By Terry Young
74 cars graced the Volusia Speedway Park this evening for the final nights action of Boundless Motorsports World of Outlaw action, in the closing gala event of the 2004 edition of Speedweeks. With even more cars that did not unload, awaiting the beginning of UMP Late Model action.
the track was once again beautifully prepared and provided a racing surface that mirrored the week long events that have had everyone talking about the new era of speedweeks action at VSP.
Even the xtremely famous Doug Bland was spotted in the house this evening to witness the race action that has been the buzz around the Daytona area all week long. With 2 and 3 wide racing the norm and no repeat winners in main events this week, the playing field that Mr. Bland likes to tout about in his banter was evident tonight and he was able to witness first class racing at its best!
The heat race action would see Nextel Cup star Ken Schrader take the first heat over Chub Frank and R.J. Conley.
The second heat was topped by Jackie Boggs over Clint Smith and Rick Aukland.
Third heat honors went to Terry English over Mr. Smooth Billy Moyer and Dennis Erb.
The fourth heat was won by young late model rising star Timmy McCreadie over another of the sports true gentlemen and young guns Mike Marlar, the 2003 BoB Series Champion.
Fifth heat honors were earned by Greg Johnson over Wendell Wallace and Tim Dohm.
The sixth and final heat which would transfer two more to the main was won by Mike Balzano over Scot james and Darrel Lanigan.
The consi races would transfer three more A-main starters from each and it was Robbie Blair, Lanigan and Dan Schlieper transferring from the first with Erb, Aukland and The Southern Gentleman Freddy Smith transferring from the second.
The dash with the weeks highest 6 points men would determine the starting slots for the first three rows of the 50 lap main with Dale McDowell winning followed by Bart Hartman, Rick Eckert, Steve Francis, Scott Bloomquist and Shannon Babb.
The feature got underweay after driver introductions and a house roaring applause as the legendary Mr. Earl Baltes stood on the frontstretch and gave the most famous words in racing commanding the drivers to start their engines!
Dale McDowell would jump out front to a commanding early lead from his pole starting position with Hartman, Eckert and several othewrs in tow. Onlap 14 Bart would take over the front running position only to yield the lead to Rick Eckert two circuits later.
With action hot and heavy behind the front runners Eckert would lead laps 16 to 20. Caution came out on lap 20 as Scott James stalled in turn 4. On the initial restart Jackie Boggs got into the turn 1 wall and was finished for the night.
When the green flag flew once more after several more cautions it appeared that Dale McDowell stood a strong chance of garnering victory lane duty at the races end, however, not to be denied on lap 37 it was Scott Bloomquist charging past McDowell to overtake the front spot. Behind the leaders the race action was fast and furious as well with Terry English taking his mount into the 4th position from a 5th row starting berth as Eckert had overtaken the runner up spot. Billy Moyer who started in the 16th starting position had also worked his way masterfully to the front and was running in 5th.
When the checkered flag flew over the speedway to complete the 50 lap main event and bring to a close the 2004 World of Outlaws Florida speedweeks debut, it was Scott Bloomquist etching his name into the record books as the newest winner of a World of Outlaw Late Model A-Main Event, and earning $12,000 for his efforts. Following Bloomquist at the stripe were Eckert, English, Clint Smith, McDowell, Moyer, Blair, Erb, Frank, Hartman, Babb, Balzano, Francis, Schrader and McCreadie rounding out the top 15.
All in all quite a succesful week for the debut of the newest series in dirt late model racing, and as stated earlier the buzz all week in the Daytona area has been how outstanding the racing was at Volusia Speedway Park, with car counts topping 50 cars every night and 2 and 3 wide racing the norm. Hats off to Dick Murphy and his entire crew for the excellent track prep and for what in my mind has been the best racing I can remember ever seeing at Voulsia during speedweeks, with the most talented and highly accomplished drivers in the business in the house every night.
Great late model racing abounds, and will continue as the UMP late models take to the track now for their edition of 2004 Speedweeks with many of the same cars that have raced the past several nights also staying on hand.
