By Bob Wilson
KNOXVILLE, Iowa -- Scott Bloomquist showed why he has been on top of the late model world for so long as he showed a field of thirty of the best how to win the 2nd annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals. The win paid the Tennessee driver $35,000 for the 100 lap run.
The story for the first twenty miles was Dale McDowell. He took the immediate lead and was chased by Shannon Babb in second. By lap ten Rick Eckert trailed McDowell by fifteen car lengths, mostly because he was fighting with Babb for that position. As soon as this trio of cars hit lap traffic on lap twelve, the lead shrunk to only one car length. Eckert made several attempts to get by the McDowell machine but all of his attempts were for naught.
Lap 17 saw Bloomquist come into the fray as he passed Babb on the backstretch of that lap. During the battle for that position Babb had a cut-down of his left front tire and brought out the first yellow of the race when he stopped on the track. After a tire change he re-entered the race but soon retired and finished 28th.
When the race resumed, McDowell continued to hold the top spot while Eckert and Bloomquist fought it out for second. With the race one quarter complete another caution was thrown for a stalled car in turn four. During this slow-down period, several cars entered the pits to change tires, including the 2004 winner Brian Birkhofer. Earl Pearson, Jr. who had started 19th was now running ninth and Tim McCreadie a twenty-second starert had roared to 10th.
McDowell continued to hold the point position but it was the battle for second between Eckert and Bloomquist that was the interesting match. Time and again Bloomquist dove to the inside of Eckert heading into turn one or turn three. Each time Eckert slammed the door on him before he could make the pass. It was lap 32 in which Bloomquist finally got by the Pennsylvania driver as they had a drag race out of turn two with Bloomquist on the bottom. Heading into turn three Bloomquist had the advantage and second place as well. Now Bloomquist set his sights on the leader and as they headed once again into lap traffic on the 36th circuit, he began to make up some of the distance.
Billy Moyer, Jr. also made a pass of Eckert one lap after Bloomquist did. Moyer kept pace with the two cars ahead of him as Eckert began to fade. Lap 40 was another caution period as Brady Smith came to the pits needing a right-rear tire. At this time McCready went pitside to stay after running a number of laps with heavy smoke blowing from his car. He later said that his car was overheating but his engine was okay.
When the green flew once again, McDowell held the lead for only two more circuits. A bobble in turns three and four enabled Bloomquist to pass him as he roared by on the outside and down the front chute on lap forty-three. Lap 45 saw Moyer take over second with McDowell third and Steve Francis fourth. A large gap separated these cars from fifth place and the rest of the field.
With the race hitting the half-way point, Bloomquist led Moyer by only once car length. Eddie Carrier, Jr. had driven from a 26th start to a fifth place running position. Three laps later Earl Pearson, Jr. brought out the yellows as he finally brought his car to the pits with steering problems. Not only was that doom for Pearson but for Moyer as well. Moyer had been in the process of passing Bloomquist but the pass would not count because of the caution.
Lap sixty saw Bloomquist with a narrow four car-length lead over Moyer. The fast runners seemed to go into the turns three and one at mid-track, drift to the top and then come out high in turns four and two. With lap traffic entering the picture once again, Bloomquist had his hands full with Moyer right behind him. The sixty-sixth circuit saw Bloomquist bobble in turn two and lose the lead he had been able to mount over Moyer.
The ride of Carrier came to an end on lap 67 as he pulled to the pits after smoking badly for several laps. Also at that time Francis had made a surge and had driven right to the back bumper of Moyer. A series of yellow flags then slowed the race until it was resumed on lap 72. It was during this time that it was noted that Birkhofer had come all the way from the tail and was sitting in sixth place.
All eyes now were focused on Birkhofer who began picking off the cars in front of him. On the restart of lap 72 he passed McDowell. He got by Eckert after and intense battle on lap 75. The restart on lap 77 saw him get by Francis. He was now in third and everyone was wondering if he could repeat his win of the previous year.
With the track totally slicked over and the cushion nearly gone, it was not uncommon to see cars glance off of Knoxville's tall fences. Lap 86 saw Jimmy Mars drop from the event after running top ten for nearly the entire race.
