Mitch McGrath of Waukesha picked up his 17th career Sheboygan's Rock Station 106.5 The Buzz Plymouth Dirt Track Racing Late Model main event victory at The Plymouth Dirt Track in Plymouth, Wis. on Thursday, Aug. 20. - JW's Car and Raccing Photos
(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) August 20, 2026 – It may have necessitated a seven-week wait, but the Independence 30 delivered the racing goods on Thursday, Aug. 20 at The Plymouth Dirt Track in Plymouth, Wis. on Thursday, Aug. 20.
The special America 250 celebration event was originally scheduled for July 2. However, rain forced the postponement of the diverse five-division racing program to the Aug. 20 makeup date.
With a strong field of 124 total cars packing the pit area, A-main competition ran fast, smooth, and clean with just two total caution flags slowing main event action.
In the 30-lap Sheboygan’s Rock Station 106.5 The Buzz Late Model headliner, Mitch McGrath of Waukesha cashed in with a $3,000 victory in his first Plymouth Dirt Track appearance of the 2026 season.
Five-time Plymouth track champion and Plymouth Racing Wall of Fame member Donny Goeden of Kewaskum bagged his first Akright Auto 360 Sprint Car A-main victory of the year in just his third outing of the 2026 season.
Veteran Tim Cox of Park City, Ill. posted his first 2026 Autometer Powered by Gandrud Performance Wisconsin wingLESS Sprint Car main event win in the 20-lap A-main.
Jayden Schmidt of Seymour collected his second Plymouth A-main win and fourth overall feature victory of the season in the 20-lap A Modified main event.
Tucker Bodendorfer of Muskego picked up his first overall A-main win of the 2026 campaign in the 20-lap Street Stock feature.
Goeden, Cox, Schmidt and Bodendorfer each bagged $1,776 first-place prizes for their A-main triumphs.
Mitch McGrath, who claimed the PDTR Late Model title in 2014, grabbed the lead on the opening lap of the Late Model main event from the pole with Nick Anvelink of Bonduel taking over second from the third starting slot.
On lap three, 2025 PDTR Super Six Late Model Series champion Taylor Scheffler of Waukesha, who started second, moved in to pressure McGrath and Anvelink as the three area Late Model stalwarts dueled three-wide for the lead in turn four.
McGrath maintained the top spot, while Scheffler inched by Anvelink to secure second with a low groove move on lap 4. Three laps later, Scheffler pulled in to briefly pull alongside McGrath. However, he was unable to complete the overtake.
Scheffler continued to hound McGrath over the final 23 laps as the preferred line stuck tight to the bottom lane of the racing surface. But McGrath wasn’t to be denied, as he rolled to his first A-main win of the 2026 season, and his 17th career Late Model main event triumph at The Plymouth Dirt Track in the caution-free race.
Scheffler had to settle for second, Anvelink was third, Joel Bennett of Hortonville finished fourth after starting fourth, and fifth starter Terry Casey of New London rounded out the top five.
Two-time PDTR 360 Sprint Car champ Kurt Davis of South Milwaukee, who started on the pole, outdueled three-time division champion Donny Goeden, who started fourth, to lead the opening lap of the 25-lap PDTR 360 Sprint Car A main.
On the second circuit, Goeden worked past Davis to secure the lead exiting turn four. The 42-season racing veteran proceeded to build up a half straightaway cushion over Davis by lap 8. Three laps later, the leaders caught up to the back of the pack, which helped to produce a spirited nose-to-tail four car battle for third place between Josh Walter of Plymouth, Steven Ruh of New Holstein, two-time PDTR 360 Sprint Car champion Ben Schmidt of Plymouth, and Andover, Minn. native Carter Chevalier before the lone caution flag of the race appeared on lap 13 for the slowing car of Chris Larson.
Following the restart, the third-starting Walter ducked under the high-riding Davis to steal second. However, Davis battled back along the cushion to regain the runner-up spot three laps later. Davis then wound up his familiar yellow 6K machine to mount one final charge.
