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Donny Schatz: 'Drug testing in the United States is needed' for Sprint Car drivers

Tony Stewart now owns the All-Star Circuit of Champions Tour: Shane Helms: 'Tony Stewart is the only guy that can resurrect the All Stars" and Tony Stewart didn't plan to own a Sprint Car Series: 'This was just an opportunity'

Donny Schatz recorded his first win of the season: Schatz perseveres to win at Volusia

WoO Sprint Cars: A Divide Between The Drivers And The WRG?

Steve Kinser 2007 World of Outlaws sprint car racing car at the famous Kings Royal sprint car race. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The World Racng Group needs to be careful here or this could be the reason; we end up with another sprint car series. Don't say it won happen, because it could. The National Sprint Tour was formed for this very reason, I mean obviously it failed. Currently, you have NASCAR Drivers backing sprint car teams and if they become unhappy, things could happen, there's a lot of money being thrown around. Don't discount their complaints. I would recommend against it, the current makeup of the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars is a great series, but it won't be if there's no drivers left to compete. The last thing we want to see is a bunch of second rate has beens filling in for them.

John Gibson, One Dirt -- The WRG is the reason, we could end up with another sprint car series. Don't say it won happen, because it could. The NST was formed for this very reason. You have NASCAR Drivers backing sprint car teams and if they become unhappy, things could happen. Don't discount their complains.

t’s an interesting dilemma for the series owners though, do you listen to your drivers or the fans’ feedback? If the drivers aren’t happy, then the racing suffers. But, if the fans aren’t happy, then they don’t show up for the events and the racing will slowly die.

I tend to side with WRG on this one. I think they should consult the drivers about particular issues, but for the most part their main concern should be with the fans’ experience at the track.

Jeremy Elliot wrote a great column about the divide between the drivers and WRG where he brings up a point: The complaints have ranged from rules, to track surfaces, formats and tires. The one common thread: the drivers aren’t consulted by the men calling the shots.

Again, I would caution the World Racing Group to not discount what the drivers are saying, or do so at your own risk. You don't have a strong series without good drivers. Also, There are many tracks out there that will put up the bit money purses to have the good drivers to come to town and put on a show. Also, the World of Outlaws Late Models have to compete with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. I think many would like to see a top of the line Sprint Car series competing with STP WoO Sprint Car series.

WoO Donny Schatz wins (2X) this weekend

Fargo, ND driver Donny Schatz sweeps the weekend on the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and gets his sixth victory of the season. This was Donny's 13th career victory at Knoxville Raceway. Weather permitting, the World of Outlaws Sprint Car series invades River Cities Speedway on June 21, 2013.

WoO Show Duel in the Dakotas day two RRVS

Here you go dirt track racing fans - the World of Outlaws Sprint Car series made it's annual pilgrimage to North Dakota. Last night I was giving live up dates for the Fantasy Dirt Racing fans. I have also added some pictures and video from day two of the Duel in the Dakotas that was held on June 15, 2012 at the Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, ND.

I want to warn you right away that I am not a professional photographer or video-photographer, what I lack in talent I make up in effort. Wait, What?

The World of Outlaws Sprint Car series had not been back to Red River Valley Speedway since the summer of 2009, since that time the track has been shorted to a 3/8 mile for a 1/2 mile track. Red River Valley Speedway is still one of the faster tracks on the World of Outlaws sprint car series.
Here is some videos from on of the warm up sessions - one of the heat races and the "A" main features as well - as you can see the track was very racy and fast. Starts are very critical and if you fall asleep you can find your self behind the 8 ball very quick and then it can become follow the leader.


When I go to the races at Red River Speedway I like next to the flag stand so I can see the start finish line better. You do tend to eat a bit of dirt and you can feel the horse power of the WoO Sprint Cars.


Here is the restart to the heat race that was listed above. I apologize that I am not a professional photographer and I used my old digital camera to shoot the video - but you can get a pretty good idea how the cars fly around the RRVS.



