By: Ron Burt
I rarely use the word great. You can’t get any better than great. This is the only way to describe the late great Dirt Late Model driver, Scott Bloomquist. He passed away last Friday morning in an airplane crash on his family farm in Mooresburg, TN. The FAA said he crashed his small vintage plane into a barn beside the grass runway. Scott was 60 and still active in racing. That was his love and passion, and he also had a love for flying. Scott didn’t have a pilot’s license. He still built his own race cars, while others bought manufactured frames and chassis. He was old school and one of a kind. He pulled no punches and let his feelings known.
Bloomquist’s first race was at Corona Raceway in Corona, California, in 1980. He won several races and the track championship in 1982. In 1983, he moved to Mooresburg to help his father on the farm and began competing in larger purse races closer to home. In the 1980’s he became a local star at Kingsport Speedway, and in 1988 surprised the racing world by winning the prestigious Eldora Speedway’s World 100. He won this major race 3 more times. Other major wins include, 2004 World of Outlaws Late Model Series champion, 2009, 2010, 2016 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series champion, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000 Hav-A-Tampa Dirt Late Model Series champion, 1995, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2013, 2017, 2018 Eldora Speedway Dirt Late Model Dream winner, 1988, 1990, 2001, 2014 Eldora Speedway World 100 winner, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2014 Blue-Gray 100 winner, and in 2002 was inducted into the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame.
There will be two celebrations of life for the racing icon. Eldora Speedway, Rossburg, Ohio, track where the 60-year-old Bloomquist had some of his greatest successes including an unprecedented eight $100,000 Dream victories and four World 100 triumphs, will host its service on Sept. 7 ahead of the World 100 racing program. Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn., Bloomquist’s de facto home track, will host a service at 7 p.m. Sept. 12.
Scott Dean Bloomquist is survived by his daughter, Ariel, and his parents, Ron and Georgie Bloomquist. A complete obituary will appear when more details are finalized. Arrangements are by Houser-Millard Funeral Directors of Jefferson City, Mo., operated by Bloomquist’s friend and racer Reid Millard. Online condolences may be left at millardfamilychapels.com.
The USAC Silver Crown series had two big events last week. Dakota Armstrong won August 16th at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, IL. The following day at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Speedway, Justin Grant won the prestigious 61st running of the Bettenhausen 100 on the famed Springfield Mile. Next up for the Silver Crown Series will be August 31st, Du Quoin IL, State Fairgrounds.
Your 3 feature winners Friday, August 16th at Attica Raceway Park were 410 Sprint feature Zeth Sabo, Late Model Kyle Moore, and 305 Sprint Bryan Sebetto
Saturday Oakshade Raceway was able to dodge the rain that canceled some area racing programs. Rusty Smith picked up his 3rd Oakshade feature win of the season in the UMP Late Model Class. After multiple lead changes in the final four laps 12 year old Roman Brown won his first Sportsman feature. Imagine a middle school youngster racing 23 grown men 90-100 MPH for 25 laps! Jeff Foks Jr. won the Dominator Stock feature.
Monday, August 19th at Fremont Speedway the 305 Sprints were the headliners during the Sandusky County Fair. DJ Foos won the feature, with Craig Mintz, Dustin Stroup, and Kasey Jedrzejek rounding out the top 4. Until next week, keep your wheels down. Ron Out! (Ohio Sports Blitz on Facebook)
