Bloomguist suspended for 6 months by WoO

[ALASKA54]

I guess we won't see Scott Bloomquist at Ocala in March.

http://www.dirtondirt.com/

[Edm]

Please post the rest of the story. The link won't work unless you are a member.

[oldyeller]

Scott Bloomquist, the 2004 World of Outlaws Late Model Series champion, faces a six-month suspension from series events and an $11,350 fine after an independent laboratory concluded the Hall of Fame driver used a chemically-altered tire, tour director Tim Christman said Sunday.

Bloomquist’s fine is double his earnings from the Nov. 5-7 WoO World Finals weekend at the Dirt Track at Lowe's Motor Speedway, where the series impounded a left rear tire after Bloomquist topped qualifying in the second round of Nov. 5 time trials.

The 46-year-old driver from Mooresburg, Tenn., who ran infrequently with the World of Outlaws during his 2009 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series championship season, wasn't paid his weekend earnings of $11,350 at Lowe's and owes the same amount to cover the balance of the fine.

In addition to being suspended from World of Outlaws events through May 5, Bloomquist won't be allowed to race with any series of the parent World Racing Group, which includes UMP DIRTcar Series events.

Bloomquist denied using an illegal tire and said he was "not concerned about it"; adding that he didn't agree with WoO tire-inspection procedures and questioned the delay of a ruling officials initially announced would take a week.

“I’ve already spoken with legal counsel and we’re just going to handle it in that fashion,” Bloomquist said in a Monday telephone interview, confirming he'd appeal the series decision.

The episode occurred Nov. 5 at Lowe's when tires from the top six qualifiers in the second round of time trials were taken to the series trailer for inspection, including the detection of chemicals that can soften tires and improve traction.

"Scott's tire had a noticeable odor to it, and was suspicious, so we sent it off to the lab," Christman said. "It came back that it had been altered, so his suspension and fine followed.

Bloomquist is the second driver suspended for tire violations in the 2009 season, which ended at Lowe's. John Henderson of Aiken, S.C., was suspended 30 days after he immediately admitted to illegally treating a tire following his Aug. 29 fast qualifying time at Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Ga.

At Lowe's, Bloomquist was given the opportunity to admit guilt Nov. 5 and receive a shorter suspension, but he elected to allow the series to send the tire to a laboratory and face the longer suspension, Christman said.

Bloomquist was previously penalized one month by the World Racing Group for a similar violation in UMP action Jan. 28, 2008, at Golden Isles Speedway in Brunswick, Ga.

Bloomquist is fifth all-time on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series with 19 victories, but has just two victories in each of the past two seasons in limited starts, including his Nov. 6 victory at Lowe's.

With Bloomquist announcing recently he plans to follow the Lucas Oil Series again in 2009, the suspension shouldn't dramatically change the drive's racing plans for 2010. Most significantly, Bloomquist can't compete during the Late Model portion of Volusia Speedway Park's 39th annual DIRTcar Winternationals on Feb. 8-13. The World Racing Group-owned Barberville, Fla., track's Late Model action is sanctioned by UMP and WoO. Bloomquist is a two-time WoO winner at Volusia.

[Kerrmintor]

I guess we won't see Scott Bloomquist at Ocala in March.

http://www.dirtondirt.com/

You can see him in late January at Golden Isles Speedway, he just wont be able to go to Ocala and Volusia.

[andre]

There is more than 50 Dirt Late Model series listed with web sites in North America, I'm sure he can find a place to race if he feels like doing so.

And, I would not be surprise at all to read a press release in future weeks that everything has been wraped up and he's free and welcome to come to XYZ tracks and (or) events.

[Joe Dirt]

Here's some quick figures:

11,500.00 $ fine for alleged tire infraction
19,500.00 $ grandstand amount @ 39.00$ each for the 500 butts he puts in the grandstands? HMMMM!

[JackTripper]

Didn't he cause the big sanctioning/tire issue at Golden Isles earlier this year?

[BJ Cavin]

Here's some quick figures:

11,500.00 $ fine for alleged tire infraction
19,500.00 $ grandstand amount @ 39.00$ each for the 500 butts he puts in the grandstands? HMMMM!

OK. I admit that Bloomquist is a huge draw, but he is NOT all that WOO has to offer. And I'll add this...

...Anyone that stays home from Ocala or Volusia because Bloomquist is not there is not a real race fan. Sure, I'd love to see him out there, but there is plenty of top notch competition there without him.

[Kerrmintor]

Didn't he cause the big sanctioning/tire issue at Golden Isles earlier this year?

I believe it was 2 yrs ago, it caused the series not to honor those races as point races because Bloomer and some other drivers were going to leave. I didnt want them to leave either, I liked the fact that they ended up running what they brung. I got my monies worth. I will go to Volusia and Ocala as well without Bloomer. I would like to see some of our local drivers make a few shows this year at Ocala, Golden Isles, Volusia and East Bay. The Professor is always a threat and Tyler Ivey did good for himself last year, especially at East Bay.

[tedrichard]

No series can ever allow their credibility to be held hostage by ANY personality. The rules are the rules and they NEED to be the same for anybody. With all the whining and crying we see on these boards about favoritism and consistancy in rules enforcement, why are we even HAVING this conversation?? Bloomquist, be a MAN and own up to it! If you're gonna push the envelope, those are the chances you take. If you get caught, you look like a heel. Not a role model I want for MY kids............

[FLQuacker]

If anyone believes Bloomquist is the only tire prepper.....you really have NO CLUE.

He's just the only "real outlaw" they're tired of seeing show up, when he feels like it

[ronabneysr]

you know as much stuff as they make and you can make

that can't be detected and as long as bloomquist has been around he ain;t that stupid @@@@@ i can't even believe for one minute that he is guilty

i'm not saying that some thing was not wrong with his tire was it a way to get rid of him for a while you don't think a lot of people use tire softner hell you can get the tires all ready treated that you can't detect

and it would not be hard to juice up a tire with out him even knowing it what about the lab they sent it too

i'm just saying he ain't that stupid