Legendary Drag Racer Scotty Richardson Battled Cardiac Complication

Highlights

• Scotty Richardson, widely regarded as one of drag racing’s greatest Sportsman drivers, passed away on August 14 at the age of 54 due to cardiac complications.
• Richardson’s impressive career includes 39 NHRA national event titles, five world championships, and numerous big-money bracket race victories.
• He leaves behind a loving family, including his wife, Savannah, five children, and three grandchildren.

Scotty Richardson, a titan in the world of drag racing, passed away on August 14, 2024, following a brief illness stemming from cardiac complications.

At just 54 years old, Richardson’s untimely departure has sent shockwaves through the racing community.

Richardson’s racing prowess was evident from an early age. His older brother Edmond, himself a Hall of Fame racer, often proclaimed,

“If you think I’m good, just wait until you meet Scotty. My little brother is the real deal.”

These words proved prophetic as Scotty went on to cement his place in drag racing history.

Throughout his illustrious career, Richardson amassed an astounding 39 NHRA national event titles across six eliminators: Comp, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street.

His dominance in the sport led to his ranking as No. 45 on NHRA’s list of greatest drivers during their 50th-anniversary celebration in 2001 – a position that many argue would be much higher if reassessed today.

Richardson’s accolades include:

• Five world championships
• Two additional championships lost only by tiebreakers
• The first driver to claim two championships in the same year (1994)
• Multiple big-money bracket race victories, including the Moroso 5-Day E.T. championships and the Spring Fling Million

The racing world first took notice of Richardson’s exceptional talent when he clinched the Super Gas title at the inaugural Houston Raceway Park event in 1988.

However, his journey to greatness began years earlier on his home turf in Kennedale, Texas.

Richardson’s aggressive driving style and confidence became his trademarks.

His signature move, known as “A Scotty” – a celebratory throttle whack past the finish line – became as iconic as his victories.

In a 2021 interview with Dragzine, Richardson reflected on his path to success:

“My brother, Edmond, he taught me everything I know about racing, but the biggest thing he taught me was how to be competitive. We grew up racing at Texas Raceway [Kennedale, Texas], and you had Luke Bogacki, Tommy Phillips, and the Hefler boys, and quite a few others. You had no choice but to be good.”

Even in his later years, Richardson continued to dominate the sport.

In 2023, he secured a $100,000 victory in the Allstar Shootout at the JEGS Summer Fling event in Columbus, Ohio.

During his winner’s speech, he acknowledged the rising generation of racers while asserting his continued relevance in the sport.

Scotty’s passing leaves a void in the hearts of many. He is survived by his wife Savannah, whom he married in 2008, their three children, and two daughters (Lauren and Kelsey) from a previous marriage.

He also leaves behind three grandchildren and his brother Edmond, who is ranked 37th on the NHRA’s greatest drivers list.

The racing community rallied around Richardson during his health struggles, with a GoFundMe page raising $6,700 to support his medical expenses.