Schmidt’s 34th victory makes racing history

After two decades competing in the Plymouth Dirt Track Racing 360 Sprint Car division, two-time champion Ben Schmidt of Plymouth became the all-time winningest 360 Sprint Car driver in the history of the Plymouth Dirt Track with a commanding win in the 25-lap A-main on Saturday.

Schmidt’s 34th career PDTR 360 Sprint Car main event victory pushed him ahead of three-time track champion Brandon McMullen of Oshkosh to stand alone atop the division’s all-time career feature victory list.

Schmidt wasted no time in putting his stamp on the main event. After firing off third, the 2011 and 2025 division champ got a huge run down the backstretch before diving low entering turn three and sliding past front-row starters Katelyn Krebsbach of Johnsburg and Hayden Schmuhl of Beaver Dam to grab the lead in turn four of the opening lap.

A caution flag appeared on lap 2 for a spin involving T.J. Smith of Greenville in turn 2. When the race resumed, Schmidt bolted to the front while three-time PDTR 360 Sprint Car champion Donny Goeden of Kewaskum, who started fifth, seized second on lap 6.

Over the ensuing 12 laps, Schmidt built a half-lap lead before Josh Walter of Plymouth contacted the turn one wall and flipped on lap 18.

Following the restart, Schmidt again pulled away while Krebsbach, who started on the pole, slipped past Goeden to take over second.

Schmidt cruised over the final seven laps to earn his seventh overall A-main victory of the 2026 campaign and sixth main event win of the season at PDTR. In addition to being his all-time division-leading 34th career PDTR 360 Sprint Car feature triumph, it was also Schmidt’s 59th career Midwest Sprint Car Association A-main win.

“This win is special,” Schmidt said. “To get to the top of the career win list here is something I wasn’t sure we would be able to do. It’s a credit to the whole team, my crew and all my sponsors who have helped to get us where we are now.”

Krebsbach took second to equal her career-best A-main showing. Defending PDTR 360 Sprint Car champion Kevin Karnitz of West Bend placed third after starting sixth. Goeden wound up fourth and Tyler Davis of Franklin stormed up from the 11th starting position to round out the top five.

Paul Parker of Kaukauna recorded his first PDTR Late Model main event victory in more than seven years in the 30-lap Seubert Calf Ranches Super Six Late Model Series headliner.

Parker, who started on the pole of the Super Six Late Model headliner, took the lead right after the drop of the green flag and held it the entire way.

Following the first of four cautions for debris on lap 8, fourth-starter Brett Swedberg of Shawano moved into second and quickly sighted in on the lead.

Four laps later, Swedberg used the preferred high groove to close in on the cushion-pounding Parker. However, the caution came out again when Turk Letizia of Milwaukee stopped in turn 2 after contacting the front stretch wall on lap 13.

On lap 20, Parker caught the rear of the field, which gave Swedberg a chance to reel in the lead gap. Four laps later, Swedberg used the low line to briefly pull even with the high-riding Parker. However, Parker turned back Swedberg’s advances to maintain the top spot.

Two more caution flags slowed the pace in the closing laps, but it didn’t deter Parker, who rolled to his second career PDTR Late Model A-main victory and his first at PDTR since May 4, 2019.

Swedberg took second, seventh-starter Nick Anvelink of Bonduel placed third and 2025 Super Six Late Model champion Taylor Scheffler of Waukesha charged up from the 16th-starting spot to finish fourth. Third starter Justin Ritchie of New London placed fifth.

Derek Kaat of Plymouth raced to his first career Oostburg Automotive Grand National A-main victory in the 25-lap feature.

In his first appearance of the 2026 season at PDTR, Colten Van Hierden of Waupun claimed his first triumph since 2024 in the 25-lap Sheboygan Flooring B Mod main event.

PDTR action continues Saturday, Aug. 15, with the Wisconsin wingLESS Sprint Car Series as the guest division.

The PDTR Akright Auto 360 Sprint Cars, Oostburg Automotive Grand Nationals and Sheboygan Flooring B Mods are also on the card.

Spectator gates open at 4:30 p.m. with qualifying at 5:30 p.m. and racing at 6 p.m.