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Paul Pokorski reflects on ‘so-so’ 2019, looks ahead to final year as owner-driver

(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) October 29, 2019 – As one of the most determined and dedicated drivers and team owners in the pit area, Midwest Sprint Car Association 360 Sprint Car racer Paul Pokorski has sacrificed quite a bit to put an open-wheel race car on the track on a week-in-and-week-out basis over the past 27 years.

During the 2019 campaign, the West Bend competitor put together a pair of solid top-10 finishes in the Midwest Sprint Car Association and Plymouth Dirt Track Racing 360 Sprint Car point standings.

In all, Pokorski recorded four top-five finishes and 12 top-10 A-main showings to go along with two heat race wins and one B-main triumph in 26 events during the 2019 season. Pokorski wound up fifth in the final MSA point standings and ninth in the PDTR 360 Sprint Car point standings.

“It was a so-so season,” Pokorski said. “We had some good runs early in the year, and some not so good runs. We really struggled during the second half of the year. I certainly wish it would have gone better, but we still had some fun.”

The 2019 campaign got off to a strong start for Pokorski as he led the opening 15 laps of the season-opening Plymouth Dirt Track Racing 360 Sprint Car A main on May 4 before coming home with a season-best third-place finish.

Pokorski followed that up with a sixth-place A-main showing at Plymouth on May 11, before a B-main incident forced him to miss out on qualifying for an MSA A main for the first time since June 17, 2017 on May 25.

On Sunday, May 26, Pokorski made his lone Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series start of the season, which yielded a 16th-place finish at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek.

On June 1, Pokorski placed ninth at Plymouth before notching a 10th-place showing at Angell Park in Sun Prairie during the first MSA doubleheader weekend of the 2019 season. The 2014 MSA Masters Series champion tallied an 11th-place showing at Plymouth on June 8 before racking up a strong fourth-place finish at Plymouth on June 15.

On June 21 at SK Speedway in Unity Pokorski rallied from an late-race incident, which resulted in a flat tire, to salvage a 13th-place finish. One night later at Plymouth on June 22, Pokorski posted another 13th-place showing in A-main action.

With a season-high 40 MSA cars checked in on June 28 at Plymouth, Pokorski posted his third consecutive 13th-place finish in A-main action. Pokorski came home 10th in MSA competition at the Dodge County Fairgrounds in Beaver Dam on July 3 and was challenging for fifth at TNT Speedway in Three Lakes before contact with another car forced him to retire from the race with a broken axle and resulted in a 14th-place finish.

On Friday, July 12, Pokorski recorded another 10th-place finish in the MSA’s first of two appearances at Outagamie Speedway Powered by EWSC Racing in Seymour. During the National Anthem parade lap at Outagamie Speedway, Pokorski carried the black flag on the track in honor of beloved MSA and Pokorski Motorsports supporter Dave “Hagar” Nelson, who passed away on July 5.

The following night was Remembering Randy Tracy Night at The Plymouth Dirt Track on July 13 and Pokorski was running near the top 10 in the A main when he got caught up in an incident in turn two, which forced out of the race with a 21st-place finish.

Pokorski added yet another 10th-place showing at Angell Park Speedway on July 21 before coming home 13th in A-main action at Plymouth on July 25.

On a night honoring Pokorski Motorsports friend and supporter Dave “Hagar” Nelson, Pokorski enjoyed one of his best nights of the 2019 season registering a heat race victory before storming to a fifth-place showing in the A main event at Outagamie Speedway Powered by EWSC Racing in Seymour on Aug. 2.

Pokorski put together another strong MSA doubleheader weekend with an eighth place finish at Plymouth on Aug. 10 before charging from 15th to fourth at Angell Park Speedway on Aug. 11.

The tide turned back to the negative side the following week as Pokorski went down a lap in the early going of the A main at Plymouth before posting an 18th-place finish on Aug. 17.

The team bounced back to notch a seventh-place finish at Plymouth on Aug. 23, while the MSA’s return to Beaver Dam Raceway for the first time since 2014 netted an 11th-place showing for Pokorski on Aug. 24.

In front of a jam-packed grandstand of fans at Plymouth during the Sheboygan County Fair, Pokorski posted a 12th-place showing on Aug. 31 before placing 15th at Plymouth on Sept. 14.

