Much like the field of 32 late models, Bloomquist brushed aside a penalty that dropped him from first place to last on lap 19. He roared back through the field and passed leader Dale McDowell on lap 72 of the 100-lapper around Eldora’s half-mile oval.
The victory was Bloomquist’s fourth World 100 victory and first since 2001. He also won in 1988 and 1990.
“I believe everybody got to witness the fastest race car in the world right there,” said Bloomquist, who earned $47,000. “We talked this week in the shop. I told everybody I was gonna win this race this weekend and here it is.”
Bloomquist, who started fifth, was penalized for having an unapproved window net that some claimed could aid aerodynamics. Bloomquist removed the net, went to the back of the field and still rocketed through traffic. He beat runner-up McDowell of Georgia by half a track. Tennessee’s Jimmy Owens, Illinois’ Jason Feger and Ohioan Matt Miller of Whitehouse rounded out the top five.
McDowell, who won the Dirt Late Model Dream in June, was attempting to become the third driver to sweep both races in the same year.
“The car was just so good and I was so confident,” Bloomquist said. “I knew there was plenty of laps left and I knew the car would work anywhere on the racetrack.
“This is the best Eldora I’ve ever seen. I gotta take my hat off for everyone that worked on (the track). You can see it’s from the top to the bottom wall. I know there was a few times I wasn’t sure if I wasn’t rubbing the inside wall with the left front.”
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