7/5/2023
Travis Arenz
There’s no place like Plymouth Dirt Track home for Arenz’s first IRA 410 Sprint Car victory
(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) July 5, 2023 – After finding success in every racing division he has competed in during his stellar 16-year career, especially at the track located closest to home, Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series rookie Travis Arenz of Sheboygan Falls, Wis. took full advantage of the familiar home track surroundings of The Plymouth Dirt Track in Plymouth, Wis. to collect his first career IRA Series and 410 Sprint Car division A-main victory in the Scott Semmelmann Memorial Saturday, July 1.
With 28 IRA 410 Sprint Car competitors signed in, Arenz recorded the eighth fastest qualifying lap in 11.839 seconds. After starting second in the second eight-lap IRA heat race, Arenz finished second to earn a spot in the 30-lap Scott Semmelmann Memorial main event, as well as a berth in the IRA dash field.
Arenz drew the fifth starting spot in the second IRA four-lap dash and used a low move in turn one on the opening lap to work underneath Mike Reinke into fourth. One lap later, the 2021 and 2022 Midwest Sprint Car Association and Plymouth Dirt Track Racing 360 Sprint Car champion passed Todd Daun along the low line to assume third place in turn four, which is where he finished.
Arenz started sixth in the 30-lap Scott Semmelmann Memorial IRA headliner before J.J. Hickle spun in turn four on the initial start, which moved the 2013 Plymouth Dirt Track Racing Outlaw Compact 4-Cylinder champion up to fourth on the complete restart. When the green flag fell, Arenz settled into third behind polesitter Caden Englehart in second and second starter Danny Schlafer of Sussex, who grabbed the initial lead.
On lap 3, Arenz and Mike Reinke engaged in a spirited back and forth duel for third in the running order before Arenz stayed glued to the low and middle portions of the venerable third-mile clay oval to finally secure the spot on lap 5. After two caution flags on lap 12 for a spin involving Blake Nimee and another caution when Englehart hit the turn four wall on lap 16, Arenz advanced to the runner-up spot on the ensuing restart.
After the restart, Arenz hounded the high-riding Schlafer relentlessly along the inside and middle grooves. After setting up a pass for several laps, Arenz ducked under Schlafer to seize the top spot in turn one on lap 19.
Once out front, Arenz endured two more caution periods before securing his first career IRA 410 Sprint Car Series A-main victory and 37th overall career A-main victory at The Plymouth Dirt Track in four different divisions – Outlaw Compact 4-Cylinder, B Mod (Sport Mod), 360 Sprint Car and 410 Sprint Car.
“I always look forward to racing at Plymouth because I have so many laps on the track and, for the most part, I know what to expect,” Arenz said. “Because of that, I am able to work more on my driving and being more consistent.
“Throughout the feature, I knew I needed to be patient, consistent and hit my marks,” he said. “After I found a line through the middle in turns one and two that worked for me, I quickly realized I could win this.”
The victory turned the tide for Arenz in recent competition at The Plymouth Dirt Track as his previous best A-main finish in a total of four 2023 410 and 360 Sprint Car events at Plymouth had been a 20th place showing in the Tezos All Star Circuit of Champions-IRA Rayce Rudeen main event on Saturday, June 3.
“This win feels pretty special and it is one myself and the whole crew will always remember,” Arenz said. “From 4-Cylinders to Sport Mods to 360s to now 410s, we’ve been able to find success and get to victory lane at Plymouth. When I was growing up, all I ever wanted to do was race at Plymouth. It feels great to get one here in a 410 Sprint Car. Considering how things have gone at Plymouth so far this year, this victory was also much needed to get us back on track.”
The victory marked Arenz’ seventh top-five showing and ninth top-10 finish in 410 Sprint Car A-main action during the 2023 season, including six top-five and eight top-10 finishes in 10 IRA main events in 2023.
At the half-way mark of the 2023 IRA 410 Sprint Car Series campaign, Arenz sits fourth in the points standings, 153 points behind fellow rookie and current IRA points leader Brenham Crouch with 16 events remaining in the season.
