Shannon Babb says new rules threw Scott Bloomquist a curveball in 2020

Babb sat in victory lane at Eldora Speedway over the weekend with a new car from Scott Bloomquist Racing

On Friday night, Shannon Babb parked it in victory lane at Eldora Speedway. He collected the $10,000 preliminary night victory.

As Babb climbed from the car, Babb asked, “Where’s Scott?”

Eldora Speedway introduced the Intercontinental Classic over the weekend. The race is a $200,000 weekend with a Saturday winner’s check of $50,000. The IC is the replacement event for the World 100, which is canceled for 2020.

Bloomquist Chassis has had a trying year in 2020. And, that came out of nowhere, with a surprise rule change at the start of the season.

In 2020, Scott Bloomquist himself has a best finish of 3rd. That run came in late June at the Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, PA during the Firecracker 100.

The struggles haven’t been for Scott alone. Chris Madden was dominating in 2019. That domination was suddenly upended when the game was changed at the start of the year.

But, in recent weeks, the team has made progress.

Eldora is the house that Earl built, but it’s the place that Bloomquist dominates. Heading into Eldora, Bloomquist chassis brought a new car.

Babb knew he had a great Eldora car, weeks ago. On Friday night of the three day show, he went to victory lane in a battle with Josh Richards.

Shannon Babb in victory lane at Eldora Speedway
Shannon Babb in victory lane at Eldora Speedway (Photo: Mike Ruefer)

Shannon Babb from victory lane at Eldora

“This thing would start in the bottom, really good. I was just choosing the top because there was a cushion up there,” Shannon Babb told FloRacing from Eldora victory lane.

“When he took the outside, that gave me the run into turn one. We wasn’t going to give up. This thing is bad to the bone. It’s just a matter of me dialing it in.”

“It been a long time since I’ve been on this stage [at Eldora]. I don’t know, about 20 years.”

“I gotta think Cody Sommer, he personally built this chassis and welded it up himself. He said, the first race we won he was going to come over here and give me a kiss. He hasn’t yet.”

“Scott’s done everything under the sun, trying to make me fast. Tickled we were able to see the front for once.”

This is the same car that was run a few weeks ago in the Topless 100 at Batesville Motor Speedway. Babb made contact with Earl Pearson Jr in that race.

“The car was really good. Now, that I know the car’s fast. I just need to slow myself down and we’ll do even better,” Babb recalled the race at Batesville.

Related: Shannon Babb explains why he mostly runs regional dirt races

Shannon Babb at Eldora Speedway - Intercontinental Classic
Shannon Babb at Eldora Speedway – Intercontinental Classic (Photo: Mike Ruefer)

Shannon Babb on the droop rule with Bloomquist chassis

Back in January, the World of Outlaws announced the Droop Rule. That rule also went into effect on the DIRTcar UMP side of the late model division.

Related: Droop rule announced for national late model scene

The droop rule was created by Ray Cook. He introduced the rule to help prevent rollovers in the Southern National Series. At the same time, it changed the chassis game.

Previously, teams were lifting the rear as high as possible. Sticking the rear spoiler in the air creates extra downforce. In many cases, the spoilers were suddenly higher than the roofs.

The droop rule limits the amount of rear lift on the cars.

Related: Ray Cook on the droop rule, “It’s got a whole list of positives that goes along with it, after the safety aspect”

“You know, they’ve changed the rules a little bit here on the Outlaw/DIRTcar deal. It’s kind of thrown Scott a curveball. It doesn’t fit his car,” Shannon Babb added from victory lane.

“He’s worked and worked to try and come up with something gets him back to where he was at.”

“Don’t get me wrong, that guy ain’t forgot how to drive. His car’s just a tick off because of this new rule.”

“We’ve worked together to try and come up with something. It may not be perfect, but we’re getting better at it.”

Related: Scott Bloomquist tells the fascinating story of the #0

Shannon Babb crash at Eldora Speedway
Shannon Babb crash at Eldora Speedway (Photo: Mike Ruefer)

Final night at Eldora…

In the final night at Eldora, Babb was tangled in a heat race crash as he was working through the inverted field. After a heat DNF, Babb started 18th in the main event and drove all the way to 3rd.

Scott Bloomquist failed to transfer into the show from the heat. Instead, he won the first B Main and started right behind Babb in the feature (19th). Bloomquist followed Babb through the field and finished 7th.

Related: Before the droop rule, Ray Cook tested alternative options


Droop rule penalties

Here’s how the new droop rule is enforced:

-D. Penalties for failing this rule:a.These penalties will be enforced on all Qualifying, Heats, Preliminary and Feature events:

i. 1/16”-inch –1”-inch (50 9/16”-inch to 51 1/2″-inch) –Car and Driver will be penalized 3 positions of that event.

ii. 1 1/16”-inch -2”-inch (51 9/16”-inch –52 1/2″-inch) –Car and Driver will be penalized 5 positions of that event.

iii. Over 2 1/16”-inch (52 9/16”-inch and over) Car and Driver will be scored in the last position of that event.

Related: Kyle Larson had plans to test a Scott Bloomquist dirt late model

Links

World of Outlaws Late Model Series | Scott Bloomquist Racing | Shannon Babb | Eldora Speedway

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