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Longtime dirt Late Model racer Scott Bloomquist killed in plane crash
Longtime dirt track racer Scott Bloomquist was killed in a plane crash on Friday. He was 60 years old.
The Rogersville (Tennessee) Review reported that Bloomquist was involved in a small plane crash near his him in Mooresburg, Tennessee. The Hawkins County Rescue Squad posted to Facebook on Friday morning that it had responded to a plane crash.
After news of Bloomquist's death became public, many current and former drivers paid tribute to him on social media.
RIP Scott Bloomquist 😔
— Kyle Larson (@KyleLarsonRacin) August 16, 2024
Sad to hear of the passing of Scott Bloomquist. The stories are endless! You simply couldn’t fit his life into just one movie, It’ll take a series! RIP #blacksunshine #noweaklinks #18 ☯️ pic.twitter.com/XcFgAP83gz
— Clint Bowyer (@ClintBowyer) August 16, 2024
Bloomquist is one of the most successful and influential dirt track Late Model drivers ever. The Iowa native won multiple championships, including the 2004 World of Outlaws Late Model Series title. That title came two years after he was inducted into the Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame.
“Scott Bloomquist’s legendary status not only grew out of his accomplishments on track, but his innovations throughout the dirt Late Model industry,” World Racing Group CEO Brian Carter said in a statement.
“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.”
Bloomquist won dirt Late Model races all over the country throughout his career. He scored 33 Late Model wins in the World of Outlaws series and had 94 wins in nearly 500 starts across the last two decades in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.
He had dealt with health issues in recent years that limited his racing schedule. Bloomquist suffered significant lower body injuries in a 2019 motorcycle accident and was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2023 while also dealing with a back injury.
Earlier this year, Bloomquist had to be taken to the hospital after suffering an allergic reaction to a horsefly bite. He said he didn’t realize the fly had bitten him on the leg at first because of lingering numbness in his legs from the motorcycle crash.
“Well, then I stood up and I went down to on my knees. I got dizzy and [Bloomquist's girlfriend] kind of caught me, and she said, ‘I’m calling the ambulance.’ I’m like, ‘No, don’t call no ambulance. I don’t need no ambulance.’ Well, good thing she didn’t listen, because when (the rescue squad) showed up and checked my blood pressure, it was like 50-something over 40-something, and they said they couldn’t even believe I was coherent, which I wasn’t real good coherent, but I remember them showing up.
“Then I don’t remember anything after that,” he added. “They loaded me up and took me to the hospital.”
Bloomquist's last World of Outlaws feature start came in early August when he finished 23rd in the feature at Cedar Lake Speedway.
