8/27/2005
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Bloomquist Blasts from 15th to Win Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Event at Bluegrass Speedway
BARDSTOWN, KY (August 27, 2005)-Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame Racer Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN roared from his 15th starting position taking the lead from Donnie Moran and led the final 22 laps of the 5th Annual Bluegrass Classic for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series on Saturday Night at the Bluegrass Speedway. The 41 year old Bloomquist became the 16th different event winner in '05 on the series tour as he pocketed $10,000 for his victory. Bloomquist was behind the wheel of his own Bloomquist Race Cars designed chassis which is sponsored by Miller Brothers Coal, Hawkeye Trucking and All Star Performance. John Gill of Mitchell, IN had a strong finish coming from the 10th starting spot to take second in the Harrod Farms/Central Painting/Rocket Grand Prix. Third place was 16th starter Earl Pearson, Jr. of Jacksonville, FL in the Lucas Oil Products/Dunn Benson Ford/Larry Wallace Racing Engines/MasterSbilt Ford Taurus. Completing the top five was polesitter Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, IA in the Daufeldt Transport/Pro Power Engines/MasterSbilt Monte Carlo and current series points leader Don O'Neal of Martinsville, IN in the A1 Auto Salvage/Jay Dickens Racing Engines/MasterSbilt Monte Carlo. A total of 53 cars were on hand for the event which was also a tribute to the late David Speer a longtime racer from the state of Kentucky who passed away last November. Scott Bloomquist gave his winning trophy to Brenda Speer, Mr. Speer's widow.
When the green flag waved for the 60 lap main event which saw Brian Birkhofer and Donnie Moran start on the front row but it was first time Arkansas visitor, Jeff Taylor grabbing the headlines as he raced from his fourth starting spot and made his presence known early in the race that he would be a force to be reckoned with. Taylor would get by both Birkhofer and Moran on the opening lap taking the lead on a track he had never seen before. Taylor would pull away from Moran who was running in second and third place competitor, Birkhofer. A forced spin by Matt Miller on lap two would bring out the first caution of the race. With the races lined back up the Delaware double file restart would be in order with Taylor out in front and Moran and Birkhofer lined up side by side. Taylor would sprint away from those two drivers again as he quickly made his way around the well prepared 1/2 mile oval opening up a sizable lead. By the 10th circuit Taylor would be seven car lengths ahead of the field in a dominating performance so far. Birkhofer who had gotten by Moran on lap three was running in second followed now by Darren Miller, who was on the move.
With 15 laps scored it was Taylor on the point with now a ten car length advantage over Birkhofer. D. Miller was still in third with Moran and Steve Francis in the top five. At this point in the race Taylor would start to encounter some heavy traffic as he had picked up the back of the field. Taylor's sizable lead was big enough that Birkhofer even in traffic could not catch up to him. Taylor would slice through traffic making daring moves and coming out unscathed until a fateful lap 27 would lead to his undoing. With a large lead Taylor would enter turn four with Jimmy Owens sitting in the groove he was running, Taylor tried to avoid the stopped Owens but he clipped Owens with the right front of his race car causing a flat tire and other damage. Taylor would go pitside in the infield and his crew changed the tire, but enough damage was done to where Taylor did not like how his car would handle and he came back in calling it a night after such a superb run.
Birkhofer then would inherit the lead with Miller, Moran and Francis behind him on the double file restart. When the green came out to restart the race D. Miller would see a right front tire go down and he would be passed by several cars as he eventually would stop on the track bringing out another caution flag. On the restart Birkhofer would still be on the point with Moran now in second followed by 15th starting, Scott Bloomquist who had quietly made his way to the front. Don O'Neal was running fourth with Francis in fifth. When the green flew again Moran would go side by side with Birkhofer for two circuits before finally clearing him and taking over the lead on lap 30. Bloomquist would then pick up the pace again getting by Birkhofer for second as the trio of Moran, Bloomquist and Birkhofer were now putting on quite a show for the large crowd in attendance racing with inches of each other. Bloomquist would pull alongside Moran and for the next six laps those two would fight tooth and nail for the lead. With seven World 100 wins between them those two know when the pressure is on and they performed flawlessly battling it out lap after lap for the lead.
