Bristol Motor Speedway
Big E's Big 10: Most memorable moments in last 10 years
By Todd Turner
DirtonDirt.com chief writer
Scott Bloomquist's silver anniversary debut was brief. (Darrell Willrath)
Everyone has plenty of Eldora memories. But then, we're talking primarily about things that happened on the track. Think back on your favorites and see how they match up to our top 10 most memorable moments at Eldora Speedway over the past 10 years:
10. Silver Hells (2005 World 100)
All eyes were on the debut of Scott Bloomquist's 25th-anniversary machine, a chrome version of his famed No. 0 machine that appeared on the track for hot laps just before Friday night time trials. But fans missed it if they blinked because Bloomquist's World 100 weekend was quickly over when slammed the turn-three wall and then got plowed by Chris Elling's oncoming car.
"That's pretty sad, a half a lap," Bloomquist said. "I think it's pretty obvious how fast the car was, too."
Because drivers can only pilot the car initially teched at Eldora, Bloomquist couldn't pull out a backup for qualifications."This isn't something that happens to Scott Bloomquist, but it just did," the Hall of Fame driver said later, "so you live with it."
9. Worst to … Second (1999 Dream)
Robbie Starnes, a Texas transplant racing for a Mississippi-based team, hadn't even sniffed a starting spot in Eldora's biggest races entering Dream VI. And if it wasn't for a fast qualifying time in 1999 - and the provisional starting spot that came with it - he'd have been watching the main event again.
Instead, he made the most of a 10th-row starting spot by rallying all the way to second. Starnes couldn't catch winner Rick Eckert, but his performance paid him a career-high $20,000.
"I knew I had a good car," the low-running Starnes said. "And I was running a line that they wasn't, so it made it easier to pass.
"This track takes a lot of laps just to getting used to the track. You're sitting here in awe when you first walk up into the grandstand and look at this thing. As you get laps on it, it starts looking smaller as the week goes by.
"This place is just awesome. To do good here, you feel like you've done something."
8. Weight it Out (2005 World 100)
Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., overtook Dale McDowell midway through the 100-lapper and beat everyone to the checkered flag. But Babb's victory was snatched away when officials ruled he was 10 pounds below the 2,300-pound requirement at the scales.
One of the most critical disqualifications in dirt Late Model history likely occurred because of an engine swap between heat races and the main event.
"Yeah, we changed motors there after the heat race, and I think it just may have been a few pounds lighter," Babb said. "It was only 10 pounds — a gallon of gas."
McDowell inherited the globed trophies, but his visit to victory lane was bittersweet and some fans voiced their disapproval at the turn of events. "I definitely understood how the fans felt about it," the Georgia driver said, "because I’d rather win a race on the track, too.”
7. Win for the Aged (2000 Dream)
With nine first-time Dream starters and Eldora's most potent drivers (Scott Bloomquist, Donnie Moran, Billy Moyer) missing the field, it appeared 2000 would be a coming out party for Eldora's Next Generation. Not if the oldest driver in the field had anything to say about it.
Freddy Smith, 53, led all 100 laps to become the first two-time Dream winner. He also earned $100,000 with his inaugural race victory in 1994.
"I can't hardly believe it," said Smith, became the first driver to guide a GRT Race Car to victory in Eldora's biggest events. "I enjoyed it. I wish my dad was here with me to see it."
Smith's father, the famed Clarence "Grassy" Smith, died a year earlier.
6. Million Dollar Man (2001 Eldora Million)
When track owner Earl Baltes scheduled the richest race in Dirt Late Model history, four-time World 100 winner Donnie Moran did his best to not worry about a seven-figure payday and simply perform like he knew he could at Eldora. The strategy worked as he overtook Don O'Neal on the 25th lap, led the rest of the way and collected the richest payday in dirt racing history.
“I told myself that I was not going to let the money get to me,” Moran said. “I was just trying to stay so calm and so focused.”
Adding to the Million's excitement was a stirring run by Steve Smith in one of C.J. Rayburn's personal cars. The unheralded Powell, Tenn., driver shocked everyone by rallying to finish second and earn $50,000, the richest-ever payoff for a runner-up.
"It's kinda dawned on me," Smith said after parking on the frontstretch and soaking up his good fortune, "that's a lot of money."
5. On the Fence (2003 World 100)
After capping a summer hot streak with a career-making victory at Eldora, Dan Schlieper refused to simply stand in victory lane hoisting a globed trophy. He busted a move across the frontstretch where he'd recently taken the checkered flag and climbed the frontstretch fence to the delight of another packed house at Eldora.
