After all that went on last night, Golden Isles dumps UMP and I guess there’s no tire rule in effect tonight. This could get very interesting.
I’m assuming this has something to do with Bloomquist. You want to tell the story or give me a link to read about it. A link that I don’t have to pay for. 
Try this site…
Thanks for the link. Tried this site earlier but must have loaded the wrong page.
It does look like a mess up there. Hope they straighten it out.
It does look like a mess up there. Hope they straighten it out.
“straightening it out” would involve enforcing the rules they had told everyone that they were going to race by, not throwing the rule book away.
i don’t like that they let Bloomquist attempt a qualifying run after punching a 35 in pre-tech but it appears that the tires harden up quite a bit in just a couple of hard laps so evidently it’s not that unusual to let a guy on ‘soft tires’ make a run. he punched a 38 after qualifying…
I was there last night, I have the bags under my eyes to prove it. The show was competitive and the track was (according to the nice folks I was next to) the best it has been all week. Jimmy Owens checked out for the win but Josh Richards and Shane Clanton had an awesme battle. Rick Eckert started 25th (he won the non qualifiers race)and finished 5th. Earl Pearson slashed through the field too. The SAS shows at the end of the week are open tire rules so this was not unexpected by the drivers, just earlier. I agree that it does stink to modify the rules to suit Bloomquist. Just wish the joint was closer to Orlando.
UMP suspends Scott Bloomquist for one month because of tire violation.
That eliminates Bloomquist from the UMP shows at Volusia during Speedweeks, not sure on the WOO shows. Someone stood up to the big dog.
I have been a part of Dirt Racing for a very long time…30 years. I have worn every hat. Driver, Announcer, writer, Web site Host, Promoter, Race Director.
My feeling on a tire rule is simple. A tire rule should be in place for a weekly racing track. A driver who can afford to pull all across the country, and compete, can afford a full set of all the compounds, or they shouldn’t be on the road chasing it.
Having said that, I have pushed the rules to the limit, and beyond as a driver. As a driver and a car owner, we always try to get the upper hand. I always painted my motors gray. Because I was in the gray area of the rule book. Its a part of racing.
I was never caught with an illegal part on my car. However, I was willing to except what happened to me if they caught me. That’s the chance you take. I know Scott, got out of his car and looked at the Durometer, and knew it was punching under the allowed spec of the UMP Body. However, the UMP official allowed him to Qualify, and then they DQed him. That was wrong. He should not been allowed on the track. The Official dropped the ball on that.
And the plot thickens…This is from 4m
The real story behind “TireGate”
People that know me on this forum know that when i post information about a subject that info is factual. With that being said the following info was past on to me this morning. This information is from a source that was inside that tech building, somone i trust and believe 100%
“Quote
1/28/08 - The reason the tire rule was changed was Scott went to the UMP Officials after the race and asked them to check EPJRs tires. They durometered at 37 after the race. Then Bloomquist asked them to pull the valve stems - which they did. The tire softner odor ran them all out of the tech building - literally. UMP refused to do anything about it; so the GIS staff decided it was in everyone’s best interest to open the rule up. Quote”
2 problems exist here. the 1st being that the cheating is wide spread throughout GIS this week. this problem includes more than just a couple of the above names. it includes some the most talented dirt racers in the country, people’s favorite drivers. i’m sure i’ll get blasted by fans of EPJ for stating the above info… The cheating is so flagarant that there is a trailer in the pits that is just to for rolling tires… thats all thats in the trailer. this whole tiregate scandel was brought on by the racers themselves.
The 2nd problem is that UMP one the largest sanctioning bodys in america has shown there inability to be consistent with policing the rules that they have set forth. if your going to inforce a rule on 1 driver (the biggest name in the sport) than follow through with that rule with the remainder of the drivers. basicly you not aloud to cheat in time trials but its ok in the feature? thats what UMP said when they wouldn’t do anything about EJP’s tires…
Jason Lubin.
Got DIRT!