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Dobmeier Wins at Knoxville, Van Haaften and Selvage win Twin 360 Features!

by Bill Wright

KNOXVILLE RACEWAY, Knoxville, IA, June 29, 2013 – For the second week in a row, Mark Dobmeier stood atop the podium at the Knoxville Raceway after winning the 410 feature. It was the Grand Forks, North Dakota native's 11^th career win here. It was also Twin Features Night for the 360's and Nate Van Haaften and Dustin Selvage claimed those 18-lap events.

The start of the 20-lap 410 feature was chaotic. Jason Johnson spun in front of the field, and Rager Phillips and Garrett Dollansky were caught up in the fray and retired. Cole Wood and Glen Saville also headed to the work area. Pole-sitter, Rico Abreu, was the only one to make direct contact with Johnson, and he restarted at the tail after repairs to the front of his car.

Dobmeier assumed the pole and took off ahead of Bronson Maeschen and Dusty Zomer. More problems for Phillips and RJ Johnson slowed things with three laps in the books. By that time, B main winner, Davey Heskin, had moved from 19^th to 8^th.

Zomer surged to second on the restart, but Maeschen repaid the favor on lap seven, with Terry McCarl fourth and Wayne Johnson running fifth. At the halfway mark, Heskin was up to fifth.

Maeschen made advances on Dobmeier, but slipped up within a couple of car lengths with five to go. He tried to reel in the leader, but Dobmeier maintained his advantage. Zomer finished third ahead of McCarl and Heskin. Ian Madsen, Wayne Johnson, Jason Johnson, Josh Schneiderman and Lynton Jeffrey completed the top ten.

McCarl set quick time on the night, while Dollansky, Tasker Phillips and Dobmeier won heats.

"I couldn't be prouder of this team right now," said Dobmeier in Victory Lane. "We've all been working our tails off, and we're finally getting where we need to be. I've spent most of my life in the back because I can't qualify, so I didn't mind seeing those lapped cars. I don't mind those a bit."

In the first 360 feature, Dylan Peterson tipped over in turn one before a lap could be completed. He was uninjured and returned for the second main event. Nate Van Haaften shot out to an early lead ahead of Jamie Ball and Joe Beaver. He maintained his advantage, while Beaver shot around Ball for second on lap eight.

The best racing was for the fifth spot, as Jon Agan and Clint Garner traded the spot several times at the midway point. Robby Wolfgang, making his first Knoxville appearance of the season, used the low side to move by Ball into third with four laps to go.

The only caution of the race came out for a spinning Agan. The caution negated a pass for the lead that Beaver had made. Van Haaften learned from the incident and went on to win his fourth career feature here. Beaver was second ahead of Wolfgang, Garner and Ball. Matt Moro, Johnny Herrera, Jason Johnson, Russ Hall and Don Droud Jr. completed the top ten.

"I thought it was over," said Van Haaften of getting passed by Beaver before the caution came out. "Normally, I hate those things (yellows), but it worked out for me. It gave me a chance to think about things, and I got the car tightened up a bit. I was able to hit my marks and not mess up again."

Twenty cars finished on the lead lap, so the invert put the winner of the first feature in row ten for the second. Agan led Randy Martin and Dustin Selvage early on. Meanwhile, Russ Hall found himself moving up to fourth by lap six. Selvage closed on the lead pair, and in one lap passed Martin and then Agan for the lead on lap eight.

When Josh Higday came to a stop on lap ten, Selvage led Agan, Martin, Hall and Droud back to green. Martin shot to second on the restart, and Droud followed him into third. With twelve laps in, Jake Martens flipped hard in turn three, bringing out the red. He was uninjured. Peterson and Jason Johnson visited the work area at the time.

Selvage appeared to by coasting to the win on the white flag lap, when Matt Covington lost his right front wheel. That bunched things up, and Martin shot around Selvage for the lead on the green, white, checker finish. Unfortunately, for Martin, another caution came out on the white flag lap when Peterson and Tom Lenz tangled.

