Jimmy Blewett - 2004: Showtime Mania Meltdown

2004: Showtime Mania Meltdown

2004, was the start of a difficult year for Blewett. Opening Night at Wall, he was suspended due to verbal abuse to an official. A week after, he returned and scored a top five finish, week after that, won a race. Everything was going well, and made up the points that he missed from Opening Night, put him on top. On July 3, 2004 things started coming to a head. After the tire scuffle for the start of the 76 lap event, Harry Reed drove into the back of Blewett (who was outside of John III in front). Blewett pitted his damaged car before the green fell, and Reed never returned to action. While John III, was holding a healthy lead, Blewett returned to the race with 11 laps off the pace. While Blewett's grandfather John Sr. advised him to stay last because, the points were the important thing to score. Suddenly, Blewett furiously veered right into Steven Reed (Harry's son) sending him airborne, and sliding across the speedway. Officials immediately disqualified him from the contest and did not received no points, and when he drove into the pits, Reed's crew and Blewett's crew started throwing punches at each other along with pushing and shoving. Jessie (Blewett's stepmother), and father John, Jr. shielded Blewett's crippled car, and almost the whole crowd rioted into the pits. Finally, Blewett was taken back to his home by Wall Township Police officers after the fights subsided. John won the race and he stated during his interview, "fighting, doesn't sugar coat anything."

Later, Blewett received a four-week suspension and the hopes of winning a third title were over. That was when Showtime Mania, was falling apart.

During those weeks, he raced at Chemung and won a couple of races there. A month and a half later, Blewett returned to Wall and raced the Garden State Classic, and finished 13th because the car overheated. Unfortunately, Blewett finished 11th in points, and he put that regular season behind him but, he won the Turkey Derby in a 100 lap event, along with his brother who won the 125 lap Tour Type Event.