by Bill Wright
KNOXVILLE RACEWAY, Knoxville, IA, August 27, 2011 – Mark Dobmeier has been hot as of late, and he continued that streak Saturday night at the Knoxville Raceway on McKay Insurance/Slideways Karting Center Night. The $3,000 win was Dobmeier’s second this season, and the ninth in his career at Knoxville aboard the Lunstra/Dobmeier #13. After setting a new one-lap 360 track record in qualifying, Clint Garner grabbed his fourth feature win of the year in that class. The win clinched a third track championship in a row for Garner. Mike Van Haaften was welcomed home from a tour in Afghanistan with his first career win in the 305’s.
Ryan Anderson set a fast early pace in the event from his starting spot on the pole. By lap five, he led fellow front row starter, Austin McCarl, Dobmeier, Brian Brown and quick-timer, Kevin Swindell. AJ Moeller spun with six laps in the books, bringing the caution flag.
Shortly after the restart, Dobmeier shot around McCarl for second, and a lap later, Brown followed him into third. Dobmeier gained on Anderson and made what would prove to be the winning pass on the twelfth lap. One lap later, Brown followed him into second and kept pace with the leader.
When tenth running Bronson Maeschen stopped in turn four with three laps to go, it set up a dash to the checkers. Dobmeier was able to repel the advances of Brown, while Swindell and Jason Johnson had made moves into fourth and fifth. Swindell used his momentum to climb to second, getting by Brown in the final corner. Hard-charger, Johnson was fourth, ahead of Davey Heskin, who gained fifth from Anderson on the last lap.
“I can’t say enough for my guys,” said Dobmeier in Victory Lane. “We had a rear-end go out in the heat and had it changed in about ten minutes. Everyone was fast at the beginning, and we came into play when it slicked off a little. Racing against Brian was fun. He races clean. He could have played the slide job a little different and there could have been carnage. I think he knows I’m not going to lift!”
Anderson settled for sixth, ahead of Austin McCarl, Rager Phillips, Danny Lasoski and Brooke Tatnell. Lasoski managed enough points to secure his record ninth track championship. Johnson, Dusty Zomer and Brooke Tatnell won heats, while Terry McCarl won the B main.
Russ Hall took off from the pole position to lead early in the 15-lap 360 feature. With one lap in the books, Chad Heimbaugh flipped in turn one. He was uninjured. Jon Agan restarted second, and used the bottom to surge into the lead to complete lap three. Clint Garner, who started sixth, shot by Hall for second on lap seven.
Tasker Phillips was on the move big time in the first half of the race. Starting 17th, he had shot up to seventh and was still climbing at the halfway point, when he spun while running seventh. The restart with six laps remaining saw Agan leading Garner, Hall, Nate Van Haaften and Gregg Bakker back to green.
While Agan took his low line, Garner went up top and shot past Agan exiting turn two. Agan stayed with the leader, but Garner held him off for career win eleven. “The track is so fun right now,” said Garner from Victory Lane. “I drove by Agan so handily. I thought I heard something, but I didn’t think there was any way he was catching me. I just kept doing what I was doing, and it was a lot of fun.”
Matt Moro made a late surge to grab third, ahead of Russ Hall and Van Haaften. Joe Beaver was sixth, and Ricky Montgomery, RJ Johnson, Dennis Moore Jr. and Tyler Groenendyk rounded out the top ten. Larry Ball Jr., Jarrod Schneiderman and Groenendyk grabbed heat race wins.
Mike Van Haaften scored his first career win in emotional fashion in the 305 class. Mark Widmar led the 12-lap feature early on, but a caution at the halfway point changed things drastically.
Alan Ambers slowed in turn four, and Jamie Ball was unable to avoid him. The incident also collected Josh Jones and Steve Palmer. Only Palmer would continue. Van Haaften lined up behind Widmar and drove the cushion in turns one and two to take the lead. He would cruise from there.
“I’m really at a loss for words,” said an emotional Van Haaften, who recently returned from a tour of duty overseas. “I showed up on the 9th, my son was born on the 10th, and I get to come here and win at Knoxville for the first time. That’s a tri-fecta! What else can you ask for?”
Mitchell Alexander made a late charge for second, followed by Chad Huston, Tasker Phillips and Widmar. Carson McCarl, Bart Friedrichsen, Matthew Stelzer, Matt Stephenson and Chris Mallicoat rounded out the top ten. Mallicoat, McCarl and Stelzer won the heat races.
In the special Dirt Truck feature, Bret Moyer won for the third time in his career at Knoxville. Moyer took the lead at the halfway point of the 12-lapper from Lou Sipolt.
