by Jeff Adams
The big news in the dirt racing world this week is the arrest of Scott Bloomquist in Iowa on charges of Operating While Intoxicated and possession of cocaine, both serious misdemeanors.
There has been a lot of rumor and bad information spread about the incident, so I went straight to the source to get the facts on the case. I e-mailed Kevin Pals, the Sheriff of Cerro Gordo County Iowa to get what information I could in regards to this case.
Here is his unedited response:
“Sorry for the late info........I am the one to talk to....I can give you some the facts of the arrest because it is public record....If you want further you can contact the Cerro Gordo County Attorney's Office 641-421-3101.
Scott Dean Bloomquist DOB/11-14-1963 listed his address as 250 Brooks Road, Mooresburg, TN 37811
Bloomquist was stopped on June 20, 2003 about 0200 hrs. on the side of the Hwy. 18, between Clear Lake and Ventura, IA by a Cerro Gordo County Deputy Sheriff. After the initial contact the Deputy believed Bloomquist to be under the influence of an alcoholic beverage. After field sobriety tests were conducted Bloomquist was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) (Serious Misdemeanor). During the search of his person a small plastic baggie containing a white powdery substance was found and field-tested positive for cocaine which Bloomquist was also charged with possession of cocaine (Serious Misdemeanor).
Bloomquist was booked in the Cerro Gordo County Jail at 0330 hrs. and released after posting bond at 0441 hrs.
Sheriff Kevin Pals
Cerro Gordo County”
All of this leads to a bigger issue. Is there any kind of drug policy in dirt-track racing? Every major league sport has adopted policies against use of illegal drugs. Typically, it is a “3 strikes and your out” theory, with penalties stiffer for the 3rd offense. The NFL and NBA have actually banned players for life (Roy Tarpley) if they get a 3rd conviction.
Doug Bland, President of the XTreme DirtCar Series, said: “ the policy for our series is a one-year ban for drivers convicted of felony drug charges.” Bland also said, ‘the policy was one I inherited when I bought the series in January. All I basically did was change the name in the rule book and shipped it out”.
In this instance it looks like Bloomquist is off the hook because the charges are misdemeanors and not felony charges. It is still alarming that this is the 2nd time Bloomquist has been arrested for cocaine-related charges, the last one which resulted in a 6 month jail sentence.
I honestly believe Bloomquist was set up the first time, but there is no explanation for this one. He has no one to blame but himself.
I e-mailed Bloomquist racing to get their side of the story, but never got a response back. If they do respond, I will pass the information along. Keep you eyes on this story.
See you at the races.
The big news in the dirt racing world this week is the arrest of Scott Bloomquist in Iowa on charges of Operating While Intoxicated and possession of cocaine, both serious misdemeanors.
There has been a lot of rumor and bad information spread about the incident, so I went straight to the source to get the facts on the case. I e-mailed Kevin Pals, the Sheriff of Cerro Gordo County Iowa to get what information I could in regards to this case.
Here is his unedited response:
“Sorry for the late info........I am the one to talk to....I can give you some the facts of the arrest because it is public record....If you want further you can contact the Cerro Gordo County Attorney's Office 641-421-3101.
Scott Dean Bloomquist DOB/11-14-1963 listed his address as 250 Brooks Road, Mooresburg, TN 37811
Bloomquist was stopped on June 20, 2003 about 0200 hrs. on the side of the Hwy. 18, between Clear Lake and Ventura, IA by a Cerro Gordo County Deputy Sheriff. After the initial contact the Deputy believed Bloomquist to be under the influence of an alcoholic beverage. After field sobriety tests were conducted Bloomquist was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) (Serious Misdemeanor). During the search of his person a small plastic baggie containing a white powdery substance was found and field-tested positive for cocaine which Bloomquist was also charged with possession of cocaine (Serious Misdemeanor).
Bloomquist was booked in the Cerro Gordo County Jail at 0330 hrs. and released after posting bond at 0441 hrs.
Sheriff Kevin Pals
Cerro Gordo County”
All of this leads to a bigger issue. Is there any kind of drug policy in dirt-track racing? Every major league sport has adopted policies against use of illegal drugs. Typically, it is a “3 strikes and your out” theory, with penalties stiffer for the 3rd offense. The NFL and NBA have actually banned players for life (Roy Tarpley) if they get a 3rd conviction.
Doug Bland, President of the XTreme DirtCar Series, said: “ the policy for our series is a one-year ban for drivers convicted of felony drug charges.” Bland also said, ‘the policy was one I inherited when I bought the series in January. All I basically did was change the name in the rule book and shipped it out”.
In this instance it looks like Bloomquist is off the hook because the charges are misdemeanors and not felony charges. It is still alarming that this is the 2nd time Bloomquist has been arrested for cocaine-related charges, the last one which resulted in a 6 month jail sentence.
I honestly believe Bloomquist was set up the first time, but there is no explanation for this one. He has no one to blame but himself.
I e-mailed Bloomquist racing to get their side of the story, but never got a response back. If they do respond, I will pass the information along. Keep you eyes on this story.
See you at the races.
