by Jeff Pederson
for The Beacon

After a six-week delay due the statewide safer at home order in response to COVID-19, Plymouth Dirt Track Racing will kick off the 2020 season at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds in Plymouth on Saturday, June 6.

Fans will be allowed to attend with no attendance restrictions anticipated for spectators or competitors on opening night.

The pits will open at 2:30 p.m., followed by spectator gates at 4:30 p.m. Opening ceremonies are at 6 p.m. and racing will follow.

Prior to opening night, PDTR will hold three practice days: Wednesday, Saturday, May 30 and Tuesday, June 2 from 4-8 p.m. each day.

The grandstand will be open to fans for practices at no charge.

Everyone entering the pits will be asked to sign a new COVID-19 waiver.

All who attend PDTR practices and races this season will be asked to uphold social distancing procedures.

The All-Star Circuit of Champions-Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Rayce Rudeen Foundation $26,000-to-win race, originally scheduled for Saturday, May 30, has been postponed until Thursday, July 30.

The 2020 PDTR season is tentatively scheduled to run through Saturday, Sept. 26.

Miller turns promoter

The roar of racing engines will return with the Quarantine 30 presented by Miller Family Motorsports Saturday at Gravity Park Speedway in Chilton.

The idea to launch the inaugural event, which will feature a full program of 360 Sprint Cars, A Modifieds and B Modifieds, was fueled by the passion of veteran Sprint Car racer Adam Miller of Plymouth, who is embracing his first opportunity as a race promotor.

“I’ve been thinking about promoting a race for several years, but this is the first one that has materialized,” Miller said. “The timing just made sense to try and get something put together. I could have never imagined it would come together so quickly, but people are wanting to race now that things are open so it just worked out.

“I had considered a couple different tracks, but any track that resides within a county fairgrounds seemed like it wasn’t going to be feasible with many counties still pushing the recommended guidelines as far as the CDC is concerned. I had talked with Gravity Park Speedway owner Bob Schneider before when practicing there about getting Sprint Cars up there for a show. We’ve just never been able to make it work due to scheduling with MSA or Plymouth Dirt Track. Now that nothing else is running, it made sense to try and give it a shot.”

The Quarantine 30 will feature the first-ever appearance for the 360 Sprint Car division at Gravity Park Speedway with the 30-lap A main paying $1,000 to win and $200 to start. The A Modifieds will contest a 25-lap A Main paying $625 to win and the B Modifieds will complete a 25-lap B Main featuring a $500 first-place payday.

“This will be the first actual Sprint Car race at Gravity Park,” Miller said. “I have practiced there before in a Sprint Car and several other Sprint Car drivers have as well. It reminds me a little bit of the old fairgrounds racetrack in Chilton, but it’s bigger. They have also made some improvements to the shape of the track and the racing surface over the past year.

“The 360 Sprint Cars will follow MSA engine and car rules. The A Mods and B Mods are following the Gravity Park rules.”

Spectators will be permitted to attend with no attendance restrictions anticipated.

“There are no restrictions that we aware of at this time,” Miller said. “However, we will adhere to any restrictions on crowd size if they are communicated to us, and we are encouraging the standard safety protocols, including social distancing, face masks, keeping to your own pit area or with your family if you’re in the grandstand.”