By Steve Hixson
(PHENIX CITY, AL) – In what has become the quintessential Dirt Super Late Model event at the end of the season Scott Bloomquist rolled his “Miller Bros. Coal Inc., Hawkeye Trucking, All-Star Performance” Custom Race Engines / Warrior Ford Taurus to successfully defend his “National 100” Championship Sunday evening at the East Alabama Motor Speedway. Bloomquist (a.k.a. Black Sunshine) played a patient waiting game Sunday with a young rising dirt Superstar by the name of Shane Clanton, who stunned the field with a fastest qualifying time Saturday evening over the 59 total SLM entrants, before leading the last half of the 100 lap affair. “We just kept at him (Shane) lap after lap…” stated Bloomquist from victory lane “He kept bouncing thru a rut in turn two and that’s where I got him.” The track seemed to come right to the now 7 time event winner who had everything fall into place for the $28,000 first place money, running right between the rubbery black line that grooved the high bank facility.
In qualifying it was Clanton taking top honors turning a 15:75 second lap to earn the pole position for the first of six SLM heat races. Clanton paced the field in his “Billy Clanton Racing, Transmission Parts Unlimited, Speedy Graphics” GRT Chevrolet Monte Carlo along side former winner / 7th overall fastest qualifier Jody Summerville of Rome, GA and took command as all eyes concentrated on fourth starting / former Nationals 100 champion Billy Moyer. Sleeper Bob Robertson of Evans GA kept the Batesville, AR racer in check and in fourth away from his transfer spot. Greg Knight and Don Jenkins tangled for the races only yellow stint in turn three and at the checkers Clanton backed-up his fast qualifier status with a pole position victory for the “A” Main feature. Summerville and Robertson transferred with Moyer and Ricky Williams rounding out the top five heading into Sunday’s “B” Mains.
In heat #2 former National 100 winner Jack Pennington of Winston GA was on the pole, facing off against 8th overall qualifier Ed Basey of Evans, GA. Pennington powered into the lead wheeling his “Ivester Pipeline, Nichols Pipeline” Custom Race Engines / Warrior Pontiac Gran Prix to victory over Basey and Inmon SC’s David Smith. Glen Morris brought out an early lap 3 yellow spinning in turn four and it was Vic Hill and Tim Roszell who rounded out the top five.
In the 3rd heat Bloomquist set the pace along side the #9 fast qualifier Shane Tankersly. Unfortunately of Tankersly, Jimmy Mars of Elk Mound, WI and “The Ponotoc Pirate” Steve Russell of MS laid the SmackDown pass in effort to keep up with black and green machine. Bobby Thomas also had his hands full fending off Billy Drake, Derrick Rainey and Scott Dedwylder. Tankersly quickly pulled into the infield as Bloomquist railed the EAMS clay. Mars and Russell transferred with Thomas and Rainey rounding out the top five.
Fourth fastest qualifier Ray Cook aligned his “Youngblood Concrete, Jacky Jones Ford” Cornette Thunder / MasterSbilt Ford Taurus with tenth qualifier local favorite Dana Eiland. As the green waved over the field “the Chattanooga Flash” Ronnie Johnson, Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, IL and Eiland locked into a three way dance trailing Cook. Mike Boland and Brandon Rose tangled down the back straight-away rearing a caution period. Cook, Erb and Johnson rallied to the checkers at the end of the ten set as Boland and John Whitney rounded out the top five finishers.
The fifth heat gave a hint of things to come as all eyes locked on last place / two time National 100 winner Randle Chupp of Mooresville, NC. Fifth fastest Duayne Hommel of Newport TN looked to be the dominate car as all pole sitters seemed to back up their respective times with heat wins. James Cline of Oxford, AL had other intentions though and Rocket-ed his “Dixie Tool and Die, West Haven Speed Equipment” Pontiac Gran Prix by Hommel. Gary Webb, Bobby Turner, Mike Head and Terrance Nowell had plans on the third transfer position, but one by one positions where being executed by Chupp utilizing the top of the track. As the white flag unfurled Turner and Nowell stood their ground battling for third. Chupp set sail firing a perfect muscle pass, with the crowd erupting, on to Turner coming outta turn four to the checkers. Cline, Hommel and Chupp transferred with Turner and Nowell rounding out the top five.