Next week marks Season Championship Night at the Knoxville Raceway and it will feature all three sprint divisions! For more information, visit www.KnoxvilleRaceway.com!
410 Results
Time Trials (Qualifying Order), 1 lap: 1. 1s, Kevin Swindell, Charlotte, NC (21) 14.995; 2. 1, Bronson Maeschen, Pleasantville, IA (6) 15.041; 3. 21, Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO (7) 15.048; 4. 55, Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA (23) 15.158; 5. 7G, Garrett Dollansky, Elk River, MN (4) 15.215; 6. 56, Davey Heskin, St. Michael, MN (17) 15.238; 7. 13, Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks, ND (12) 15.249; 8. 17A, Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA (16) 15.294; 9. 71R, Ryan Anderson, Deloit, IA (19) 15.313; 10. 1z, Jessica Zemken, Sprakers, NY (14) 15.331; 11. 33, Danny Lasoski, Dover, MO (26) 15.344; 12. 7, Dustin Selvage, Indianola, IA (10) 15.393; 13. 41, Jason Johnson, Eunice, LA (13) 15.472; 14. 10, Rager Phillips, Pleasantville, IA (5) 15.477; 15. 20, AJ Moeller, Rockwell City, IA (8) 15.480; 16. 6R, Ryan Bunton, Morton, IL (15) 15.514; 17. 47, Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE (20) 15.520; 18. 59, Brooke Tatnell, Sans Souci, NSW, Aust. (2) 15.532; 19. 2D, Bryan Dobesh, Sioux Falls, SD (9) 15.561; 20. 7K, Robby Wolfgang, Sioux Falls, SD (25) 15.591; 21. 69, Mike Moore, Des Moines, IA (1) 15.617; 22. 45, Mark Johnson, Des Moines, IA (11) 15.625; 23. 12, Lynton Jeffrey, Prairie City, IA (18) 15.755; 24. 68, Mike Houseman Jr., Des Moines, IA (27) 16.074; 25. 19, Bob Weuve, Newton, IA (24) 16.094; 26. 91, Dusty Zomer, Sioux Falls, SD (3) NT; 27. 49, Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA (22) NT.
Heat one (started), 8 laps, 2:04.9: 1. Jason Johnson (2) 2. Mark Dobmeier (4) 3. Kevin Swindell (6) 4. Ryan Bunton (1) 5. Jessica Zemken (3) / 6. Terry McCarl (5) 7. Bryan Dobesh (7) 8. Bob Weuve (9) 9. Mark Johnson (8)
Heat two (started), 8 laps, 2:08.8: 1. Dusty Zomer (9) 2. Rager Phillips (2) 3. Don Droud Jr. (1) 4. Austin McCarl (4) 5. Danny Lasoski (3) / 6. Bronson Maeschen (6) 7. Robby Wolfgang (7) 8. Garrett Dollansky (5) 9. Lynton Jeffrey (8)
Heat three (started), 8 laps, 2:07.6: 1. Brooke Tatnell (1) 2. Brian Brown (6) 3. Ryan Anderson (4) 4. Davey Heskin (5) 5. Dustin Selvage (3) / 6. Mike Moore (7) 7. AJ Moeller (2) 8. Mike Houseman Jr. (8) DNS – Josh Schneiderman
B main (started), 8 laps, 2:14.0: 1. Terry McCarl (2) 2. Bronson Maeschen (1) 3. Robby Wolfgang (6) 4. Lynton Jeffrey (9) 5. Garrett Dollansky (3) 6. Mike Moore (7) 7. Bryan Dobesh (5) 8. Mike Houseman Jr. (10) 9. Mark Johnson (8) 10. AJ Moeller (4) / 11. Bob Weuve (11) DNS – Josh Schneiderman
A main (started), 20 laps, NT: 1. Mark Dobmeier (3) 2. Kevin Swindell (6) 3. Brian Brown (5) 4. Jason Johnson (10) 5. Davey Heskin (4) 6. Ryan Anderson (1) 7. Austin McCarl (2) 8. Rager Phillips (11) 9. Danny Lasoski (8) 10. Brooke Tatnell (14) 11. Dusty Zomer (15) 12. Jessica Zemken (7) 13. Ryan Bunton (12) 14. Don Droud Jr. (13) 15. Terry McCarl (16) 16. Lynton Jeffrey (19) 17. Robby Wolfgang (18) 18. Dustin Selvage (9) 19. Mike Houseman Jr. (21) 20. AJ Moeller (21) 21. Mark Johnson (24) 22. Bronson Maeschen (17) 23. Bryan Dobesh (22) 24. Garrett Dollansky (20) DNS – Mike Moore. Lap Leaders: Anderson 1-11, Dobmeier 12-20. Hard-charger: J. Johnson.