Bloomquist had a fifteen car-length lead when he hit lap traffic with ten laps to go. He managed to get through one group of cars easily and hit open track right after that. Birkhofer made his final position pass of the event when he overtook Moyer on lap 95 after a long struggle. Bloomquist again entered heavy traffic at that time and it was apparent that Birkhofer was cutting the lead. Lap 99 saw Bloomquist split between two cars and leave Birkhofer trapped in their wake. The race was over.
Bloomquist would win his first ever feature event at this historic oval by twelve car lengths or 1.6 seconds. Birkhofer's great ride came to an end with him taking second and Moyer finishing third. Fourth went to Eckert who had stayed in the top five for nearly the entire fifty mile distance. Early leader McDowell settled for fifth. Completing the top ten finishers were Francis, Matt Miller, Billy Drake, Darren Miller and Dan Schlieper.
RESULTS
KNOXVILLE RACEWAY, Knoxville, IA
October 1, 2005
Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals RESULTS
C Feature , 15 laps, No Time: 1. Rick Aukland, Zanesville OH; 2. Justin Allgaier, Springfield IL; 3. Johnny Johnson, West Burlington IA; 4. Caley Emerson, Grand Rapids MN; 5. Junior Coover, Norfolk NE; 6. Jill George, Cedar Falls IA; 7. Toby Patchen, Isanti MN; 8. Ed Kirchoff, Gillette WY;
B Feature , 20 laps, No Time: 1. Brian Harris, Davenport IA; 2. Eddie Carrier Jr, Salt Rock WV; 3. Brady Smith, Solon Springs WI; 4. Rick Aukland, Zanesville OH; 5. John VanDenBerg, Oskaloosa IA; 6. Jeep Van Wormer, Pinconning MI; 7. Trent Follmer, Elk River MN; 8. Justin Allgaier, Springfield IL; 9. Boone McLaughlin, Mediapolis IA; 10. John Mason, Millersburg OH; 11. Dave Eckrich, Oxford IA; 12. Nick Marolf, Moscow IA; 13. Caley Emerson, Grand Rapids MN; 14. Steve Hucovski, Maple Grove MN; 15. Rich Bell, Sheffield IL; 16. John Duty, Portland OR; 17. Toby Patchen, Isanti MN; 18. Junior Coover, Norfolk NE; 19. Sonny Findling, Kirksville MO; 20. Larry Clawson, Kansas City KS; 21. Jill George, Cedar Falls IA; 22. Johnny Johnson, West Burlington IA; 23. Mike Balcaen, Winnipeg, MB, Can. ;
A Feature,100 laps, No Time: 1. Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg TN; 2. Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine IA; 3. Billy Moyer, Batesville AR; 4. Rick Eckert, York PA; 5. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga GA; 6. Steve Francis, Ashland KY; 7. Matt Miller, Arlington OH; 8. Billy Drake, Bloomington IL; 9. Darren Miller, Chadwick IL; 10. Dan Schlieper, Sullivan WI; 11. Denny Eckrich, Oxford IA; 12. Josh Richards, Shinnston WV; 13. Justin Fegers, Mound MN; 14. Donnie Moran, Dresden OH; 15. Jeep Van Wormer, Pinconning MI; 16. John VanDenBerg, Oskaloosa IA; 17. Brian Harris, Davenport IA; 18. Chris Spieker, Massena IA; 19. Mike Marlar, Winfield TN; 20. Brady Smith, Solon Springs WI; 21. Jimmy Mars, Menomonie WI; 22. Kerry Hansen, Spencer WI; 23. Jay Johnson, West Burlington IA; 24. Terry Phillips, Springfield MO; 25. Eddie Carrier Jr, Salt Rock WV; 26. Brian Shirley, Chatham IL; 27. Earl Pearson Jr., Jacksonville FL; 28. Shannon Babb, Moweaqua IL; 29. Tim McCreadie, Avon NY; 30. Rick Aukland, Zanesville OH. Lap Leaders: McDowell 1-42; Bloomquist 43-100.