The sixth and final heat went to pole sitter Freddy Smith of Knoxville TN as the former / multi-National 100 champion kept his “Christenberry Trucking and Farm Equipment, Tender Hearts Treasures” Warrior Chevrolet Monte Carlo out front with Jacksonville FL racer Earl Pearson Jr. and AL State Champion Clint Smith of Senoia GA following. David McCoy and “the Dirty White Boy” Anthony White rounded out the top five.
On Sunday the SLM’s took to the track for two “B” Main Last Chance consolation races. Bobby Turner and Bobby Thomas aligned the front row as an absent Moyer disappointed the fans. The disappointment soon turned to excitement as six starting Terrance Nowell began moving towards the front. Ricky Williams soon felt Nowells pressure as the “Clarence Truck Repair” Draime Racing Engines / Rocket Chevrolet Monte Carlo blasted by. Race leader Turner then felt Nowells presence and couldn’t do anything as the #55 went into the lead to the delight of the crawd. Nowell, Turner of Ballground, GA and Williams of Fayetteville, GA all transferred leaving Head, Greg Knight and the remainder of the field without starting spots for the big show.
In the second “B” Vic “The Thrill” Hill stepped his “Lowes Trucking” Vic Hill Racing Engines GRT Pontiac Gran Prix to the front. Mike Boland of Cuba AL and Tim Roszell of Anniston, AL collected transfer positions after battling back Brian Birkhofer, David McCoy and White. John Whitney and James Roulette rounded out the top five finishers but again along with the remaining field lost admittance to the feature. Bobby Turner was the only former National 100 winner to use a “Past Champions” provisional to start the “A” Main race.
Despite a slight occasional rain shower after the “B” Main’s Sunday 28th edition of the National 100 started as scheduled around 6PM as dusk fell over the high banked facility. With driver introductions, interviews and track preparations concluded the field staged for the start to the delight of the crowd. As the field roared under Jeff Scott’s green flag Clanton got into the front with Bloomquist getting by a pushing Pennington in turn two. Caution fell quickly over the field as third running Ray Cook limped his mount to a halt in turn four of lap three. The lap four restart saw Pearson falter but caution negated the slip as field reset. Clanton, Bloomquist, Mars, Pearson and Smith refired with the field in tow under the green and this time it was Clanton pushing off of two handing Bloomquist the lead. It to was negated as David Smith spun at the flag stand giving Clanton a chance of redemption. As the racing resumes Hommel back pedals his ride from sixth to about tenth before gathering it back. By this time (under 8 lap) Chupp has worked his way from 17th into the top ten just in front of Hommel. As fans ogled Chupp’s #114 Mars began hounding Bloomquist for second. Then Freddy Smith went towards Pearson and slipped by for a quiet advance to fourth. As Chupp worked towards the top five caution appeared for a spinning Tim Roszell. On the restart something happened to Chupp and the car set sail off turn three. This sent Chupp back to the rear for the first of what would be a handful of disheartenments just after the 20 lap mark. After a quick repair Chupp rejoined the field as Clanton refired to the green. Hommel gets by Mars for 5th on lap 44 then it’s Black Sunshines turn as Clanton’s reign up front end as he slips back two. Smith’s passage show Bloomquist the Southern Gentleman’s not done as the familiar #00 creeps to the #0’s spoiler. Chupp again thwarts towards the front using an outside line no other are in. Chupp has “AGAIN” accessed the top ten but fate sends the “Biscotti’s Restaurant, Park Ohio” machine back to the rear. A cut tire after contact with Clanton and Mars into turn three sends Chupp back, this time for new hooves on his Rocket-ride. On lap 57 Hommel and Ed Basey collide off of two sending Basey on the hook and Hommel to the pits. A battle for fourth thru sixth ensues between Clanton, Pearson and Mars as Bloomquist executes back marker traffic. Ronnie Johnson, Nowell and Turner all feel the scull and cross bones of Bloomquist as he blast thru attempting to stretch away from Smith. Pearsons settles into third as Clanton watches from fifth. Mars attempts to copy Chupp’s top line resurrection but fails dramatically as Jody Summeville gains a top five position around the ¾ mark. The final yellow unfurls for the field with eight to go allowing Chupps to set up a stab to a top five finish on the restart. Clint Smith and Bob Roberson watch as Chupp takes to the high line only to settle behind Summerville under the rolling checkered flags.
