By Robert Walden BULLS GAP, Tenn. (Aug. 24) – Volunteer Speedway has hosted several big-purse special events since the track opened in the mid-1970s, but in just three short years the Scorcher 100 continues to grow in national prominence in the dirt Late Model racing world. Before a track-record, standing-room-only crowd Thursday night, Scott Bloomquist of nearby Mooresburg thrilled the partisan East Tennessee crowd as he led flag-to-flag to capture the Scorcher 100 victory and a $20,000 payday. “What a crowd and what a race the fans saw here tonight,” said a smiling Bloomquist after emerging from his car in victory lane. “We don’t really get to race locally all that much anymore, and to be able to win before so many people who watched me race back many years ago when I was first getting started out is cool. To be able to win over such a strong field of the best dirt Late Model racers in the business is great. I’d have to say this is the most competitive field of cars ever assembled here at Volunteer Speedway. “We had a really good car, but I do believe that the key to our win tonight was getting the lead on the start over (Chris) Madden. With the new dirt surface on the track this year, it’s really not the same as in the past. It’s kind of tough getting the car to work up in the high groove, but we made some changes on the car following practice and I felt we would be able to really drive off hard into the first turn and make it stick up high. I knew if we could carry the momentum up high through turns one and two without getting the car out of shape, I’d be able to launch off (turn) two down the backstretch. Fortunately for us that’s how it played out, because Madden also had a very strong car.” Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., driving the JP Drilling/Turkey Creek Snacks/BASE Race Fuels/Integra Racing Shocks/Oval Craft Racing Aluminum Designs/RaceTek Racing Engines/Hooiser Tire/GRT Race Cars/No. 44 Pontiac GTO, set fast-time at 13.590-seconds (105.960 mph) in qualifying Wednesday night over the stellar 63-car field, with Darren Miller of Chadwick, Ill., second-quickest with a lap of 13.630. Six heat races were run with the top-three finishers from each transferring into the Scorcher 100 starting lineup. Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., recorded the win in the first heat, with Bloomquist capturing the victory in the second heat. Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., won heat three, with Scott Sexton of Pigeon Forge, Tenn., rolling to victory in the fourth heat. Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., captured the win in the fifth heat, while defending Scorcher 100 winner Rick Eckert of York, Pa., recorded the win in heat six. Three last chance consolations Thursday evening advanced the top-two finishers from each into the Scorcher 100 field, with Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., winning the first race, while Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Mark Douglas of Knoxville, Tenn., were winners of heats two and three, respectively. Madden and Bloomquist led the 24-car field to the green, with the duo racing off into the first turn side-by-side. But Bloomquist rode the high-line racing off turn two to power into a lead he would never relinquish. Back around to the stripe to complete the opening lap, Bloomquist led Madden, Scott Sexton, Tim McCreadie and Rick Eckert. Sexton slid up the track between turns one and two on the second lap, opening the door for both McCreadie and Eckert to zoom past and dropping Sexton back to fifth in the running order. Eckert was on the move early, as he