10/19/2026
🏁 STEEL CITY STAMPEDE WEEKEND RECAP 🏁
Two cars. Three days of racing. One Hard Charger Award. One heck of a way to close out 2026!
For the Steel City Stampede at Lernerville Speedway, Matt Dobnak climbed behind the wheel of the familiar white #42, while Daryl Charlier piloted the black #42.
THURSDAY – PRACTICE 🌧️
We kicked off the weekend Thursday with some much-needed practice laps. These were especially important for Matt, who hadn't turned a lap at Lernerville Speedway in eight years!
Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans. After just one practice session, the rain arrived and brought the evening to an early end.
Friday wasn't much better. Rain washed out the entire program, forcing officials to turn the weekend into a Saturday–Sunday show.
Naturally, we made the best of the situation by standing around the fire, telling lies, and almost winning a b**r pong tournament. Just another weekend at the racetrack!
SATURDAY – QUALIFYING & HEAT RACES 🏁
Saturday finally brought clear skies and the opportunity to get down to business.
Daryl qualified 10th in Group A, while Matt timed in 17th in Group B.
Daryl lined up 5th in Heat 2, with the top five advancing directly to the A-Main. We felt confident he could get the job done, and that's exactly what he did! Daryl gained one position to finish 4th, securing the 15th starting spot in Sunday's feature.
One car in, one to go!
Matt had a considerably tougher road ahead, starting 9th in Heat 3.
On the initial start, Matt immediately jumped to the bottom and capitalized on a group of cars getting bottled up on the outside. Unfortunately, another competitor got extremely out of shape exiting Turn 2, made contact with Matt's right-side door, and sent him spinning.
Back to the rear of the field.
Undeterred, Matt went right back to work, methodically picking off cars as he crept around the bottom. He worked his way into 7th and began challenging for 6th.
Unfortunately, a little too much enthusiasm while attempting that pass led to a few mistakes, and Matt ultimately settled for 7th.
While it wasn't the finish we wanted, his speed and determination had us feeling pretty good about Sunday's B-Main.
The rest of Saturday evening was spent enjoying the remaining heat races while collectively freezing our asses off in the grandstands!
SUNDAY – THE B-MAIN ☀️
Sunday greeted us with clear skies, warmer temperatures, and one immediate objective:
Get Matt into the feature!
Matt would roll off 3rd in the B-Main, with only two transfer positions available.
Daryl made a shock adjustment, and the crew went to work preparing the best possible race car we could give him. If Matt wasn't going to make the show, we wanted to make absolutely certain he had nobody to blame but himself! 😂
All joking aside, we knew that if Matt drove like he had Saturday and cleaned up a few mistakes, he had everything he needed to make the feature.
When the green flag dropped, Matt immediately went to the bottom and began working on the second-place car for the final transfer position.
The two battled door-to-door until Lap 6, when Matt finally cleared him and secured 2nd place. He held that position for the final two laps, punching his ticket into the 30-lap feature!
Last car in beats first car out every single time!
SUNDAY – THE FEATURE 🏁
With both Dobnak Racing cars officially in the show, the crew feverishly went to work getting everything ready for 30 laps of RUSH Late Model racing.
Daryl would start 15th, with Matt rolling off 24th.
Once the green flag flew, it became apparent that the bottom was the preferred groove. Both drivers settled into that line, patiently working their way forward and making passes whenever opportunities presented themselves.
Unfortunately, Daryl's night would take an unexpected turn.
While attempting a pass, the car ahead of him got out of shape, forcing Daryl to check up. Another competitor drove into the back of him, sending him spinning and bringing out the caution.
Daryl was forced to restart at the rear of the field.
Despite the setback, he went back to work. On a challenging, predominantly one-groove racetrack where passing was at a premium, Daryl fought his way back to finish 14th.
Meanwhile, Matt was putting together the drive of his career!
Starting sh***un on the field in 24th, Matt patiently worked his way forward, steadily picking off positions around the bottom.
By the time the race reached its closing stages, Matt had climbed all the way to 11th.
But he wasn't finished!
With just one lap remaining, Matt made one final pass to take over 10th place!
24TH ➡️ 10TH | +14 POSITIONS! 🔥
That incredible drive earned Matt the HARD CHARGER AWARD!
In his very first RUSH Late Model Touring Series start, Matt raced his way into the feature through the B-Main and then advanced an incredible 14 positions to finish inside the top ten.
Without question, the best race Matt has ever run, and we couldn't be prouder of his performance!
THAT'S A WRAP ON 2026! 🏁
The Steel City Stampede officially brings our 2026 racing season to a close, and what a season it has been!
🏆 Tony Musolino returned to Victory Lane for the first time in over 20 years!
🏁 Daryl Charlier finished 5th overall in RUSH Late Model Touring Series points!
🔥 Matt Dobnak made his first RUSH Touring Series feature and brought home a Hard Charger Award with a 24th-to-10th-place performance!
From the highs to the lows, the long nights in the shop, the miles on the road, and everything in between, it's been one heck of a season.
None of this would be possible without the support of our sponsors, and we'd like to thank each and every one of them:
Dobs Automotive
Three Rivers Karting
Hanus Plumbing
Ron's Barbershop
Stan's Transmission Service
JR Kolesar Motorsports
Cleetus Motorsports
Iron City R.C.
Ralph's Hood & Duct Cleaning
West Mifflin Collision
Jim Miller
Bob Siemon Garage Doors
Eight Four Design Lab
Buds
Ingram Engines
MKB Companies
Key Environmental
Total Package Group
Big Dog Environmental
HK Equipment Company
Woodco Contracting
Earthwise
We'd also like to recognize the members of Crew 42 who made the trip and put in the work throughout the night:
Matt • Gus • Wayne • Daryl • Tony • Jayden • Tony • Dee • Casey • J.R. • Nick • Jim • Dan • Rich
As well as Shari for keeping us well fed and our bellies full all weeked.
Racing is a team effort, and none of this happens without the dedication of our crew, the support of our sponsors, and the encouragement of our fans, family, and friends.
Thank you for being part of the journey. We appreciate every person who helps make this possible, both at the track and behind the scenes.
THANK YOU FOR AN INCREDIBLE 2026 SEASON!
SEE EVERYONE IN 2027! 🏁