In his 41st season of competition, Davis closed in to pressure Goeden on lap 17. With two laps to go, Goeden caught lapped traffic, allowing Davis to make a run on the final lap, which came up just one car length short at the finish line.
The 62-year-old Goeden emerged with his first 360 Sprint Car victory of the season in three tries, 23rd career PDTR 360 Sprint Car A-main win, and 24th career MMW Industrial Supply Midwest Sprint Car Association victory.
Davis was second, Walter placed third, Chevalier, who started fifth, finished fourth, and Brandon Berth of Cascade charged up from the 12th starting position to place fifth.
Polesitter Ralph Johnson of Silver Lake paced the opening lap of the Wisconsin wingLESS Sprint Car feature with third starter Tim Cox in tow. Cox stalked Johnson over the ensuing five laps before pouncing on lap 6 to take over the lead.
As Cox commanded the lead, outside front row starter Allen Hafford of Beach Park, Ill. slid past Johnson to claim second, and sixth starter Eric Wilke of Genessee followed in third on lap 15.
Three laps later, Hafford used the high line to track down Cox with Wilke close behind. Despite the late pressure, the 65-year-old Cox held on to collect his first main event win of the 2026 campaign in the non-stop event.
Hafford was second, Wilke placed third, Johnson took fourth, and fourth starter Colin Sivia of Winthrop Harbor, Ill. wound up fifth.
In the A Modified feature, polesitter Geoff Jeche of Juneau led the opening lap before third starter Derek Janke of Symco inched ahead along the inside lane on lap 2. Jeche then battled back along the cushion to regain the top spot on lap 5 with fifth starter Cole Czarneski of Denmark following in his tire tracks into second.
Three laps later, Jayden Schmidt charged his way up from the 11th starting spot to engage Jeche and Czarneski in a three-wide duel for the lead. Schmidt used the inside lane to grab the top spot on lap 14 with Czarneski following in second and Jeche dropping to third.
From there, Schmidt sailed away, utilizing the outside groove to perfection on the way to his fourth overall win of the 2026 campaign and second career triumph at Plymouth.
Czarneski placed second, Skyler Woods of Beaver Dam finished third from the seventh starting position, Jeche wound up fourth, and Dan Roedel of Beaver Dam moved up from the ninth starting spot to round out the top five.
The Street Stock A-main saw polesitter Tucker Bodendorfer take the lead on the opening lap and never let go. Third starter Cory Lemirande of Little Suamico took a brief run at Bodendorfer, but the race-long leader was never seriously challenged the rest of the way.
The only thing that slowed Bodendorfer’s rapid pace was a caution flag for debris on lap 10. Bodendorfer drove away to claim his first Plymouth win and first overall victory of the 2026 season.
Cody Potter of Pell Lake stormed up from the 17th starting spot to take second, Lemirande was third, 11th starter Brandon Mertes of Salem was fourth, and Kelly Brown of Beaver Dam placed fifth, after starting second.
Hayden Schmuhl of Beaver Dam won the 12-lap 360 Sprint Car B main. Will Garceau of Mishicot claimed a 10-lap B-main win in the A Modified division. Cody Potter won the 10-lap Street Stock B main.
Joel Bennett earned fast qualifier honors in the Late Model division. Ethon Stear claimed fast qualifier accolades in the 360 Sprint Car ranks, and Colin Sivia turned in the fastest qualifying lap in the Wisconsin wingLESS Sprint Car division.
The 14th event of the 2026 PDTR campaign drew a field of 124 total cars, including 35 A Modifieds, 30 360 Sprint Cars, 26 Street Stocks, 18 Late Models, and 15 Wingless Sprint Cars.
PDTR will compete on Saturday, Aug. 22 for the 2026 season championship night for the Seubert Calf Ranches Super Six Late Model Series presented by Sheboygan’s Rock Station 106.5 The Buzz. The 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.
On Friday, Aug. 28, the WABAM Dirt Kings Late Model Tour makes its lone stop of the 2026 campaign at The Plymouth Dirt Track. It will also be the final points night of the season for the Oostburg Automotive Grand Nationals and Sheboygan Flooring B Mods. The Dirt Devil Series will be part of the Grand National portion of the program, and the Akright Auto 360 Sprint Cars will also be in action.