KNOXVILLE, Iowa -- Scott Bloomquist showed why he has been on top of the late model world for so long as he showed a field of thirty of the best how to win the 2nd annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals. The win paid the Tennessee driver $35,000 for the 100 lap run.
The story for the first twenty miles was Dale McDowell. He took the immediate lead and was chased by Shannon Babb in second. By lap ten Rick Eckert trailed McDowell by fifteen car lengths, mostly because he was fighting with Babb for that position. As soon as this trio of cars hit lap traffic on lap twelve, the lead shrunk to only one car length. Eckert made several attempts to get by the McDowell machine but all of his attempts were for naught.
Lap 17 saw Bloomquist come into the fray as he passed Babb on the backstretch of that lap. During the battle for that position Babb had a cut-down of his left front tire and brought out the first yellow of the race when he stopped on the track. After a tire change he re-entered the race but soon retired and finished 28th.
When the race resumed, McDowell continued to hold the top spot while Eckert and Bloomquist fought it out for second. With the race one quarter complete another caution was thrown for a stalled car in turn four. During this slow-down period, several cars entered the pits to change tires, including the 2004 winner Brian Birkhofer. Earl Pearson, Jr. who had started 19th was now running ninth and Tim McCreadie a twenty-second starert had roared to 10th.
McDowell continued to hold the point position but it was the battle for second between Eckert and Bloomquist that was the interesting match. Time and again Bloomquist dove to the inside of Eckert heading into turn one or turn three. Each time Eckert slammed the door on him before he could make the pass. It was lap 32 in which Bloomquist finally got by the Pennsylvania driver as they had a drag race out of turn two with Bloomquist on the bottom. Heading into turn three Bloomquist had the advantage and second place as well. Now Bloomquist set his sights on the leader and as they headed once again into lap traffic on the 36th circuit, he began to make up some of the distance.
Billy Moyer, Jr. also made a pass of Eckert one lap after Bloomquist did. Moyer kept pace with the two cars ahead of him as Eckert began to fade. Lap 40 was another caution period as Brady Smith came to the pits needing a right-rear tire. At this time McCready went pitside to stay after running a number of laps with heavy smoke blowing from his car. He later said that his car was overheating but his engine was okay.
When the green flew once again, McDowell held the lead for only two more circuits. A bobble in turns three and four enabled Bloomquist to pass him as he roared by on the outside and down the front chute on lap forty-three. Lap 45 saw Moyer take over second with McDowell third and Steve Francis fourth. A large gap separated these cars from fifth place and the rest of the field.
With the race hitting the half-way point, Bloomquist led Moyer by only once car length. Eddie Carrier, Jr. had driven from a 26th start to a fifth place running position. Three laps later Earl Pearson, Jr. brought out the yellows as he finally brought his car to the pits with steering problems. Not only was that doom for Pearson but for Moyer as well. Moyer had been in the process of passing Bloomquist but the pass would not count because of the caution.
Lap sixty saw Bloomquist with a narrow four car-length lead over Moyer. The fast runners seemed to go into the turns three and one at mid-track, drift to the top and then come out high in turns four and two. With lap traffic entering the picture once again, Bloomquist had his hands full with Moyer right behind him. The sixty-sixth circuit saw Bloomquist bobble in turn two and lose the lead he had been able to mount over Moyer.
The ride of Carrier came to an end on lap 67 as he pulled to the pits after smoking badly for several laps. Also at that time Francis had made a surge and had driven right to the back bumper of Moyer. A series of yellow flags then slowed the race until it was resumed on lap 72. It was during this time that it was noted that Birkhofer had come all the way from the tail and was sitting in sixth place.
All eyes now were focused on Birkhofer who began picking off the cars in front of him. On the restart of lap 72 he passed McDowell. He got by Eckert after and intense battle on lap 75. The restart on lap 77 saw him get by Francis. He was now in third and everyone was wondering if he could repeat his win of the previous year.
With the track totally slicked over and the cushion nearly gone, it was not uncommon to see cars glance off of Knoxville's tall fences. Lap 86 saw Jimmy Mars drop from the event after running top ten for nearly the entire race.
