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By WoO Late Model PR
After a climactic weekend of racing at
the Delta Bowl, the World of Outlaws Late Model Series 2004 Champion Scott
Bloomquist was rewarded with a check for $75,000 and well-deserved
bragging rights as the World of Outlaws Late Model Series Champion. More
than 200 guests attended the annual banquet at Sam’s Town Hotel/Casino in
Tunica, MS, including the members of the 2004 Dirty Dozen, team owners,
promoters, sponsors and members of the media to celebrate the close of the
season and distribute a $325,000 points fund.
Once the “eight-minute horn” sounded starting the event, Paul A. Kruger
Chairman and CEO of Boundless Motor Sports Racing, Inc., d/b/a DIRT
Motorsports, began the night with a special welcome and appreciation for
all those who contributed to the success of the 2004 season.
“The World of Outlaws 2004 season has been an amazing year and a definite
learning experience,” said Kruger. “We look to draw on that knowledge to
expand the series next year to reach an even bigger fan base. I’d like to
thank everyone who participated this year for helping to make the season a
success.”
Kruger turned the program over to Craig Cormack, Boundless VP Race
Operations, who recapped the exciting year. “This year we raced 40 events
in 14 different states, had total purses in excess of $2 million with over
$300,000 in point fund monies,” said Cormack.
Rick Eshelman, the official announcer for the World of Outlaws Late Model
Series, emceed the event with the same enthusiasm as if he was calling a
race from the press box. Rick first recognized WoO Late Model Series
sponsors including Hoosier Racing Tires, Racing Electronics, Choice
Hotels, Cruise with the Champions, AFCO Shocks, Banshee Graphics and
Longacre Racing Products.
The crowning moment of the banquet was the recognition of WoO Late Model
Series Champion, Scott Bloomquist in the #0 Miller Brothers Coal / Hawkeye
Trucking / Custom Race Engines / Allstar Performance / Hoosier Tire /
Sweet Manufacturing Ford Taurus. Bloomquist finished the season with 9
feature wins, 25 top fives and 33 top tens. Since Bloomquist first
conceptualized the “Dirty Dozen” it was only fitting that he take the 2004
WoO Late Model Series Championship title.
Since his first feature win during the final night of Speed Week at
Volusia Speedway, Bloomquist has been consistently pulling off feature
wins and picking up points. The battle for champion was an exciting race
in itself and throughout the evening fellow Dirty Dozen members
congratulated Bloomquist for his hard earned victory.
“It was one of those seasons where we led the points early on and then we
got into trouble mid summer and it really set us back,” said Bloomquist.
“It was probably as rocky of season as I have ever had. After the fire we
had to just suck it up and get our ass in gear.”
“At the banquet it showed that the class of people we are running for now
is a cut above anyone we have before and it gives us a good feeling about
next season,” continued Bloomquist. “For a series to be put together in
such a short period of time and be so successful it shows a lot of
backbone on part of the officials and the drivers. It shows that if we all
work together there is noting that can’t be accomplished.”
The series championship was close throughout the year, with just a few
points separating the two leaders going into the final night of racing.
Unfortunately for Steve Francis, major damage to the #15 Valvoline / Mopar
/ Freeport Recycle Center / Action Auto Mart / Rocket Chassis Dodge
Intrepid during Saturday night’s hot laps combined with Scott Bloomquist’s
hard-charging lead of the final feature, put him in second place for the
championship, just 13 points behind the champion.
Having dubbed himself “Mr. Second” earlier on in the season with 25 top 5
finishes, Francis will still go down in the history books as the first
ever WoO Late Model Series feature winner at Volusia Speedway back in
February. Francis also won the highest paying feature, $40,000 to win, of
the season at Red River Valley Speedway in August. Francis was presented
with another $40,000 check for his achievement as well as a special trophy
and commemorative leather jacket.
“We kind of ran second all year long,” said Francis. “We just seemed to
come up short, and that’s just the way thing went all season.”
Looking back on the 2004 WoO Late Model Series season Francis commented,
“As far as the series goes, I think it was the best thing that could
happen for Late Model racing and it’s our plan to do it again next year
and hopefully to come up one spot better.”
The Series also honored Rookie of the Year contender John Blankenship in
the #23 Busch Beer / All-Star Performance / Hoosier Tire Ford Taurus with
a check for $5,000. Blankenship finished the season 14th in points.
The 2004 WoO Late Model Series Rookie of the Year Award, a check for
$10,000 and keys to a new late model chassis were then presented to Tim
McCreadie, 12th in point standings. McCreadie amazingly was able to not
only run the full WoO season, but the DIRT Modified season as well, making
a major statement in both series runs.