Under caution, Martin's right rear tire went flat, handing the lead back to Selvage. He would go on to victory ahead of Droud, Garner, Agan and Beaver. Herrera, Hall, Wolfgang, Van Haaften and Ricky Montgomery rounded out the top ten. Van Haaften also posted quick time on the night, while Herrera, Covington and Selvage were heat winners. Martin won the B main.

"I thought I was driving as hard as I could to stick the bottom," said Selvage in Victory Lane. "I was just driving a little deeper in the corner and it worked for us. It's too bad for Randy Martin. He got me on that restart, and it was probably his race to win, but I'm not going to complain. We'll take them any way we can get them."

Next week it's the 410's turn for Twin Features on Wells Fargo Night July 6! For more information, visit www.KnoxvilleRaceway.com!

410 Results

Time Trials (Qualifying Order), 2 laps: 1. 24, Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA (20), 15.270; 2. 18, Ian Madsen, St. Marys, NSW, Aust (5), 15.569; 3. 49, Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA (12), 15.607; 4. 91, Dusty Zomer, Sioux Falls, SD (21), 15.642; 5. 96, Bronson Maeschen, Pleasantville, IA (25), 15.673; 6. 13, Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks, ND (18), 15.678; 7. 56, Davey Heskin, St. Michael, MN (13), 15.721; 8. 41, Jason Johnson, Eunice, LA (8), 15.768; 9. 24R, Rico Abreu, St. Helena, CA (29), 15.781; 10. 77x, Wayne Johnson, Knoxville, IA (27), 15.822; 11. 17A, Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA (19), 15.825; 12. 12, Lynton Jeffrey, Prairie City, IA (26), 15.866; 13. 55, R.J. Johnson, Tampa, FL (30), 15.894; 14. 6R, Ryan Bunton, Morton, IL (10), 15.925; 15. 7K, Dustin Selvage, Indianola, IA (14), 16.000; 16. 2, Garrett Dollansky, Elk River, MN (28), 16.004; 17. 7TAZ, Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville, IA (15), 16.011; 18. 10, Rager Phillips, Pleasantville, IA (16), 16.028; 19. 47, Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE (17), 16.062; 20. 10V, Glen Saville, Razorback, NSW, Aust (24), 16.085; 21. 69, Mike Moore, Des Moines, IA (9), 16.122; 22. 4, Dakota Hendrickson, Omaha, NE (22), 16.176; 23. 7, Kaley Gharst, Decatur, IL (1), 16.183; 24. 23K, Rob Kubli, Milo, IA (6), 16.252; 25. 17w, Cole Wood, Auburn, CA (23), 16.259; 26. 7m, Geoff Dodge, Colorado Springs, CO (4), 16.314; 27. 20, AJ Moeller, Rockwell City, IA (7), 16.337; 28. 71, Robert Bell, Colfax, IA (3), 16.878; 29. 16, Dustin Clark, Agency, IA (2), 16.914; 30. 23, Jimmy Light, West Springfield, PA (11), 17.357.

Heat one (started), 8 laps, 2:12.2: 1. Garrett Dollansky (1); 2. Terry McCarl (6); 3. Wayne Johnson (3); 4. Don Droud Jr. (7); 5. Dusty Zomer (5); 6. R.J. Johnson (2) / 7. Davey Heskin (4); 8. Cole Wood (9); 9. Dakota Hendrickson (8); 10. Robert Bell (10)

Heat two (started), 8 laps, NT: 1. Tasker Phillips (1); 2. Ian Madsen (6); 3. Jason Johnson (4); 4. Ryan Bunton (2); 5. Bronson Maeschen (5); 6. Austin McCarl (3) / 7. Kaley Gharst (8); 8. Geoff Dodge (9); 9. Glen Saville (7); 10. Dustin Clark (10)

