9/8/2013
IRA Interstate Racing Association
THE NUMBERS MATCH, DOBMEIER’S LUCKY #13 CAPTURES 13TH ANNUAL RICHERT MEMORIAL RACE AT CEDAR LAKE!
Meyer Wins Duel With Whitney In Photo Finish for Final Podium Spot!!
New Richmond, WI, September 7, 2013 – The number 13 has been shrouded in mystery, for some it’s a good luck charm, for others a symbol of misfortune, but for Mark Dobmeier the number on his wing was simply one which visited victory lane matching the number of annual events held in honor of the late Jerry Richert. It was Dobmeier’s first victory in the prestigious event which carried with it a winner’s check for $5,000.
The 13th edition of the memorial event saw Dobmier, a native of Grand Forks, ND, keep the field chasing his #13 machine throughout the 30 lap contest. We would pace the entire distance while rim-riding the banked, three-eighths mile oval. Dobmeier, the current point leader at Husset’s (ND) Speedway had previously captured an IRA victory at the Dodge County Fairgrounds in October of 2011.
A late caution placed fast qualifier and two time Richert Memorial race winner, Brooke Tatnell, in contention to battle Dobmeier for top honors but Dobmeier’s cushion riding skills kept Tatnell at bay taking the win by six car lengths.
The final podium spot thrilled fans with a late race battle as Steve Meyer swapped the third spot back and forth with two-time IRA champion, Travis Whitney. Hugging the inside line Meyer demonstrated his throttle control ability by nosing ahead of the high flying Whitney out of the final turn to grab the spot by less than a foot.
A star filled field was on hand representing the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints who were joined by top 410 sprint pilots from Huset’s Speedway, River Cities Speedway and Knoxville Raceway all making the trek to Cedar Lake in hopes of capturing this memorial event. Several drivers did double duty competing in the UMSS 360 companion event including Tatnell, Dusty Zomer and Wayne Modjeski.
The 22 car field came alive at the drop of the green flag. Slowed by just two cautions the contest proved to be exciting as the leaders battled for position while negotiating lapped traffic during much of the event.
Dobmeier was on the pole and shot immediately to the lead with outside front row starter Dave Glennon quickly fading.
Second place became a contest of wills between Meyer and Whitney with Meyer using the inside line while Whitney preferred to ride the cushion. Whitney would hold runner-up honors until Meyer clawed his way into the position by lap ten.
Dobmeier found himself running in heavy lapped traffic and Meyer moved within striking distance by the halfway point. Once Dobmeier cleared the lapped traffic he once again opened up some distance on Meyer.
Tatnell, meanwhile, started his march forward working past Whitney for third and then running down Meyer for the second spot on lap 20.
On the very next lap Skylar Prochaska came to a stop in turn four with a shredded right rear tire forcing the caution flag to fly.
The race resumed briefly with Dobmeier again showing the way when misfortune struck Tony Monfefael who spun in turn three. Scott Neitzel, the winner at the Northern Nationals the night before at Superior Speedway, had nowhere to go and clipped the stalled machine of Monfefael also coming to a rest in turn three. Both drivers retired from the contest and an eight lap dash to the finish was in store for the fans.
The green flag waved and Dobmeier went back to setting the pace with Tatnell giving chase. Both drivers opted to run the high line around the track and pulled away from the field behind.
With the lead duo pulling away the battle for third became the center of attention as Meyer and Whitney tossed the position back and forth while negotiating back markers. A bold move by Meyer coming off turn four with two laps to go allowed him to power back ahead of Whitney for the spot.
Out front Dobmeier’s pace kept him ahead of Tatnell to the finish recording the victory. Meyer won the duel with Whitney for third while 2010 Richert Memorial race winner Scott Winters completed the top five.
Dusty Zomer held down the sixth spot fending off 5-time IRA champ, Bill Balog, who claimed seventh. Davey Heskin, Dave Uttech and Donovan Peterson completed the top ten finishers. Uttech earned the hard charger award moving up six spots in the contest.
13 drivers were still on the lead lap at the finish with 18 cars still on the racing surface.
In earlier action Bill Balog outran Kris Spitz for top honors in the B-main. Balog had been running in a transfer spot in his heat when a rare spin by the current point leader relegated him to the B-main. Jeremy Schultz, Monfefael, Bill Wirth, Russell Borland and Wayne Modjeski comprised the top seven and the transfer cars to the main event.
Heat race victories went to Prochaska, Dobmeier and Phillip Mock.
The Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints are beginning to wind down their season but fans will have a chance to get a double dose of Winged Outlaw 410 Sprint action this coming weekend.