Official Results: 28th Annual National 100
1.Scott Bloomquist (# 0) of Mooresburg TN
2.Freddy Smith (# 00) of Knoxville TN
3.Earl Pearson Jr (# 1) of Jacksonville FL
4.Shane Clanton (# 25) of Locust Grove GA
5.Jody Summerville (# 25) of Rome GA
6.Randle Chupp (# 114) of Mooresville NC
7.Clint Smith (# 44) of Senoia GA
8.Jimmy Mars (# 28) of Elk Mound WI
9.Bob Robertson (# c5) of Evans GA
10.Mike Boland (# 222) of Cuba AL
11.Terrance Nowell (# 55) of Phenix City AL
12.Steve Russell (# 72) of Ponotoc MS
13.Ronnie Johnson (# 5) of Chattanooga TN
14.Ricky Williams (# 17) of Fayetteville GA
15.Bobby Thomas (# 90) of Seale AL
16.Dennis Erb Jr. (# 28) of Carpentersville IL
17.Bobby Turner (# 31) of Ballground GA
18.Vic Hill (# 1) of Greenville TN
19.Duayne Hommel (# H2) of Newport TN
20.Ed Basey (# 4) of Evans GA
21.James Cline (# 3) of Oxford AL
22.David Smith (# 11) of Inmon SC
23.Tim Roszell (# 25) of Anniston AL
24.Jack Pennington (# 01) of Winston GA
25.Ray Cook (# 53) of Brasstown Valley NC
(PHENIX CITY, AL) – In what has become the quintessential Dirt Super Late Model event at the end of the season Scott Bloomquist rolled his “Miller Bros. Coal Inc., Hawkeye Trucking, All-Star Performance” Custom Race Engines / Warrior Ford Taurus to successfully defend his “National 100” Championship Sunday evening at the East Alabama Motor Speedway. Bloomquist (a.k.a. Black Sunshine) played a patient waiting game Sunday with a young rising dirt Superstar by the name of Shane Clanton, who stunned the field with a fastest qualifying time Saturday evening over the 59 total SLM entrants, before leading the last half of the 100 lap affair. “We just kept at him (Shane) lap after lap…” stated Bloomquist from victory lane “He kept bouncing thru a rut in turn two and that’s where I got him.” The track seemed to come right to the now 7 time event winner who had everything fall into place for the $28,000 first place money, running right between the rubbery black line that grooved the high bank facility.
In qualifying it was Clanton taking top honors turning a 15:75 second lap to earn the pole position for the first of six SLM heat races. Clanton paced the field in his “Billy Clanton Racing, Transmission Parts Unlimited, Speedy Graphics” GRT Chevrolet Monte Carlo along side former winner / 7th overall fastest qualifier Jody Summerville of Rome, GA and took command as all eyes concentrated on fourth starting / former Nationals 100 champion Billy Moyer. Sleeper Bob Robertson of Evans GA kept the Batesville, AR racer in check and in fourth away from his transfer spot. Greg Knight and Don Jenkins tangled for the races only yellow stint in turn three and at the checkers Clanton backed-up his fast qualifier status with a pole position victory for the “A” Main feature. Summerville and Robertson transferred with Moyer and Ricky Williams rounding out the top five heading into Sunday’s “B” Mains.
