Scott Bloomquist, a race car driver notorious for his success on dirt tracks, has died, according to multiple reports. He was 60 years old.
The Rogersville Review was the first to report the news, revealing that local authorities had confirmed that Bloomquist was involved in "a small aircraft crash" near his Mooresburg, Tennessee home.
The news was confirmed by Bloomquist's close friend, fellow racer Reid Millard, who announced the tragedy in a Facebook post after receiving a call from Bloomquist’s mother Friday morning.
What happened to Scott Bloomquist?
Bloomquist died in "a small aircraft crash" near his Mooresburg, Tennessee home. According to Millard, the crash occurred around 7:15 a.m. ET on Friday, Aug. 16.
"At 7:15 EST this morning Scott was out flying his vintage airplane and had a crash on the Bloomquist family farm," Millard wrote.
Bloomquist, the son of an airplane pilot, was an avid collector of vintage planes.
Bloomquist was one of the most decorated Dirt Late Model drivers in the sport's history, winning over 600 races during his 40-plus year career. He's the winningest driver in the Late Model Dirt Series, having claimed 94 victories in 497 races in the circuit since his 2004 debut. Bloomquist was thrice named Late Model Dirt Series champion (2009, 2010, 2016). He also was an accomplished driver in World of Outlaws equipment, rounding off a 33-win career with a World of Outlaws title in 2004.
The Fort Dodge, Iowa native had slowed in recent years, felled by injuries to his leg, foot and shoulder, as well as a brief battle with prostate cancer. Still, he chugged along, most recently participating in a Dirt Late Model race on Aug. 3 during the USA Nationals.
A larger-than-life figure who also made appearances in NASCAR's Truck Series and ARCA Menards, Bloomquist was known for his eccentric personality, flowing long hair and the impressive collection of nicknames he accumulated over the course of his career, including "Voodoo Child," "The Bloomer," "The Boss" and "Black Sunshine."
Above all, though, Bloomquist was known for his speed and love for racing, a passion that continued to flourish even as injuries took their toll on his racing ability.
“Mentally has never been an issue,” Bloomquist told Flo Racing last November. “My body has just been so beat up with one thing or another. The mental part of it? I don’t ever see that leaving. I just have to be sure my body can follow through with what my mind is thinking.”
Bloomquist is survived by his daughter, Ariel, his parents and his sister.
Racing community pays tributes to Scott Bloomquist
Motorsports stars far and wide paid tribute to Bloomquist, including Cup Series star Kyle Larson and former Cup Series standouts Kenny Wallace and Clint Bowyer. Additionally, Tyler Reddick dedicated his win at Michigan's FireKeepers Casino 400 to Bloomquist in his post-race interview.