360 Results
Time Trials (Group Qualifying): 1. 40, Clint Garner, Sioux Falls, SD, 15.625 (NTR); 2. 1m, Chad Humston, Giltner, NE, 16.043; 3. 71, RJ Johnson, Tampa, FL, 16.108; 4. 11x, Gregg Bakker, Sioux Falls, SD, 16.120; 5. 4, Jon Agan, Knoxville, IA, 16.145; 6. 3, Nate Van Haaften, Otley, IA, 16.149; 7. 45c, Russ Hall, Pleasant Hill, IA, 16.180; 8. 53, Joe Beaver, Knoxville, IA, 16.182; 9. 2m, Matt Moro, Polk City, IA, 16.220; 10. 7TAZ, Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville, IA, 16.237; 11. D12, Dennis Moore Jr., Grinnell, IA, 16.244; 12. 10, Tyler Groenendyk, Oskaloosa, IA, 16.251; 13. 5J, Larry Ball Jr., Knoxville, IA, 16.292; 14. 9m, Ricky Montgomery, Lakewood, CO, 16.296; 15. 10x, Mike Trent, Rocheport, MO, 16.409; 16. 8L, Tom Lenz, Marion, IA, 16.489; 17. 88, Jarrod Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA, 16.502; 18. 51, David Hall, Des Moines, IA, 16.524; 19. 47T, Tony Shilling, Knoxville, IA, 16.597; 20. 04, Chad Heimbaugh, Pleasant Hill, IA, 16.602; 21. 7H, John Hall, Marion, IA, 16.627; 22. 99, Jimmy Davies, Oquawka, IL, 16.784; 23. 12, Rod Richards, Van Meter, IA, 16.805; DQ (Scales) 54, Casey Friedrichsen, Arthur, IA.
Heat one (started), 7 laps, 1:54.6: 1. Larry Ball Jr. (2) 2. Clint Garner (6) 3. Tom Lenz (1) 4. Russ Hall (4) 5. Gregg Bakker (5) 6. Tasker Phillips (3) 7. Tony Shilling (7) 8. Jimmy Davies (8)
Heat two (started), 7 laps, 1:56.4: 1. Jarrod Schneiderman (1) 2. Joe Beaver (4) 3. Ricky Montgomery (2) 4. Dennis Moore Jr. (3) 5. Jon Agan (5) 6. Chad Humston (6) 7. Chad Heimbaugh (7) 8. Rod Richards (8)
Heat three (started), 7 laps, 1:58.0: 1. Tyler Groenendyk (3) 2. Matt Moro (4) 3. Nate Van Haaften (5) 4. RJ Johnson (6) 5. Mike Trent (2) 6. David Hall (1) 7. John Hall (7) 8. Casey Friedrichsen (8)
A main (started), 15 laps, NT: 1. Clint Garner (6) 2. Jon Agan (3) 3. Matt Moro (8) 4. Russ Hall (1) 5. Nate Van Haaften (2) 6. Joe Beaver (7) 7. Ricky Montgomery (12) 8. RJ Johnson (5) 9. Dennis Moore Jr. (9) 10. Tyler Groenendyk (10) 11. Jarrod Schneiderman (15) 12. David Hall (18) 13. Gregg Bakker (4) 14. Tasker Phillips (17) 15. Casey Friedrichsen (24) 16. Tony Shilling (19) 17. Tom Lenz (14) 18. Mike Trent (13) 19. Rod Richards (23) 20. Larry Ball Jr. (11) 21. John Hall (21) 22. Chad Humston (16) 23. Jimmy Davies (22) 24. Chad Heimbaugh (20). Lap Leaders: R. Hall 1-2, Agan 3-9, Garner 10-15. Hard-charger: Friedrichsen.
