the plan is for next year, as families are expanding for a couple of my crew guys,” Schmidt said. “They are having children and grandchildren that they would like to spend more time with. I don’t see myself hanging it up quite yet. We have so many great sponsors that keep us going. Hopefully, we can get the 2022 MSA championship and a few more in the years to come.”
Heading into the final PDTR 360 Sprint Car points race of the 2022 season, 2008 PDTR 360 Sprint Car and 2005 MSA champion Lance Fassbender sits 117 points out of the lead in third, two-time PDTR 360 Sprint and four-time MSA champion Brandon McMullen of Oshkosh stands fourth 144 points behind Arenz despite missing one night of action and Justin Erickson of Plymouth stands fifth 230 points behind Arenz.
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Former Grand National competitor J.J. Pagel of Mount Calvary will be looking to secure the PDTR 360 Sprint Car and MSA rookie of the year awards during the upcoming MSA Championship Weekend doubleheader at the Dodge County Fairgrounds Speedway in Beaver Dam on Friday, Sept. 23 and The Plymouth Dirt Track on Saturday, Sept. 24.
Pagel, who earned the 2021 Grand National title at Gravity Park Speedway in Chilton, is looking to wrap up the MSA Rookie of the Year Award this weekend and he holds a significant 69-point lead over fellow rookie Randy Post of Oostburg leading into the PDTR 360 Sprint Car finale on Sept. 24.
“Most definitely rookie of the year was probably the goal that I’ve wanted to achieve the most this season,” Pagel said. “The learning curve was a lot more difficult than I expected. We struggled for half the season trying to figure out some motor issues. Then when we finally got the motor issues figured out, we had to basically start over and learn how to set up a car. Then it came down to changing my driving style from the fender car to open-wheeled cars, as they are so much different. Toward the end of the season, we’ve finally been getting some speed, but we’re not to where we want it to be yet.”
The former PDTR Outlaw Compact competitor is eager to make more progress behind the wheel of a Sprint Car in 2023.
“Going into the 2023 season, I am planning on running the 360 Sprint Car again, as well as making some upgrades in the off-season and hopefully starting off the season with a little better luck,” Pagel said.
Pagel’s pit crew includes Joe Pagel, Bristol Hitsman and Josh Bergman.
Sponsors for Pagel’s racing team are A&W Iron and Metals of Kewaskum, Whiskey Dix Saloon of St. Peter, Ledgeview Precast Concrete of Fond du Lac, TTI Trucking Inc. of Eden, Silica Pub of Malone, C.W. Smith Jewelers of North Fond du Lac, Prototool LLC of Campbellsport, Altmeyer Electric Inc. of Sheboygan, Charles Poch Trucking Inc. of St. Cloud, Flood Oil Company of Eden, Shaky Joes Bar and Grill of Mount Calvary, S&S Mechanical of Mount Calvary, Maple Valley Heating and Cooling LLC of St. Cloud, J.B. Gierach Masonry & Restoration of Mount Calvary, Carbliss Handcrafted Premium Cocktails of Plymouth, H&R Safety Solutions of Campbellsport, Mark Petrie Fabrication of Plymouth, RC Custom Design of Adell, Marytown Tap of Marytown and Best Plumbing of Mount Calvary.
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The Wisconsin Sprint Car Championships event on Saturday, Sept. 24 at The Plymouth Dirt Track will cap the points races for the IRA Sprint Cars, Wisconsin Wingless Sprint Cars, MSA Sprint Cars, PDTR 360 Sprint Cars and IRA Lightning Sprints with 2022 champions crowned in all five divisions.
Pit gates open at 1 p.m. with spectator gates opening at 4 p.m. and on-track action 4:45 p.m. with qualifying and racing to follow.
For those unable to attend in person, the action on both nights will be broadcast live at www.floracing.com
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.
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For more information on Pedal Down Promotions, email pedaldownpromotions@gmail.com, visit www.pedaldownpromo.com or call 920-323-7970.
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