Heat three (started), 8 laps, 2:11.8: 1. Mark Dobmeier (5); 2. Dustin Selvage (2); 3. Rager Phillips (1); 4. Lynton Jeffrey (3); 5. Rico Abreu (4); 6. Josh Schneiderman (6) / 7. AJ Moeller (9); 8. Mike Moore (7); 9. Rob Kubli (8); 10. Jimmy Light (10)

B main (started), 12 laps, 3:31.0: 1. Davey Heskin (1); 2. Mike Moore (3); 3. Kaley Gharst (5); 4. Cole Wood (7); 5. Geoff Dodge (8); 6. Glen Saville (2) / 7. AJ Moeller (9); 8. Dakota Hendrickson (4); 9. Dustin Clark (11); 10. Robert Bell (10); 11. Rob Kubli (6) DNS – Jimmy Light

A main (started), 20 laps, NT: 1. Mark Dobmeier (3); 2. Bronson Maeschen (4); 3. Dusty Zomer (5); 4. Terry McCarl (8); 5. Davey Heskin (19); 6. Ian Madsen (7); 7. Wayne Johnson (9); 8. Jason Johnson (2); 9. Josh Schneiderman (6); 10. Lynton Jeffrey (11); 11. Rico Abreu (1); 12. Tasker Phillips (16); 13. Austin McCarl (10); 14. Ryan Bunton (13); 15. Don Droud Jr. (18); 16. Kaley Gharst (21); 17. Mike Moore (20); 18. Cole Wood (22); 19. Glen Saville (24); 20. Dustin Selvage (14); 21. Geoff Dodge (23); 22. R.J. Johnson (12); 23. Rager Phillips (17); 24. Garrett Dollansky (15). Lap Leaders: Dobmeier 1-20. Hard-charger: Heskin.

360 Results

Time Trials (Group Qualifying): 1. 3, Nate Van Haaften, Otley, IA (16), 16.302; 2. 53, Joe Beaver, Knoxville, IA (12), 16.455; 3. 5J, Jamie Ball, Knoxville, IA (13), 16.482; 4. 1B, Robby Wolfgang, Sioux Falls, SD (15), 16.519; 5. 4, Jon Agan, Knoxville, IA (19), 16.533; 6. 25, Dylan Peterson, Sioux Falls, SD (24), 16.591; 7. 41, Jason Johnson, Eunice, LA (27), 16.596; 8. 40, Clint Garner, Sioux Falls, SD (8), 16.598; 9. 45c, Russ Hall, Pleasant Hill, IA (28), 16.668; 10. 2m, Matt Moro, Polk City, IA (2), 16.687; 11. 71, RJ Johnson, Tampa, FL (31), 16.769; 12. 1x, Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE (29), 16.791; 13. 45x, Johnny Herrera, Albuquerque, NM (1), 16.827; 14. 48, Jake Martens, Fairview, OK (17), 16.860; 15. 7K, Dustin Selvage, Indianola, IA (5), 16.866; 16. 49, Shawn Dancer, Delphos, OH (10), 16.869; 17. 95, Matt Covington, Glenpool, OK (30), 16.877; 18. 24, Josh Higday, Des Moines, IA (3), 16.880; 19. 14, Randy Martin, California, MO (18), 16.933; 20. 35au, Jamie Veal, Victoria, NSW, AUST (11), 16.942; 21. 9m, Ricky Montgomery, Lakewood, CO (25), 16.950; 22. 8L, Tom Lenz, Marion, IA (26), 16.994; 23. 28, Tony Shilling, Knoxville, IA (6), 17.024; 24. 2J, Zach Blurton, Great Bend, KS (20), 17.087; 25. 126, Stacey Alexander, Lacona, IA (22), 17.114; 26. 7, Darren Long, Elida, OH (23), 17.128; 27. 44, Chris Martin, Ankeny, IA (21), 17.143; 28. 68, Mike Houseman Jr., Des Moines, IA (14), 17.168; 29. 8, Laney Feight, Indianola, IA (7), 17.210; 30. 6, Mitchell Alexander, Knoxville, IA (4), 17.371; DQ (Light at the Scales) - 39x, Alan Ambers, Knoxville, IA (9).