305 Results
Time Trials (Group Qualifying): 1. 7TAZ, Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville, IA, 17.148; 2. 6, Mitchell Alexander, Knoxville, IA, 17.299; 3. 93A, Alan Ambers, Knoxville, IA, 17.313; 4. 5JR, Jamie Ball, Knoxville, IA, 17.428; 5. 97, Carson McCarl, Altoona, IA, 17.484; 6. 7c, Chad Huston, Jamesport, MO, 17.488; 7. 87, Cale Hutchings, Bloomfield, IA, 17.544; 8. 7w, Mark Widmar, Ottumwa, IA, 17.605; 9. 33, Mike Van Haaften, Pella, IA, 17.640; 10. 55, Matt Stephenson, Altoona, IA, 17.649; 11. 57, Steve Breazeale, Trenton, MO, 17.683; 12. 99, Matthew Stelzer, Omaha, NE, 17.699; 13. 22, Chris Mallicoat, Boone, IA, 17.774; 14. 92c, Cody Ambers, Knoxville, IA, 17.780; 15. 55x, Chris Maurer, Colfax, IA, 17.810; 16. 7s, Tim St. Arnold, Des Moines, IA, 17.825; 17. 29, Bart Friedrichsen, Arthur, IA, 17.904; 18. 0, Mike Mayberry, Fremont, IA, 18.105; 19. 2, Steve Palmer, Des Moines, IA, 18.218; 20. 55KC, Bob Hildreth, Iowa Falls, IA, 18.230; 21. 4c, Chris Horton, Indianola, IA, 18.263; 22. 26, Andy Bates, Knoxville, IA, 20.088; 23. 14, Andrew Turley, Sedalia, MO, NT; 24. 02s, Josh Jones, Knoxville, IA, NT; DQ (Tire) – 91, Ben Woods, Newton, IA.
Heat one (started), 6 laps, 1:45.9: 1. Chris Mallicoat (1) 2. Jamie Ball (4) 3. Tim St. Arnold (6) 4. Tasker Phillips (5) 5. Matt Stephenson (2) 6. Steve Palmer (7) 7. Cale Hutchings (3) 8. Chris Horton (8) DNS – Andrew Turley
Heat two (started), 6 laps, 1:45.8: 1. Carson McCarl (2) 2. Mark Widmar (3) 3. Bart Friedrichsen (4) 4. Mitchell Alexander (5) 5. Josh Jones (6) 6. Cody Ambers (1) 7. Bob Hildreth (7) DNS – Steve Breazeale
Heat three (started), 6 laps, 1:44.7 (NTR): 1. Matthew Stelzer (2) 2. Chad Huston (4) 3. Alan Ambers (5) 4. Mike Van Haaften (3) 5. Chris Maurer (1) 6. Ben Woods (8) 7. Andy Bates (7) 8. Mike Mayberry (6)
A main (started), 12 laps, NT: 1. Mike Van Haaften (1) 2. Mitchell Alexander (7) 3. Chad Huston (3) 4. Tasker Phillips (8) 5. Mark Widmar (2) 6. Carson McCarl (4) 7. Bart Friedrichsen (12) 8. Matthew Stelzer (9) 9. Matt Stephenson (14) 10. Chris Mallicoat (10) 11. Cody Ambers (15) 12. Chris Maurer (16) 13. Ben Woods (21) 14. Steve Palmer (18) 15. Bob Hildreth (19) 16. Cale Hutchings (13) 17. Alan Ambers (6) 18. Jamie Ball (5) 19. Josh Jones (22) 20. Chris Horton (23) 21. Andy Bates (20) 22. Mike Mayberry (17) 23. Tim St. Arnold (11) DNS – Andrew Turley, Steve Breazeale. Lap Leaders: Widmar 1-6, Van Haaften 7-12. Hard-charger: Woods.
Dirt Trucks Results
Heat one (started), 6 laps, 2:19.5: 1. 98, Bret Moyer, Polk City, IA (5) 2. 95, Lou Sipolt, Altoona, IA (2) 3. 7x, Rick Clark, Des Moines, IA (3) 4. 56, Steve Churchill, Creston, IA (4) 5. 13, Craig Ford, Pella, IA (1)
Heat two (started), 6 laps, NT: 1. 2M, Tony Moro, Polk City, IA (4) 2. 72, Daryl Lilly, Winterset, IA (1) 3. 21, Brad Moyer, Alleman, IA (3) 4. 17A, Josh Higday, Des Moines, IA (6) 5. 35, Blake Henry, Indianola, IA (2) 6. 3, Carl Moyer, Ankeny, IA (5)
A main (started), 12 laps, NT: 1. Bret Moyer (3) 2. Carl Moyer (11) 3. Steve Churchill (7) 4. Lou Sipolt (1) 5. Josh Higday (8) 6. Daryl Lilly (2) 7. Blake Henry (10) 8. Rick Clark (5) 9. Craig Ford (9) 10. Brad Moyer (4) 11. Tony Moro (6). Lap Leaders: Sipolt 1-5, B. Moyer 6-12.