"I've dreamed of winning this race since I started coming here in 1995, and even when I was running non-qualifier shows back then, I didn't give up on it," Schlieper said. "And here I am standing tonight at the highest point of my career. I'm speechless."
Schlieper's victory was the crowning achievement of a successful month-long stretch of racing triggered by his return to driving a Rayburn Race Car after stints in other chassis brands. From Aug. 1 until the Sept. 6 World 100, Schlieper missed top-five finishes just once and pocketed nearly $140,000 with five victories in nine starts.
4. 'EARL! EARL! EARL!' (2004 World 100)
The fact that Eldora founder Earl Baltes planned to retire was the worst-kept secret in dirt racing, and the fans at the 2004 World 100 were prepared to give the quirky, likable man with the bill-flipped ballcap a rousing sendoff.
The appreciative crowd chanted "EARL! EARL! EARL! EARL!" when he and wife Berniece told fans of their retirement plans following driver introductions.
"Ladies and gentleman, this is one of the saddest days of my life," an emotional Baltes said, speaking over the track's PA system. "We're going to have to retire. Not that we want to — we have to."
At 83, no one could blame the man who'd invested 51 years in building the most famed dirt track in the country. Later, it was announced Baltes entrusted the oval to NASCAR champion Tony Stewart, who purchased the track.
"I just hope whoever gets this place keeps treating everybody the way Earl has," Darren Miller said.
3. Who's Going to Win? (2006 World 100)
That question is frequently answered by the 50th lap of Eldora's 100-lap biggies, but not so in 2006. Don't accuse us of having short memories or disregarding classic World 100s from years gone by. With at least four drivers having a legitimate shot at victory in the final 25 laps, last year's World 100 ranks among the most crazily competitive ever in the late stages.
"I think we made a show for the fans, didn't we?" third-place finisher Jeep Van Wormer said after his wall-banging run. "Yeah, I think we made a show."
Earl Pearson Jr. took the lead for good on lap 86, but not before Van Wormer briefly overtook Shannon Babb on lap 80 and young Josh Richards stuck his nose in the mix. Dale McDowell and Clint Smith joined the frontrunners, too.
"They were mixing it up in there …" McDowell said. "It had to be good for the race fans."
2. Unbelievable Clash, Improbable Dash (1997 Dream)
OK, we're dipping just outside the 10-year range, but you've gotta agree this race ranks among the most unforgettable for two reasons: the Scott Bloomquist-Bill Frye clash and the dash of Jimmy Mars in barely holding off Steve Barnett the final 30 laps for his richest career victory.
Frye swept into the lead on the 25th lap, only to lose it four laps later when Bloomquist got into Frye's quarterpanel and turned him around between turns one and two. Frye's retaliation exiting turn four drew fans running to press their faces against the fence as he plowed Bloomquist's car against the wall.
After Frye was pointed to the pits, Bloomquist looked unbeatable, but when he fell out on lap 70, Mars inherited the lead. Several times Barnett nearly overtook Mars heading into turn three, but the 25-year-old Wisconsin driver held on for one of the most dramatic and memorable victories in Eldora history.
"We had a little fortune there with Scott Bloomquist dropping out, and Frye, and a couple of them other guys," Mars said. "But hey, that's racing."
1. Birkhofer Tops Bloomquist (2002 World 100)
Ever heard a louder roar at Eldora than when Brian Birkhofer's slide job doomed Scott Bloomquist on the last lap of the 2002 World 100? Didn't think so. Birkhofer's dramatic pass and half-length victory put him among dirt racing's elite and gave Eldora fans a finish they'd never forget.
"I got tears in my eyes when we came across the scales, and I still haven't been able to stop getting choked up," said the 30-year-old Birkhofer, who idolized Bloomquist while maturing into one of dirt racing's best drivers. "It was an unbelievable night, one that you couldn't forget."
A stunned Bloomquist said that he mistook the white flag for the checkered flag. Controversy arose over veteran Eldora flagger Rick Foley's handling of the white flag when he held it behind him on lap 98. Bloomquist said he thought he'd seen in it on what was actually lap 98 and believed lap 99 was the final lap, claiming he backed off on the backstretch just before Birkhofer's winning pass.
Bloomquist appealed to track owner Earl Baltes after the race, but Baltes gave him no satisfaction. "That's one of the best flagmen in the country," Baltes said. "He's only got one white flag."
Wednesday: The top 10 drivers most likely to break through as winners of a biggie at Eldora (premium material)