Heat one (started), 7 laps, 1:57.9: 1. Johnny Herrera (2); 2. Jason Johnson (4); 3. Matt Moro (3); 4. Shawn Dancer (1); 5. Robby Wolfgang (5); 6. Nate Van Haaften (6) / 7. Randy Martin (7); 8. Alan Ambers (11); 9. Tom Lenz (8); 10. Stacey Alexander (9); 11. Mike Houseman Jr. (10)

Heat two (started), 7 laps, 1:58.5: 1. Matt Covington (1); 2. Clint Garner (4); 3. Jake Martens (2); 4. Jon Agan (5); 5. Joe Beaver (6); 6. RJ Johnson (3) / 7. Tony Shilling (8); 8. Jamie Veal (7); 9. Darren Long (9); 10. Laney Feight (10)

Heat three (started), 7 laps, 1:59.9: 1. Dustin Selvage (2); 2. Josh Higday (1); 3. Russ Hall (4); 4. Don Droud Jr. (3); 5. Jamie Ball (6); 6. Ricky Montgomery (7) / 7. Dylan Peterson (5); 8. Chris Martin (9); 9. Zach Blurton (8); 10. Mitchell Alexander (10)

B main (started), 10 laps, NT: 1. Randy Martin (2); 2. Dylan Peterson (1); 3. Tony Shilling (5); 4. Jamie Veal (3); 5. Zach Blurton (6); 6. Tom Lenz (4) / 7. Chris Martin (7); 8. Alan Ambers (11); 9. Mike Houseman Jr. (10); 10. Darren Long (8); 11. Mitchell Alexander (12); 12. Laney Feight (9) DNS – Stacey Alexander

A main #1 (started), 18 laps, NT: 1. Nate Van Haaften (1); 2. Joe Beaver (2); 3. Robby Wolfgang (4); 4. Clint Garner (7); 5. Jamie Ball (3); 6. Matt Moro (9); 7. Johnny Herrera (12); 8. Jason Johnson (6); 9. Russ Hall (8); 10. Don Droud Jr. (11); 11. Matt Covington (16); 12. RJ Johnson (10); 13. Jake Martens (13); 14. Josh Higday (17); 15. Tony Shilling (21); 16. Dustin Selvage (14); 17. Randy Martin (19); 18. Ricky Montgomery (18); 19. Jamie Veal (22); 20. Jon Agan (5); 21. Zach Blurton (23); 22. Tom Lenz (24); 23. Shawn Dancer (15); 24. Dylan Peterson (20). Lap Leader: Van Haaften 1-18. Hard-charger: Shilling.

A main #2 (started), 19 laps, NT: 1. Dustin Selvage (5); 2. Don Droud Jr. (11); 3. Clint Garner (17); 4. Jon Agan (1); 5. Joe Beaver (19); 6. Johnny Herrera (12); 7. Russ Hall (10); 8. Robby Wolfgang (16); 9. Nate Van Haaften (18); 10. Ricky Montgomery (3); 11. RJ Johnson (9); 12. Matt Moro (15); 13. Jason Johnson (13); 14. Zach Blurton (21); 15. Jamie Veal (2); 16. Jamie Ball (14); 17. Shawn Dancer (23); 18. Chris Martin (24) 19. Randy Martin (4); 20. Tom Lenz (20); 21. Dylan Peterson (22); 22. Matt Covington (8); 23. Jake Martens (6); 24. Josh Higday (7). Lap Leaders: Agan 1-7, Selvage 8-17, Martin 18, Selvage 19. Hard-charger: Garner.

If this post isn't results, stories or something c
constructive, it isn't me! 
@BillWMedia
www.OpenWheel101.com

Thanks Bill. Great effort as always.

Luna's Ford engine style that won 2 WoO titles and 3 
Kings Royals before a weight rule against the best EVER
in their prime and now DOMINATES super dirt late model
racing is no longer allowed/wanted in a WoO sprint
car.... Was Luna a miracle worker?

