Dirt racing icon Scott Bloomquist died Friday morning in an airplane crash in Tennessee. This news prompted an outpouring of support from the racing community.
The Rogersville Review first reported the news on Friday, writing that Bloomquist had died in a small airplane crash near his home in Mooresburg, Tennessee.
The Hawkins County Rescue Squad also posted an incident update on its Facebook page, saying that emergency crews had responded to the report of a plane crash off Highway 31 around 7:47 a.m. An update at 8:05 a.m. said that emergency crews had confirmed a crash had occurred.
Won a lot of races. Never lost a party.
RIP Legend. pic.twitter.com/TzH2fbuBQ0
— Freddie Kraft (@FreddieKraft) August 16, 2024
"What I have to say about Scott Bloomquist is basically, he was the smartest dirt racer of all time," Kenny Wallace said in a video on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
"He built, designed his own race cars. He won more races than anybody. He won every crown jewel there ever was. There was simply no more left for him to do."
Bloomquist's racing legacy, to Wallace's point, included a staggering amount of success on dirt tracks. According to Speed Sport, he won the Dirt Late Model Dream at Eldora Speedway eight times. Bloomquist also won the World 100 four times.
Scott Bloomquist had a legendary career
8-time Late Model Dirt Champion across 3 series
8-time Dirt Late Model Dream Winner
4-time World 100 Winner
4-time Blue-Gray 100 Winner
2002 National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame inducteeRIP Scott Bloomquist pic.twitter.com/xkwn1E1Kz2
— Seth Eggert (@SethEggert91) August 16, 2024
The list of successes includes 94 races in the Lucas series and 33 with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series. Bloomquist was inducted into the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame in 2002.
The veteran racer also made his way to NASCAR and a grassroots series. He made three ARCA Menards Series starts in 1991. He also made one start in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2013 when he joined Kyle Busch Motorsports for a dirt race at Eldora Speedway.
RIP Scott Bloomquist 😔
— Kyle Larson (@KyleLarsonRacin) August 16, 2024
"Scott Bloomquist's legendary status not only grew out of his accomplishments on track, but his innovations throughout the dirt Late Model industry," the World of Outlaws Late Model Series posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
"He played a key role with Dirtcar Racing and the World of Outlaws, helping to rebuild the World of Outlaws Late Models so it could grow into what it's become today. His influences also helped the evolution of racetracks and chassis over the years.
"Bloomquist's passion for the sport and innovative mind will be deeply missed by all."