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Daily Dirt

Dave Argabright

Dave lives in Fishers, Ind., and has been an auto racing broadcaster and writer for more than 30 years.
August 16, 2024

Blog: Reflections on a titan

Tyler Carr

The text came early this morning, a reminder how quickly bad news can sweep across the horizon to blot out the sunshine and steal the joy of a promising new day.

Scott Bloomquist, killed early this morning while flying his airplane near his Mooresburg, Tenn., home.

At first, it sounded impossible. Bloomer, you see, was an unstoppable force, operating beyond normal human constraints. It would take more than a silly airplane to silence him. This was surely yet another Internet hoax.

But no, it was true. The life of one of the most influential and impactful people motorsports has ever known had ended.

Many emotions rushed through my mind: shock, sadness, disbelief. A great many memories immediately came to the surface: reflections of good times, amazing performances, memorable interviews, long and enjoyable conversations.

No person has dominated the culture of Dirt Late Model racing over the last four decades more than Scott. His incredible success, his outsized personality, his far-reaching technical influence, his polarizing comments, his controversies, and his unyielding independence combined to create the most compelling motorsports figure of modern times. He defied all attempts to define him and he operated within his own set of rules.

All of that — the abundant victories, the outsized influence on the world around him — was exactly what Scott desired. As a young and inexperienced racer he set out to be the greatest at his craft and never wavered from that mission. He sought not just to be the best, but the most important and the most impactful. He never grew tired of the sharp glare of the spotlight because the spotlight was the thing he most desired.

Some 20 years ago, my interactions with Scott increased dramatically when I began working as a pit reporter for broadcasts of Dirt Late Model races, first on Speed TV and later on MavTV. I wasn’t quite sure what to make of this guy; certainly his reputation preceded him. But he was immediately friendly, and always willing to talk.

At first our conversations were measured and professional, but over time we began to talk of many things beyond racing. To be sure, Scott had some views that were far outside the mainstream. That said, he was also surprisingly human.

I say surprisingly, because there were elements he worked hard to keep people from seeing. His humanity, his vulnerability, his doubts, his faults. He preferred to project an aura of invincibility, and for the most part, he did. But as we all know, none of us are invincible.

And so began a friendship that was cemented over late-night conversations in a darkening pit area, after everyone had gone. Those were the times when I came to know Scott not as a racing titan, not as a lightning rod of controversy, but as a man who was still trying to figure it all out.

Just like the rest of us.

I distinctly remember a night some years ago at Wheatland, Mo., when Scott was as deflated as I had ever seen him. Bottom line: he missed his wife and young daughter, back home in Tennessee. When the racing finished that night at Lucas Oil Speedway he announced to his crew that they would load up and drive back to Mooresburg because it would give him one day at home. Then they would make the drive all the way back to the next race — Cedar Lake, perhaps. Scott’s crew chief, Tommy Hicks, pleaded with Scott to reconsider. Going home meant 25 hours of riding in the truck, just to gain a few hours at home. Scott finally relented, but as he talked to me that night he was lonely and hurting. Even the titan sometimes longed for something beyond the next race.

But through our many conversations, I never felt that I truly knew Scott. Not really. Frankly, I believe Scott sometimes struggled to fully know and understand himself. It was like he was driven by competing forces, pulling him this way and that. Most of all he was consumed with an insatiable appetite to win ... at anything and everything he attempted.

Somewhere along the way, Scott connected with Randy Sweet, a mercurial free spirit and a guru in the realm of designing and manufacturing racing steering systems. If there were ever two peas in a pod, it was Scott and Randy. Equal parts brilliant and eccentric, they shared many memorable times. Massive appetites, massive egos, massive brainstorming sessions, massive ideas and opinions ... everything they did together was about five clicks past normal. They were fiercely loyal to one another, however, and kindred spirits. They shared one key philosophy: life was meant to be lived over the top — in every way.

There is a memory — a vision, actually — that is forever burned in my mind. It was a warm and sunny Sunday morning in Florida, one of those glorious February days when winter seems a million miles away. We had raced at East Bay the previous week, and Scott wrapped things up with a victory in the Saturday finale the night before. Everyone packed up and headed north to Ocala for a Sunday night race.

Somewhere along I-75 I spotted them. A convertible Mustang rental, rolling easily in the right lane, with the top rolled back. Scott behind the wheel, his long hair fluttering in the wind. Randy riding shotgun, his right hand resting on his head to keep his hat from blowing off. An enormous trophy perched in the back seat, towering a good 6 feet above the windshield line of the Mustang.

