7/21/2020
Paul Pokorski
Pokorski Motorsports looks to bounce back
(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) July 21, 2020 – The first Midwest Sprint Car Association doubleheader race weekend of the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season provided plenty of challenges and learning experiences as 28-year veteran Paul Pokorski and rookie Alex Pokorski took turns behind the wheel of the blue No. 4 360 Sprint Car on back-to-back nights.
On Friday, July 17, Paul Pokorski returned to the seat for the first time since winning his 46th career A main at The Plymouth Dirt Track at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds in Plymouth, Wis. on June 6 for an MSA event at Outagamie Speedway Powered by EWSC Racing in Seymour, Wis.
A strong field of 34 MSA Sprint Cars checked in for the second annual Dave “Hagar” Nelson Memorial Race in honor of the longtime Pokorski Motorsports and MSA supporter, who passed away on July 5, 2019.
After lining up sixth in the first 10-lap MSA heat race, Pokorski attempted to maneuver around the car of rookie Scott Armstrong in turn one of the opening lap when the two cars made contact causing Pokorski to spin. The damage forced Pokorski out of the race as he was credited with an eighth-place finish in the event.
The contact resulted in a bent front axle, broken shocks and front wing damage to Pokorski’s car. The Pokorski Motorsports crew then went to work to make all of the necessary changes to get the 2014 MSA Masters Series champion back on the track to start 14th in the 15-lap MSA B main.
On lap 6, Pokorski used the high groove to work around Blake Wondra into 13th before passing Tom Kreutz for 12th on lap 7. Four laps later, the West Bend driver ducked under Chris Larson along the low groove to take over 11th.
Pokorski continued to charge on the final lap as he worked around Preston Ruh to claim 10th place, which was four spots out of an A-main transfer position.
On Saturday night, Alex Pokorski was in the cockpit for his second outing at The Plymouth Dirt Track at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds in Plymouth, Wis. and fourth overall MSA event of the 2020 campaign.
With 36 PDTR/MSA Sprint Cars on hand, Pokorski drew the third starting spot in the third 10-lap heat race. In his fourth night of MSA competition as a rookie, Alex Pokorski was permitting to keep his starting spot for the heat race rather than starting at the rear of the field as he had to do for the first three nights of the 2020 MSA/PDTR 360 Sprint Car season.
Fighting a set up that did not suit his comfort level, Pokorski fell back to fourth on the opening circuit before dropping to seventh on lap 4. Pokorski then held on over the final six circuits to finish seventh.
“I was happy to start up farther in the field for the heat race,” Alex Pokorski said. “The track conditions were different than anything else I had raced on previously. It had a mix of tacky spots and slick areas.
“We also had a different set up in the car than usual, so it was quite a handful for me,” he said.
In the 12-lap second PDTR 360 Sprint Car B main, Pokorski started eighth and maintained the spot in the early stages of the race before working past Tyler Brabant along the low groove to take over seventh on lap 7. One lap later, Pokorski spun in turn one to bring out the lone caution flag of the race.
After restarting at the rear of the field in ninth, Pokorski was able to pass Scott Armstrong and Tyler Brabant over the final four laps to secure a seventh-place finish.
“The track was very fast in the B main and I felt a lot better than in the heat,” Alex Pokorski said. “The track started to slick off in turns 1 and 2 and I overcooked it a little on entry when I spun. That was a little frustrating, but the restart was pretty fun because the field was bunched up again and I was able to get back past a car or two.”
After four nights of action, Pokorski will be searching to continue to improve when he gets back behind the wheel.
“This week we found a set up that I didn’t like for the heat, but it was good to try it and learn from it,” Alex Pokorski said. “I also was able to try my first slide job this week and that worked out well. I’m slowly making progress. Hopefully, I can start finishing closing to the front in the next few races.”
The Pokorski Motorsports team is scheduled to take the upcoming weekend off to attend a family function.
The team will be back on Thursday, July 30 at The Plymouth Dirt Track with Paul Pokorski behind the wheel when the PDTR 360 Sprint Cars join with the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet and Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series for the second annual $26,000-to-win Rayce Rudeen Foundation event.
Grandstand gates open at 4:30 p.m. with hot laps at 5:30 p.m. and qualifying and racing to follow. Flo Racing will also present the action live via pay per view.
Alex Pokorski will then return to the seat for a Plymouth Dirt Track Racing program on Saturday, Aug. 1 presented by Pokorski Motorsports team sponsor Pedal Down Promotions.
Grandstand gates open at 4:30 p.m. with hot laps at 5:30 p.m. and racing at 6 p.m.
Sponsors for the 2020 Pokorski Motorsports team are Hopf Farms, Petersen Septic Systems, Quest Engineering 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., Allied Bearing Corporation and The Cawley Company.
Pokorski Motorsports Sponsor Showcase – Quest Engineering Inc.
Pokorski Motorsports would like to welcome back Quest Engineering of Richfield, Wis. as a sponsor for the 2020 racing season.
Quest Engineering focuses solely on full overlay cabinetry and complimenting custom products, including kitchen, bath, closets, garage, entertainment and commercial casework projects.
Quest’s skilled team of customer advocates, product specialists, engineers, production managers and operations team rely on a continuous improvement philosophy to pave the road to success.
Founded as a contract wood products fabricator in West Bend by brothers Chris and Todd Lefeber in 2001, Quest operated on mostly manual machines until adding CNC equipment and parametric engineering software to its repertoire in 2006.
In late 2008, Quest Engineering made the move from a direct sales to a dealer sales model with an increased focused on its capacity as a manufacturer. Quest moved from its original facility in West Bend to a newly renovated production facility in Richfield in fall 2012.
In May 2015, working with equipment, software, and special service vendors, Quest expanded with the addition of a second manufacturing plant. Housing a flexible casework production cell, a custom fabrication cell and a small warehouse, a new facility in Jackson was opened, featuring a design center and showroom.
“Quest Engineering came on board with Pokorski Motorsports in 2018 and we are excited to have them back for their third season with us,” Pokorski said. “Quest is a local manufacturer of quality cabinets and we encourage our fans to check out their line of products.”
Pokorski Motorsports invites you to contact Quest Engineering Inc. by phone at 262-334-4949 or by visiting www.questcabinets.com.
For more information on Pokorski Motorsports, check out Pokorski Motorsports on Facebook or visit www.pedaldownpromo.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.
2020 Pokorski Motorsports Upcoming Schedule.
Thursday, July 30 – The Plymouth Dirt Track, Plymouth, Wis.
Saturday, Aug. 1 – The Plymouth Dirt Track, Plymouth, Wis.
Saturday, Aug. 8 – The Plymouth Dirt Track, Plymouth, Wis.
2020 Pokorski Motorsports By The Numbers
Total Events – 7
MSA events – 6
IRA events - 0
A Main Victories – 1
B Main Victories – 0
Top Five A Main Finishes – 1
Top 10 A Main Finishes – 1
Heat Race Victories – 0
Article Credit: Jeff Pederson - Pedal Down Promotions
Submitted By: Jeff Pederson