In heat #2 former National 100 winner Jack Pennington of Winston GA was on the pole, facing off against 8th overall qualifier Ed Basey of Evans, GA. Pennington powered into the lead wheeling his “Ivester Pipeline, Nichols Pipeline” Custom Race Engines / Warrior Pontiac Gran Prix to victory over Basey and Inmon SC’s David Smith. Glen Morris brought out an early lap 3 yellow spinning in turn four and it was Vic Hill and Tim Roszell who rounded out the top five.
In the 3rd heat Bloomquist set the pace along side the #9 fast qualifier Shane Tankersly. Unfortunately of Tankersly, Jimmy Mars of Elk Mound, WI and “The Ponotoc Pirate” Steve Russell of MS laid the SmackDown pass in effort to keep up with black and green machine. Bobby Thomas also had his hands full fending off Billy Drake, Derrick Rainey and Scott Dedwylder. Tankersly quickly pulled into the infield as Bloomquist railed the EAMS clay. Mars and Russell transferred with Thomas and Rainey rounding out the top five.
Fourth fastest qualifier Ray Cook aligned his “Youngblood Concrete, Jacky Jones Ford” Cornette Thunder / MasterSbilt Ford Taurus with tenth qualifier local favorite Dana Eiland. As the green waved over the field “the Chattanooga Flash” Ronnie Johnson, Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, IL and Eiland locked into a three way dance trailing Cook. Mike Boland and Brandon Rose tangled down the back straight-away rearing a caution period. Cook, Erb and Johnson rallied to the checkers at the end of the ten set as Boland and John Whitney rounded out the top five finishers.
The fifth heat gave a hint of things to come as all eyes locked on last place / two time National 100 winner Randle Chupp of Mooresville, NC. Fifth fastest Duayne Hommel of Newport TN looked to be the dominate car as all pole sitters seemed to back up their respective times with heat wins. James Cline of Oxford, AL had other intentions though and Rocket-ed his “Dixie Tool and Die, West Haven Speed Equipment” Pontiac Gran Prix by Hommel. Gary Webb, Bobby Turner, Mike Head and Terrance Nowell had plans on the third transfer position, but one by one positions where being executed by Chupp utilizing the top of the track. As the white flag unfurled Turner and Nowell stood their ground battling for third. Chupp set sail firing a perfect muscle pass, with the crowd erupting, on to Turner coming outta turn four to the checkers. Cline, Hommel and Chupp transferred with Turner and Nowell rounding out the top five.
The sixth and final heat went to pole sitter Freddy Smith of Knoxville TN as the former / multi-National 100 champion kept his “Christenberry Trucking and Farm Equipment, Tender Hearts Treasures” Warrior Chevrolet Monte Carlo out front with Jacksonville FL racer Earl Pearson Jr. and AL State Champion Clint Smith of Senoia GA following. David McCoy and “the Dirty White Boy” Anthony White rounded out the top five.
On Sunday the SLM’s took to the track for two “B” Main Last Chance consolation races. Bobby Turner and Bobby Thomas aligned the front row as an absent Moyer disappointed the fans. The disappointment soon turned to excitement as six starting Terrance Nowell began moving towards the front. Ricky Williams soon felt Nowells pressure as the “Clarence Truck Repair” Draime Racing Engines / Rocket Chevrolet Monte Carlo blasted by. Race leader Turner then felt Nowells presence and couldn’t do anything as the #55 went into the lead to the delight of the crawd. Nowell, Turner of Ballground, GA and Williams of Fayetteville, GA all transferred leaving Head, Greg Knight and the remainder of the field without starting spots for the big show.
In the second “B” Vic “The Thrill” Hill stepped his “Lowes Trucking” Vic Hill Racing Engines GRT Pontiac Gran Prix to the front. Mike Boland of Cuba AL and Tim Roszell of Anniston, AL collected transfer positions after battling back Brian Birkhofer, David McCoy and White. John Whitney and James Roulette rounded out the top five finishers but again along with the remaining field lost admittance to the feature. Bobby Turner was the only former National 100 winner to use a “Past Champions” provisional to start the “A” Main race.
