Jimmy Blewett
“Showtime” will be making some cameo’s with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in 2015.
Jimmy Blewett of Howell, N.J. had announced that he will run a part-time Whelen Modified Tour schedule in 2015.
Blewett had recently announced on Facebook that he would run the Whelen Modified Tour season opening Icebreaker at Thompson Speedway in a car on loan from Ed and Connie Partridge of the TS Haulers racing team.
“I’m going to run the Icebreaker and the Spring Sizzler, and a few races here and there throughout the season,” Blewett told NASCAR. “I’m not going to be able to make it full-time, but I’ll be there when I can get there.”
The 2015 Whelen Modified Tour season kicks off April 12, 2015 with the Icebreaker at Thompson Speedway. The Spring Sizzler is scheduled for April 26, 2015.
Blewett, of Howell, N.J., made 63 starts for Partridge from 2005 to 2009 on the Whelen Modified Tour. All five of Blewett’s series victories came driving for Partridge’s team. Blewett last ran full-time with the series in 2012 for his family owned racing team. He made six starts for the team in 2013, but turned his focus more toward his burgeoning career racing in dirt events. He didn’t make any starts with the series in 2014.
Blewett is buying a car from Ed Partridge’s team. It’s the car that Ryan Preece recently ran to victory in the North-South Shootout at Caraway Speedway in Sophia, N.C.
“The car was 90-percent there, so we looked at everything and decided we were going to do it,” Blewett said. “We called up [engine builder] Bob Bruneau, and now that NASCAR does the new spec engine, it’s reasonable to get a new motor and go. So we ordered a new engine from Bruneau, which he got from Robert Yates Racing Engines, and we’re going to try and hit as many races as we can.”
Blewett told NASCAR that the Spec Engine option is a big reason for his return to the series.
“If it wasn’t in place, I don’t think I’d be able to do this right now without the spec engine,” Blewett said. “Now I can get an engine and go racing for the same amount that it would cost just for a motor, and then I wouldn’t be able to go out and race.”
Article shouldn’t assume we all know what a spec engine is cause I don’t.
It’s good to see a positive comment re: the infamous spec engine!
A spec engine is designed to last longer before being freshened. It has less power so if you run it you are allowed to run the bigger caberator than the guys with the regular motors. It’s purpose is to keep the cost down. I’m glad to see Jimmy back behind the wheel!!!!!
Welcome back SHOWTIME…
Initial cost is currently cheaper but I am hearing that cost is going up this year putting it closer to the built engine cost. When you look long term the current spec motor will cost more according to a couple engine builders. Last season they also gave the spec motors less total weight 2620 vs 2645
According to the article (sho time)the spec engine is still cheaper this year by a lot
Good to see Blewett back on the asphalt.
The SPEC engine will cost more to maintain, as has been learned. There were several SPEC motor failures last season. Don’t ask to list them, Bonsignore was one of them. There are built motors out there running the same block, freshened numerous times, for many, many seasons. A SPEC motor block can’t be refreshed, only replaced. The rules are pretty strict on the block, pretty much only RYR can touch it. So it is strange that a SPEC engine block will have to be considered a consumable part, like a gasket. So the teams are going to want to run the motor many more laps before a refresh, and that is risky.
Where can you get a spec engine rules and cost?
http://www.ryr.com/whelen-modified-tours/