Although Tyler Reddick won the FireKeepers Casino 400, this is not his happiest win. Just 2 days ago, Reddick lost someone extremely close to him, as Scott Bloomquist took for the heavens. Tyler Reddick shared a special relationship with Bloomquist, mainly because the 23XI Racing driver needed a workshop as he started racing in darts late, and the late dart racing legend offered his shop.

Before the race started, Reddick knew how important it was to win the race to pay tribute to his mentor and friend. The bad news came in as Bloomquist lost his life in a plane crash in his hometown, Mooresburg. This news had Reddick in thought for more than 25 hours as he collected his thoughts and courage to get back on track after such devastating news. The driver of the No. 45 Toyota was already overwhelmed by the comments left by fans in support of Scott Bloomquist, and after starting in the front row, he converted the race into a win.

Although the race had a few incidents that could have come in the way of Reddick’s win, like Kyle Larson’s spinout, which put quite a few drivers at a disadvantage after getting wrecked, Reddick managed to win the race. Ultimately, he managed to overtake his team boss, Denny Hamlin, who started on the pole at Michigan. This race meant a lot to Reddick, as he knows that Bloomquist would like him to win, and that is due to the close bond they shared over the years.

The relationship between Tyler Reddick and Scott Bloomquist explained

Scott Bloomquist was a racing legend with multiple championships in various series, including The World of Outlaws, Lucas Oil, and Hav-A-Tampa. This is what has kept Tyler Reddick motivated, as he would love to be able to compete at a similar level as Bloomquist. Ever since the 23XI Racing driver was young, Bloomquist has always believed in him. This was visible when Reddick won at East Bay in Dirt Racing, becoming the youngest Super Late Model winner in Speedweeks history, driving a Bloomquist Race Car back in 2011.

Bloomquist not only provided Reddick with practical support by offering his workshop but also played a crucial role in Reddick’s development as a racer. From lessons about racing to understanding strategies, along with even teaching Reddick life skills, Bloomquist did it all as a mentor. Reddick often praised Scott Bloomquist for his direct approach and fearlessness in addressing issues, which became the reason that the No. 45 Camry driver always held the late Dirt Racing legend in high regard.

Now that Bloomquist is gone, there is a hole in Reddick’s heart and the pain turned into fuel that helped him win the race. It’s safe to say that this win was extremely emotional for the driver, but in the end, he managed to make his mentor proud. With that said, do you think that Reddick has it in him to be a front-runner fighting in the top 4 in the playoffs? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.