10/5/2021
Paul Pokorski
Pokorski Motorsports closes out 29-year run strong at Beaver Dam Raceway, forges future plans
(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) October 5, 2021 – After 29 years of open-wheel racing competition on dirt tracks throughout the state of Wisconsin, the Pokorski Motorsports wrapped up its highly successful tenure as a racing team with a pair of strong performances, during a non-points Midwest Sprint Car Association doubleheader weekend of action at Beaver Dam Raceway in Beaver Dam, Wis. Friday, Oct. 1 and Saturday, Oct. 2.
The first half of the two-night event, which was contested as part of the Wingless Nationals featuring the Wisconsin WingLESS Sprint Car Series, saw 29-year veteran Paul Pokorski step into the seat of the No. 4 Pokorski Motorsports car with an impressive field of 28 MSA 360 Sprint Cars on hand.
Pokorski, who claimed 46 A-main victories and racked up a total of four track and series championships in Winged Super Modified and MSA 360 Sprint Car Series competition for Pokorski Motorsports, opened the night by qualifying 10th with a lap of 13.348 seconds.
Pokorski was scheduled to start from the pole of the first 10-lap MSA heat race. However, the team was penalized to the rear of the field at the start after being late to the staging area.
After starting seventh, Pokorski worked his way past Josh Teunissen on lap 8 and Tyler Brabant on the final lap to finish fifth and earn a spot in the A main based on the MSA’s heat race passing points formula.
Pokorski lined up 13th in the 25-lap MSA A main and rode in the 13th spot on the fast and tacky track surface until a caution flag appeared on lap 11 when Tyler Tischendorf and Bill Taylor collided along the front stretch.
On the restart, Lance Fassbender flipped in turn two after contact with Matt Rechek and Tyler Davis. During the incident, Pokorski made contact with Tim Haddy, which resulted in a flat right rear tire on Pokorski’s car.
After going to the work area to change the flat tire, Pokorski restarted 12th as the final car on the lead lap. The West Bend driver went to work over the final 14 laps to move past Jason Johnson for 11th on lap 13 before working around Scott Conger, Nick Daywalt and Katelyn Krebsbach in the closing laps en route to a personal season-best eighth-place A-main finish in a race won by Travis Arenz.
“Friday night was okay,” Pokorski said. “The car was a little tight, and we kept working on it. I was reasonably happy with the eighth-place result given we had to make a trip to the work area with the flat right rear. We made some pretty significant changes overnight to try and help Alex on Saturday and the changes seemed to work.”
On Saturday, Oct. 2, Alex Pokorski took another turn at the wheel of the Pokorski Motorsports car to close out the 2021 MSA campaign.
With 21 MSA 360 Sprint Cars on hand, Alex qualified fourth with a lap of 13.273 seconds before lining up second in the second 10-lap MSA heat race. Alex settled into second place on the opening lap and mainly rode the cushion of the well-manicured track surface en route to a second-place showing.
After starting fifth in the season-ending 25-lap A main, Alex fell back to seventh in the early going. On lap 5, Alex worked the high line to move past Donny Goeden to take sixth.
One lap later, Alex powered around Jordan Paulsen with a high move in turn two to take over fifth. After a red flag appeared on lap 8 for a flip involving Tim Haddy, Alex restarted fourth and he held the fourth position throughout the final 17 laps to record his career-best MSA finish and second top-five A-main showing of the 2021 season in a race won by Jack Vanderboom.
“The crew did a great job to make the car fast the whole night and I was able to search around and find what lines worked best,” Alex said. “The track in the feature was a lot of fun to race on and I’m happy to close off the year on a high.”
Paul was also pleased with Alex’s performance on Saturday night.
“We are very proud of Alex and how well he did all year and to finish the year with a career-best finish is pretty fantastic,” Paul said. “It was a great last weekend for racing. We had great weather and good results for us.”
