Tyler Reddick shares poignant message following the tragic death of Scott Bloomquist

The motorsports world was struck by tragedy last Friday morning when Scott Bloomquist, a legendary figure in dirt late model racing, was killed in a plane crash near his Tennessee home. Among those seriously affected was NASCAR driver Tyler Reddick, for whom Bloomquist was a key figure in his personal and professional life.

Bloomquist played a crucial role in the formative years of Reddick's career, especially during his transition from dirt racing to NASCAR. His teachings extended beyond the racetrack, imparting important life lessons and racing strategies that have clearly shaped Reddick into the competitor he is today.

In an emotional conversation with Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports, Reddick expressed his profound loss and emphasized the deep connection he had with Bloomquist. [above].

“It's been really beautiful and moving to see all the messages and stories that have been shared, everyone from the racing industry coming forward and saying something. I myself just don't know what to say. I've been thinking about it for the last 25, 26 hours. I'm still trying to process it. I was up late into the night thinking about it, about him, about our relationship last night in his honour, you know, drinking a bit of Crown Royal and just sitting there.

“We're just taking in the experiences we've had together. So, yes, I'm still trying to process it all, but it was really nice. It helped me get through the day, seeing all the messages being shared on social media. It was nice.”

Reddick reflected further on the lessons he had learned from Bloomquist, explaining:

“I learned so much about racing cars from him. He taught me a lot about being a racing driver, taught me a lot about racing and life itself. You know, what I appreciate most about him is that he's not afraid of confrontation.”

He added:

“If you do something to him or there's a fight or something like that, I think it's easy for people to back out these days. He's never like that. If something's wrong, he speaks out and he's not shy. There's so much more to it than that, but yeah, yesterday was a really tough day for motorsport.”

The loss of Scott Bloomquist has sent shockwaves through the racing community, with fans and professionals alike mourning the death of a racing giant.