74 cars graced the Volusia Speedway Park this evening for the final nights action of Boundless Motorsports World of Outlaw action, in the closing gala event of the 2004 edition of Speedweeks. With even more cars that did not unload, awaiting the beginning of UMP Late Model action.
the track was once again beautifully prepared and provided a racing surface that mirrored the week long events that have had everyone talking about the new era of speedweeks action at VSP.
Even the xtremely famous Doug Bland was spotted in the house this evening to witness the race action that has been the buzz around the Daytona area all week long. With 2 and 3 wide racing the norm and no repeat winners in main events this week, the playing field that Mr. Bland likes to tout about in his banter was evident tonight and he was able to witness first class racing at its best!
The heat race action would see Nextel Cup star Ken Schrader take the first heat over Chub Frank and R.J. Conley.
The second heat was topped by Jackie Boggs over Clint Smith and Rick Aukland.
Third heat honors went to Terry English over Mr. Smooth Billy Moyer and Dennis Erb.
The fourth heat was won by young late model rising star Timmy McCreadie over another of the sports true gentlemen and young guns Mike Marlar, the 2003 BoB Series Champion.
Fifth heat honors were earned by Greg Johnson over Wendell Wallace and Tim Dohm.
The sixth and final heat which would transfer two more to the main was won by Mike Balzano over Scot james and Darrel Lanigan.
The consi races would transfer three more A-main starters from each and it was Robbie Blair, Lanigan and Dan Schlieper transferring from the first with Erb, Aukland and The Southern Gentleman Freddy Smith transferring from the second.
The dash with the weeks highest 6 points men would determine the starting slots for the first three rows of the 50 lap main with Dale McDowell winning followed by Bart Hartman, Rick Eckert, Steve Francis, Scott Bloomquist and Shannon Babb.
The feature got underweay after driver introductions and a house roaring applause as the legendary Mr. Earl Baltes stood on the frontstretch and gave the most famous words in racing commanding the drivers to start their engines!
Dale McDowell would jump out front to a commanding early lead from his pole starting position with Hartman, Eckert and several othewrs in tow. Onlap 14 Bart would take over the front running position only to yield the lead to Rick Eckert two circuits later.
With action hot and heavy behind the front runners Eckert would lead laps 16 to 20. Caution came out on lap 20 as Scott James stalled in turn 4. On the initial restart Jackie Boggs got into the turn 1 wall and was finished for the night.
When the green flag flew once more after several more cautions it appeared that Dale McDowell stood a strong chance of garnering victory lane duty at the races end, however, not to be denied on lap 37 it was Scott Bloomquist charging past McDowell to overtake the front spot. Behind the leaders the race action was fast and furious as well with Terry English taking his mount into the 4th position from a 5th row starting berth as Eckert had overtaken the runner up spot. Billy Moyer who started in the 16th starting position had also worked his way masterfully to the front and was running in 5th.
When the checkered flag flew over the speedway to complete the 50 lap main event and bring to a close the 2004 World of Outlaws Florida speedweeks debut, it was Scott Bloomquist etching his name into the record books as the newest winner of a World of Outlaw Late Model A-Main Event, and earning $12,000 for his efforts. Following Bloomquist at the stripe were Eckert, English, Clint Smith, McDowell, Moyer, Blair, Erb, Frank, Hartman, Babb, Balzano, Francis, Schrader and McCreadie rounding out the top 15.
All in all quite a succesful week for the debut of the newest series in dirt late model racing, and as stated earlier the buzz all week in the Daytona area has been how outstanding the racing was at Volusia Speedway Park, with car counts topping 50 cars every night and 2 and 3 wide racing the norm. Hats off to Dick Murphy and his entire crew for the excellent track prep and for what in my mind has been the best racing I can remember ever seeing at Voulsia during speedweeks, with the most talented and highly accomplished drivers in the business in the house every night.
Great late model racing abounds, and will continue as the UMP late models take to the track now for their edition of 2004 Speedweeks with many of the same cars that have raced the past several nights also staying on hand.