dropped low to pass McCreadie racing off the fourth turn on lap 4, then five circuits later he passed Madden to move into the runner-up spot. While Eckert was on the move early towards the front, sixth heat race winner Billy Moyer was also on the move – backwards. Steadily losing positions, by lap 15 Moyer had dropped out of the top 10, with Clint Smith, Darren Miller, Jimmy Mars, Brian Birkhofer and Dan Schlieper all moving past the defending World of Outlaws Late Model Series champion. Meanwhile, up front Bloomquist had saw his 10 car-length advantage over Eckert and Madden shrink as the leader was working lapped traffic. Besides the battle among the top-three in the running order, a quarter of the distance into the 100-lapper the trio of McCreadie, Sexton and Smith were running two- and three-wide through the turns battling for the fourth spot. The event’s first caution waved on lap 30 when Mark Douglas slowed to a stop on the high side between turns three and four. With Bloomquist riding on the point for the restart, Eckert, Madden, McCreadie and Sexton were in tow. Having a clear track ahead of him, Bloomquist, driving the Hawkeye Trucking/Miller Brothers Coal/Allstar Performance/Sweet Mfg. Inc./Ohlins/VP Racing Fuel/Perry County Tire (Hazard, Ky.)/Bloomquist Race Cars/Hoosier by Pup/Hypercoils/Arizona Sport Shirts/Gotta Race/Vic Hill Racing Engines/No. 0 Monte Carlo, flexed his muscle and once again pulled away from Eckert and Madden. While Bloomquist was in command out front, Eckert and Madden were locked in an intense battle for the runner-up position. Just before the race reached halfway, Madden pulled the trigger and sped past Eckert racing off the fourth turn on lap 42 to move into second place. “I was holding on for all I had about halfway into the race,” said defending Scorcher 100 champion Eckert, driver of the Raye Vest/J&J Steel/Cornett Thunder/Rocket Chassis/No. 24 Ford Fusion. “There in the early laps I was able to move from my sixth starting spot to get to second, but I guess we kind of abused the tires some and they began to fade somewhat there around 40 or so laps into the race.” As the race reached lap 50, Bloomquist held an eight car-length lead over Madden, Eckert, McCreadie and Smith. However, with Bloomquist working lapped traffic he once again saw his advantage disappear, as both Madden and Eckert quickly closed in, with McCreadie, driving the Sweeteners Plus/C.M.E. Inc./A&C Speedworld/Bilstein/VP Racing Fuels/C&C Performance/No. 39 Pontiac GTO also creeping into the picture. While Madden was riding in Bloomquist’s tracks, on lap 63 racing off the fourth turn McCreadie passed Eckert to move into third. With 16 cars still racing on the lead-lap, Bloomquist closed in behind Brian Birkhofer and Dan Schlieper to drop them down a lap to the leader with only 25 laps remaining. Smith began pressuring Eckert for fourth, and finally after battling side-by-side for five circuits for the position he completed the pass on lap 78 racing off turn two. Smith pulled to McCreadie’s rear bumper to begin to mount a challenge for the third spot, and on lap 84 between turns three and four he pulled alongside. Using a strong run off the bottom he powered his way past McCreadie to move into third place. Only the second caution of the 100-lap event waved on lap 88 when Schlieper slowed with a flat tire on the high-side of turns three and four. With clear sailing in front of him and only 12 laps to the checkers, Bloomquist quickly shot out to a five car-length advantage over Madden, who had a rearview mirror full of the hard-charging Smith. But Madden, driving the Henderson Amusement/Xtreme