410A was as unexciting as last weeks was exciting. Nobody's fault, just a tough track to work into racing shape. 360's 2nd A was the show tonight.

Anyone seen any pics of the action from Knoxville over the weekend?

Thanks
Travis

Luna's Ford engine style that won 2 WoO titles and 3 
Kings Royals before a weight rule against the best EVER
in their prime and now DOMINATES super dirt late model
racing is no longer allowed/wanted in a WoO sprint
car.... Was Luna a miracle worker?

Do you watch anything except the front 2 cars race?

Heskin came from the B main to 5th, Jason Johnson and Rico Abreu re-started at the tail and finished 8th and 11th. NO CARS finished in the position where they started.

Finishing order and starting positions:

1 (3) Dobmeier +2

2. (4) Maeschen +2

3. (5) Zomer +2

4. (8) T. McCarl +4

5. (19) Heskin +14

6. (7) Madsen -1

7. (9) W. Johnson +2

8. (2) J. Johnson -6

9. (6) Schneiderman -3

10. (11) Jeffrey +1

11. (1) Abreu -10

12. (16) T. Phillips +4

13,. (10) A. McCarl -3

14. (13) Bunton -1

15. (18) Droud +3

16 (20) Gharst +4

17. (19) Moore +2

18. (22) Wood +4

19. (24) Saville +5

20. (14) Selvage -6

21. (23) Dodge +2

22. (12) RJ Johson -10

23. (17) R. Phillips -5

24. (15) Dollansky -9

To be fair,

everyone that was able to avoid getting caught up in it got an "advance 2 spots for free card" when Johnson parked the Ford in front of the field.

So neither Dobmeier or Maeschen really passed a car under green.

I also asked if he watched anything other than the front 2 cars, there was passing going on in EVERY feature (even the first 360 feature looks like a snoozer on paper (Van Haaften started 1st, Beaver 2nd and they finished that way) - too bad the race was much better than what it shows on paper (Beaver had just passed Van Haaften for the lead when the yellow came out).

No one is talking about how Selvage got a GIFT of a win when Randy Martin's tire went flat under yellow either (didn't everyone running automatically advance a position in that race too when that happened?).

Were the races SPECTACULAR? No they weren't, but they were far from a Snoozer....

I guess I missed seeing where I (or anyone else) called or wrote the race a 'snoozer' I simply stated it wasn't as exciting as the week before. Adding to kooks thought ...all your passing stats look real impressive until you factor in the shunt at the front.

Here's the same stats from the "more exciting" feature the week before. Looks like about teh same amount of passing that what we saw Saturday to me Total positions advanced by the top 10 finishers = 26, total positions lost by the top 10 finishers =7 Last week total positions advanced by top 10 finishers = 27 and total positions lost by top 10 finishers = 10 (were this weeks somewhat skewed by a couple drivers having a problem, yes they were).

I've seen TONS and TONS of races where guys finished better than where they were running due to a spin, a wreck, or a flat tire on a competitor (at some point during the race). Outside of Dobmeier catching traffic in the perfect spot the week before, which allowed him to make the pass of Lasoski, the top 5 ran in that order from lap 8 to the finish.

1. (2) Dobmier +1

2. (1) Lasoski -1

3. (6) T. McCarl +3

4. (8) Maeschen +4

5. (5) Madsen --

6. (12) Heskin +6

7. (16) Zomer +11

8. (4) RJ Johnson -4

9. (7) Jeffrey -2

10. (11) Droud +1

11. (23) Bunton +12

12. (18) Moore +6

13. (13) W. Johnson --

14. (21) T. Phillips +7

15. (10) Selvage -5

16. (3) Schneiderman -13

17. (9) Dollansky -8

18. (24) Clark +6

19. (22) Kubli +3

20. (20) Moeller --

21. (19) A. McCarl -2

22. (14) Hendrickson -8

23. (17) Gharst -6

24. (15) R. Phillips -9