Blewett Completes His Recovery From Major Surgery Winning Hall Of Fame Mod 100

Jimmy Blewett was back where he belongs Saturday night at Wall Stadium, returning to Victory Lane after missing most of the 2025 season while recovering from major surgery and then spending much of the 2026 campaign searching for the right combination.

This past Saturday night, everything finally came together.

“I felt I had a race-winning car in practice,” Blewett said. “We put a lot into this car this week. It’s a different car from the one I ran last week. Frankie (Boardwick) came down here and worked on the motor during the week, Billy (Cole) and I got it dialed in, and it showed tonight. This is the PSR car I ran earlier this year and parked.”

It has been a remarkable journey back to full health and to the form that produced 88 Modified victories over a quarter-century career.

“I’ve been close a lot of times. I was close in the Turkey Derby, ran fast all week at New Smyrna in February and we were quick at Dominion. I knew it would come. We just stayed working on the cars all year,” Blewett said.

“I went through a life-changing experience. You have a lot of self-doubt. But I never stopped believing that I would win again.”

Blewett also admitted the victory carried extra emotion following the recent passing of family friend and fellow racer Kevin Flockhart.

“When he was sick, he told me to keep trying, that I’d get there. He told me he’d send me a sign. I guess tonight was Kevin’s sign,” Blewett said, his voice momentarily cracking.

Although his recovery from surgery is complete, Blewett acknowledged that the countless hours he and the John Blewett Inc. crew devoted to preparing Wall Stadium for the 2026 season took a physical toll.

“I wore myself out helping to get this track back together,” Blewett said. “Overall, I feel great, just tired because I put so much of myself into everything I do. I try all the time to make everything perfect. So I feel like I’m 100 percent, but I know I need to get a little rest.”

As if recovering from major surgery and helping rebuild the speedway wasn’t enough, Blewett and his family have also been dealing with serious problems at home.

“Our house developed a leak that caused mold,” he explained. “I’ve had to take the house apart and gut it down to the studs except for one room where we’re living. It’s an ongoing project.”

Blewett also addressed the controversial incident with Jarret DiGiantomasso while battling for the lead. Contact between the two sent DiGiantomasso spinning and moved Blewett into the top spot.

“There are a few here who go into full defense mode when they know you’ve gotten them,” Blewett said. “They’d rather crash into you than run their own race. On that one restart, we took the green and he cut right down on me in the corner and got hooked onto my right rear.”

Despite the health challenges, the demands of helping restore Wall Stadium and the difficulties at home, Blewett left the speedway with something he had been missing for quite some time — complete confidence.

“There has been a lot going on,” Blewett said. “But now I can come to the track knowing I can expect the car to be where it needs to be.”