By Jeff Pederson
Pedal Down Promotions
(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) May 14, 2021 – After claiming the 2020 Plymouth Dirt Track Racing 360 Sprint Car Rookie of the Year Award, Austin Hartmann of Sheboygan Falls is aiming to take the next step in his burgeoning open-wheel racing career at the historic third-mile Plymouth Dirt Track at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds in Plymouth, Wis.
The Plymouth native, who is employed as a carpenter at Quasius Construction, burst onto the PDTR 360 Sprint Car scene in impressive fashion in 2020 besting the rookie crop of drivers to finish the season as the top first-year driver in the highly competitive open-wheel division.
With a strong foundation in racing as a pit crew member always willing to lend a hand to area Sprint Car teams, Hartmann made the big leap into competing in the PDTR 360 Sprint Car division with virtually no previous racing experience at any level.
“I’ve been around racing my entire life and really wanted to get into it when I was younger, but it just didn’t work out,” Hartmann said. “I just knew it was a matter of time and starting to build a Sprint Car at age 18 was a dream come true and quite the journey.
“Besides riding go karts around Kenjay Fiedler’s go-kart track, the 360 Sprint Car is the first type of car I’ve ever raced,” Hartmann said. “My first year ever in any kind of race car was last year as a rookie in the 360 Sprint Car at Plymouth Dirt Track and with the Midwest Sprint Car Association.”
Hartmann opened the 2021 racing season with a bang by notching is first career victory in a Midwest Sprint Car Association B main event in the MSA season opener at Beaver Dam Raceway on Saturday, April 17.
“So far, my B-main win at Beaver Dam Raceway on opening night of the 2021 season is my biggest racing highlight,” Hartmann said.
While the desire to race and compete at a high level each and every night burns bright, Hartmann points to the camaraderie of the area racing scene as his favorite part of the sport.
“What I enjoy most about racing is the fun between family and friends off the track,” Hartmann said. “Obviously, every racer loves being on the track, but it’s the memories off the track that make it the most fun for me.”
As far as goals for the 2021 season, Hartmann strives to be a model of consistency in PDTR and MSA 360 Sprint Car action.
“My team and I set out to be consistent as possible and complete 100 percent of the laps in the races I’m in this year,” Hartmann said.
Looking to his future in the sport, Hartmann is dedicated to forging a successful and lengthy racing career in the Sprint Car ranks.
“We will have to see where the road takes us, but I really want to travel and race some dream tracks or ‘bucket list tracks’ like Knoxville Raceway, Eldora Speedway, I-55 Raceway and Husets Speedway at some point in my career,” Hartmann said.
The members of the 2021 Austin Hartmann Racing pit crew are Hunter Annis, A.J. Diedrich, Jarrett Neese, Karlee Hartmann, Brooke Humphrey and Caitlin Shaw.
Sponsors include Kristine Hartmann Pleasantview Realty, Shufflebotham Tree Service, Palletworks LLC, Call Girls Motorsports, Cupcake Wonders AF Inc., Classic Title Services, Jensen Sales and Service and Cobblestone Landscaping.
“In addition to all of my pit crew members and sponsors, I would also like to give a huge thank you to Jordan Adams and Ozzie Motorsports for their help,” Hartmann said.
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The third PDTR racing program of the 2021 season at The Plymouth Dirt Track at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds in Plymouth, Wis. will feature 360 Sprint Cars, Late Models, Grand Nationals and B Mods on Saturday, May 15.
In addition, the program will honor all police, fire and EMS workers with free admission to those that display a valid ID. The city of Sheboygan Falls Fire Department will serve as the evening’s trophy sponsor.
Pit gates open at 2 p.m. with grandstand gates opening at 3:30 p.m., hot laps scheduled at 4:30 p.m. and racing slated to begin at 5 p.m.
The Plymouth Dirt Track at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds is located at 229 Fairview Drive in Plymouth, Wis. For more information, visit www.plymouthdtr.com or check out Plymouth Dirt Track Racing on Facebook.
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For more information on Pedal Down Promotions, email pedaldownpromotions@gmail.com, visit www.pedaldownpromotions.com or call 920-323-7970.