Customs & Cycles/Jacky Jones Automotive Group/Time Out Family Restaurant/Rhythm & Cues/Century Plastics/Pancake House/Henderson Motors/Hoosier Dirt Tire South/Big A’s Custom Graphics/Wa-Don Bert/VP Race Fuels/Allstar Performance/Clements Racing Engines/Bloomquist Race Cars/No. 44 Monte Carlo, held his ground and never allowed Smith to mount a serious challenge for the runner-up spot. Bloomquist completed the green-to-checkers run for the $20,000 Scorcher 100 victory over Madden, Smith, McCreadie and Eckert. Along with earning a check for $20,000 from Volunteer Speedway owner Joe Loven, Bloomquist also was awarded in victory lane a $3,000 MagnaBlast hot high-pressure washer from Nick Benson of Magnum Cleaning Systems of Knoxville, Tenn. Completing the top 10 finishers were Mars, Sexton, Miller, O’Neal (up from his 19th-starting position) and Shane Clanton. Eleven cars remained on the lead lap at the end of 100 laps. “I want to thank Bob and Barb Miller (Hawkeye Trucking and Miller Brothers Coal) for their friendship and financial support of my racing, and I’m glad they were here tonight to see this win. I also need to thank Tommy, Tony and Jesse for all they do in working on the car back in the shop during the week and at the track on the weekends. I also want to let track owner Joe Loven know that it’s great to have a big-time dirt Late Model show like the ‘Scorcher 100’ here in the East Tennessee region. Joe’s done a lot of work around this facility and it’s pretty evident to me tonight that the fans have come out to show their support. I hope this event just continues to grow even bigger and bigger.” Besides Bloomquist winning the Scorcher 100, with Madden finishing in second place it was a sweep of the first two positions by Bloomquist Race Cars. “You know, we really had a good car tonight. I guess I should be happy to run second, but I thought we had a really good shot at winning. Scott’s tough here at this track, but I knew if we could grab the lead on the start that we had a legitimate opportunity to win this race. But overall it’s a good deal to have Bloomquist Race Cars come home one-two.” Smith’s run from the seventh starting position to a strong third-place effort had the veteran Georgia campaigner excited. “For us to set quick-time over this strong field of cars assembled for this event, you better believe it put a smile on my face. For some reason over the years I’ve just never run worth a dime here at Volunteer Speedway. Why, I don’t know. “What really hurt us was not winning our heat race, because if I’d won that we would have started from the pole position. Finishing second to Madden dropped us back to a seventh-place start, and when you’ve got guys like Bloomquist, Madden, McCreadie and Eckert starting ahead of you it just makes your work getting to the front that much tougher. We just had to abuse our tires by running so hard to get to where we finished. I guess you could say we just ran out of rubber there on the end. But all-in-all, I’m quite satisfied to come here to ‘The Gap’ and record a solid third-place finish. It’s by far my best run I’ve ever had at this place. And I’ll tell you, the atmosphere here with this big crowd tonight is something else. I believe this ‘Scorcher 100’ is well on its way to becoming one of the big national dirt Late Model events.” Brad Partin jumped into the lead at the drop of the green in the 25-lap “Ramey Ford” Crate Late Model feature over Shane Roberts, Shanon Buckingham, Allen Champ and Warren McMahan. Partin slid high up the track between turns three and four on the third lap, opening the door for Roberts, Buckingham, Champ and McMahan to all