$300,000 Prize Worth Wild West Shootout Pays a Tear-Jerking Tribute to Late Scott Bloomquist

Known for his long hair, deep knowledge of race cars, and love for dirt tracks, Scott Bloomquist was an embodiment of commitment and perseverance. For the man who was introduced to racing by a friend’s father, it’s huge to have nine championships in a 40-year career. Last year, when he passed away, he took with him a part of speed racing, which is irreplaceable.

As Tony Stewart once said, “What he could do behind the wheel of a racecar was matched by the ingenuity he put into building his racecars,” it’s only right that the 2025 Wild West Shoot-out paid him a fitting tribute to the tracks he loved.

Dirt Racers carry Scott Bloomquist-themed flags

Scott Bloomquist, born in 1963 in Fort Dodge, Iowa, is celebrated as a legendary dirt track racer. Embracing his rebellious persona, he achieved remarkable success on the track, with over 600 race victories to his name. His race car famously featured a skull and crossbones emblem. On August 16, a tragic accident occurred when a vintage single-engine plane, piloted by the then 60-year-old Bloomquist, crashed into a barn near the airstrip on his family’s farm in Mooresburg, Tennessee. In the aftermath, Bloomquist passed away.

During the 2025 Wild West Shootout, an event with a prize purse of over $300,000, drivers honored Bloomquist by showcasing a tribute parade of feature starters adorned with flags that celebrated his legacy. These flags prominently displayed the skull and crossbones emblem of the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame, which recognizes Bloomquist as one of its esteemed members.

“He had a God-given talent that was unparalleled,” Gerald Newton, president of the National Dirt Late Model Hall Fame which inducted Bloomquist in 2002, said in an interview with Dirt Fans. “Scott was never one to rough up a competitor on the track; he just knew where to race, he knew what it took to win.” These words are a true reminder of who Bloomquist truly was to the racing world, one of the best dirt drivers to ever race. To think his racing career started because a friend’s father invited him to watch a race and then see him dominate dirt racing is what NASCAR is all about.

To understand why Bloomquist is revered in the racing community, a story from his life deserves to be told. In a remarkable display of resilience, he once won a race with only three functional wheels, securing one of his most notable victories at the World 100 held at Eldora Speedway in 2014. Initially, he led for 19 laps before receiving a penalty for using an unauthorized window net, which sent him to the back of the pack. He eventually fought his way back to the front, regaining the lead on the 72nd lap, ultimately clinching the victory.

Bloomquist was recognized as one of the top drivers in the circuits where he competed. He secured nine championships in total, which included four titles in the United Dirt Track Racing Association’s Hav-A-Tampa Series, three in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, and one with the World of Outlaws.

Tony Stewart, a three-time champion of the NASCAR Cup Series, is the owner of Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, where Bloomquist achieved success by winning four prestigious World 100 races. Regarding Bloomquist, Stewart remarked in a statement, “probably the smartest guy I’ve ever been around when it comes to dirt racing.”

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The Bloomquist Legacy

Following a tumultuous period filled with legal battles, he took time away from racing to reflect on life, immersing himself in books about the human spirit and enjoying leisure time on his property with Jet Skis. When he eventually made his return to the racing scene, he opted to change his car number from 18 to 0, incorporating a yin-yang symbol on the door panels. This new symbol represented the balance he had achieved in his life.

Bloomquist frequently drew comparisons to Dale Earnhardt Sr., the rugged and tenacious NASCAR legend. However, in a 2000 interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Bloomquist expressed that he saw himself as an outlaw and felt too rebellious to fit into the polished, corporate atmosphere of NASCAR. After all, the driver was not one to hide his feelings and was known for his outspoken nature.

Who better to explain this than Scott Summers, founder of the Gateway Dirt Nationals, and someone who knew Bloomquist very well? Summers believed it wasn’t just racing Scott Bloomquist was good at. He also gave the crowd the spectacle they were looking for. “Scott was the most polarizing figure in all of dirt racing. Especially dirt Late Model racing. All Scott did, his whole career, was showmanship. Everything that he did and he embodied, coursed through his veins, was a show. It’s part of why he grew to the fame he grew to. So when you combine those two together, it was like a beautiful marriage. He literally embraced it from day 1, and I’ll never forget talking about it with him. I was really kind of blown away with how much he was like, all about it.” 

Thus, it wouldn’t be a surprise to hear that once when fans kept booing Bloomquist, he walked out, struck a pose, and won the crowd just like that! Afterward, he simply pulled up to Summers and demanded $200 on a bet they had made.

What are your favorite Scott Bloomquist memories?