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While Scott Bloomquist continues what’s expected to be a months-long recovery from injuries suffered in a mid-March motorcycle accident, the Hall of Fame driver has forged a partnership with special-event promoter Cody Sommer (pictured) that will strengthen his Team Zero organization for his return to the cockpit and set the stage for its future after he hangs up his helmet. | Column

The agreement between Bloomquist and Sommer makes the 32-year-old innovator of such races as the Gateway Dirt Nationals indoor race in St. Louis and the Dirt Million at Mansfield (Ohio) Motor Speedway the president and part-owner of Blomquist’s Team Zero racing program. A press release announcing the deal revealed that Sommer will take on a management role to bring “guidance, structure and business leadership” to the operation and also “allow Bloomquist to focus on recovery and competing at the highest level when he returns behind the wheel”

Bloomquist, 55, of Mooresburg, Tenn., remains sidelined indefinitely after sustaining multiple fractures and other injuries to his right hip, leg and knee while attending last month’s Bike Week festivities in Daytona Beach, Fla. He was hospitalized for several days and underwent surgery before returning home to continue his recovery. No specific timetable for his return to action was announced (Sommer's estimate was three to five months), but last week he began to undergo therapy at a Knoxville, Tenn.-area clinic.

Sommer said he is joining forces with Bloomquist during the superstar’s unfortunate forced absence from racing to establish specific performance plans and goals to accompany Bloomquist’s business and post-career plans. According to the release, Bloomquist’s team will begin taking on more developmental projects, including the construction of a new car specifically for testing and R&D purposes, a dedicated pull-down area within the race shop headquarters and custom equipment for aerodynamic research as well as several other functions dedicated to performance on the racetrack. In addition, Sommer said adding personnel to Team Zero’s staff, housing a second team and signing corporate partnerships are in the plans.

“If you sit back and look at the accomplishments he has had with little structure and organization, it really is remarkable” Sommer said. “Allowing Scott the ability to focus on speed is essential. It will create more accomplishment. I don’t think anyone would disagree that when he is able to focus he is going to be very hard to beat on the racetrack. He has proven that over and over again in the past.”

Bloomquist’s new website also came online with the announcement of his partnership with Sommer. The site includes an official home at ScottBloomquistRacing.com/HelpScottGetBack where fans and help offer Bloomquist support as he works toward returning to racing.