9/14/2015
Sprint Source
Mark Dobmeier – Charge in Grand Forks!
Mark Dobmeier and the Jimco Motorsports #13 team had a busy weekend of racing. Three nights at his hometown River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, North Dakota was followed by the final race at Huset’s Speedway in South Dakota. Mark managed one win in the Thursday River Cities prelim and a charge from 23rd to second in Saturday’s finale that paid $5,000. This Friday, marks the final night at River Cities Speedway. The team is also contemplating a make-up event at Buffalo River Race Park in Glyndon, Minnesota on Sunday.
The sprint car portion of the John Seitz Memorial was extended to three day, Thursday through Saturday. “The John Seitz Memorial is usually a big late model race, but this year, Buffalo Wild Wings threw a bunch of money at the purse,” says Mark. “We were planning on going to Cedar Lake, but with the added purse money and the back row challenge…we stayed home. The top eight in points from Thursday and Friday ran a Dash on Saturday. Then there was a back row challenge, where if you won it was $8,200, $5,000 for second, and the top four from the back paid extra. The crowd loved it. All eight cars took the challenge.”
With points being accumulated Thursday and Friday for Saturday’s finale, Mark started with a heat race win. He started third in the feature and ripped off his 113th career feature win at River Cities. “It was just a good strong run,” he says. “The track was really dry, so it was a slow pace. We were able to get the lead from Dusty (Zomer) about five or six laps in. From there, we were able to stay out front and win it.”
Things went well again on Friday. “The track was in really good shape on Friday,” says Mark. “We started on the pole and won the heat. They did kind of an ASCS type passing points system, so even though we won, we were still eighth in points for the feature.”
Mark would start outside row four of the feature and make his way to the lead. “I think we were able to get the lead seven or eight laps in,” he says. “From that point, to the last lap, we were out front. There was a yellow with about four laps to go. I came around and there were two guys in the back racing each other. At the end of the day, I was a little too cautious and Zomer slipped by us. It was a good race. It was fun.”
He would be the point leader heading into Saturday’s finale. The top eight were put in a Dash, with an invert of four. “We were able to finish second, and that gave us the option for the back row challenge,” says Mark. “That started us 23rd in the feature. We got several spots right away and worked our way steadily forward.”
With bonuses going out to a top four finish from from the back, Mark was worried about his chances. “About ten laps in, I started getting nervous,” he says. “They hadn’t reworked the track, and you could start to see the rubber come down. By the halfway point, it was solid, and everyone was one-lane. We were able to get to second, and I caught Zomer, who was leading. I thought I had a shot, but then the yellow came out. At that point, there was no way to pass anyone unless he screwed up. We followed the leader at the end and finished second.”
On Sunday, the team headed to Huset’s Speedway for their $10,000 to win finale. Mark timed in seventh quick and ran second in his heat. He would start the feature in row four. “Things were going good,” he says. “I was up to fourth or fifth at one point. We were going around a lapped car. (Bryan) Clauson was going on the inside and I was outside. He spooked him up into me. It knocked our front end out of square. It bent it up, but the tires kept air. I just kind of hung on for a sixth place finish.”
Jimco Motorsports would like to thank Senske & Son Transfer, Big Trucks by Jimco, Right Choice Electric, Acme Tools, X-treme Polishing, Interstate Towing & Recovery, B/L Strong Box, Steffes, Dahlstrom Motors, GLB Transport, Tireboss, Forx Radiator, Anderson Auto Body, Gary Gruhot Farms, Willow Ridge, Rose Creek, Great Plains Plumbing & Heating, Ironman Welding, DAV, Rendezvous Region Construction, High Mark Snowmobile Rentals, Boss Signs & Graphics and Dobmeier Bonding for all their help!
Photo: Mark in Victory Lane at River Cities Speedway (Rick Rea Photo – www.RickRea.com)
Article Credit: Bill Wright