by Dave Boehler
Beacon Sports Editor
Featuring a retooled weekly lineup of premier divisions coupled with a full slate of major marque events, the upcoming 15th season of Plymouth Dirt Track Racing at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds will offer a bit of something for every fan.
The 59th overall racing season at the tradition-rich Plymouth one-third mile dirt oval track is set to present 21 events, including 18 traditional Saturday night racing programs and three special weeknight events.
The campaign kicks off on Saturday at 5 p.m. – that will also be the start time the following two weeks before moving to 6 p.m. – and concludes on Sept. 28.
The season will feature return appearances by the national touring Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All-Star Circuit of Champions 410 Sprint Car Series and the Morton Buildings World of Outlaws Late Model Series.
Highlighted by the star power of former NASCAR Cup Series champion and All-Star Series owner Tony Stewart, the All-Stars will join the regional Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series for the biggest Sprint Car event of the season on May 18.
Along with Stewart, the All-Star-IRA Challenge event, which also features the PDTR 360 Sprint Cars, promises to include several of the top 410 Sprint Car drivers in the nation, including Aaron Reutzel (2018 All-Stars Series champion), Dale Blaney (six-time All-Stars Series champion), Greg Wilson (two-time All-Stars Series champion), Paul McMahan and Cory Eliason, who will be challenged by area IRA Series standouts Bill Balog, Jake Blackhurst, Scotty Thiel, Scotty Neitzel and Jeremy Schultz.
Last year was the first time the All-Star Series had competed at Plymouth since 1995 and the event drew a capacity crowd before rain washed out the A-main event.
Another high-profile national series set to return is the Morton Buildings World of Outlaws Late Model Series, which will make its second stop in Plymouth after packing the stands last year.
Brandon Sheppard, the 2017 World of Outlaws Series champion, captured last year’s inaugural series visit to Plymouth. The World of Outlaws Late Models event will also feature the PDTR Grand Nationals and B Mods.
PDTR will also host three additional appearances by the regional touring IRA 410 Sprint Car Series on June 8, during the Sheboygan County Fair on Aug. 31 and the IRA season finale on Sept. 28.
The June 8 IRA event will also feature the PDTR 360 Sprint Cars, as well as a appearance by the Badger Midget Series after a 12-year absence.
The Sept. 28 IRA season finale event will also be the capstone of the 2019 campaign for the PDTR 360 Sprint Cars, Wisconsin Wingless Sprint Car Series and Wisconsin-Illinois Mini Sprint Series.
Two other special Late Model events are on the 2019 schedule, including the Russ Scheffler Tribute Race on June 28, which will include all four regular PDTR divisions highlighted by an increased purse for the Late Model A-main event honoring Scheffler, who passed away in 2017.
In addition, PDTR will host a Dirt Kings Late Model Series race as part of the regular PDTR program on Sept. 14, which will also be the season finale for the PDTR Grand National/B Mod divisions.
This year’s weekly line-up of divisions includes 360 Sprint Cars, Late Models, Grand Nationals and B Mods. The Micro Sprint division will not return to Plymouth.
Fans will notice some tweaks in the regular schedule with no racing on four Saturday nights, including June 29, July 6, Aug. 24 and Sept. 7.
Kids’ activities will be held on several selected nights, including glow stick night (May 4), American flag nights (May 25, June 28), autograph night with checkered flag giveaway (July 20) and driver backpack night (July 27).
All four division sponsors will be returning for the 2019 including Richard’s of Dunbar (360 Sprint Cars), Gasroots Project (Late Models), Klips & Tips Salon (Grand Nationals) and Cellcom (B Mods).
For more information, call Bill Weinaug at (920) 627-1217, send an email to bweinaug@shebcofair.com or visit http://www.plymouthdtr.com.
2019 PDTR SCHEDULE
April 27 – Weekly Program featuring 360 Sprint Cars, Late Models, Grand Nationals, B Mods, 5 p.m.
May 4 – Weekly Program, 5 p.m.
May 11 – Weekly Program, 5 p.m.
May 18 – All Star Circuit of Champions-Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Cars, 360 Sprint Cars, 6 p.m.
May 25 – Weekly Program, 6 p.m.
June 1 – Weekly Program, 6 p.m.
June 8 – Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Cars, 360 Sprint Cars, Badger Midgets, 6 p.m.
June 15 – Weekly Program, 6 p.m.
June 22 – Weekly Program, 6 p.m.
June 28 – Russ Scheffler Late Model Tribute Race with all weekly divisions, 6 p.m.
July 13 – Weekly Program, 6 p.m.
July 20 – Weekly Program, 6 p.m.
July 27 – Weekly Programmin, 6 p.m.
July 29 – World of Outlaws Late Models, Grand Nationals, B Mods, 6 p.m.
Aug. 3 – Weekly Program, 6 p.m.
Aug. 10 – Weekly Program, 6 p.m.
Aug. 17 – Weekly Program, 6 p.m.
Aug. 23 – Weekly Program, Late Model championship night, 6 p.m.
Aug. 31 – Sheboygan Co. Fair Race featuring Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Cars and 360 Sprint Cars
Sept. 14 – Dirt Kings Late Models with all weekly divisions, championship night for Grand Nationals and B Mods
Sept. 28 – Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Cars, 360 Sprint Cars, Wisconsin Wingless Sprint Cars, Wisconsin-Illinois Mini Sprints championship night
Categories: Sports
