By Jay Vaquer
PHENIX CITY, Ala. (Oct. 27, 2002) - Many dirt track racing fans were disappointed not seeing the most prolific dirt track racer ever, Scott Bloomquist from Mooresburg, Tenn., compete at the Dixie Motor Speedway UDTRA Pro DirtCar Series finale. However, in this weekend's 28th Annual National 100 at East Alabama Motor Speedway, Bloomquist will give his fans the opportunity to watch as the living legend defends his title in what might be the most competitive race of his career. Having dominated the Hav-A-Tampa series with Championships in 1994,1995,and 1998, and more Shootout wins than any other driver, Bloomquist became the object of controversy. Bloomquist is so domineering that in 2000 he won his 4th UDTRA title and his 3rd HAT Shootout by leading all 100 laps collected $103,000 bringing his seasons earnings to $368,000. When sponsorship shifted from the Hav-A-Tampa to the Hardee's Shootout, Bloomquist seemed to be at the losing side of any arbitration. After winning a feature and being declared 5 pounds under weight and then given last place money, and some other equally bad calls, Bloomquist began looking for other venues.
Bloomquist's racing protégé was Dwayne Hommel. Bloomquist shared his expertise, tools, sponsorship, and whatever to allow Hommel to compete on the same level as Bloomquist. A few months back, Bloomquist and Hommel had a falling out and parted as Bob Miller pulled his sponsorship from Hommel. Miller also gave "The Gap", Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn., $30,000 to run a contest on the same date as the Dixie Shootout.
When Hommel found out Bloomquist was going to the Gap instead of Dixie, he decided he could not let Bloomquist have that Miller money without a run for it. Hommel entered the 100-lap event billed as The Topless Fall Brawl. When Bloomquist took the lead from Steve Russell on lap 56, Russell slid high in turn 4 and allowed Hommel to take over second place.
Hommel was determined to show the Master that the Protégé was ready take over. He closed in on Bloomquist's rear bumper and was preparing to take the lead when a caution on lap 92 killed Hommel's momentum. Bloomquist took the checkers and the $20,000 and Hommel took second place and the $10,000. Bloomquist, unprecedented 6 time winner of the National 100, will defend his title this weekend with Dwayne Hommel looking for every opportunity to prove he's learned his lessons and is ready to take over.
Randle Chupp, the 1996 National 100 winner from Knoxville, Tenn. is also gunning for Bloomquist. Last year Chupp led the first 73 laps of the National 100 caution free and lapped nearly the entire field. He was closing in on third position and was going to put a lap on Bloomquist had a caution not regrouped the field. Chupp, who ran a very unorthodox line- high in the cushion above the groove where everyone else avoided, had spent his tires and Bloomquist jumped him for the lead on the restart and took the checkers. As if these personal motives were not enough incentive to drive a hard race, EAMS has increased the winners' purse to $28,000 to win the Super Late Model feature. Practice will be held on Friday night with heat races and qualifying on Saturday. Consolation last chance races and the features will be held Sunday.
EAMS has also added the alcohol, methane burning, super-exciting, open wheel modified division to this years' card. Other feature divisions with record purses will be the Cadet, Super Street, Enduro, Sportsman, Pony, and Road Warriors.
PHENIX CITY, Ala. (Oct. 27, 2002) - Many dirt track racing fans were disappointed not seeing the most prolific dirt track racer ever, Scott Bloomquist from Mooresburg, Tenn., compete at the Dixie Motor Speedway UDTRA Pro DirtCar Series finale. However, in this weekend's 28th Annual National 100 at East Alabama Motor Speedway, Bloomquist will give his fans the opportunity to watch as the living legend defends his title in what might be the most competitive race of his career. Having dominated the Hav-A-Tampa series with Championships in 1994,1995,and 1998, and more Shootout wins than any other driver, Bloomquist became the object of controversy. Bloomquist is so domineering that in 2000 he won his 4th UDTRA title and his 3rd HAT Shootout by leading all 100 laps collected $103,000 bringing his seasons earnings to $368,000. When sponsorship shifted from the Hav-A-Tampa to the Hardee's Shootout, Bloomquist seemed to be at the losing side of any arbitration. After winning a feature and being declared 5 pounds under weight and then given last place money, and some other equally bad calls, Bloomquist began looking for other venues.
Bloomquist's racing protégé was Dwayne Hommel. Bloomquist shared his expertise, tools, sponsorship, and whatever to allow Hommel to compete on the same level as Bloomquist. A few months back, Bloomquist and Hommel had a falling out and parted as Bob Miller pulled his sponsorship from Hommel. Miller also gave "The Gap", Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn., $30,000 to run a contest on the same date as the Dixie Shootout.
When Hommel found out Bloomquist was going to the Gap instead of Dixie, he decided he could not let Bloomquist have that Miller money without a run for it. Hommel entered the 100-lap event billed as The Topless Fall Brawl. When Bloomquist took the lead from Steve Russell on lap 56, Russell slid high in turn 4 and allowed Hommel to take over second place.
Hommel was determined to show the Master that the Protégé was ready take over. He closed in on Bloomquist's rear bumper and was preparing to take the lead when a caution on lap 92 killed Hommel's momentum. Bloomquist took the checkers and the $20,000 and Hommel took second place and the $10,000. Bloomquist, unprecedented 6 time winner of the National 100, will defend his title this weekend with Dwayne Hommel looking for every opportunity to prove he's learned his lessons and is ready to take over.
Randle Chupp, the 1996 National 100 winner from Knoxville, Tenn. is also gunning for Bloomquist. Last year Chupp led the first 73 laps of the National 100 caution free and lapped nearly the entire field. He was closing in on third position and was going to put a lap on Bloomquist had a caution not regrouped the field. Chupp, who ran a very unorthodox line- high in the cushion above the groove where everyone else avoided, had spent his tires and Bloomquist jumped him for the lead on the restart and took the checkers. As if these personal motives were not enough incentive to drive a hard race, EAMS has increased the winners' purse to $28,000 to win the Super Late Model feature. Practice will be held on Friday night with heat races and qualifying on Saturday. Consolation last chance races and the features will be held Sunday.
EAMS has also added the alcohol, methane burning, super-exciting, open wheel modified division to this years' card. Other feature divisions with record purses will be the Cadet, Super Street, Enduro, Sportsman, Pony, and Road Warriors.