Spectator gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 6 p.m. and opening ceremonies at 7 p.m.
Weather information for all Plymouth Dirt Track Racing events will be posted on the Plymouth Dirt Track Racing Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram pages, as well as the Plymouth Dirt Track Racing website – www.plymouthdtr.com.
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, Twitter, and Instagram.
SHEBOYGAN’S ROCK STATION 106.5 THE BUZZ LATE MODELS
A Main (30 Laps): 1. 74-Mitch McGrath [1]; 2. 10S-Taylor Scheffler [2]; 3. 15-Nick Anvelink [3]; 4. 7-Joel Bennett [4]; 5. 42-Terry Casey [5]; 6. 9T-Tim Isenberg [7]; 7. 56-Justin Ritchie [9]; 8. 97-Justin Schmidt [6]; 9. 99-Scott Specht [13]; 10. 55B-Joe Bongiorno [15]; 11. 3-Brett Swedberg [10]; 12. 250-Turk Letizia [14]; 13. 89-Brad Mueller [11]; 14. 99S-Sawyer Specht [12]; 15. 93-Cody Welch [17]; 16. 81-Troy Springborn [8]; 17. (DNS) 8R-Bill Rezutek
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 97-Justin Schmidt[1]; 2. 81-Troy Springborn[5]; 3. 42-Terry Casey[2]; 4. 7-Joel Bennett[4]; 5. 10S-Taylor Scheffler[3]; 6. 99-Scott Specht[6]; 7. 250-Turk Letizia[8]; 8. 55B-Joe Bongiorno[7]; 9. 93-Cody Welch[9]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 9T-Tim Isenberg[1]; 2. 15-Nick Anvelink[4]; 3. 74-Mitch McGrath[3]; 4. 3-Brett Swedberg[7]; 5. 56-Justin Ritchie[6]; 6. 89-Brad Mueller[2]; 7. 99S-Sawyer Specht[5]; 8. 8R-Bill Rezutek[8]; 9. (DNS) 77-Bill Edler
Qualifying: 1. 7-Joel Bennett[5]; 2. 15-Nick Anvelink[16]; 3. 10S-Taylor Scheffler[11]; 4. 74-Mitch McGrath[9]; 5. 42-Terry Casey[14]; 6. 89-Brad Mueller[4]; 7. 97-Justin Schmidt[13]; 8. 9T-Tim Isenberg[1]; 9. 81-Troy Springborn[3]; 10. 99S-Sawyer Specht[8]; 11. 99-Scott Specht[17]; 12. 56-Justin Ritchie[10]; 13. 55B-Joe Bongiorno[7]; 14. 3-Brett Swedberg[15]; 15. 250-Turk Letizia[12]; 16. 8R-Bill Rezutek[2]; 17. 93-Cody Welch[6]; 18. 77-Bill Edler[18]
AKRIGHT AUTO PLYMOUTH DIRT TRACK RACING 360 SPRINT CARS
A Main (25 Laps): 1. 66-Donny Goeden [4]; 2. 6K-Kurt Davis [1]; 3. 67-Josh Walter [3]; 4. 15-Carter Chevalier [5]; 5. 22B-Brandon Berth [12]; 6. 35-Ben Schmidt [8]; 7. 69S-TJ Smith [14]; 8. 39S-Scotty Thiel [18]; 9. 68T-Tyler Davis [7]; 10. 2-Chris Clayton [11]; 11. 46-Steven Ruh [6]; 12. 5-Chad Stouthamer [13]; 13. 08-Katelyn Krebsbach [15]; 14. 11-Tony Wondra [10]; 15. 44H-Hayden Johnson [2]; 16. 14J-Joseph Hintz [17]; 17. 59S-Hayden Schmuhl [16]; 18. 12P-JJ Pagel [21]; 19. 30-Blake Wondra [19]; 20. 57-Tristan Furseth [20]; 21. 51-Chris Larson [9]; 22. 3BK-Billy Kreutz [22]
