Bloomquist & O'Neal Help Make Lucas Oil L.M. Nationals 'The Real Deal' With 'No Weak Links'
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Dirt late model veterans Scott ‘No Weak Links’ Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tennessee, and ‘the Real Deal’ Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Indiana, have entered the second annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals at the Knoxville Raceway, September 29-30-October 1. Both Bloomquist, a native of Fort Dodge, and O’Neal have raced at the historic half-mile dirt oval in the past, although neither has parked his car in victory lane. Scott and Don have to be considered favorites for this year’s $35,000-to-win open competition Speed-televised event.
According to Knoxville director of racing Ralph ‘Cappy’ Capitani, “Gang, this show just continues to pick up momentum. We are thrilled to welcome defending World of Outlaws champion Scott Bloomquist back to Knoxville. As a three-time World 100 and three-time Eldora Dream winner, he instantly becomes a factor for the 100-lap finale. And I don’t think anyone will forget Don O’Neal’s performance here last year. And now this year he’s leading the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series points! These guys are tough, so I expect everyone else will have to lift their game a little come late September and early October.”
Bloomquist will pilot his own Ford-powered late model number 0, which is sponsored by Miller Brothers Coal. O’Neal will steer his own C.J. Rayburn-built dirt late model number 71, which is sponsored by A-1 Auto Salvage, Well Pict Berries and Jay Dickens Motors. Besides Bloomquist and O’Neal, other pre-entries for the Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals are such national standouts as Rick Eckert and Chub Frank of Pennsylvania, Clint Smith of Georgia, Donnie Moran of Ohio, Johnny Bone (Jr.) of Arkansas, Steve Shaver of West Virginia, Earl Pearson, Jr., of Florida, Kyle Berck and John Anderson of Nebraska, Dan Schlieper, Brady Smith and Jimmy Mars of Wisconsin, John Duty of Oregon, Justin Fegers of Minnesota, Chris Smyser of Missouri, Darren Miller of Illinois, Jeep Van Wormer of Michigan, Scott James of Indiana, and defending champion Brian Birkhofer of Iowa.
Combine the commitment of the ten sanctioning affiliates, including the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and the Stacker2 World of Outlaws (WoO) Late Model Series, with the Vermeer Manufacturing ‘Deuces Wild’ partnership involving KC Raceway’s Dirt Track World Championship, and Knoxville’s $220,000 three-day extravaganza begins to take shape as one of the true crown jewels of dirt late model racing. Those seeking more information on the second annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals at the Knoxville Raceway, September 29-30-October 1, are encouraged to visit the track’s web-site at www.knoxvilleraceway.com.
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