Bryan Clauson, a Sprint Car speedster who had 26 career starts under his belt in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, succumbed to his injuries on Sunday. The talented young driver was only 27 years old. Clauson wrecked Saturday night during a U.S. Auto Club midget car race at the Belleville High Banks.
The venue is a half mile dirt track in Belleville, Kansas. Amateur video revealed his open-wheel sprint car flipping in Turn 4. Unfortunately, after the flip Clauson was struck by another competitor’s hot-rod.
Bryan Clauson was airlifted to a critical care facility in Lincoln, Nebraska. The beloved driver was pronounced dead late Sunday evening. His death was confirmed on Monday morning at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where a statement from the family was read.
“NASCAR extends its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Bryan Clauson. He was a passionate competitor whose love for racing fueled his unmatched positive spirit,” NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O’Donnell said in a statement. “He was a dear friend to many in the racing community, and he was loved and respected by all who knew him. He touched the lives of so many in our motor sports family. His warm presence and relentless enthusiasm will be missed.”
Three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony stewart was a longtime team owner for Clauson’s sprint-car efforts. He extended his condolences and thoughts to Clauson’s family after finishing fifth in Sunday’s race at Watkins Glen International.
“Yeah, terrible thoughts. It’s a tragedy,” Stewart said. “That kid drove for us for a long time and did a great job and never went anywhere. I don’t care what happened, no matter how bad his day was, he always found a way to smile with it. Him and Lauren being engaged, the kid had such a bright future, and it’s just … it was hard to start the day today in the car. It sucks when it’s anybody in racing. It’s hard when you lose them, but it’s even worse when they’re somebody as close to you as Bryan was.”
Bryan Clauson made the majority of his Xfinity Series starts for team owner Chip Ganassi in 2008. He had one pole position at Daytona in July 2008. The skilled racer also collected one top five finish at Kentucky Speedway in June of 2008.
Bryan Clauson had set a preseason goal of competing in 200 open-wheel races this year. That ambitious schedule included a start in the 100th Indianapolis 500, where he placed 23rd in his third effort at the famed Brickyard. According to Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Clauson had accumulated 27 wins in 116 races this season.
A native of California and a resident of Noblesville, Indiana, he was a seven time champion across three divisions of USAC racing. He also was champion of the prestigious Chili Bowl Nationals in 2014 and scored a win in the ARCA stock-car series in 2007 at Gateway Motorsports Park.
“Short-track racing has always been the heart and soul of auto racing in America,”Indianapolis motor Speedway President Doug Boles said in a release. “Bryan Clauson combined his passion and enthusiasm for grassroots racing with a God-given talent that made him the favorite to win every time he got in a midget or sprint car. And he proved on the world’s largest racing stage — by leading three laps in the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 — that he could use that talent in just about anything with wheels.
“More importantly, he possessed a humility and character out of the race car that made him a person that fellow competitors and fans alike enjoyed being around. His spirit, his positive outlook and his thrilling talent will be missed by the entire racing community. The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway are with the Clauson family in this difficult time.”
