Thousands of successful drivers have piloted Dirt Late Models through evolving eras of the short-track racing discipline, but for most fans the conversation begins and ends with two drivers. 

In the world of football, it's Tom Brady vs. Joe Montana. In the basketball world, it's Michael Jordan vs. Lebron James. For Dirt Late Model racing, it's Scott Bloomquist vs. Billy Moyer. 

Scott Bloomquist vs. Billy Moyer

Both Hall of Famers, both dominant at historic Eldora Speedway, both with multiple major championships, both with victories in virtually every major event, both Iowa natives and both with fans who proudly proclaim their driver is better than the other.

Most observers tend to give Bloomquist the edge with richer victories overall (topped by eight $100,000 paydays at Eldora’s annual Dream) and a 5-0 edge of Moyer when the two faced off head-to-head in series points chases. Of course Moyer’s fans bark back about Moyer’s six globe trophies at Eldora’s World 100 — the sport’s most prestigious event — and Mr. Smooth's overall edge in victories (849-607).

Beyond the comparison of their incredible on-track success, there’s plenty to contrast with Bloomquist’s long-haired California vibe vs. Moyer’s straighter-laced look … Bloomquist’s yin-yang numeral vs. Moyer’s classic No. 21 … Bloomquist’s penchant for virtually endless controversial moments vs. Moyer’s no-drama style … Bloomquist’s selective targeting of the most lucrative races vs. Moyer’s if-you-schedule-it-he-will-come mantra.

Like most other sports, part of the beauty of the who-is-best argument is that it’s entirely subjective.

The older set can respect the careers of Bloomquist of Moyer — which stretched from the beginnings of the sport’s relatively quaint pre-modern era for fortysomething years into the streaming era of wildly richer purses — while pointing back to the sport’s earlier stars as the best ever.

Three-time World 100 winner Larry Moore, five-time Dirt Track World Champion Freddy Smith, the gritty outlaw racer Jack Boggs, multi-division star Charlie Swartz and NDRA champion Buck Simmons and his victory total of more than 1,000 races are among the Hall of Famers on the list of the best ever, along with dirt-turned-NASCAR driver Jeff Purvis, whose career paralleled the Moyer-Bloomquist path in the 1980s before asphalt came calling.

Championship-winning contemporaries of Moyer and Bloomquist who didn’t quite reach their stratosphere include another chunk of the sport’s best, including Brian Birkhofer, Rick Eckert, Steve Francis, Darrell Lanigan, Jimmy Mars, Dale McDowell, Donnie Moran, Don O’Neal and more.

Which Current Dirt Late Model Drivers Will Enter The GOAT Conversation?

Likewise some of the sport’s current stars are on a trajectory to be in the conversation to be among the best drivers event, including five-time World 100 Jonathan Davenport, four-time Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series champion Jimmy Owens, five-time World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series champion Brandon Sheppard along with 2023’s dominant drivers who each surpassed 30 victories on national touring schedules, Bobby Pierce and Ricky Thornton Jr.

Just like Bloomquist vs. Moyer, discussions of the sport’s best involve criteria that’s not always clear cut. While victory totals, championships and earnings can be tabulated, longevity, personality and panache also plays a role in deciding the best of the best.

May the best driver win.