Riding in style, the two audacious friends. On to the next race.

Randy’s passing in 2019 was a tremendous loss for Scott, and it came in the midst of a tumultuous period. After years of success and triumph, Scott’s fortunes had taken a dramatic and difficult turn. There was a serious motorcycle accident that brought multiple surgeries, a lingering shoulder injury, a painful divorce ... the setbacks kept coming. Through it all, the legendary Bloomquist magic on the racetrack was now eluding him.

In late 2021 I stepped away from doing television and didn’t see my racing friends as often as before. My last visit with Scott came at the World Finals at Charlotte this past November.

They were struggling to find speed, and as I approached Scott’s pit it was obviously not a good night. But when Scott saw me he immediately smiled and turned his attention to our conversation. He was supremely confident — as always — that they were just on the cusp of regaining the upper hand with his racing program. We had a nice discussion and he invited me to come down to Mooresburg sometime for a visit.

“I miss our conversations,” he said with a smile. I missed them, too. I said I’d like very much to take him up on his offer. But, as we often do, we never got around to making it happen.

I’ve never known anyone quite like Scott Bloomquist. I doubt I ever will. He was —and is — difficult to describe and impossible to define. His passing leaves an enormous vacuum in Dirt Late Model racing and throughout motorsports. He is one of the most dynamic and colorful characters our sport will ever know. His impact on the sport is literally beyond measure.

The sadness of the moment is mixed with a profound gratitude that I was privileged to witness the arc of Scott’s career, and privileged to call him my friend. He wasn’t perfect — just like the rest of us — but perhaps that’s what made him all the more compelling.

Life is just for a little while. No matter the outcome, no matter the ending, I doubt that Scott would have changed much. Only one thing, I suspect: He would have tried to soar even higher.

Rest easy, my friend. We are going to miss you.

Comments

  1. 1.
    August 16, 2024
    5:37 pm
    Well said , truly the GOAT.
  2. 2.
    August 16, 2024
    6:37 pm
    Excellent
  3. 3.
    August 16, 2024
    6:49 pm
    OMG...we have lost a true legend...the dirt late model racing world will never see his equal....RIP GOAT!!!
  4. 4.
    August 16, 2024
    7:01 pm
    W0w that was so outstanding in words, godbless
  5. 5.
    August 16, 2024
    7:08 pm
    1st time I ever saw Bloomquist was at Atomic Speedway (TN,) around 84/85 I think , I was in high school and he was there in a chevy box type van with an open trailor . We were standing on the wall in the pits (you could do that back in the day) in front of his van/trailer . It was him and a very hot girl and he was friendly . I thought that hippie was the coolest mother humper I had ever seen . RIP sir .
  6. 6.
    August 16, 2024
    7:23 pm
    Awesome Story
  7. 7.
    August 16, 2024
    7:50 pm
    Great read, Dave. Seeing you interview Scott on MAVTV were some of the memories that made me a dirt racing and Scott Bloomquist fan. We lost an all time legend.
  8. 8.
    August 16, 2024
    8:09 pm
    No surprise that you found all the right words Dave. Our sport has definitely suffered a huge loss. Rest in peace Scott. And prayers to his entire family and friends.
  9. 9.
    August 16, 2024
    9:04 pm
    Thanks Dave. Well said, as usual.
  10. 10.
    August 16, 2024
    10:13 pm
    Well said Dave, you put into words what we all want to say.

    I just wish the book woulda came out before his passing. Now I don’t think we will ever get a true insight into Scott’s life.

    That and and one more win streak that’ll never happen.

    At the top of my racing heroes with my Dad and Donnie Moran.

    I truly feel bad for Ariel. Losing her Dad at 18, when you’re right on the cusp of life changing moments.

