Racing legend Scott Bloomquist dies in plane crash at the age of 60
- Bloomquist was reportedly flying a vintage plane near his family farm
- He won more than 600 races over his 40-year career, mostly on dirt tracks
Dirt-track racing legend Scott Bloomquist was killed Friday morning in an airplane crash.
He was piloting a vintage single-engine Piper J3 when he crashed into a barn on his family farm in Tennessee. Bloomquist was the only person on board.
'Unidentified remains believed to be that of Scott Bloomquist, of Mooresburg, were found in the plane,' read a statement from the Hawkins County Sheriff's Office. 'Positive identification will be made by the Forensics Department.'
Bloomquist won more than 600 races over his 40-year career, most of which was spent driving Late Model on dirt tracks. He is best known for winning nine national championships and the 2004 World of Outlaws Late Model series title. Most recently he won the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.
'RIP Bloomer' began trending on X after news of Bloomquist's death surfaced online.
Scott Bloomquist (0) is pictured during a dirt track race in South Carolina in 2014
Bloomquist was flying a single-engine Piper that's similar to the plane pictured here
He is survived by his daughter, Ariel.
'Scott Bloomquist was different, unique. He was the greatest dirt racer to ever live,' NASCAR and dirt-track legend Kenny Wallace told TimesNews.com.
'He was the smartest dirt racer of all-time. He built and designed his own race cars. He won every crown jewel there ever was. This was simply no more left for him to do.'
There were more reactions on social media.
'Nothing can prepare you for a day like today,' read a post on the Scott Bloomquist Racing page on Facebook. 'With heavy hearts, we have to share the news that we have lost our great friend and hero today. Whether you cheered for him or booed for him, you still made noise, and Scott loved you all equally for that.
'A loving father, a great son, a man who loved his friends and family, and last but not least, one hell of a wheel man.'
Scott Bloomquist (0) Ford Mustang during practice for the 16th Annual Grassy Smith Memorial 50-lap Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series event at Cherokee Speedway
Many fans reacted to Bloomquist's death on Facebook.
'The best there was do it your own way thanks for the long lasting memories in dirt racing rest easy,' read one comment.
'Great driver and also a great friendly man' another fan added. 'RIP champ.'
For the uninitiated, a Late Model race car is a full-bodied vehicle that typically runs on dirt tracks. It is generally considered the highest class of local stock car racing and a pivotal stepping stone to a career in NASCAR.
As a matter of fact, Bloomquist also raced in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Born in Iowa, Bloomquist primarily grew up in California until his father became a pilot working in Eastern Tennessee. Ultimately, as Bloomquist explained in a 2020 interview, he decided that he wanted to make a home in the Volunteer State.
'I remembered how much I liked the hills,' he said. 'I love to fish. I have a couple of ponds and I live on Cherokee Lake. I'm not into traffic jams and where there are too many people. I like the country. I travel a lot and there are very few places I can imagine I would like to live other than here.'
