MOORESBURG, Tenn. — Legendary dirt late model racer Scott Bloomquist died in a plane crash Friday morning near his home in this Tennessee community.
According to a release from the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office, a small plane flown by Bloomquist crashed into a barn. Other published reports indicated that the plane was his vintage aircraft and that the plane went down on the Bloomquist family farm.
Officers found unidentified remains of one occupant, which is believed to be Bloomquist. A positive identification will be made by the forensics department and the Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the crash, according to the release.
Bloomquist, who was originally from Fort Dodge, Iowa, has raced sparingly in recent years after recovering from injuries received in a motorcycle accident in 2019. The 60-year-old late model Hall of Famer amassed more than 600 victories in a career that has spanned more than 40 years.
Known for his popular No. 0 late models, Bloomquist has nine national championships to his credit racing in various touring series and he has won the Dirt Late Model Dream at Eldora Speedway eight times and the World 100 at the famed half-mile track on four occasions.
His most recent national title came in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series in 2016. Among his other titles were four UDTRA Hav-A-Tampa Series crowns and a pair of UMP Summer Nationals titles.
Bloomquist has won 43 dirt late model races that paid $30,000 or more to win. He’s won 94 races in the Lucas series and another 33 with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series.
He’s also competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the ARCA Menards Series.
Bloomquist, who was elected to the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame in 2002, is also well known for his chassis building business — Team Zero Race Cars.
The popular racer also collected nicknames having been known as “Voodoo Child,” “Bloomer,” “The Boss” and “Black Sunshine” during his career.
Bloomquist competed during June’s Dirt Late Model Dream at Eldora and was involved in a wild crash that saw his late model flip.
SPEED SPORT will update this story as more details become available.
A photo tribute can be found here.