“We didn’t plan to run this much, we just went to Florida to kind of fool
around with this thing,” said McCreadie. “After Florida we decided to run
the full season after seeing the series and how competitive we were. It
kind of hurt us because we had to build a team on the road and we only had
one car and a couple of motors.”
“We didn’t get to win a race, but finishing in the top 12 in points and
becoming a member of the Dirty Dozen was quite an accomplishment for us,”
continued McCreadie. “We are tickled to be mentioned along with the top
drivers like Scott Bloomquist, Steve Francis, Rick Eckert, Dale McDowell,
and Chub Frank.”
The WoO Late Model Series Dirty Dozen were not only the top drivers at
sanctioned events, but turned out to be the fiercest competition on the
road. When the Dirty Dozen were not winning WoO Late Model Series
sanctioned races they were winning practically every other major late
model race event in the country including the Show-Me 100, The Dream,
World 100 and Topless 100.
The WoO Late Model Series Crew Chief of the Year Award was presented to
Rick “Boom” Briggs, Jr., who works on the Chub Frank 1*. Briggs epitomizes
the camaraderie and talent of the WoO Late Model Series Dirty Dozen crews.
“To receive the Crew Chief of the Year was very rewarding,” said Briggs.
“For the guys I run with all year to come together and show me their
respect really means a lot.
“I just want to thank Boundless Motor Sports and the World of Outlaws for
taking a chance and putting this series together, it has been a great
season,” continued Briggs. “My wife appreciates the award as well, she is
already making plans for the cruise.”
After Bloomquist and Francis, the 2004 WoO Late Model Series standings
were as follows:
3rd Place Rick Eckert in the #24 Raye Vest Excavating / J&J Steel /
Cornett Engine / Rocket Chassis / Hoosier Tire / AFCO Race Products Ford
Taurus
4th Place Dale McDowell in the #17M Larry Shaw Race Cars / S&H Motorsports
/ Dover Cylinder Head / Racetek / Petroff Towing / J&J Steel / New Vision
Graphics / Rocket Chassis Pontiac Grand Prix
5th Place Bart Hartman in the #75 Seubert Calf Ranches / Imler's Poultry /
MCB Motorsports / Cornett Engine / Hoosier Tire / Rocket Chassis Gran Prix
6th Place Chub Fank in the #1* Lester Buildings / Corry Rubber Corp /
All-Star Performance / The Slavic Group / Rocket Chassis Chevrolet Monte
Carlo
7th Place Dan Schlieper in the #9 Miller Brothers Coal / Hawkeye Trucking
/ Pro Power / Rayburn Chevrolet Monte Carlo
8th Place Billy Moyer in the #21 J&J Steel / Hawkeye Trucksales.com /
Mcarthy One Hour Heating and Air / Banner Valley Hauling Chevrolet Monte
Carlo
9th Place Mike Balzano in the #E1 Smoker Friendly / Biscotti’s Restaurant
/ Eddie’s Auto Parts / Hoosier Tire / West Virginia Motor Speedway /
Rocket Chassis Chevrolet Monte Carlo
10th Place Clint Smith in the #44 JP Drilling / CSR Aluminum Fabrication /
Rocket Chassis Chevrolet Monte Carlo
11th Place Darrell Lanigan in the #29 Lanigan Autosports / Accutex Signs /
Cornett / AFCO / GottaRace / Hoosier Tire / Rocket Chassis Ford Taurus
12th Place Tim McCreadie in the #39 Sweeteners Plus / A-C Speedworld /
Texaco Havoline / Rocket Chassis Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Each driver was congratulated by members of Boundless management including
Paul Kruger, Craig Cormack and Bobby Hartslief as well as Series
Competition Director Dean Miracle. Julie Barksdale, President Boundless
Merchandise, presented each driver and their spouse/significant other with
a commemorative WoO Late Model Series Dirty Dozen black leather jacket.
Rick Aukland, driver of the #12 Ostrom Painting & Sandblasting / Malcuit
Engines Dodge Intrepid, was also recognized as one of the original members
of the Dirty Dozen for his commitment to the series. Though Aukland didn’t
make it into the top twelve in points standings, he was honored for his
dedication to running the entire series amongst the best and toughest late
model drivers in the country.
Larry Shaw with Larry Shaw Racing celebrating 25 years of racing, also
took to the stage to recognize McDowell Racing, AFCO Shocks, New Vision
Graphics and Rocket Chassis for their commitment to the sport. Shaw also
presented the New Vision Graphics Award to Scott Bloomquist for most WoO
Late Model Series feature wins in 2004.
Bobby Hartslief, Boundless COO, ended the program with a look to the
future of the series. “The World of Outlaws is the greatest form of motor
racing in its class. We have the best drivers, the best venues and the
best purses,” said Hartslief. “We will continue our commitment to increase
the level of awareness and market for the season. We look forward to
working with everyone again in 2005.” |
