7/22/2024
IRA Interstate Racing Association
Undefeated! Dobmeier Sweeps King of the Wings Weekend
Undefeated! Dobmeier Sweeps King of the Wings Weekend
With the Bumper to Bumper IRA Sprint Car Series and the Buffalo Wild Wings already taking the checkered flag at the 3/8th mile of Norman County Speedway, the two series headed back to the home state of NOSA for a double header at River Cities Speedway.
On Friday, 40 Sprint Cars checked into River Cities Speedway. Danny Schlafer and Mark Dobmeier climbed to the top of the speed charts early. Heat races were won by Tim Estenson, Nick Omdahl, Weston Olson, and Jack Croaker. Nick Omdahl and Austin Hartmann would win the dashes. Hartmann’s win would be his first career IRA Sprint Car Series dash win.
We would drop the flag for 30 laps around River Cities Speedway with Hartman and Omdahl leading the way, the start would be pulled back for problems with the 199 of Bowers in the exit of turn two. We’d go back to green to a complete restart. Jake Blackhurst would be the next to draw out the caution with no laps complete with doing a 360. He would tag the tail of the field. We would try once more and get the field to go green.
Hartmann would take the early lead with the 0 of Omdahl close behind him. The race would be behind the two as Dobmeier would already be knocking on the door of the G5 of Gage Pulkrabek. Dobmeier would pass Pulkrabek at the flagstad and begin to reel in second of Nick Omdahl. Six laps in and Dobmeier would pass Omdahl for second, Hartmann with some distance between them already weaving through lap traffic. With 23 laps to go, Logan Julien would make contact with the turn 4 wall and slow to a stop on the exit of turn one. On the restart it would be the 87A, 13, 0, G5, and the 25.
Hartmann would continue to lead the way as the 8 ball of Jack Croaker would pass Schlafer for 5th. Hartmann and Dobmeier would catch up to lap traffic where the 13 would strike and steal the lead from Hartmann with 15 down, 15 to go. The rest would be history as the Buffalo Wild Wings 13 would seal the deal and take the checkered of night two of the King of the Wings Challenge, Scotty Thiel second, and Andy Pake would round out the podium.
Full results: https://www.myracepass.com/events/504183/races
On Saturday, 42 Sprint Cars checked in for the Finale of the Buffalo Wild Wings King of the Wings event at River Cities Speedway. Logan Julien was fastest in Hot Laps. Tim Estenson and Jade Hastings were fastest in their group in qualifying. Heat races were won by Logan Julien, Brendan Mullen, Mark Dobmeier, and Laela Eisenschenk. Dashes were won by Laela Eisenschenk and Mark Dobmeier.
We would go 35 laps around River Cities Speedway with Laela Eisenschenk and Mark Dobmeier leading the field to the green. Pierce in the 31 would draw out the caution, and we would restart the field. Dobmeier would immediately take the lead and Eisenschenk would fall to second. Logan Julien in the 85J would make a quick pass on Eisenschenk for second at the line with 3 laps in, as Dobmeier would begin to dance through lap traffic. Eisenschenk wouldn’t let the 85J take second without a fight. With 5 laps in, she would be right back on the tail of the 85J. This fight would only pause as the 25T of Arenz would go over the banking of turns three and four.
Back to green with 10 down and Mullen would pass Julien for second as Dobmeier would begin to pull away. Julien would pass the 11M once more before yet another caution with 13 complete. The battle would continue between the 11M of Mullen and the 85J of Julien. We would have a red flag for the 3N of Neuman. When we return green again with 17 to go 18 complete with the 13 leading the way, followed by the 85J, 11M, 15, and the 0.
On the restart after the open red, the battle would continue the battle for second. Mullen would pass Julien on the front stretch and into the first turn, but Julien would take it back down the backstretch. Omdahl would pass Eisenschenk for 4th behind the others and Dobmeier would again hit lap traffic. Both the 11M and 85J would catch his tail. With 13 laps to go, the 85J would draw out the red flag going over on the outskirts of turn three. He would walk away from the scene.
When we return green with 13 to go with Dobmeier continuing to lead the way. Mullen second, Omdahl third followed by the G5 and 15. We would go the rest of the race under the green flag. Gage Pulkrabek would hang onto third, Brendan Mullen would finish second, and Mark Dobmeier would take the checkered sweeping the weekend.
Buffalo Wild Wings King of the Wings Points: https://www.irasprints.com/standings/
The Bumper to Bumper IRA Sprint Car Series would like to again thank Todd and Susan LaHaise and Buffalo Wild Wings for making this weekend possible. We'd also like to thank the entire NOSA Sprint Car Series and River Cities Speedway staff and crew for their hospitality the entire weekend.
The Bumper to Bumper IRA Sprint Car Series return back to Wisconsin for a doubleheader weekend. Friday night we head back to the horsepower half mile of the Dodge County Fairgrounds for the Harry Neitzel Tribute. Saturday, the series returns to the Plymouth Dirt Track for round 4 of the Hopf Farms Bullring Showdown.
Watch the racing all season long with FloRacing: https://flosports.link/48KXHHx
Article Credit: Madeline "Chatty Madi" Schultz
Submitted By: Madeline Schultz
