From J&J
McKENZIE, TN (May 15) – For the second consecutive week, Mark Dobmeier led the contingent of J&J Auto Racing teams to victory lane at dirt tracks across America. Dobmeier won at River Cities Speedway while Tim Shaffer topped the All-Star Circuit of Champions field at Mercer Raceway Park. Carl Bowser won at Lernerville, Alex Shanks won in Illinois and Jody Rosenboom was triumphant at Huset’s Speedway.
RIVER CITIES SPEEDWAY
For the second straight week, Mark Dobmeier parked the familiar blue and white No. 13L J&J in victory lane at River Cities Speedway. Dobmeier started ninth and weaved his way through traffic in the 25-lap feature event, taking the lead with eight laps remaining. It was a well-earned triumph on a slick surface.
“There was no fast way around the track,” said Dobmeier. “The cushion on top wasn’t that big, either. You just had to go where they weren’t. I virtually used every inch of the race track.”
LERNERVILLE SPEEDWAY
Carl Bowser returned to the seat of a J&J last Friday night and the results were immediate. Bowser broke out his 2011 track championship winning No. 10 J&J and it was clear from the start he was going to be in contention.
Bowser started on the outside of row one and quickly assumed the point. He was only slowed by a lap 17 restart on his way to his first triumph.
“I was ready to fire myself after these first three weeks, but we went back to the J&J (Chassis),” admitted Bowser. “That’s what we won the championship with last year and it was on a rail!”
ALL-STAR CIRCUIT OF CHAMPIONS – MERCER
Three-time All-Star champion Tim Shaffer was ready to get back to victory lane. On Saturday, he led every lap at Mercer Raceway Park behind the wheel of the CH Motorsports No. 83 Kistler Engines/Kistler Racing Products/VRP Shocks-backed J&J. The win, his 46th career All-Star triumph, came just down the road from his home, making it even more special.
“It’s been a tough year. We’ve put ourselves in a position four or five times and just couldn’t make it happen,” said Shaffer. “We started on the pole tonight and then you kind of worry, ‘what’s going to happen tonight?’ It’s been that kind of a year.”
“What a great job by the team. I have Craig Stevens, Aaron Call, James and A.J….there’s five or six guys that are doing a great job on the car. We’re just trying to gel and work together and make this thing fast,” added Shaffer of his 46th career All Star victory. “We will continue to work hard and if we continue to run up front and be competitive the wins will come.”
Danny Holtgraver chased Shaffer to the finish line in the No. D4 Kargo Quality Cars/Alternative Power Sources sponsored J&J to give J&J a one-two finish. Ed Lynch, Jr., (No. 2L J&J) finished fourth. David Gravel (No. 89g J&J) was the fastest qualifier in the program, but had a mechanical problem just when the feature was pushing off.
LINCOLN (IL) SPEEDWAY
Alex Shanks earned a thrilling victory at Lincoln (Ill.) Speedway behind the wheel the Marion Underground Construction/Shane Wade Enterprises No. 66 J&J. Shanks won the first heat and ran second for 24 laps of the 25-lap feature event. On the final lap, he made his bid for the lead coming out of turn two and passed Jim Moughan for the position. Shanks wouldn’t surrender the spot in the final corners and went on to take home the win.
HUSET’S SPEEDWAY
Jody Rosenboom took advantage of a late-race restart on Sunday night at Huset’s Speedway to pick up his first triumph of 2012. Rosenboom, who led the first 17 laps in his No. 14 J&J, got a second chance late and drove past race-leader Robby Wolfgang to pick up his second career Outlaw Sprint Car victory at the high-banked, dirt oval.
“On the restart, I figured (Wolfgang) would try to stay in the rubber (the middle groove of the track),” said Rosenboom. “I figured my only chance was to go underneath him because I wouldn’t be able to do it on the outside.”
Mark Dobmeier came home fifth in the Dobmeier/Lunstra No. 13L J&J.
Other strong finishes:
Mike Kertscher driver of the #80K, Captain Jim Yacht Sales, River Back Farms, Meyer D Crop Consulting, Paul Brunton Motorsports-backed No. 80k J&J finished second at Wilmot Raceway in Interstate Racing Associations (IRA) 410 sprint car competition.
“It was another solid night here two weekends in a row. We are close to putting our #80K into victory lane for the first time of the year and my team and I working hard to do so.”