Authorities Confirm Death of Scott Bloomquist

At 7:47 am on August 16, an aircraft accident was reported near Hawkins County, Tennessee. The pilot and sole occupant, race car driver Scott Bloomquist, was killed in the accident.

60-year old Bloomquist was one of the most successful dirt stock car racers of all time. At the start of his career, he won several races and a track championship at the Corona Raceway in California. He quickly became a local star at Kingsport Speedway, and shocked the world by winning the Eldora Speedway's World 100 in both 1988 and 1990. His accomplishments were legendary, and he earned a spot in the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame in 2002. Though Bloomquist faced many physical challenges in recent years, including a leg injury, cancer, and surgery, he remained motivated to excel on the track.

The plane crashed into a barn at Bloomquist’s family farm in Mooresburg, Tennessee. Shortly after, fire and rescue agencies responded to a report of fire and black smoke. Hawkins County Rescue Squad successfully extricated Bloomquist from the airplane for transport to a local forensic center. At approximately 11:29 am local time, the crash scene was cleared.

Bloomquist was not an FAA-certified pilot. The plane he was flying, a two-seat 1938 Piper J3C-65 Cub, had not been licensed for over 12 years.

The news of Bloomquist’s death was confirmed by his friend and fellow racer Reid Millard. He stated that Bloomquist’s mother, Georgette, called him that morning and asked him to announce his friend’s passing.

Later in the day, the Scott Bloomquist Racing facebook page posted: “Nothing can prepare you for a day like 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.”

FMI: www.scottbloomquist.com, www.hawkinscorescuesquad.org