    We are going to miss you Bloomer🖤☀️
  11. 11.
    August 16, 2024
    10:24 pm
    Nailed it! like always :) great piece
  12. 12.
    August 16, 2024
    10:34 pm
    I've been trying to wrap my mind around Scott Bloomquist's untimely passing since I first read of it this morning.
    Thank you for the excellent write up Dave.
  13. 13.
    August 17, 2024
    12:07 am
    The Man the Myth the Legend no more needs to be said.Nice piece Dave very well spoken.Rest in peace Scott.Thoughts and Prayers for the family.
  14. 14.
    August 17, 2024
    5:52 am
    Excellent piece Dave. You always find the right words.
    God Speed Scott.
    Thoughts and Prayers to his family and friends.
    Hopefully one day I will see you race on the other side.
  15. 15.
    August 17, 2024
    8:20 am
    A great report thanks the first time I see Scott was at atomic in the 80s he ran 3rd that night in a big race and I thought man this guy is going to be good he had the track record at 3 tracks in east tenn I had a t shirt with it printed on it atomic bullsf gap an 1 more. Richard bouldin
  16. 16.
    August 17, 2024
    8:20 am
    What a peaceful article, Dave. Your words always are soothing, even in times of despair. Thanks for sharing your memories as only you can.
  17. 17.
    August 17, 2024
    8:35 am
    I truly enjoyed the book you wrote with Jimmy Owens about his racing career.

    Sadly, we will not have that same "in Scott's words" memoir. I will miss the alien 👽 encounter story Scott only glossed over during Ben Shelton interview from the road to Eldora.

    I know what Scott meant to the sport. His contributions made this grass roots sport my personal playground. RIP Scott Bloomquist!
  18. 18.
    August 17, 2024
    8:35 am
    Thanks for the story RIP Scott
  19. 19.
    August 17, 2024
    8:38 am
    Thank you for sharing Dave, that was beautiful
  20. 20.
    August 17, 2024
    9:52 am
    He was a hero to my father and I'm sure he was a hero to many others. What a tragedy.
  21. 21.
    August 17, 2024
    10:46 am
    Prayers to his family. Dirt racing lost a legend RIP
  22. 22.
    August 17, 2024
    11:58 am
    I couldn't have said it better myself—amazing words about Scott. For someone who had as much success in his career, he seemed so laid back and humble in his latter years of life. I'm thankful I got to share some time with him. Irreplaceable.

    Fly High, Zero.
  23. 23.
    August 17, 2024
    12:32 pm
    Saddest day in dirt late model racing gods speed Scott your fan hearts are broken .
  24. 24.
    August 17, 2024
    12:43 pm
    Thank you for sharing with us Dave. You always have the right words at the right time.
  25. 25.
    August 17, 2024
    12:57 pm
    Thanks Dave.
  26. 26.
    August 17, 2024
    3:22 pm
    Scott was and will always be the legendary icon in super late model dirt racing. His forming of the "Dirty Dozen" helped keep the sport alive. His innovation in the sport will live on forever,like the myth the man, the legend. RIP GOAT!🏁
  27. 27.
    August 17, 2024
    5:07 pm
    First of all great article Dave, I met Scott in 1997 at the World first time and invited in the Good Year trailor at the time and talked about racing and life. Ever since then we hit it off for some reason not sure why but devolved a friendship that I could always talk to him. He won 20k at Calvert City one night and we were the last ones to leave the pits drinking beer with my brother to at Macon in the pits and invited to watch the race on top of his hauler to at Wheatland on a rain night and went in his souvenir trailor and drank late our daughters our same age which we shared stories. Will be missed for a long time!
  28. 28.
    August 17, 2024
    6:51 pm
    The first time I saw Scott was at a race at Gaffney SC, in 83, a friend of mine ask me to go and I hadn’t been keeping up with dirt track racing since about 73 or 74, so I was in for a surprise to start with. Didn’t know half of the drivers and didn’t know that Scott was going to be there? Anyway in the heat races he waxed everyone, I said where did this guy come from, in the main event he had everyone covered and would have lapped the field I’m sure, they had a caution less than half way, he had some kinda issues while the race was red flagged, had to get it off the track, but I knew then if he stayed in racing he would be dealt with, wow what an understatement. RIP Scott
  29. 29.
    August 18, 2024
    11:27 am
    G.O.A.T. of dirt late model racing and great father. This one really feels differently, and it hurts.

    #Team0Forever
  30. 30.
    August 19, 2024
    10:38 am
    Excellent piece Dave.
  31. 31.
    August 20, 2024
    8:21 pm
    Great job Dave knew Scott pretty good always came to our trailer after racing was over at East Bay true Racer true Winner true Human! RIP Sunshine 🙏
  32. 32.
    August 28, 2024
    9:42 pm
    August 28,2024 10:30pm. Super article Dave well said Dirt racing will never be the same knowing Bloomer will not be at the racetrack racing never again.What a hole this will leave in the heart and soul of dirt racing.This is like losing Dale Sr. in NASCAR.Rest in peace Scott.


    Roger Bollinger

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