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Mark Dobmeier – Fourth at the 360 Nationals!

Last year, a blown engine proved to be too big a setback to make the finale of the Knoxville 360 Nationals for Mark Dobmeier and the Lunstra/Dobmeier #13 team. This year, a strong qualifying night run set up a top five effort on Saturday night. The 71-car Capitani Classic at Knoxville last night saw the team charge to a twelfth place finish. Tonight, the Grand Forks, North Dakota driver will be in action at the Front Row Challenge at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, before qualifying Wednesday for the 54th Annual Knoxville Nationals.

The only hiccup for the team in Friday’s qualifying night for the 360 Nationals, was in time trials (19th quick). “We were good in hot laps,” says Mark. “We don’t really run 360’s much, so we weren’t sure where we needed to be on the gearing. Changing gears actually hurt us in qualifying.”

Starting third in his heat, Mark ran second. “There were some people who couldn’t make it out of the heat, which put us on the pole of the feature,” he says. “We had a good run. We were out leading the thing and everything was good.”

The caution flew on lap nine. “Off the restart, we didn’t quite the start we needed…we had a stumble in the engine…and that gave Sammy (Swindell) just enough to get underneath us on the bottom,” says Mark. “In the middle of the race, that was the place to be. I think at the end, the top came back around.”

Mark was fast on the cushion, and had one last shot at Sammy and the win. “I tried to be patient and wait,” he says. “I saw him slow a little bit going into one, and I thought it was my chance. We came down the backstretch side by side, but once he saw my nose, I had showed him my move, and he shot his car to the top and took my line away. We were second from there.”

Mark’s point total saw him start outside row five of Saturday night’s championship event. He would charge to a fourth place finish. “We just had a good solid run on Saturday night,” he says. “I was kind of hoping the race would be five or ten laps more, because we got stronger as the race went on.”

Last night’s Capitani Classic saw arguably the toughest one-night gathering of 410 sprint cars there is. Mark would come out to time 63rd and register the 33rd quick time of the night. “We came out late, and the track had slowed way down,” he says. “We knew it was going to hurt us, but in the end, with the heat invert (six in six heats), at least it helped us get in the feature. We were lucky enough to start on the pole of the heat and finish second.”

Starting 17th in the main event, he would climb to twelfth by the checkers. “It was another good run for us,” says Mark. “I think I was up to eighth or ninth at one point. We sealed a tire there on the last long caution, and I couldn’t get going after that.”

The team is looking to have some fun tonight before taking on the Knoxville Nationals. “We’re getting ready for Osky right now,” says Mark. “We’re planning on having some fun over there tonight!”

The Lunstra/Dobmeier team would like to thank Senske and Son Transfer, Big Trucks by Jimco, Sioux Falls Ford, Steffe’s Auctioneers, Dammer Trucking, ACME Tool, Strong Box and Tire Boss for all their help!

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