National notebook
Notes: J.R. Hotovy gets rolling in Bloomquist car
J.R. Hotovy bought a Bloomquist Race Car from Brady Smith. (Jim DenHamer)
At May 30's Sunoco American Late Model Series event at Eldora Speedway, most drivers were busy preparing for the upcoming $100,000-to-win Dream at the historic half-mile oval in Rossburg, Ohio. Several pilots, such as ALMS points leader Jeep Van Wormer, were testing new setups while others, like Kentuckian Lee Devasier, were simply looking for more track time. Then there’s J.R. Hotovy. The Covert, Mich., driver was busy doing a little bit of everything.
“I need all the seat time I can get here,” Hotovy said with a laugh before Sunday’s first hot-lap session. Despite Hotovy’s sixth-place finish in the April 17 ALMS event at Eldora, "we just haven’t been real good here in the past," Hotovy said.
In an attempt to help him run a little stronger at Eldora, Hotovy recently purchased a used 2008 Bloomquist Race Car from World of Outlaws Late Model Series regular Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis.
“We got to talking about these (Bloomquist) cars down at Ocala earlier this year,” Hotovy said of the March 19 World of Outlaws race at Ocala, Fla., “and I just liked what he was telling me.”
This isn’t the first time Hotovy bought a car from Smith. A few years back, the Wisconsin driver sold a MasterSbilt to Hotovy, too.
“We still have our MasterSbilt,” said Hotovy, whose home track is Hartford (Mich.) Motor Speedway, which is promoted by his father-in-law. "We’ll still run it a good bit, and we’re definitely keeping it."
With no battle scars on the side of his no. 13, it was apparent Eldora would be the maiden voyage for Hotovy’s “new” ride. The car donned a sleek all black body, which seems to be standard for many Team Zero Bloomquist cars.
“I’m excited to have it and I’m excited to get out here and race it.” Hotovy said with a laugh. “I’ve it driven down the driveway and that’s it.”
Rumors have swirled regarding conditions for the resale of Bloomquist cars, but Hotovy just grinned.
"I don’t know anything about all that," he said. "I just know that Brady and I worked on this for a long time and we just finally got it from him. This (car) will be a new experience for me.
“We worked out a deal on some setups and things like that. I mean, he definitely gave me enough to get me going."
When qualifying ended for Sunday’s Johnny Appleseed Classic, it was apparent Smith gave Hotovy more than just “enough to get him going." Of the 36 entries, Hotovy was the fastest qualifier. He had a solid third-place finish in his heat race and dropped out the feature with a 20th-place finish.
Although he didn't finish up front, you can’t help but think Hotovy has found a liking to his new ride. But did he learn enough about the new car to come back for Dream XVI?
“I’ve got the entry blank filled out. It’s sitting at home on the table,” Hotovy said. “I’ll probably send that thing in this week.” — Dustin Jarrett
O'NEAL GETS HELPING HAND FROM FELLOW HOOSIER: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series regular Don O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind., has been getting assistance from a fellow home-state driver early this season. Cody Mahoney of Madison, Ind., the 2008 Late Model champion at Brownstown (Ind.) Speedway, has parked his race car temporarily and joined O'Neal's team as a crew member. "I am sure he’s learned a lot. He’s a good kid and a good driver," O'Neal said. "He’s been down on his luck this year so he’s been going with us to the races and giving us a helping hand." O'Neal is headed to Saturday's $10,000-to-win Ralph Latham Memorial at Florence Speedway, where he'll try to duplicate his victory in March 20's unsanctioned Spring 50 at the Union, Ky., oval. O'Neal has been no worse than third in his last five trips to Florence, including his last-lap loss to Jimmy Mars last August in the $50,000-to-win North-South 100. — James Essex
DART CHALLENGE SERIES OPENING AT HURON: The 13-race Dart Challenge Series opens Saturday, June, 5, at Dakota State Fair Speedway in Huron, S.D., with the $5,000-to-win Challenge Cup X, presented by Prostrollo General Motors. Among past winners of the 40-lapper are Kent Arment, Pat Doar, A.J. Diemel, Jeff Wildung and Marshall Fegers, who won the most recent one in 2008 (last year's was rained out). After two June events, the Dart Challenge Series gets rolling with six races in seven nights from July 2-9. — Rob Fogle
TEXAS SERIES TAKING A TEST RUN: The Texas State Late Model Racing Series, which plans to run a full season in 2011, is getting a jump-start this season with a June 4 race at 105 Motor Speedway in Cleveland, Texas. The $1,000-to-win, $100-to-start race will be the first race on a tour that hopes to fill a void for Late Model racing in east Texas. Founders Ricky Begnaud and Doug Begnaud (no relation) hope to develop a 10- to 12-race series next year, allowing competitors using multiple engine configurations. — From staff reports
SERIES SCHEDULE CHANGES: The Lucas Oil MLRA series has indefinitely postponed the July 9-10 Bud Purkey Memorial at Mid-America Speedway in South Coffeyville, Kan.; the race was twice postponed by weather in March. ... Citing low car counts and economic issues in its northern division, the Sunoco United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series cancelled its June 19 and Sept. 18 races at Senoia (Ga.) Raceway. ... The winning purse for Sunday's co-sanctioned MARS-NCRA event at Belleville (Kan.) High Banks has been dropped to $3,000 from $5,000. ... The National All Star Racing Association has added a $2,000-to-win event on June 18 at Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, Ky.
ODDS AND ENDS: Indianapolis, Ind., Crate Late Model racer Tyler Allen, 13, will be out of action after breaking his right arm Wednesday in an accident with a tire rim; Allen finished fifth in points last season on the Indiana Late Model Series. ... Recently reopened Midway Speedway in Crooksville, Ohio, hosts a $2,500-to-win event on Friday, June 4. ... Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City, Iowa, hosts one of the richest IMCA Late Model events of the season with the $2,500-to-win Summer Spectacular, a Tuesday night special. Every starter in the 50-lap feature earns at least $300.
