There are few racers who represented sportsman racing like Scotty Richardson , who passed away Wednesday , August 14 following a brief illness . Richardson , who was 53 , started his racing career as a teenager behind the wheel of the family station wagon . Under the tutelage of older brother Edmond , Scotty quickly started racking up NHRA national event Wallys . He earned 39 of them across six classes , along with five NHRA world championships and an IHRA championship . In 2001 , he appeared on the NHRA 50 Greatest Drivers list at No . 45 , and when National Dragster Senior Editor Kevin McKenna wrote a tribute following Richardson ’ s passing , he declared him “ arguably drag racing ’ s greatest Sportsman driver .”

Richardson was also iconic on the big-money bracket racing scene , earning two overall titles

at the equally iconic Moroso 5-Day E . T . Championships , as well as the 2020 Spring Fling Million at Bristol , among his biggest victories . Most recently , he won the $ 100,000 All-Star Shootout at the Summer Fling at National Trail Raceway .

Outside of the driver ’ s seat , Richardson contributed to the sport as a driving school instructor and a track manager . Scotty Richardson ’ s Drag Racing School held classes at numerous tracks across the country , instructing rookies and experienced drivers alike how to excel in bracket racing . He also briefly held the lease at Kentucky ’ s Mountain Park Dragway and later served as race director at Edgewater Sports Park in Ohio .

Richardson ’ s lifetime of achievements and contributions to the sport of drag racing have earned him PEAK Performer status .