Red River Valley Speedway Statistical Report; Fargo, N.D.; June 16, 2012

A-Main - (30 Laps) - 1. 1-Sammy Swindell [1] [$10,000]; 2. 63-Chad Kemenah [8] [$5,500]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [11] [$3,200]; 4. 7S-Jason Sides [7] [$2,800]; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser [9] [$2,500]; 6. 7-Craig Dollansky [3] [$2,300]; 7. 9-Joey Saldana [4] [$2,200]; 8. 29-Kerry Madsen [17] [$2,100]; 9. 1K-Chris Shirek [19] [$2,050]; 10. 4-Cody Darrah [5] [$2,000]; 11. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [12] [$1,500]; 12. 6-Bill Rose [16] [$1,200]; 13. 82-Justin Henderson [2] [$1,100]; 14. 44W-Austen Wheatley [10] [$1,050]; 15. 2-Austin Pierce [14] [$1,000]; 16. 91K-Kyle Fedyk [22] [$900]; 17. 10TRB-Bob Martin [20] [$800]; 18. 6C-Kaley Gharst [24] [$800]; 19. 11-Steve Kinser [13] [$800]; 20. 6N-Greg Nikitenko [21] [$800]; 21. 19-Lee Grosz [15] [$800]; 22. 17M-Todd Mickelson [18] [$800]; 23. 8-Casey Mack [6] [$800]; 24. 92-Mitch Mack [23] [$800]. Lap Leaders: Sammy Swindell 1-8, 23-30; Chad Kemenah 9-22. KSE Hard Charger Award: 1K-Chris Shirek [+10].

I have always enjoyed the the start to the "A" feature for a World of Outlaws show, listen to Johnny Gibson the voice of the outlaws as he talks us through the start of the race.

The WoO Sprint Cars warming up on the Bull Ring

The quality of this video isn't real good because it was taken on my iPhone and it was starting to get dark. River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks North Dakota has been been named the Bull Ring by the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Drivers.

HERALD SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR: Mark Dobmeier

Dobmeier Closes Out Qualifying Nights with Win from World of Outlaws Sprint Cars on Vimeo.
Goon's North Dakota Red Neck would like to congratulate Mark Dobmeier on being name Sportsman of the Year. Mark is one of the best driver in the Upper Midwest and it's been fun watching him do well on the big stage when he has had the chance to show what he can do.

Wayne Nelson, Grand Forks Herald --- If a driver wants to make it on the national stage, the place to do that is at the Knoxville Nationals — the Super Bowl of sprint racing

Mark Dobmeier — the driver to beat weekly at River Cities Speedway — made it to the national stage at the 2011 Knoxville Nationals. The Grand Forks driver captured one of the two preliminary features at the Nationals, earning him a spot in the event’s 50-lap feature — one that pays $150,000 to win.

Dobmeier’s preliminary win came against the country’s best. And driver of the familiar blue-and-white No. 13 sprint car went on to finish sixth in the Knoxville Nationals feature — the highest finish by an RCS driver in the 51 years of the event.

“Best win yet,” Dobmeier said of his preliminary win.

And it was Dobmeier’s best year as a sprint driver as well.

For his accomplishments at Knoxville and for his continued domination of the local racing scene, Dobmeier is the Herald’s 2011 Sportsperson of the Year

WoO Sprints to invade River Cities Speedway

Schatz Claims 5th Goodyear Knoxville Nationals Title from World of Outlaws Sprint Cars on Vimeo.
Donny Schatz hot off his win at the 51st Knoxville Nationals followed up that win by  winning the All Star Circuit of Champions race at Red River Valley Speedway on Wednesday, in Fargo, ND one could say that Donny Schatz is on a roll.

Another driver local favorite Mark Dobmeier is also on a roll as well, Mark Dobmeier has been hot winning his preliminary race on the second night of qualifying at the Knoxville Nationals and then after finishing 6th in the 51st Knoxville Nations A-Main, Mark followed up that strong weekend by winning the All Star Circuit of Champions race in Huset's Speedway in Brandon, SD on Sunday night. 

Grand Forks Herald --- He (Dobmeier) won the second of two Knoxville Nationals preliminary features last week in Iowa, holding off WoO points leader Jason Meyer for the win. Two nights later, he finished sixth in the Knoxville Nationals A main — the Super Bowl of sprint racing.

Dobmeier started seventh in the 50-lap A main. “It was a nice solid run,” he said. “We were pretty consistent.”

On Sunday, he won the 30-lap All Star feature at Huset’s Speedway near Sioux Falls, S.D., beating the circuit’s season-points leader Tim Shaffer. He raced again with the All Stars on Wednesday night at the Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, N.D., and enters Friday night’s WoO event at RCS with 12 wins on the season.