Bloomquist had a fifteen car-length lead when he hit lap traffic with ten laps to go. He managed to get through one group of cars easily and hit open track right after that. Birkhofer made his final position pass of the event when he overtook Moyer on lap 95 after a long struggle. Bloomquist again entered heavy traffic at that time and it was apparent that Birkhofer was cutting the lead. Lap 99 saw Bloomquist split between two cars and leave Birkhofer trapped in their wake. The race was over.
Bloomquist would win his first ever feature event at this historic oval by twelve car lengths or 1.6 seconds. Birkhofer's great ride came to an end with him taking second and Moyer finishing third. Fourth went to Eckert who had stayed in the top five for nearly the entire fifty mile distance. Early leader McDowell settled for fifth. Completing the top ten finishers were Francis, Matt Miller, Billy Drake, Darren Miller and Dan Schlieper.
RESULTS
KNOXVILLE RACEWAY, Knoxville, IA
October 1, 2005
Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals RESULTS
C Feature , 15 laps, No Time: 1. Rick Aukland, Zanesville OH; 2. Justin Allgaier, Springfield IL; 3. Johnny Johnson, West Burlington IA; 4. Caley Emerson, Grand Rapids MN; 5. Junior Coover, Norfolk NE; 6. Jill George, Cedar Falls IA; 7. Toby Patchen, Isanti MN; 8. Ed Kirchoff, Gillette WY;
B Feature , 20 laps, No Time: 1. Brian Harris, Davenport IA; 2. Eddie Carrier Jr, Salt Rock WV; 3. Brady Smith, Solon Springs WI; 4. Rick Aukland, Zanesville OH; 5. John VanDenBerg, Oskaloosa IA; 6. Jeep Van Wormer, Pinconning MI; 7. Trent Follmer, Elk River MN; 8. Justin Allgaier, Springfield IL; 9. Boone McLaughlin, Mediapolis IA; 10. John Mason, Millersburg OH; 11. Dave Eckrich, Oxford IA; 12. Nick Marolf, Moscow IA; 13. Caley Emerson, Grand Rapids MN; 14. Steve Hucovski, Maple Grove MN; 15. Rich Bell, Sheffield IL; 16. John Duty, Portland OR; 17. Toby Patchen, Isanti MN; 18. Junior Coover, Norfolk NE; 19. Sonny Findling, Kirksville MO; 20. Larry Clawson, Kansas City KS; 21. Jill George, Cedar Falls IA; 22. Johnny Johnson, West Burlington IA; 23. Mike Balcaen, Winnipeg, MB, Can. ;
A Feature,100 laps, No Time: 1. Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg TN; 2. Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine IA; 3. Billy Moyer, Batesville AR; 4. Rick Eckert, York PA; 5. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga GA; 6. Steve Francis, Ashland KY; 7. Matt Miller, Arlington OH; 8. Billy Drake, Bloomington IL; 9. Darren Miller, Chadwick IL; 10. Dan Schlieper, Sullivan WI; 11. Denny Eckrich, Oxford IA; 12. Josh Richards, Shinnston WV; 13. Justin Fegers, Mound MN; 14. Donnie Moran, Dresden OH; 15. Jeep Van Wormer, Pinconning MI; 16. John VanDenBerg, Oskaloosa IA; 17. Brian Harris, Davenport IA; 18. Chris Spieker, Massena IA; 19. Mike Marlar, Winfield TN; 20. Brady Smith, Solon Springs WI; 21. Jimmy Mars, Menomonie WI; 22. Kerry Hansen, Spencer WI; 23. Jay Johnson, West Burlington IA; 24. Terry Phillips, Springfield MO; 25. Eddie Carrier Jr, Salt Rock WV; 26. Brian Shirley, Chatham IL; 27. Earl Pearson Jr., Jacksonville FL; 28. Shannon Babb, Moweaqua IL; 29. Tim McCreadie, Avon NY; 30. Rick Aukland, Zanesville OH. Lap Leaders: McDowell 1-42; Bloomquist 43-100.