First up on Friday the 13th! The “Sprint Spooktacular”, will be taking place at the Oshkosh Speedzone Raceway. Racing action is set for 7:00pm on the semi-banked third-mile, clay oval. The Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints will be joined by the 360 sprints and for fendered fans the Grand Nationals will be in the house to do battle.
Then on Saturday night, September 14th, the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series heads to the Plymouth Dirt Track located at the Sheboygan County Fairpark for the 17th running of the Frank Filskov Memorial race. The main event will be contested at 27 laps for the 410 sprints. Once again the 360 sprints will be joining in the activities and will hold a 28 lap main event as both series races add up to 55 laps to honor Brian Portschy. Portschy, a fan favorite, had been a competitor in both classes had recently lost his life in a non-racing related accident.
For more information on the IRA Outlaw Sprints check out the tour website at www.irasprints.com or logging onto the series Facebook page at www.facebook.com/irasprints
The IRA Outlaw Sprint Series is proudly supported by Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts & Service Centers, Hoosier Tire, Osborn & Son Trucking, TW Metals, Onan, Carriage Auto Body, Polaris DEFENSE, and Mother’s Polishes and Waxes. The office of the IRA Sprints can be reached at 815-759-9269 or by e-mail at steve@irasprints.com
BOX SCORE:
Event: #22 – Cedar Lake Speedway – New Richmond, WI - September 7, 2013
A Feature (30 Laps): 1. 13-Mark Dobmeier[1]; 2. 25-Brooke Tatnell[6]; 3. 85M-Steve Meyer[3]; 4. 16-Travis Whitney[4]; 5. 82-Scott Winters[5]; 6. 91-Dusty Zomer[10]; 7. 17B-Bill Balog[11]; 8. 56-Davey Heskin[12]; 9. 68-Dave Uttech[15]; 10. 19-Donovan Peterson[14]; 11. 7TAZ-Tasker Phillips[9]; 12. 1M-Phillip Mock[8]; 13. 97X-Alan Gilbertson[13]; 14. 5-David Glennon[2]; 15. 5J-Jeremy Schultz[18]; 16. 53W-Bill Wirth[20]; 17. 4K-Kris Spitz[16]; 18. 14AJ-Wayne Modjeski[22]; DNF 2W-Scott Neitzel[17]; DNF 5M-Troy Manteufel[19]; DNF 35-Skyler Prochaska[7]; DNF 23-Russell Borland[21]
B Feature (15 Laps): 1. 17B-Bill Balog[1]; 2. 4K-Kris Spitz[2]; 3. 5J-Jeremy Schultz[4]; 4. 5M-Troy Manteufel[5]; 5. 53W-Bill Wirth[8]; 6. 23-Russell Borland[10]; 7. 14AJ-Wayne Modjeski[6]; 8. 12-Michael Decker[9]; 9. 38-Allen Hafford[7]; 10. 7-Scott Uttech[3]; 11. 71-Chad Tessman[11]; 12. 16X-Duane Olson[12]; DNS 79-Blake Nimee; DNS 94-Brandon Thone
Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 35-Skyler Prochaska[1]; 2. 25-Brooke Tatnell[6]; 3. 7TAZ-Tasker Phillips[3]; 4. 5-David Glennon[4]; 5. 19-Donovan Peterson[2]; 6. 17B-Bill Balog[5]; 7. 14AJ-Wayne Modjeski[8]; 8. 53W-Bill Wirth[9]; 9. 71-Chad Tessman[10]; DNF 7-Scott Uttech[7]
Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 13-Mark Dobmeier[4]; 2. 56-Davey Heskin[3]; 3. 82-Scott Winters[6]; 4. 68-Dave Uttech[2]; 5. 2W-Scott Neitzel[8]; 6. 5J-Jeremy Schultz[7]; 7. 4K-Kris Spitz[1]; 8. 16X-Duane Olson[10]; DNF 12-Michael Decker[9]; DNF 79-Blake Nimee[5]
Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. 1M-Phillip Mock[2]; 2. 91-Dusty Zomer[4]; 3. 16-Travis Whitney[6]; 4. 85M-Steve Meyer[5]; 5. 97X-Alan Gilbertson[3]; 6. 38-Allen Hafford[8]; 7. 5M-Troy Manteufel[7]; 8. 23-Russell Borland[9]; DNF 94-Brandon Thone[1]
Qualifying: 1. 25-Brooke Tatnell; 2. 82-Scott Winters; 3. 16-Travis Whitney; 4. 17B-Bill Balog; 5. 79-Blake Nimee; 6. 85M-Steve Meyer; 7. 5-David Glennon; 8. 13-Mark Dobmeier
Article Credit: Jeffrey Sachse
Submitted By: Jeffrey Sachse
