Cleaning Up: Jimmy Blewett Leaving Dirt Racing Behind For Return To Asphalt Modifieds

Jimmy Blewett works on his car during a Whelen Modified Tour event in July 2013 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Jimmy Blewett works on his car during a Whelen Modified Tour event in July 2013 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

The Blewett name in racing revolves around asphalt Modifieds.

And after diving headfirst the past few seasons into dirt racing, Jimmy Blewett is coming.

Blewett confirmed to RaceDayCT on Wednesday that he has sold all his dirt racing equipment in preparation for a return to racing Modifieds in 2016.

Blewett said his return to Modified racing will include a part-time schedule with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour while also running part-time at his home track of Wall Stadium, in Wall, N.J.

“I missed it,” said Blewett, of Howell, N.J. “… When I would watch the races on computer or see them on TV I’d get that feeling where I wanted to be back there and I wanted to race. But you can only do what you can do. You’re only one person.”

Blewett’s last Whelen Modified Tour start came in the Budweiser King of Beers 150 on Aug. 15, 2013. He finished seventh in that event. He ran full-time in 2012, finishing eighth in the season standings before turning his focus to dirt racing.

He said Wednesday he was preparing to ship out the last of his dirt racing equipment.

“It just got to be too much for me,” Blewett said. “I enjoy doing it, but I didn’t enjoy the work aspect. Everything takes a lot of work but dirt takes a lot more work than asphalt does. The crew guys that I had for the last four years kind of went by the wayside over the last year and half because of family commitments and job commitments and stuff like that and they weren’t able to come over and give me the time I needed to get to the track. It was just too much on me.”

Blewett, 35, said he plans on running six to eight Whelen Modified Tour events in 2016 for a family owned team.

Blewett will drive the Boehler Racing Enterprises Ol’ Blue No. 3 in the John Blewett III North-South Shootout on Nov. 7 at Concord (N.C.) Speedway.

He is not ruling possible starts in the final two Whelen Modified Tour events of this year, the NAPA Fall Final 150 at Stafford Motor Speedway on Oct. 4 and the Sunoco World Series 150 at Thompson Speedway on Oct. 18.

“I have my own car, the one that Connie and Eddie Partridge gave me to use the end of last season,” Blewett said. “With work and racing on dirt I haven’t really been able to get to any races with it. It’s not 100 percent put together yet. I just kind of sold all the dirt stuff and started this planning. I want to get everything in line. I need to get my team in order and my shop in order, my cars in order. When I roll out I want to be 100 percent.

“I really haven’t talked much about running the last two Tour races. Basically, if we can get the stuff together and get a crew together in time, there’s a possibility we could make the last two races. If not, we’ll be shooting for next season.”

Blewett has 105 career Whelen Modified Tour starts dating back to 2001, with five career victories and 21 top-fives. His last series win came on Aug. 8, 2008 at Stafford Motor Speedway.

Comments

  1. Ray Skoglund says

    Good to hear.
    Jimmy’s a racer!

  2. Welcome back !

  3. Modified racing is just not the same without the Blewett name.

  4. Well. the tow truck count will have to go up.

    Welcome back Jimmy .

  5. Andy Boright says

    A lack of sucess on the dirt side probably was a big motivating factor. Plenty of big dirt race opportunities near Blewitt’s homebase, but you better have your stuff together when the big dogs invade places like New Egypt & Grandview.

  6. We will miss Jimmy on the dirt for sure, but he proved he can do both more then once. I see what he means about the cost and the time to try to do both. He is a really great driver and he is going to do what he likes the best. Good Luck Jimmy and I’m sure will do great. I’m a dirt man but hope to see you in action at Wall.

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