speed past before the 16-year-old Partin got back up to full speed. With Roberts, from Bluff City, riding out front on the point, he built a comfortable lead over eight-time winner in 2006 Buckingham. Roberts cruised to his first victory of the season over Buckingham, Champ, McMahan and Partin. Wayne James of Newport captured his second “Lawson Chevrolet” Open Wheel Modified feature win, with his father Danny James, Kurt Hall, Brian Fritts and Shon Flannery rounding out the top five at the checkers. Morristown’s Mike Hodges grabbed the lead at the start of the 20-lap “Bachman Bernard” Hobby Stock feature and held off a hard-charging Jon Cook to record his fourth win of the season. Finishing third through fifth, respectively, were divisional point leader Dustin Shaver, Robert “Monk” Ledford and Mark Hawkins, with his first-ever top-five run. Josh Henry of Newport started from the pole for the Mini Stock feature and led the 20 lap event flag-to-flag to capture his seventh victory of the season. Chasing Henry to the checkers were Brent Hensley, Randy Lane, Kenny Absher and Ernie Stubblefield. Entering the night of racing, Henry and Chuck McMahan were tied for the points lead. But with McMahan not in action due to engine problems, the 16-year-old Henry assumed a commanding advantage in the point standings, with both Hensley and Absher moving past McMahan, dropping him back to fourth in points. Keith Helton of Kingsport captured his fourth consecutive “Renegade” Pure Stock victory. Kevin Darnell appeared headed to his first-ever feature win, leading 12 circuits before being overtaken for the point by Helton only three laps from the finish. Finishing third through fifth, respectively, were Josh Driskill, Marion Guy and Eddie Smith. “SCORCHER 100” - VOLUNTEER SPEEDWAY – BULLS GAP, TN (Showing Finish Position, Starting Position, Driver Name, Car #, Hometown, Purse Winnings) 1. (2) Scott Bloomquist #0-Mooresburg, TN $20,000 2. (1) Chris Madden #44-Gray Court, SC $7,500 3. (7) Clint Smith #44-Senoia, GA $5,000 4. (3) Tim McCreadie #39-Watertown, NY $4,500 5. (6) Rick Eckert #24-York, PA $3,800 6. (10) Jimmy Mars #28-Menominee, WI $3,750 7. (4) Scott Sexton #52-Pigeon Forge, TN $3,700 8. (8) Darren Miller #32D-Chadwick, IL $3,650 9. (19) Don O’Neal #71-Martinsville, IN $3,600 10. (12) Shane Clanton #25-Locust Grove, GA $3,550 11. (16) Dale McDowell #17m-Chickamauga, GA $3,500 12. (14) Brad Neat #41-Dunnville, KY $3,450 13. (24) Randy Weaver #116-Crossville, TN $3,350 14. (22) Steve Smith #3-Powell, TN $3,300 15. (11) Brian Birkhofer #15b-Muscatine, IA $3,250 16. (9) Dan Schlieper #9-Sullivan, WI $3,200 17. (23) Darrell Lanigan #29-Union, KY $3,150 18. (15) Steve Francis #15-Ashland, KY $3,100 19. (5) Billy Moyer #21-Batesville, AR $3,000 20. (17) Mark Vineyard #4-Powell, TN $3,000 21. (13) Chub Frank #1*-Bear Lake, PA $3,000 22. (18) Ray Cook #53-Brasstown, NC $3,000 23. (21) Mark Douglas #52D-Knoxville, TN $3,000 24. (20) Ronnie Johnson #5-Chattanooga, TN $3,000 “SCORCHER 100” – HEAT RACES (Top-3 Finishers Transfer Into Starting Lineup) Heat 1: 1) Chris Madden #44; 2) Clint Smith #44; 3) Chub Frank #1*; 4) Vic Hill #1; 5) Don O’Neal #71; 6) Jeff Maupin #1m; 7) Joe Ramey #2; 8) Jackie Boggs #4B; 9) Skip Arp #31; 10) Glen Vanover #202; 11) Herman Goddard #22 Heat 2: 1) Scott Bloomquist #0; 2) Darren Miller #32D; 3) Brad Neat #41; 4) Ronnie Johnson #5; 5) Darrell Lanigan #29; 6) Kerry Jones #6; 7) Todd Morrow #75; 8) Rick Norris #25; 9) Shane Roberts #32w – Did Not Start: Brett Miller #47, Mike Smith #4 Heat 3: 1) Tim McCreadie #39; 2) Dan Schlieper #9; 3) Steve Francis #15; 4) Randy Weaver #116; 5) Jonathan