B Main (12 Laps): 1. 59S-Hayden Schmuhl[1]; 2. 14J-Joseph Hintz[4]; 3. 39S-Scotty Thiel[14]; 4. 30-Blake Wondra [6]; 5. 57-Tristan Furseth[8]; 6. 12P-JJ Pagel[2]; 7. 59-Ethon Stear[13]; 8. 69-Bill Taylor[3]; 9. 20W-Weston Finke[7]; 10. 55P-Brady Portschy[10]; 11. 25-Cody Schlafer[9]; 12. 54-Randy Post[12]; 13. 68P-Frank Perko[11]; 14. 37Z-Jake Zimmerman[5]
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 44H-Hayden Johnson[1]; 2. 68T-Tyler Davis[2]; 3. 15-Carter Chevalier[6]; 4. 35-Ben Schmidt[7]; 5. 11-Tony Wondra[9]; 6. 69-Bill Taylor[4]; 7. 57-Tristan Furseth[3]; 8. 37Z-Jake Zimmerman[8]; 9. 30-Blake Wondra[10]; 10. 54-Randy Post[5]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 66-Donny Goeden[3]; 2. 39S-Scotty Thiel[1]; 3. 22B-Brandon Berth[2]; 4. 46-Steven Ruh[8]; 5. 5-Chad Stouthamer[5]; 6. 08-Katelyn Krebsbach[6]; 7. 69S-TJ Smith[9]; 8. 12P-JJ Pagel[10]; 9. 55P-Brady Portschy[7]; 10. (DNS) 59-Ethon Stear
Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 6K-Kurt Davis[1]; 2. 67-Josh Walter[5]; 3. 51-Chris Larson[4]; 4. 2-Chris Clayton[6]; 5. 3BK-Billy Kreutz[3]; 6. 20W-Weston Finke[2]; 7. 59S-Hayden Schmuhl[8]; 8. 14J-Joseph Hintz[9]; 9. 68P-Frank Perko[7]; 10. 25-Cody Schlafer[10]
Qualifying 1: 1. 69-Bill Taylor, 12.770[8]; 2. 57-Tristan Furseth, 12.837[5]; 3. 68T-Tyler Davis, 12.918[9]; 4. 44H-Hayden Johnson, 13.000[10]; 5. 54-Randy Post, 13.056[3]; 6. 15-Carter Chevalier, 13.056[2]; 7. 35-Ben Schmidt, 13.155[1]; 8. 37Z-Jake Zimmerman, 13.161[6]; 9. 11-Tony Wondra, 13.278[4]; 10. 30-Blake Wondra, 13.403[7]
Qualifying 2: 1. 59-Ethon Stear, 12.635[3]; 2. 66-Donny Goeden, 12.801[6]; 3. 22B-Brandon Berth, 12.805[4]; 4. 39S-Scotty Thiel, 12.823[2]; 5. 5-Chad Stouthamer, 12.860[10]; 6. 08-Katelyn Krebsbach, 12.865[8]; 7. 55P-Brady Portschy, 13.066[7]; 8. 46-Steven Ruh, 13.074[1]; 9. 69S-TJ Smith, 13.129[5]; 10. 12P-JJ Pagel, 13.422[9]
Qualifying 3: 1. 51-Chris Larson, 12.940[1]; 2. 3BK-Billy Kreutz, 12.975[3]; 3. 20W-Weston Finke, 12.986[9]; 4. 6K-Kurt Davis, 13.027[4]; 5. 67-Josh Walter, 13.086[10]; 6. 2-Chris Clayton, 13.127[5]; 7. 68P-Frank Perko, 13.128[8]; 8. 59S-Hayden Schmuhl, 13.266[7]; 9. 14J-Joseph Hintz, 13.295[6]; 10. 25-Cody Schlafer, 13.298[2]
AUTOMETER WISCONSIN WINGLESS SPRINT CARS