Despite a slight occasional rain shower after the “B” Main’s Sunday 28th edition of the National 100 started as scheduled around 6PM as dusk fell over the high banked facility. With driver introductions, interviews and track preparations concluded the field staged for the start to the delight of the crowd. As the field roared under Jeff Scott’s green flag Clanton got into the front with Bloomquist getting by a pushing Pennington in turn two. Caution fell quickly over the field as third running Ray Cook limped his mount to a halt in turn four of lap three. The lap four restart saw Pearson falter but caution negated the slip as field reset. Clanton, Bloomquist, Mars, Pearson and Smith refired with the field in tow under the green and this time it was Clanton pushing off of two handing Bloomquist the lead. It to was negated as David Smith spun at the flag stand giving Clanton a chance of redemption. As the racing resumes Hommel back pedals his ride from sixth to about tenth before gathering it back. By this time (under 8 lap) Chupp has worked his way from 17th into the top ten just in front of Hommel. As fans ogled Chupp’s #114 Mars began hounding Bloomquist for second. Then Freddy Smith went towards Pearson and slipped by for a quiet advance to fourth. As Chupp worked towards the top five caution appeared for a spinning Tim Roszell. On the restart something happened to Chupp and the car set sail off turn three. This sent Chupp back to the rear for the first of what would be a handful of disheartenments just after the 20 lap mark. After a quick repair Chupp rejoined the field as Clanton refired to the green. Hommel gets by Mars for 5th on lap 44 then it’s Black Sunshines turn as Clanton’s reign up front end as he slips back two. Smith’s passage show Bloomquist the Southern Gentleman’s not done as the familiar #00 creeps to the #0’s spoiler. Chupp again thwarts towards the front using an outside line no other are in. Chupp has “AGAIN” accessed the top ten but fate sends the “Biscotti’s Restaurant, Park Ohio” machine back to the rear. A cut tire after contact with Clanton and Mars into turn three sends Chupp back, this time for new hooves on his Rocket-ride. On lap 57 Hommel and Ed Basey collide off of two sending Basey on the hook and Hommel to the pits. A battle for fourth thru sixth ensues between Clanton, Pearson and Mars as Bloomquist executes back marker traffic. Ronnie Johnson, Nowell and Turner all feel the scull and cross bones of Bloomquist as he blast thru attempting to stretch away from Smith. Pearsons settles into third as Clanton watches from fifth. Mars attempts to copy Chupp’s top line resurrection but fails dramatically as Jody Summeville gains a top five position around the ¾ mark. The final yellow unfurls for the field with eight to go allowing Chupps to set up a stab to a top five finish on the restart. Clint Smith and Bob Roberson watch as Chupp takes to the high line only to settle behind Summerville under the rolling checkered flags.
Official Results: 28th Annual National 100
1.Scott Bloomquist (# 0) of Mooresburg TN
2.Freddy Smith (# 00) of Knoxville TN
3.Earl Pearson Jr (# 1) of Jacksonville FL
4.Shane Clanton (# 25) of Locust Grove GA
5.Jody Summerville (# 25) of Rome GA
6.Randle Chupp (# 114) of Mooresville NC
7.Clint Smith (# 44) of Senoia GA
8.Jimmy Mars (# 28) of Elk Mound WI
9.Bob Robertson (# c5) of Evans GA
10.Mike Boland (# 222) of Cuba AL
11.Terrance Nowell (# 55) of Phenix City AL
12.Steve Russell (# 72) of Ponotoc MS
13.Ronnie Johnson (# 5) of Chattanooga TN
14.Ricky Williams (# 17) of Fayetteville GA
15.Bobby Thomas (# 90) of Seale AL
16.Dennis Erb Jr. (# 28) of Carpentersville IL
17.Bobby Turner (# 31) of Ballground GA
18.Vic Hill (# 1) of Greenville TN
19.Duayne Hommel (# H2) of Newport TN
20.Ed Basey (# 4) of Evans GA
21.James Cline (# 3) of Oxford AL
22.David Smith (# 11) of Inmon SC
23.Tim Roszell (# 25) of Anniston AL
24.Jack Pennington (# 01) of Winston GA
25.Ray Cook (# 53) of Brasstown Valley NC