Bloomquist was able to clear Moran and take over the lead on lap 39 after the breathtaking duel with Moran. Birkhofer would get back into the thick of things as he would get by Moran for second on lap 41. With 15 to go Bloomquist was holding the advantage with Birkhofer, Moran, 10th starting, John Gill and O'Neal trying to track him down. An incredible battle for third would see Moran, Gill and O'Neal go three wide on several occasions with Gill getting the spot on lap 48. As the laps were winding down Bloomquist was strong holding a four car length advantage over the pack of hot pursuers. Moran who started to slip back because he had a tire going down would slow to a stop in turn three on lap 53. With seven to go the stage was now set for the finish. Bloomquist would be in front on the double file restart with Birkhofer, Gill, Earl Pearson, Jr. up from 16th and O'Neal all trying to steal away a win from him. When chief starter Brian Axsom dropped the green a seven lap shootout would take place, not for the lead but for second place. Bloomquist would continue to be firmly in control of the race but action for second through fifth would be amazing. Birkhofer, Gill, Pearson and O'Neal would go at like they were racing for the lead. Gill would race to second with three laps to go as he Birkhofer, Pearson and O'Neal would slug it out until the checkers fell. Pearson was trying very hard up against the retaining wall to gain some spots and on the final lap he was able to pass Birkhofer on the outside for third place. Birkhofer would finish fourth followed closely by O'Neal.
In victory circle, Bloomquist was happy over his win. "The track tonight was great, you could pass on it and we all had a great battle out there, this is a nice facility and the way the track was prepared tonight that's the way it should be everywhere, I think we put on a great show for the fans tonight." "We have fought some engine issues this year, but I believe we are on the right track to finish strong the rest of the season and we look forward to the challenge."
Completing the top ten were Francis, Darren Miller, Matt Miller, Greg Johnson and Mike Marlar.
Pre race festivities for the 5th Annual Bluegrass Classic included a Special Guest appearance by Morgan Lucas, driver of the Joe Amato-owned Lucas Oil Products NHRA Top Fuel Dragster. Lucas was on hand to sign autographs and greet race fans.
The next Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event will be on Sunday Night, September 4th at the Tazewell Speedway in Tazewell, TN paying $10,000 to win.
Race Summary
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Saturday Night, August 27, 2005]
Bluegrass Speedway-Bardstown, KY
Fast Qualifier: Earl Pearson, Jr. 15.828 seconds
Heat #1: Steve Francis, Darren Miller, Matt Miller, Earl Pearson, Jr., Steve Casebolt, Jr., Eddie Carrier, Jr., David Powers, Justin Rattliff, Mike Jewell, Bryant Woodcock, Mike Hawley
Heat #2: Johnny Wheeler, Brad Neat, Dustin Neat, Jimmy Owens, Josh Richards, Bryan Barber, Chris Combs, Anthony Rushing, Michael England, Joey Daniel, Tim Prince
Heat #3: Jeff Taylor, Don O'Neal, Mike Marlar, Michael Chilton, Jason Keltner, Tim Tungate, Freddy Smith, Gary Yeager, Aaron Hatton, Shannon Babb, C.J. Rayburn
Heat #4: Brian Birkhofer, Scott James, Greg Johnson, Lee DeVasier, Whitney McQueary, Jeff Watson, Brandon Kinzer, Tim Dohm, Jesse James Lay, Cody Mahoney
Heat #5: Donnie Moran, John Gill, Scott Bloomquist, Darrell Lanigan, Timmy Yeager, Jordan Bland, Scotty Earl, Rick Corbin, Dan Deaton, Doug Smith
1st B-Main: Earl Pearson, Jr., Darrell Lanigan, Michael Chilton, Josh Richards, Jordan Bland,Eddie Carrier, Jr., Brandon Kinzer, Shannon Babb, Rick Corbin, Justin Rattliff, Chris Combs, Michael England, Gary Yeager, Bryant Woodcock, Tim Tungate, Doug Smith
2nd B-Main: Bryan Barber, Jimmy Owens, David Powers, Jeff Watson, Tim Dohm, Timmy Yeager, Mike Jewell, Freddy Smith, Scotty Earl, Anthony Rushing, Cody Mahoney, Joey Daniel, Dan Deaton, Steve Casebolt, Jr.
5th Annual Bluegrass Classic Main Event: (60 Laps): Scott Bloomquist, John Gill, Earl Pearson, Jr., Brian Birkhofer, Don O'Neal, Steve Francis, Darren Miller, Matt Miller, Greg Johnson, Mike Marlar, Dustin Neat, Brad Neat, Bryan Barber, Jimmy Owens, Darrell Lanigan, Scott James, Donnie Moran, Johnny Wheeler, Michael Chilton, Tim Dohm, Joey Daniel, Jeff Taylor, Timmy Yeager, Freddy Smith, David Powers
Race Statistics:
Entries: 53
Cautions: 4
Red Flags: 0
Lap Leaders: Jeff Taylor 1-27, Brian Birkhofer 28-29, Donnie Moran 30-38, Scott Bloomquist 39-60Weld Racing Hard Charger of the Race: Scott Bloomquist (started 15th and finished in 1st) advanced 14 positions
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Rookie of the Race: Scott James
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Freddy Smith and Tim Dohm
Track Provisionals: Joey Daniel and Timmy Yeager
Submitted By: Jeremy Shields
