East Alabama Motor Speedway

Bloomquist, Eckert share front row at National 100

November 2, 2013, 5:47 pm

By Joshua Joiner

DirtonDirt.com staff writer

Rick Eckert will start second in the National 100 main event. (Eric Gano)

PHENIX CITY, Ala. (Nov. 2) — Looking to reclaim glory in a race he once dominated, Scott Bloomquist of Moorseburg, Tenn., will lead the National 100 main event to green Sunday evening at East Alabama Motor Speedway.

Bloomquist, the Hall of Famer who claimed eight National 100 trophies between 1990 and 2003, will look to end a 10-year draught in the unsanctioned special event after topping 40 qualifiers during Saturday night’s time trials and later winning the first of four heat races. | Order live video

Two-time National 100 winner Rick Eckert of York, Pa., will start alongside Bloomquist in Sunday’s $20,000-to-win event, which offers and extra $5,000 in lap leader bonus money. Eckert claimed Saturday’s second heat race, while Ray Cook of Brasstown, N.C., and Randy Weaver of Crossville, Tenn., claimed Saturday’s third and fourth heat races to earn second-row feature starting spots.

Bloomquist cruised in the first of four 15-lap heat races to finish a half straightaway ahead of Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., and John Blankenship of Williamson, W.Va. Fourth-starting Dylan Ames of Harvest, Ala., dropped back early but recovered to overtake Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., for the fourth and final transfer spot.

Taking the lead on the start, Eckert turned back an early challenge from hometown driver and polesitter William Thomas before edging away through the second half of the race. Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., was a straightaway behind the leaders in third, while seventh-starting Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ind., benefited from a shuffle on the race’s initial start to climb from seventh to fourth on the first lap.

Cook pulled away in the third heat, cruising to a straightaway lead after the race’s only caution waved for a mid-pack tangle on the opening lap. Eric Cooley of Fulton, Miss., turned back early challenges from Shane Clanton of Zebulon, Ga., to claim second. Clanton settled for third while Jason Hiett held off tail-starting Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., for the fourth and final transfer spot.

Weaver dominated the fourth heat, opening up a straightaway advantage in leading every lap of the caution-free race. Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., and Dennis Franklin of Gaffney, S.C., ran second and third respectively, while Jared Landers of Batesville, Ark., held off Jordy Nipper of Gray, Ga., for the final transfer.

The 100-lap main event, offers an extra $5,000 in lap leader bonus money to go along with the $20,000 winners paycheck, will follow two consolation races that will each transfer four cars into the feature lineup. Super Late Model action kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Sunday after an afternoon of support division features that begins at noon.

Notes: Don O'Neal is making his first appearance in a Bowyer Racing Barry Wright. ... Chris Madden was fifth in heat two; he started from the tail after suffering a flat tire in qualifying. ... Clint Smith was also fifth in hid heat race, charging from the tail after suffering mechanical woes in qualifying. ... The night’s only wreck occurred on the opening lap of heat three when Cale Simons got into the back of Joseph Joiner exiting turn two. The ensuing tangle sent Terrance Nowell over the banking, ending his night. Joiner also retired a few laps later with rear suspension issues.

National 100 feature lineup

Row 1: Scott Bloomquist, Rick Eckert
Row 2: Ray Cook, Randy Weaver
Row 3: Dale McDowell, William Thomas
Row 4: Eric Cooley, Tim McCreadie
Row 5: John Blankenship, Jonathan Davenport
Row 6: Shane Clanton, Dennis Franklin
Row 7: Dylan Ames, Dennis Erb Jr.
Row 8: Jason Hiett, Jared Landers
Row 9: Consolation race transfers
Row 10: Consolation race transfers
Row 11: Consolation race transfers
Row 12: Consolation race transfers

Consolation race lineups

Top four transfer to main event

First consolation race
Row 1: Don O’Neal, Clint Smith
Row 2: Matt Henderson, Cale Simons
Row 3: Jordy Nipper, Austin Smith
Row 4: J.R. Moseley, Lavon Sparks
Row 5: Steve Francis, Joseph Joiner
Row 6: Chris Smith, Terrance Nowell
Second consolation race
Row 1: Chris Madden, Kenny Collins
Row 2: Ivedent Lloyd Jr., Eric Jacobsen
Row 3: Russell Brown Jr., Jake Knowles
Row 4: Tyler Ivey, Chase Junghans
Row 5: Joe Armistead Jr., Dwayne Britton
Row 6: Bill Workman Jr., Patrick Michel

Heat race results

Top four finishers transfer to feature

First heat: Scott Bloomquist, Dale McDowell, John Blankenship, Dylan Ames, Don O’Neal, Matt Henderson, Jordy Nipper, J.R. Moseley, Steve Francis, Chris Smith
Second heat: Rick Eckert, William Thomas, Jonathan Davenport, Dennis Erb Jr., Chris Madden, Ivedent Lloyd Jr., Russell Brown, Tyler Ivey, Joe Armistead Jr., Bill Workman Jr.
Third heat: Ray Cook, Eric Cooley, Shane Clanton, Jason Hiett, Clint Smith, Cale Simons, Austin Smith, Lavon Sparks, Joseph Joiner, Terrance Nowell.
Fourth heat: Randy Weaver, Tim McCreadie, Dennis Franklin, Jared Landers, Jordy Nipper, Eric Jacobsen, Jake Knowles, Chase Junghans, Patrick Michel, Dwayne Britton.