Davenport #49; 6) John Blankenship #23; 7) Billy Ogle Jr. #201; 8) Rick Rogers #44; 9) Jason Witherite #25; 10) Scott James #83 – Did Not Start: Mike Marlar #157 Heat 4: 1) Scott Sexton #52; 2) Jimmy Mars #28; 3) Dale McDowell #17m; 4) Steve Smith #3; 5) Damon Eller #I4; 6) Dale Ball #7; 7) Joe Armes #77; 8) Steve Jones #j3; 9) Michael Jackson #Q; 10) Jeep VanWormer #55 Heat 5: 1) Billy Moyer #21; 2) Brian Birkhofer #15b; 3) Mark Vineyard #4; 4) Bobby Giffin #97; 5) Brandon Kinzer #18; 6) Freddy Smith #00; 7) Jason Smith #12; 8) G.R. Smith #22; 9) Tim Dohm #6T; 10) Lewis Hudson #0 Heat 6: 1) Rick Eckert #24; 2) Shane Clanton #25; 3) Ray Cook #53; 4) Mark Douglas #52D; 5) Josh McGuire #41; 6) Earl Pearson Jr. #1; 7) Brady Smith #2; 8) Greg Johnson #4; 9) Jake Knowles #66; 10) Jimmy Owens #20 CONSOLATION #1 (Top-2 Finishers From Each Consolation Transfer Into Starting Lineup) 1) Don O’Neal #71; 2) Steve Smith #3; 3) Damon Eller #I4; 4) Jeff Maupin #1m; 5) Dale Ball #7; 6) Joe Ramey #2; 7) Jackie Boggs #4B; 8) Steve Jones #j3,; 9) Michael Jackson #Q; 10) Herman Goddard #22 – Did Not Start: Vic Hill #1, Joe Armes #77, Steve Jones #j3, Skip Arp #31, Jeep VanWormer #55, Glen Vanover #202 CONSOLATION #2 1) Ronnie Johnson #5; 2) Darrell Lanigan #29; 3) Jason Smith #12; 4) Kerry Jones #6; 5) Todd Morrow #75; 6) Brett Miller #47; 7) Brandon Kinzer #18; 8) Lewis Hudson #0; 9) Rodney Kiker #25; 10) Tim Dohm #6T – Did Not Start: Bobby Giffin #97; Freddy Smith #00, G.R. Smith #22, Shane Roberts #32w, Mike Smith #4 CONSOLATION #3 1) Mark Douglas #52D; 2) Randy Weaver #116; 3) Jonathan Davenport #49; 4) Earl Pearson Jr. #1; 5) Greg Johnson #4; 6) John Blankenship #23; 7) Josh McGuire #41; 8) Rick Rogers #44; 9) Jake Knowles #66; 10) Jason Witherite – Did Not Start: Brady Smith #2; Billy Ogle Jr. #201, Scott James #83, Jimmy Owens #20, Mike Marlar #157 “RAMEY FORD” CRATE LATE MODEL (25 laps) 1) Shane Roberts #17s; 2) Shanon Buckingham #44; 3) Allen Champ #11c; 4) Warren McMahan #33; 5) Brad Partin #1; 6) Logan Hickey #16; 7) Kelly Glass #01; 8) Austin Dillon #3; 9) Larry Rowe #R0; 10) Chris Manning #03; 11) Ricky Moore #75; 12) Todd Brooks #48; 13) Richard Adkins #A18; 14) Hank Hall #117; 15) Harry T. Cadmus #88; 16) Brad Kenyon #98; 17) Brandon Taylor #55; 18) Hugh "Wishbone" Scalf #56; 19) Brad Dyer #20; 20) John King Jr. #11k; 21) James Cole #5; 22) Dave Burks #B1 – Did Not Start: William Travis #36 “LAWSON CHEVROLET” OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED (25 laps) 1) Wayne James #4; 2) Danny James #j4; 3) Kurt Hall #H14; 4) Brian Fritts #B4; 5) Shon Flannery #98; 6) Mike Lewis #15; 7) Rex Chatman #3T; 8) Jason Smelcer #1 – Did Not Start: Stanley Donahoo #00, Scott Helton #27 “BACHMAN BERNARD” HOBBY STOCK (20 laps) 1) Mike Hodges #m2; 2) Jon Cook #0z; 3) Dustin Shaver #7; 4) Robert “Monk” Ledford #41; 5) Mark Hawkins #44; 6) Chris Gregg #9; 7) Patrick Flannery #38; 8) Terry Dean #47; 9) Dale Reed #52; 10) Robbie Woods #16; 11) Gary Sanders #14; 12) Mike Mays #30; 13) Jamie Whitt #1; 14) Rick Fillers #2; 15) Everett Cobb #13; 16) Emory Harvery Jr. #74; 17) Shawn Nease #2x; 18) Jason Light #5; 19) Chuck Johnson #17; 20) Charles Ayers #2 – Did Not Start: Donnie Stuart #10, Matt Letterman #49 MINI STOCK (20 laps) 1) Josh Henry #B00; 2) Brent Hensley #70; 3) Randy Lane #5; 4) Kenny Absher #11; 5) Ernie Stubblefield #21; 6) Terry Dean #15; 7) Chad Jeffers #38; 8) Toby Jones #66; 9) Allen Carrier #B1; 10) Frank Dice #44; 11) Jamie James #T15 “RENEGADE” PURE STOCK (15 laps) 1) Keith Helton #9; 2) Kevin Darnell #11; 3) Josh Driskill #D00; 4) Marion Guy #20; 5) Eddie Smith #8; 6) Terry Dean #15