Scott Bloomquist on the Gateway Dirt Nationals bullring: “The speed’s not there but it’s still a handful.”
“If you ain’t going fast enough to die, it’s not a race track,” Scott Bloomquist said last year as he pulled into the Gateway Dirt pit area for the first time.
He made that comment on a Thursday, ahead of any laps turned on the 1/5 mile bullring in St. Louis. We all know what happened from there. 3 days later, Scott Bloomquist stood in victory lane with the winners check.
Has your opinion changed since winning that race?
“Well, it’s kind of just a deal that what I prefer is fast race tracks,” Scott Bloomquist told RacingNews.co at the 2017 Gateway Dirt Nationals.
“The race track here, it actually raced better than I expected, last year. It looks like they got a little different dirt on it, this year. So, it might race different this year.”
“Anyway, the speed’s not there but it’s still a handful. You’ve definitely got a job to do, for sure.”
Scott Bloomquist can win anywhere, we all know that. Still, drivers usually have a style of racing which they prefer or they excel at. I’ve always considered Scott Bloomquist a bullring guy.
Honestly, I’m not sure where I pick that up that notion from. Maybe it’s the general attitude of the Bloomquist brand. Maybe it’s simply more about the area he’s from, which features a lot of fast high banked but smaller race tracks.
You’re saying that’s probably not the case?
“No, I think I’m more known for my big track stuff. If I am anything.”
“But, I don’t really have something where I’m put in a damn category like that. We’ve won everything.”
“I kinda like running the mile tracks. A lot of guys don’t like that. I like running on a mile with a dirt car.”
“Growing up in California, where I raced the most was a 5/8 mile track. I kinda cut my teeth on a big race track.”
I’m pretty sure Bloomquist was referring to Corona Raceway in Corona, California. That track, now defunct, was where Bloomquist began his career in racing. His first race took place there on August 1980.
“I still went to the little race tracks but I like going fast. You don’t tear as much stuff up on the damn big tracks. There’s usually a lot more room. If you do wreck, it’s pretty severe.”
“But, I like keeping our equipment looking good. On these little tiny race tracks, it’s kinda hard to do.”
Last night, Scott Bloomquist suffered damage in his heat race. He was forced to the LCQ, which he won. Bloomquist then drove from the tail of the field to finish 6th in last nights main event.
Bloomquist enters the final night of the Gateway Dirt Nationals defending winner. Tonight, the dirt late model class will race for $30,000.
More
Related: Scott Bloomquist discusses his new hauler
Related: Scott Bloomquist makes a case against driver suspensions
