5/28/2018
Buffalo River Speedway
Sprint Cars to make rare appearance to Buffalo River Race Park
By Mike Spieker
GLYNDON, Minn. – For the first time in two years the Buffalo Wild Wings Northern Outlaw Sprint Association (NOSA) Sprint Cars will return to Buffalo River Race Park. The event will mark the sixth event of a grueling 36-race schedule for the 410 cubic inch winged sprint car touring series in 2018.
Nine-time NOSA champion, Wade Nygaard of Grand Forks, N.D., brings in a slim one point lead over Chris Ranten atop the NOSA standings. Nygaard has been one of the dominant drivers at Buffalo River, winning three sprint car events since the series started visiting the semi-banked clay oval in 2014.
“Buffalo River is always a fun place to race. The track is always really racy, which allows you to get through traffic and make passes,” said Nygaard. “I’m looking forward to getting back there after not being there for a few years.”
Nygaard cut his teeth in a sprint car at Buffalo River Race Park as a teenager just getting into the sport. “I was about 13 years old when I drove a sprint car for the first time at Buffalo River. I made about 100 laps that day trying to figure that car out,” said the now 28-year sprint car veteran. “I always like pulling into Buffalo River. It brings back a lot of good memories.”
The Buffalo Wild Wings NOSA Sprints are a well-traveled group, bringing anywhere from 20-28 cars to each event across the tri-state area. One of those drivers who will be in attendance Sunday will be fan-favorite, Mark Dobmeier of Grand Forks.
Dobmeier, who is the series’ all-time winningest driver with 147 career victories, will make just his third-ever appearance at Buffalo River. Dobmeier has won at just about every track in the upper Midwest from Iowa, to Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas, but has yet to check Buffalo River off his list.
“A win this weekend would mean everything. Every win we get with this new team is a huge accomplishment and a huge boost of confidence for us,” said Dobmeier, who parted ways with his car owner in late March, but managed to build his own race team from scratch in a matter of six weeks. Dobmeier won in his first night out in his family-owned No. 13 at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks on May 11th.
One of Dobmeier’s most memorable races came at Buffalo River a few years back. After missing heat race action, he tagged the tail of the field in 27th for the feature. The two-time NOSA champion, put on a show slicing his way through the field on the tight and tricky racing surface. At the checkers, Dobmeier finished third, passing 24 cars in 25 laps.
“Buffalo River is a small little bullring,” he said. “You’ve got to get your elbows up inside the cockpit and get after it. The track is a good synopsis of the saying ‘jet fighters in a gymnasium.’”
Racing starts at 6pm at Buffalo River Race Park, which is located three miles east of Glyndon, Minn. The NLSA lightning sprints, IMCA sportmods, hobby stocks, INEX legends, and slingshots will also be in action.
Submitted By: Mike Spieker