A Main (20 Laps): 1. 40-Tim Cox [3]; 2. 38-Allen Hafford [2]; 3. 24-Eric Wilke [6]; 4. 29J-Ralph Johnson [1]; 5. 11S-Colin Sivia [4]; 6. 0-John Fahl [5]; 7. 26-Preston Ruh [11]; 8. 14Z-Ryan Zielski [8]; 9. 7-Trinity Uttech [7]; 10. 7D-Josh Davidson [9]; 11. 41-Dennis Spitz [10]; 12. 2J-Christian Janssen [12]; 13. 29OG-Tom Eller [15]; 14. 4G-George Gaertner III [14]; 15. (DNS) 99J-Seth Johnson
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 41-Dennis Spitz[7]; 2. 7D-Josh Davidson[6]; 3. 26-Preston Ruh[8]; 4. 7-Trinity Uttech[5]; 5. 11S-Colin Sivia[4]; 6. 29J-Ralph Johnson[2]; 7. 4G-George Gaertner III[1]; 8. 99J-Seth Johnson[3]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 24-Eric Wilke[1]; 2. 38-Allen Hafford[3]; 3. 0-John Fahl[2]; 4. 14Z-Ryan Zielski[5]; 5. 2J-Christian Janssen[7]; 6. 40-Tim Cox[4]; 7. 29OG-Tom Eller[6]
Qualifying: 1. 11S-Colin Sivia, 14.484[2]; 2. 40-Tim Cox, 14.567[9]; 3. 99J-Seth Johnson, 14.595[11]; 4. 38-Allen Hafford, 14.602[1]; 5. 29J-Ralph Johnson, 14.618[4]; 6. 0-John Fahl, 14.744[7]; 7. 4G-George Gaertner III, 14.908[5]; 8. 24-Eric Wilke, 14.978[15]; 9. 7-Trinity Uttech, 14.988[8]; 10. 14Z-Ryan Zielski, 15.032[10]; 11. 7D-Josh Davidson, 15.215[14]; 12. 29OG-Tom Eller, 15.232[6]; 13. 41-Dennis Spitz, 15.298[12]; 14. 2J-Christian Janssen, 15.353[13]; 15. 26-Preston Ruh, 15.353[3]
A MODIFIEDS
A Main (20 Laps): 1. 24-Jayden Schmidt [11]; 2. 21CZ-Cole Czarneski [5]; 3. 32-Skyler Woods [7]; 4. 16J-Geoff Jeche [1]; 5. 33X-Dan Roedl [9]; 6. 20S-Brandon Schmitt [8]; 7. 27-Derek Janke [3]; 8. 3-Todd Dart [15]; 9. 31-Will Garceau [17]; 10. 33A-Adam Abbey [4]; 11. 99-Mike Mullen [12]; 12. 54-Travis Hansen [10]; 13. 75F-James Fletcher [6]; 14. 2M-Steve Mueller [14]; 15. 8-Jesse Cullen [2]; 16. 97-Tanner Janke [20]; 17. 68-Dan Jung [18]; 18. 6W-David Wirth [16]; 19. (DNF) 4S-Joel Seegert Sr [13]; 20. (DNF) 3MJ-Randy Markwardt Jr [19]
B Main (10 Laps): 1. 31-Will Garceau[2]; 2. 68-Dan Jung[4]; 3. 3MJ-Randy Markwardt Jr[12]; 4. 97-Tanner Janke[9]; 5. 3M-Mike Mueller[6]; 6. 52M-Brad McGuire[1]; 7. 45-Tim Robbins[10]; 8. 95X-Jayme Zidar[13]; 9. 28C-Joel Crowbridge[15]; 10. 11B-Brad Buckman[11]; 11. 70-Jonathon Baumann[8]; 12. 19-Parker Glander[5]; 13. 21T-Mark Mikos JR[16]; 14. 17J-Jackson Laufer[17]; 15. 25-Mike Simons[3]; 16. 95-Jeff Bodendorfer[7]; 17. (DNS) 4JR-Joel Seegert Jr; 18. (DNS) 15S-Don Scheffler; 19. (DNS) 19J-Justin Green
