Scott Bloomquist earned $15,000 for his efforts on Saturday night
The Ray Cook promoted Spring Nationals Series made its way to the Smoky Mountain Speedway on Friday and Saturday nights to contest a $15,000-to-win event on the track located near Maryville, Tenn. After surviving a heated mid-race battle, Scott Bloomquist emerged as the winner and collected the big check.
Bloomquist had led the way in Friday night’s preliminary proceedings when he posted a lap of 14.901 seconds to lead all qualifiers on the 4/10 mile clay oval. Randy Weaver, Robby Moses and Mike Marlar also earned pole starting positions in their respective heat races due to their efforts in time-trials.
Weaver grabbed the pole for the feature by winning the first heat race while Bloomquist, Marlar and former NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Joey Coulter were also heat winners.
Cory Hedgecock won the long B-main race used to set the remainder of the field for the main event.
Weaver darted to the early lead in the 75-lap feature at the drop of the green flag with Bloomquist, Marlar, Darrell Lanigan and Dale McDowell in hot pursuit. Almost immediately, Weaver looked as if he might do what he has done so many times at Smoky Mountain and drive away from the field as the No. 116 machine pulled out to a lead of several car lengths in the early going.
Jared Landers and Dale McDowell race side-by-side
At the same time, Marlar and Langian found themselves swapping the third spot multiple times as one would pass the other at one end of the track only to have that move erased on the opposite end of the speedway. Eventually, Lanigan would win out and take the position for the first third of the race.
Weaver began to encounter slower traffic by lap 11 which brought Bloomquist, Lanigan and Marlar back into the hunt for the top spot. Meanwhile, a tight battle for fifth between McDowell, Jared Landers and Jimmy Owens pursed the top-4 runners while contesting their own positions.
With the race running caution-free, Bloomquist caught Weaver and made a move on the inside in traffic to take the lead on lap 35. However, Weaver fought back and offered his own inside move as the leaders worked through slower cars on lap 38. As the two front runners made their way into turn 3, going three-wide with slower traffic, Bloomquist was forced up into the lapped car which ultimately forced that car into the outside wall.
Weaver and Bloomquist race in heavy traffic
Having been the leader of the previous lap, Bloomquist was placed back at the front of the field during the ensuing caution with Weaver, Marlar and Lanigan in tow.
Bloomquist set about the business of pulling away from the pack after the lap 38 caution, despite damage done to the right rear of his car in the earlier mishap. However, two more yellow flags would keep his pursuers close for a brief time. Ultimately, though, a final green flag run of 16 laps allowed the Mooresburg, Tenn. driver to sail away by the length of a straightaway by the time he reached the checkered flag.
Donald McIntosh and Jimmy Owens battle at SMS
Feature Finish: 1. Scott Bloomquist, 2. Randy Weaver, 3. Mike Marlar, 4. Darrell Lanigan, 5. Dale McDowell, 6. Jimmy Owens, 7. Don O’Neal, 8. Jared Landers, 9. Donald McIntosh, 10. Earl Pearson, Jr., 11. Shannon Buckingham, 12. Joey Coulter, 13. Ryan King, 14. Cory Hedgecock, 15. David Payne, 16. Robby Moses, 17. Kyle Pierce, 18. Tommy Kerr, 19. Stacy Boles, 20. Greg Johnson, 21. Jason Welshan, 22. Vic Hill, 23. Bobby Giffin
