8/8/2012
Sprint Source
Mark Dobmeier – Ready for the Nationals!
Mark Dobmeier – Ready for the Nationals!
Lunstra/Dobmeier Motorsports PR
August 8, 2012 – The week before the 52nd Annual Knoxville Nationals was a forgettable one for Mark Dobmeier and his Lunstra/Dobmeier Motorsports team. A bad pill draw for a points race Sunday night at the Knoxville Raceway and more bad luck Monday night at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa were the culprits. However, the team is focused and ready to make their second consecutive Saturday night ‘A’ Main for the Nationals.
A fading track during time trials went against Mark at Knoxville when he went out 50th out of the 67 cars signed in for the Knoxville Championship Cup Series race. It still netted a 29th quick time, setting up a fifth place starting spot in his heat, which was taking three to the feature.
Unfortunately, he came up one spot short, relegating him to one of the three ‘B’ Features.
The Senske & Son Transfer J&J made it up to one of the two transfer positions before the halfway point, but after the restart, Dale Blaney and Danny Holtgraver were able to get back by, sending the #13 to the trailer for the first time all year without starting the ‘A’.
“I just messed up there after the restart we had there at the halfway point,” Mark said. “We were going to transfer if the yellow didn’t come out, but I screwed up on the restart letting those guys by. Had we made the feature, we could have made up a good chunk of points, but we didn’t.”
The team regrouped and got ready for one of the most popular races of the year, the Front Row Challenge in Oskaloosa. And it turned out that “Dynamite” collected his sixth quick time of the year aboard the Right Choice Electric car. That meant Mark had to hit a transfer to make one of the eight positions for the King of the Hill races that set up the first eight spots in the feature. He comfortably beat Caleb Helms to open it up, but lost to Brian Brown in the semifinals, meaning he wouldn’t get the chance to go to the back for $50,000 and would start third in the feature.
He challenged Brown early for the runner-up position, but after an early lap two caution, the steering broke on the Forx Radiator car after that restart heading into turn three. The car ended up hard into the wall and done for the night. But the news of the car’s condition was better than expected.
“For the most part the frame was good,” Mark said. “I knew the steering broke when I cranked her all the way to the left, so I kept it on the gas to keep it as straight as possible for contact and that is what happened. The frame was good, and only bolt-on stuff was broke so we changed that out and we’re ready to roll for Thursday night when we qualify.”
The boys are ready to go for their qualifying night, looking to go back-to-back in victory lane on Thursday night of the Nationals. Dobmeier collected a very popular win last year over reigning two-time World of Outlaws champion Jason Meyers. He backed that up by placing sixth on Saturday night in the 50 lap feature. They know it will be no easy task though.
“Last year was very special with winning our prelim and finishing sixth on Saturday night,” Mark stated. “We’re hoping all of the bad luck that has plagued us all year is behind us, and we and want to go out there and put a show and show everybody what we can do again. We can’t wait for Thursday night.”
On tap is the mentioned Thursday night qualifying effort, with the chance of Friday night if they do not make the top 16 in points after preliminary action, and then Saturday night for the finale. The team will go home to the Lunstra shop on Sunday to get ready for the All Star show at Huset’s as well, and then on Wednesday again with the All Stars at Red River Valley Speedway in Fargo, North Dakota.
You can also find all of the Mark Dobmeier gear at the IRA Trailer on the fairgrounds, right behind Brian Brown’s trailer along the midway. Stop on by there go grab your gear or you can find it at the trailer after the races as well.
2012 STATS: 43 Starts, 9 Wins, 26 Top Fives, 33 Top Tens, 10 Heat Race Wins, 6 Fast Times, Average Finish of 6.605, 152 Cars Passed in A Main Action, and a Plus/Minus of 59 positions.
APPAREL: The new Mark Dobmeier shirts and hoodies have arrived and can be purchased at the trailer following the races! The “retro” looking shirts are still available plus newer designs in royal blue and charcoal for those that prefer a traditional looking shirt.
SPONSORS: Lunstra/Dobmeier Motorsports would like to thank all of their sponsors for their continued support into 2012: Senske & Son Transfer, Right Choice Electric, Big Trucks by Jimco, DeKalb Seed, IQ Bid Auctioneers, Dahlstrom Motors, Forx Radatior, Dammer Trucking, Anderson Brothers Body Shop, Forks Mobile Wash, Disabled American Veterans, Xtreme Polishing, Willow Ridge, Rose Creek Farms, Rendezvous Region Construction, and Visit Grand Forks.
WEBSITE: Of course you can follow along at Mark’s new and improved website at MarkDobmeier.com
SOCIAL MEDIA: Like us on Facebook and get updates from the track at: Facebook.com/pages/LunstraDobmeier-Motorsports/127617420603580
Also, Follow Mark on Twitter at: Twitter.com/DobmeierRacing
EMAIL: If you would like to receive Mark’s weekly release, or have any other questions, drop an email at DobmeierPR13@hotmail.com and we will add you to the list.
PHOTOGRAPHERS: If you would like your photo of Dobmeier in this weekly release, please email us at DobmeierPR13@hotmail.com with your photos and we will gladly use it.
Article Credit: Kole Faragher
Submitted By: Kole Faragher