Related articles

• Stewart finishes ninth in sprint car race at West Fargo (cbssports.com)
• NASCAR star Tony Stewart ninth in dirt race (theglobeandmail.com)
• Watch Kasey Kahne And His Sprint Car Flip Over The Wall At A World of Outlaws Race [Video] (deadspin.com)

Mark Dobmeier wins night two of the Knoxville Nationals

Grand Forks North Dakota Native Mark Dobmeier wins night two of the 51st Knoxville Nationals. Just for the record Mark Dobmeier won his first World of Outlaws race back in October of 2006. Mark Dobmeier has been racing with the All Stars Circuit of Champions as they have been on their Great Plains Tour and he is currently fourth in the points standing. 


Dobmeier Closes Out Qualifying Nights with Win from World of Outlaws Sprint Cars on Vimeo.

Related articles

• Watch Kasey Kahne And His Sprint Car Flip Over The Wall At A World of Outlaws Race [Video] (deadspin.com)

North Dakotan Donny Schatz Takes Doty Classic

Schatz Takes Doty Classic from World of Outlaws Sprint Cars on Vimeo.
Make that win number three on the season for Donny Schatz... The WoO are making a return to River Cities Speedway on August 19th, 2011, because the Minot show was cancelled due to flooding in Minot, ND.

LIMA, Ohio - July 13, 2011 - On a night where young guns seemed to rule the Ohio Logistics Brad Doty Classic at Limaland Motorsports Park, it was four-time World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion Donny Schatz who proved experience is crucial when it comes taking the checkered flag. Schatz charged through the field, battling Brad Sweet and Sam Hafertepe Jr., before finally securing the lead on Lap 32 to score his third win of the season, and move back atop the series standings.

Donny Schatz gets his 106th win.

Schatz Picks up Career Win Number 106 from World of Outlaws Sprint Cars on Vimeo.
Nice to see World of Outlaws driver and North Dakota native Donny Schatz get his 106th win.

Check out Mark Dobmeier interview.

Check out Mark Dobmeier intereview. Good stuff here.

Mark Dobmeier - Knoxville / Huset Sprint Cars 01/14/09
January 14th, 2009

2007 and 2008 Huset Speedway Sprint Car Champion Mark Dobmeier of Grand Forks, ND joined Dirt Nation to talk about his 2008 season, racing at three tracks, using the number 13 as a car number, being one of the winningest drivers in the country since 2005, racing at Knoxville Raceway, his World of Outlaws victory at Wilmot Speedway in 2006, the chance at traveling with the Outlaws and his plans for 2009. Dobmeier drives the #13 Lunstra / Dobmeier Motorsports J&J. Visit his website at www.markdobmeier.com.

Dobmeier wins his first the WoO.

  Photo by Chris Dolack
Local Boy Makes River Cities Fan’s Proud

Its no mystery to the loyal race fans who religiously attend the weekly race program at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, ND: Local boy Mark Dobmeier is something special, I told a buddy of mine that it was just a matter of time before Mark Dobmeier made a big splash on the national scene. That splash was finally heard last weekend in Wilmot, Wisconsin as Mark Dobmeier won his first World of Outlaws Race. Mover over Donny Schatz there is another North Dakotan ready to make a move to the big time.

The past summer Mark has been dominating and its exciting to watch him race his number 13 sprint car. This past July Mark gave the local fans hope that the big boys would go down in defeat, Mark wooed the fans with a taste of things to come when, he finished 4th in the A feature against the NST boys, beating the likes of Shane Stewart, Jason Meyers, Steve “the King” Kinser, Dean Jacobs, Paul McMahan, Jason Sides, Brian Paulus and Kerry Madsen. NST Results From July. Earlier in the evening Mark had finished a strong second in the dash losing only to Danny ”the Dude Lasoski.

Mark has been nothing short of spectacular this summer picking up 20 wins (by no means a small feat on any racing circuit) between Grand Forks, ND and Huset’s Speedway in Brandon South Dakota, add win number 20 at Wlimot, Speedway in Wisconsin. No short order comparing some of the competition he has ran against. Link to Dirt Motor Sports It seems Dobmeier’s time has come.