Bristol Motor Speedway
Notes: Lucas officials apologize for blown call
From staff and series reports
After reviewing video of Saturday's controversial finish at Dixie Speedway, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series issued a formal apology to Hall of Fame driver Scott Bloomquist for the ruling that cost him the lead in the closing laps of the 19th annual Dixie Shootout at the Woodstock, Ga., track. | Babb wins at Dixie | Video recap from Dixie
Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., won Oct. 4 at Dixie, leading the last four laps after Bloomquist was ordered to restart on the tail following a turn-two tangle with Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., on lap 47. When Owens spun and Bloomquist slowed to avoid contact, officials ruled that Bloomquist's car stopped on the track, which according to series rules, would require him to lose his running position.
Bloomquist, who led the first 46 laps, protested the decision and was eventually disqualified for refusing to rejoin the field on the tail. Lucas Oil Series director Ritchie Lewis said the ruling was in error after seeing video that showed Bloomquist's car slowed to a crawl but never stopped.
"It appeared from our vantage point in the tower that he stopped on the track, if it was only for a split second, and that was my call," said Lucas Oil official Rick Schwallie, adding an apology to Bloomquist, his sponsors and fans. "Ritchie pushes us hard as an organization to conduct our events in a professional manner without any type of unfair judgment calls. We are making adjustments in our roles of responsibility, all the while striving to prevent such instances in the future."
Lewis said the call was difficult to make without the benefit of immediate instant-replay, adding that he discussed the ruling with Bloomquist several times since the race, describing him as "unhappy about the call."
Following the race, Bloomquist was adamant that he was unjustifiably penalized, citing others in the pits who agreed he should've retained the lead. "I'm in the car," he said Saturday night. "I know I didn't stop."
Bloomquist wasn't able to appear on the Lucas Oil Motorsports Hour (at www.racetalklive.com) on Tuesday night, but Lewis said the Mooresburg, Tenn., driver accepted an offer to join the show on Oct. 14 to discuss the ruling.
Major late-summer events back for 2009
Two big-purse additions to the 2008 schedule on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series return to bolster the late-summer portion of the 2009 schedule as the tour released a slate for next season that includes 39 events in 18 states. The North-South 100 at Florence Speedway in Union, Ky. ($50,000-to-win) and the Topless 100 at Batesville (Ark.) Speedway ($40,000) make their second appearances on the series schedule, joining the long-running Hillbilly 100 at Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, W.Va. ($41,000) in a late-season stretch of major events.
Each track on next year's schedule appeared on the 2008 schedule on a 2009 slate that closely mirrors the previous year in venues and dates. Among the differences are Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill., moving its date up to late March to run the same weekend as Brownstown (Ind.) Speedway's Indiana Icebreaker on March 27-28, the first events following Florida Speedweeks.
The series again kicks off with six consecutive nights of action Feb. 2-7 for the 33rd annual Winternationals at East Bay Raceway Park near Tampa, Fla. Other schedule highlights include the $40,000-to-win Diamond Nationals on May 8-9 at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., and the $20,000-to-win Jackson 100 at Brownstown on Sept. 25-26. The schedule also features a pair of tripleheader weekends: first on June 11-13 at Duck River Speedway in Wheel, Tenn., North Georgia Speedway in Chatsworth and Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Ala.; then again on July 3-5 at Muskingum County Speedway in Zanesville, Ohio, Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn., and Tazewell (Tenn.) Speedway.
The series is entering its fifth season. In 2008, the series drew 679 drivers to 40 events and had 22 different winners. Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla., won his fourth consecutive series championship.
