Dale Planck
{{Short description|American Dirt Modified racing driver (1970–2024)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox racing driver
| name = Dale Planck
| image =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1970|7|16}}
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|6|22|1970|7|16}}
| death_place =
| last series = Modified racing career
| years active = 1988-2019
| first year = 1985
| car number =77X
| championships = 11
| retired = 2019
| prev series= Mini-Stock
12
| prev series years = 1985-1987
Wins
| titles = 1994, 1995 NASCAR Mid-America and 1996 NASCAR New England Regional Champion
2012 Mr. Dirt 358 Modified Champion
| awards =
| updated =
}}
Dale Planck (July 16, 1970 – June 22, 2024) was an American Dirt Modified racing driver, credited with over 200 career wins at tracks in the Mid-Atlantic (United States) and two Canandian Provinces.{{cite news |last=Szczerba|first=Ron|title= New York State Stock Car Association To Induct Five Into Prestigious Hall Of Fame Sunday |url= https://dirt.raceproweekly.news/2024/05/new-york-state-stock-car-association-to-induct-five-into-prestigious-hall-of-fame-sunday/|publisher=Race Pro Weekly |date=May 1, 2024|access-date=June 18, 2024}}
Racing career
Planck began his racing career in 1985 in a 4-cylinder mini-mod at Dundee Speedway and by 1988 he had moved to the 358-modified class. He was soon competing successfully at the toughest venues in the Northeast, including Afton Park Speedway New York, Big Diamond Speedway in Pottsville Pennsylvania, Brewerton Speedway, Canandaigua Speedway, Hagerstown Speedway, Kutztown Speedway, Merrittville Speedway, Orange County Fair Speedway, Rolling Wheels Raceway, the Syracuse Mile, and the Weedsport Speedway.{{cite news |last=Landry|first=C.J.|title= Revolving format keeps track workers hustling |url= https://www.newspapers.com/image/483371979/|page=14|newspaper=The Daily Item|location=Sunbury, Pennsylvania |date=September 19, 1995|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2024}}{{cite news |title= 3 Firsts at Afton|url= https://www.newspapers.com/image/260143843/|page=3D|newspaper=Press & Sun-Bulletin|location=Binghamton, New York |date=August 10, 1996|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2024}}{{cite news|last=Hill|first=John|title=Planck starts strong by winning 358-series race|url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/new-york/syracuse/syracuse-post-standard/2008/04-28/page-16|newspaper=The Post-Standard|location=Syracuse, New York |page=16 |date= April 28, 2008|via=NewspaperArchive |accessdate=June 18, 2024}}{{cite news|title=Dale Planck a winner at Action Track in Kutztown|url= https://www.readingeagle.com/2013/08/02/dale-planck-a-winner-at-action-track-in-kutztown-2/|newspaper=Reading Eagle|location=Reading, Pennsylvania |date= August 2, 2013|accessdate=June 18, 2024}}{{cite web|title= Dale Planck/Results/Year-By-Year- The Third Turn |url= https://thethirdturn.com/wiki/Dale_Planck/Results/Year-By-Year |publisher=The Third Turn|access-date=June 18, 2024}}
Planck won the first of three consecutive NASCAR regional modified championships in 1994, captured the 2009 and 2012 DIRTcar 358-Modified touring series, and was the Mr. Dirt 358-modified titlist in 2012. Along the way, he claimed track championships at Fulton Speedway and Utica-Rome Speedway.{{cite news|last=Weidner|first=Nolan|title=Running on Memories |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/new-york/syracuse/syracuse-post-standard/1997/04-12/page-22|newspaper=The Post-Standard |location=Syracuse, New York |page=C6 |date= April 12, 1997 |via=NewspaperArchive |accessdate=June 18, 2024}}{{cite news|title= DIRTcar 358-Modified Series: 2012 season recap|url=https://dirtcar.com/dirtcar-ne/358-modifieds/dirtcar-358-modified-series-2012-series-recap/|publisher=DIRTcar|date= December 4, 2012|accessdate=June 18, 2024}}{{cite news|last=Clifford|first=John|title=Racing legend to return to the track |url=https://www.romesentinel.com/entertainment-life/culture/racing-legend-to-return-to-the-track/article_cf64f484-0c82-5a25-99c8-42fc32414518.html|newspaper=Daily Sentinel|location=Rome New York |date= February 3, 2019|accessdate=June 18, 2024}}
Planck was inducted into the New York State Stock Car Association Hall of Fame with the class of 2024 and the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame in 2025.{{Cite news |date=January 22, 2025 |title=Howard, Planck & Van Pelt selected to NE Dirt Mod HOF |url=https://speedsport.com/more-racing/industry-news/howard-planck-van-pelt-selected-to-ne-dirt-mod-hof/ |access-date=January 22, 2025 |publisher=Speed Sport}}
Plank died on June 22, 2024, at the age of 53.{{Cite web |url=https://www.donaldlbarberfuneralhome.com/dlb/obituary/Dale-Planck |title=Dale J. Planck |website=Donald Barber Funeral Home |access-date=June 28, 2024}}{{cite news|title=Cortland man dies in I-81 crash|url=https://www.cortlandstandard.com/stories/cortland-man-dies-in-i-81-crash,95669|date=June 24, 2024|newspaper=Cortland Standard|location=NY|accessdate=June 24, 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEChpojeH9I Dale Planck on his induction into the NYSSCA Hall of Fame – YouTube]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Planck, Dale}}