With a break in the IRA schedule this weekend, next up for the Travis Arenz Motorsports team is a road trip west for a tripleheader weekend of IRA vs. Northern Outlaw Sprint Association (NOSA) competition starting Thursday, July 13 at I-94 Speedway in Fergus Falls, Minn. and continuing Friday, July 14 and Saturday, July 15 at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D.
Pit gates open at 4 p.m., followed by spectator gates at 5:30 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m. at I-94 Speedway on Thursday, July 13.
For the Buffalo Wild Wings – King of the Wings IRA vs. NOSA events at River Cities Speedway on Friday, July 14 and Saturday, July 15, hot laps are scheduled at 6:30 p.m. with qualifying at 7 p.m. and racing at 7:30 p.m.
All 2023 Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series events will be streamed live on FloRacing.
The 2023 Travis Arenz Motorsports sponsorship partners include Professional Plating Inc., Service One Transportation, Inc, Don and Lynn Kiel, Oostburg Concrete, Lakeshore Family Funeral Homes, Schoen’s Wildlife Removal, Premier Insurance Solutions-Craig Ladwig, Pallet Works, DW Fence, Little Bears Tree Service LLC, Lake Auto Glass and Service, Myhre Construction LLC, Roth’s Auto Restoration, Hair Fellers Barbershop, Fastenal of Plymouth, Jensen Sales and Humphrey’s Turner Hall Bar & Grill, Carbliss Hand Crafted Cocktails, Amy Bruechert Reality, Cornwell Tools-Paul Epping, Advanced Engine Concepts, Inc., Duehring's Tax Service, Everhope Show Cattle, HRP Wings and Behling Racing Equipment.
The 2023 Travis Arenz Motorsports team consists of pit crew members Greg Piedot, Jerrod Gamb, Emily Stadler, Cameron Fritz, Bobby Bonelli and Trevor Hittman (public relations).
Additional information on the Travis Arenz Motorsports team can be found by visiting the team’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
Travis Arenz Motorsports Sponsor Showcase – Lake Auto Glass and Service
Travis Arenz Motorsports is pleased to have Lake Auto Glass and Service on board as a sponsorship partner for the team’s rookie season of competition with the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series in 2023.
Located at 718 South Wisconsin Drive in Howards Grove, Wis., Lake Auto Glass and Service offers a full line of comprehensive auto glass repair and replacement services, including windshields, side windows, vent windows, back windows, side mirrors, rearview mirrors and chip repair, along with vehicle lockout services and window regulator repair.
In addition, the highly qualified and experienced Lake Auto Glass and Service team provides same-day service, 24/7 emergency service, free mobile service, free online quotes and full lifetime warranties with all insurance work accepted.
To contact Lake Auto Glass and Service, call 920-277-9153, email glass@lakeautoglass.com or visit http://wiautoglass.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.
Travis Arenz Motorsports
Upcoming 2023 Schedule
Thursday, July 13 – I-94 Speedway, Fergus Falls, Minn. (IRA-NOSA)
Friday, July 14 – River Cities Speedway, Grand Forks, N.D. (IRA-NOSA)
Saturday, July 15 – River Cities Speedway, Grand Forks, N.D. (IRA-NOSA)
Friday, July 21 – Outagamie Speedway, Seymour, Wis. (IRA)
Travis Arenz Motorsports
410 Sprint Car
2023 Season
By The Numbers
Total Events – 15
IRA Events – 14
All Star Events – 3
A Main Victories – 1
Top Five A Main Finishes – 7
Top 10 A Main Finishes – 9
Top 15 A Main Finishes – 10
Top 20 A Main Finishes – 11
Heat Race Victories – 2
B Main Victories – 0
Dash Appearances – 4
Dash Victories – 1
Fast Qualifier Awards – 0
Travis Arenz Motorsports
360 Sprint Car
2023 Season
By The Numbers
Total MSA-PDTR Events – 2
A Main Victories – 0
Top Five A Main Finishes – 0
Top 10 A Main Finishes – 0
Heat Race Victories – 0
B Main Victories – 1
Fast Qualifier Awards – 0
Submitted By: Jeff Pederson
