Tazewell Speedway

Bloomquist dominates for Southern Nationals win

7/31/2016

Tazewell Speedway

Bloomquist dominates for Southern Nationals win

Scott Bloomquist made the short trip over Clinch Mountain from his shop in Mooresburg, TN to tackle the high banks of Tazewell Speedway on Saturday night for the finale of the Schaeffer’s Southern National Series 2016 tour finale. Bloomquist would set fast time and lead every lap of the fifty-three feature for the $10,000 top prize and score his first Southern Nationals victory. Indiana’s Devin Gilpin would be crowned the series champion and take home $5,300 or his efforts.

Twenty-five drivers signed in with Bloomquist almost breaking his own track qualifying record with a blistering lap of 10.983 seconds in Group A with Craig Vosbergen of Perth, Australia turning in the fastest time in Group B with a lap of 11.285 seconds. Heat races would be won by Bloomquist, Canada’s Ricky Weiss, Vosbergen and Gilpin which set the top four starting spots.

From the drop of the green Bloomquist took the point as Vosbergen, Weiss, Gilpin and David Payne gave chase. The night would belong to the current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series points leader as he lead every lap of the event in dominating fashion for his second big payday of the year at the 1/3 mile speedplant piloting the Crop Production Services, Reece Monument Company, Dyna-Gro Seed, Base Fuels, Lucas Oil, Sweet Mfg., Horton Coal, Hoosier Tires, Sorbera Chiropractic and Petroff Towing sponsored Bloomquist Race Car with power from a Durham Race Engine.

Schaffers Southern Nationals Series

0 Scott Bloomquist
8V Craig Vosbergen
1G Devin Gilpin
1 Vic Hill
28 Jeff Wolfenbarger
7 Donald McIntosh
10 Chad Ogle
50 Shanon Buckingham
11 Tommy Bailey
21M Robby Moses
21K Dakotah Knuckles
7S Brian Smith
8 David Payne
11B Stacy Voles
7W Ricky Weiss
31 Kenny Cobble
21 Ivedent Lloyd
63 Josh Collins
45 Doug Smith
T0 Travis Fultz
56H Jordon Horton
7O Billy Ogle Jr

Matt Tharp survived a collision with a lap car and lead every lap to score the $1,000 to win Sportsman feature. Clyde Overholt of Tazewell would set quick time with a record-breaking lap of 11.866 seconds in qualifying to earn the pole for the twenty lap race. Starting on the outside of the front row Tharp used the preferred outside line to shove his way into the lead on the first lap. Behind him Overholt was left to fend off Cody Smith, Andy Ogle and Kyle Courtney. On lap nine Courtney, in only his second Sportsman start at The Taz, pulled alongside Ogle to challenge for fourth. Courtney would take over the spot two laps later.

The scariest moment of the race came on lap twelve as Brian Howerton got loose in turn four right in front of the leaders. Tharp and Overholt would both collide with Howerton’s car with Tharp suffering heavy right side body damage and Overholt going pit side with a flat right rear tire. After the track was cleared Tharp would be able to continue and Overholt would rejoin the field. On the restart the second generation driver known as The Luttrell Leadfoot would once again set sail for his second win of the season in the Satterfield Truck Service, Axis Custom Decals, Jovida Enterprises, DJ’s Performance Engine powered GRT Race Car.

Sportsman

35 Matt Tharp
11 Cody Smith
50M Jonathan Miracle
171 Kyle Courtney
101B Bradley Lewelling
3 Michael Boyd
7 Matthew Smith
25 Eric Webber
28 Randy Davis
54 Mitchell Burke
68 Andy Ogle
4 Clyde Overholt
24 Andy Wilder
K5 Nick Kniat
5 Josh Chesney
21 Brian Howerton
50 Rick Welch
79 Josh Sneed
3 Mark Philpot
1 David Clark
97 Aaron Guinn
44 Kip Sawyer

Eddie Stewart of Manchester, KY went flag-to-flag in the $700 to win Super Stock feature for his second win of the season at Tazewell Speedway.

Super Stock

119 Eddie Stewart
88 Brad Davis
36 Chris Rickety
3 Austin Neely
83 Cody Thompson
56 Tony Horton
P21 Robbie Buchanan
4J Jeffrey Melton
66 Michael Woods

John Stevens of Wallins Creek, KY took the lead early over fast qualifier Logan Dukes to pace every lap of the Classic Car feature for his eleventh win and the $400 first prize.

Classic Car