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 33X-Dan Roedl[1]; 2. 20S-Brandon Schmitt[5]; 3. 32-Skyler Woods[7]; 4. 27-Derek Janke[9]; 5. 68-Dan Jung[6]; 6. 95-Jeff Bodendorfer[4]; 7. 3M-Mike Mueller[8]; 8. 4JR-Joel Seegert Jr[2]; 9. 19J-Justin Green[3]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 21CZ-Cole Czarneski[2]; 2. 3-Todd Dart[1]; 3. 4S-Joel Seegert Sr[5]; 4. 25-Mike Simons[4]; 5. 2M-Steve Mueller[9]; 6. 70-Jonathon Baumann[3]; 7. 97-Tanner Janke[6]; 8. 11B-Brad Buckman[8]; 9. 28C-Joel Crowbridge[7]
Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 54-Travis Hansen[1]; 2. 8-Jesse Cullen[4]; 3. 16J-Geoff Jeche[6]; 4. 24-Jayden Schmidt[8]; 5. 52M-Brad McGuire[7]; 6. 31-Will Garceau[9]; 7. 3MJ-Randy Markwardt Jr[2]; 8. 95X-Jayme Zidar[5]; 9. 17J-Jackson Laufer[3]
Heat 4 (8 Laps): 1. 33A-Adam Abbey[2]; 2. 99-Mike Mullen[3]; 3. 75F-James Fletcher[7]; 4. 15S-Don Scheffler[5]; 5. 6W-David Wirth[8]; 6. 19-Parker Glander[6]; 7. 45-Tim Robbins[4]; 8. 21T-Mark Mikos JR[1]
STREET STOCKS
A Main (20 Laps): 1. 05-Tucker Bodendorfer [1]; 2. 29-Cody Potter [17]; 3. 30Z-Cory Lemirande [3]; 4. 12-Brandon Mertes [11]; 5. 44B-Kelly Brown [2]; 6. 24S-Austin Steinke [6]; 7. 8M-Mike Meier [14]; 8. 6-Bentley McDonald [5]; 9. 87-Parker Derks [13]; 10. 25P-Jonathan Persha [8]; 11. 06-Ryan Minster [19]; 12. 28-Chuck Gilbertson Jr [20]; 13. 4-Shaun Bangart [16]; 14. 10-Rick Malberg [4]; 15. 5B-Todd Berzowski [10]; 16. 01-Dustin Holland [7]; 17. (DNF) 121-Shanon Guelette [18]; 18. (DNF) 81-Nick Mechenich [12]; 19. (DNF) 5-John Mahlberg [15]; 20. (DNF) 8-Nick Berzowski [9]
B Main (10 Laps): 1. 29-Cody Potter[8]; 2. 121-Shanon Guelette[1]; 3. 06-Ryan Minster[6]; 4. 28-Chuck Gilbertson Jr[2]; 5. 44-Carmen Zahringer[5]; 6. 209-Ericka Vogel[10]; 7. 41-Mark Haskins[7]; 8. 3H-Tom Henning[3]; 9. 16B-Dylan Breit[4]; 10. (DNS) 311-Mason Geigel
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 10-Rick Malberg[2]; 2. 5B-Todd Berzowski[1]; 3. 24S-Austin Steinke[7]; 4. 81-Nick Mechenich[4]; 5. 8-Nick Berzowski[9]; 6. 3H-Tom Henning[3]; 7. 16B-Dylan Breit[6]; 8. 41-Mark Haskins[5]; 9. 311-Mason Geigel[8]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 05-Tucker Bodendorfer[1]; 2. 30Z-Cory Lemirande[4]; 3. 12-Brandon Mertes[2]; 4. 87-Parker Derks[3]; 5. 5-John Mahlberg[5]; 6. 8M-Mike Meier[8]; 7. 121-Shanon Guelette[9]; 8. 06-Ryan Minster[6]; 9. 209-Ericka Vogel[7]
Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 01-Dustin Holland[1]; 2. 44B-Kelly Brown[4]; 3. 6-Bentley McDonald[7]; 4. 25P-Jonathan Persha[8]; 5. 4-Shaun Bangart[3]; 6. 28-Chuck Gilbertson Jr[6]; 7. 44-Carmen Zahringer[2]; 8. 29-Cody Potter[5]
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