The 2019 season came to close on an inauspicious note on Sept. 28 at Plymouth as Pokorski was caught up in a multi-car incident on the frontstretch of the A-main, which resulted in a heat race flip. After the Pokorski Motorsports crew and other supporters in the pit area scrambled to get the car together, Pokorski was able to get the car back on the track for the B main. However, he was unable to transfer to the A main with a seventh-place showing in the B to bring the 2019 campaign to a conclusion.

In picking out a highlight of his 2019 season, it is no surprise that Pokorski points to a race at one of his favorite tracks on a night honoring one of his team’s most loyal supporters.

“We had a good night at Seymour during our second date there for the season, which was in honor of our late friend Dave ‘Hagar’ Nelson,” Pokorski said. “We won our heat and ran a solid top-five in the A main. I was pretty happy with the result and being able to pay tribute to our friend. That night stands out to me as the highlight of the season.”

On the flip side, Pokorski said the team was challenged by various hurdles, roadblocks and mishaps throughout the 2019 season.

“We had several poor pill draws, which hurt us,” Pokorski said. “We struggled at times to find speed even when the car felt good. We also had too many minor crashes, which set us back.”

With the majority of the MSA events drawing 30 to 40 cars, Pokorski admitted that both the quantity and quality of the field provided a stiff challenge each and every night during the 2019 campaign.

“With the large car counts we had every night, I did feel some extra pressure to perform,” Pokorski said. “Just making the A main was tough pretty much every night. In talking with the other drivers, I got the feeling most everyone felt more pressure this year. That’s good because competition is what it’s all about.”

Pokorski has indicated that the 2020 season will see him race on a part-time basis, while his son, Alex, will also get a chance to steer the familiar No. 4 machine in a handful of events.

“We intend to run most of the MSA schedule,” Pokorski said. “We have a family wedding and a few other family obligations that may take priority after all these years. I plan to start and finish the year driving. Alex will drive most of the middle part of the season unless he has a work or school conflict.”

In addition, Pokorski is planning to end his tenure fielding and driving his own car at the conclusion of the 2020 season.

“I originally planned to stop racing when our oldest (Alex) started college because of the financial strain,” Pokorski said. “However, we made it work. Now our daughter has also started college and it’s time to start saving more for retirement and other things. That’s something we haven’t done enough of over the years.

“We have had great help from sponsors over the years, but a lot of the cost still fell on us,” he said. “I’m not complaining, I know that’s the case for a lot of guys. However, the financial aspect of it is a factor in the decision. I’d race another 28 years if it wasn’t!”

Looking beyond 2020, Pokorski isn’t sure what his racing future might hold. However, he does know that he would like to stay involved in the sport in some way.

“I don’t know yet what I might do to stay connected to racing when the 2020 season is over,” Pokorski said. “I know I want to do something. Continuing to drive is an option if the right opportunity comes along. Driving for someone else would definitely be my first choice.

“Another option is helping someone who wants more help and who I enjoy working with,” he said. “I would also consider helping the MSA as an official as well, depending on what they need.”

Pokorski is thankful to all those who have helped him pursue his racing dreams every year since 1993.

“I always have to thank my family and friends who have helped for so many years and continue to do so,” Pokorski said. “Our sponsors, many of whom have been involved in some way for many years, are greatly appreciated as well. I can’t tell them all enough how much I truly appreciate them.”

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 – Petersen Septic Systems

Since opening its doors in Valders, Wis. in 2012, Petersen Septic Systems LLC has provided premier septic tank service and the most reliable septic system installation and repair in Manitowoc and Two Rivers and the surrounding Lakeshore area.

“We offer our services to industrial, institutional, residential, new construction, commercial and municipal accounts,” Petersen Septic Systems Owner David Petersen said. “Customer service is our utmost priority. We do every job as it was in our own homes. Our experience is second to none in the area. Prior to opening the business, I worked for Tuschl Septic Systems from 2004 until owner Chuck Tuschl retired.”

The list of regular services Petersen Septic Systems offers includes septic pump repairs, test drilling/test boring, sewage treatment systems, septic tank removal, septic tank installation, water line repair, oil testing and perc testing.

“We provide all of these services in Manitowoc County and the surrounding areas,” Petersen said. “We are OSHA certified and are licensed MPRS/CST966051.”

Petersen Septic Systems is located at 7334 Nagel Road in Valders, Wis. For more information, call 920-323-2640, email petersenseptic@gmail.com or visit www.petersensepticsystems.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 By The Numbers
Total Events – 26
MSA events – 25
IRA events - 1
A Main Victories – 0
B Main Victories – 1
Top Five A Main Finishes – 4
Top 10 A Main Finishes – 12
Heat Race Victories – 2

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