NASCAR great Kenny Wallace praised Bloomquist on Friday, calling him "the greatest dirt racer to ever live."
According to the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office, the remains are thought to be those of Bloomquist, though official identification will be confirmed later by county forensics officials.
Reid Millard, owner of Moberly Motorsports Park in Missouri, reported on Facebook that the crash occurred on the Bloomquist family farm. The Hawkins County Rescue Squad was alerted to the crash at 7:47 a.m. on Brooks Road, near Scott Bloomquist Racing's headquarters.
The rescue squad noted that the plane struck a barn, igniting a fire. The body recovered from the wreckage has been sent to forensics investigators.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that only the pilot was aboard the Piper J3C-65 Cub, a model introduced in 1937 and used by the U.S. Army during World War II. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash.
Bloomquist, inducted into the Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame in 2002, was a celebrated figure in dirt track racing with numerous accolades, including Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series championships in 2009, 2010, and 2016; a World of Outlaws championship in 2004; and DIRTcar Summer Nationals titles in 1990, 1991, and 2002. He also holds records for the most wins in both the Hav-A-Tampa Series and Lucas Oil Series.
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Dirt track racing, which has been popular since the 1920s, features two primary types of vehicles: the tall, winged, open-wheel sprint cars, and the more traditionally bodied stock cars or "late model" cars, which were driven by Bloomquist.
Dirt tracks often attract some of the most talented drivers in motorsports, especially those from stock car racing seeking an edge. This is because dirt track racing demands constant focus on steering and acceleration, with cars frequently drifting sideways to maintain balance and traction on the short, oval tracks.
Bloomquist began his racing career in California, according to a World of Outlaws obituary, but later relocated to Tennessee to assist on the family farm while continuing his racing career.
NASCAR legend Tony Stewart praised Bloomquist on the social media platform X, stating that Bloomquist "made dirt racing better." Stewart added, "Scott Bloomquist was one of a kind. He’s probably the smartest guy I’ve ever been around when it comes to dirt racing. What he could do behind the wheel was matched by the ingenuity he brought to building his race cars."
In agreement, Kenny Wallace shared on X, "It’s a very sad morning for me. He was the smartest dirt racer of all time."
Bloomquist had planned to return to dirt track racing with a more active schedule than the occasional race he participated in during his later years, according to the Hunt the Front Super Dirt Series in March. It is unclear if he was able to make that return.
Track owner Reid Millard expressed condolences, saying, "Along with Scott’s daughter Ariel, his parents, his sister, and all who knew and loved Scott, you are in our hearts and prayers. Godspeed, Scott. May you soar high on an eagle’s wing forever."
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