Although Pokorski Motorsports may be ending in its original form, that doesn’t mean Alex, Paul and the members of the Pokorski Motorsports crew won’t be actively engaged in 360 Sprint Car racing in 2022.
“We are selling part of our equipment to a young man who has never raced anything before, so I plan to try to help him and his father, offering as much help as they want from me to help them along,” Paul said. “Alex has been given a one-year deal to drive for Spyder Akright and Akright Auto for about 75 percent of the MSA races, mostly at Plymouth.
“We [Pokorski Motorsports] will be housing that car, freshening it over the winter and doing the week-to-week maintenance during the season,” he said. “We are very grateful to Spyder for giving Alex the opportunity to keep racing, since he is doing so well and continuing to improve. Those two things should keep me busy, and there may be an opportunity for me to drive a couple of nights next year as well. We will see how much time and energy I have left. Our team will still be around. It will just look pretty different. It was a good last year for ‘the original Pokorski Motorsports.’ I’m excited to see where Alex can take it in 2022 and maybe beyond.”
Alex is also thankful for the opportunity to continue his Sprint Car racing career under the Akright Auto banner in 2022.
“Pokorski Motorsports has been an awesome program that we have shared with family and friends,” Alex said. “I’ve really enjoyed being a part of it. Hopefully this is just a break and I can start it back up in a few years once I’m out of college.
“Next year I am happy to be partnering up with Spyder [Steve] Akright and the Akright Auto team,” he said. “Our plan is to have two cars. Spyder will run one car and I will run the other. We won't run every show, but we will try to race as many nights as we can. I would like to thank him for the opportunity and I’m excited to see what we can do next season.”
In 29 official MSA events and 27 complete programs, the Pokorski Motorsports team collected two top-five A-main finishes, seven top-10 A-main showings, one B main victory and three heat race triumphs, while placing 14th in the final MSA standings and 15th in the Plymouth Dirt Track Racing 360 Sprint Car point standings.
Sponsors and supporters for the 2021 Pokorski Motorsports team are Petersen Septic Systems, Quest Engineering Inc., Goeden Auto Body, Goodwin Racing Engines, Hopf Farms, Kettle Moraine Landscaping, Novak's Service Center, Tisler Salvage Inc., Allied Bearing Corporation, RC Custom Design and Pedal Down Promotions
Pokorski Motorsports Sponsor Showcase – Novak’s Service Center
Pokorski Motorsports would like to acknowledge the support of long-time sponsor Novak’s Service Center of Manitowoc, which is celebrating its 49th year in business in 2021.
Novak’s Service Center is a locally-owned, second-generation, family-owned, five-bay auto repair center, which has been serving customers in the Lakeshore area since 1972.
Novak’s Service Center offers comprehensive auto repair services, including 4 x 4 services, brakes, car and truck care, domestic cars and trucks, electrical services, electronic services, engine and transmission, engine maintenance, expired warranty care, general service, heating and cooling services, import cars and trucks, quick lube services, tires, towing, transmission and undercar services.
Located at 1320 Washington St. in Manitowoc, Novak’s Service Center is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
To schedule an appointment, call 920-684-5737 or visit www.novaks1320.com.
For more information on Pokorski Motorsports, check out Pokorski Motorsports on Facebook or visit www.pedaldownpromo.com.
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For more information on Pedal Down Promotions, email pedaldownpromotions@gmail.com, visit www.pedaldownpromo.com or call 920-323-7970.
2021 Pokorski Motorsports
Final Statistics
Total Events – 29
MSA events – 29
A Main Victories – 0
B Main Victories – 1
Top Five A Main Finishes – 2
Top 10 A Main Finishes – 7
Heat Race Victories – 3
Final MSA Points Finish – 14th
Final PDTR 360 Sprint Car Points Finish – 15th
Article Credit: Jeff Pederson - Pedal Down Promotions
Submitted By: Jeff Pederson
