Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

Shit..

Sick to my stomach.  Knoxville is going feel much different this year.  God's speed BC.

Dammit. Heartbreaking-R.I.P. to one of the ALL TIME greatest drivers. So sad. 

From my Facebook page; Not the news I wanted to wake up to. Bryan Clauson was undoubtedly one of the best at a young age, and there was no known 'ceiling' to his career yet. He could drive the hell out of anything, anywhere, on any type of surface. I was telling my daughter's grandmother and great aunt about him last night, explaining how rare it is that I guy that wins more than most would also be someone that no one has anything bad to say about. It's a highly competitive atmosphere, and just about every driver upsets a fan or other driver at some point. I never once heard a negative opinion about him.  The last time I saw him in person, it was after Kokomo. He was leading a group of about a dozen fans to his merchandise trailer to sign autographs (I assume), maybe hand out some T-shirts, who knows. He was still in his driver's suit, smiling ear to ear. He was 'the show' that night, fighting for the lead, running way up, and sometimes above the cushion until he was collected in someone else's mishap. But he was still smiling, still making a group of fan's night special. Not packing up and getting the hell out of their because he had to drive who knows how many miles that night to continue his bold mission of participating in 200 races this year. He was winning a quarter of them too btw. And he wasn't exactly 'cherry-picking'. This is the most devastating loss of a driver I've experienced. Everyone that knows me knows I love sprint car racing and he was an excellent ambassador for the sport, helping to elevate it. This past year he raced in the Indy 500, and had organized an excursion for fans that wanted to see him run that huge, historic race, and then shuttle over to Kokomo to watch some dirt racing (he won that night too btw). Bill Barty and I had planned on attending next year if they did it again. My heart genuinely hurts for him, his fiance, his family, his crew, and anyone that raced with him. Shedding real tears this morning, I so looked forward to going up to him after a race someday and saying 'Hi, I'm Michael Collins, I'm in Bobby Gerould's fantasy basketball league with you, and I'm sorry I never accepted any trade offering you've made, but don't stop offering, I'm still open to them!'  There are a ton of great memories I keep coming up with, but I don't want to go on forever. This is going to be a somber day and week. I think tonight when I get home I'll watch some YouTube clips of his many wins, and that shot of Rico jumping in to his arms at the Chili Bowl. RIP Bryan. We will never forget you.

Follow me on the social medias! ; twitter - 
larryitis   Facebook - Michael Collins 

RIP to hands down one of the most talented drivers and greatest racers of this generation. He truly will be missed - on and off the track.

Please keep Ryan Greth in your prayers as well. I'm sure this is a very difficult time in his life.

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Good point and well said. Friends and family need to surround him with love and support.

Well put Mike.  From my page as well;  Tears in my eyes as I write this. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions of race fans, watch these guys put their life in danger for our pleasure. We know the inherent risk involved, as obviously do the drivers themselves. Every time they strap in, it is known fact that it may be their last time. It is a risk they are willing to take, as they have a love for the sport that goes without saying. With that being said, I want to send my heart felt, teary eyed condolences to Bry...an Clausen's family. We lost someone who may have been one of the most versatile drivers of our time, midget's, sprint cars, Indy cars etc... Just a month ago, I saw him race at Gas City, and Kokomo. He was the guy to watch, I was told. Although I did not know him personally, he was a member of the brethren of men and ladies that have entertained me since I was a very, very young boy, and I take it personally, when one of them leaves us, because of an incident during a race, while they were doing what they loved. I am very sad. Rest in Peace Bryan Clausen, you were a hell of a driver.

Well said both Mike and Maddog.  My wife broke the news to me right away this morning from your Facebook post Maddog.  I never got to meet the man, but will concur--I have never heard anyone say a bad word about him in any way.  I got to watch him race probably a half-dozen times is all.  I never had the pleasure of watching any of his spectacular runs, but have seen plenty of video and watched his run in the '14 chili bowl on TV.  Definitely a big loss and definitely will be a somber atmosphere at the Nationals when I get there this week. 

So sad to wake to this news this morning!! I was looking forward to seeing him race this week at Knoxville, and to be a little part of what he was doing this year. Never had the privilege of meeting him, but he was a part of this great world of sprint car racing. So for all of us that love this sport so much, makes us family. RIP BC you will leave this world a legend to many, gods speed my friend, gods speed!! "If Tears Could Build A Stairway And Memories Were A Lane, I Would Walk Right Up To Heaven And Bring You Back Again" My deapest condolences to the Clauson Family.

  I'll always remember the happy little boy of a couple of decades ago when the family lived in NorCal and his dad, Tim, raced sprint cars at Placerville Speedway.  We raced stock cars but often ran into the family at a coffee shop stop in Auburn on the way home and shared how our nights had gone.  Bryan was so proud of his dad and they of him.  Sometimes this sport can be cruel and my heart aches for his family and friends.  I hope they can take some comfort in what a fine young man he grew to be.

So sad, RIP Bryan. Great racer & great guy. Only good thing was he went dowm doing what he loved

 I can't think of anyone else who's gotten to the level of 410 winged sprint car driver that BC did- in what was basically his spare time. 

RIP Bryan!! At Eldora he was the last driver to autograph my daughters flag and he told her before he signed it thank you for getting all the autographs for him.that made her day then he signed he bear.an awesome guy!! Thank you for the memories.u will be missed!!

My heart aches today. As mentioned above, please keep Ryan Greth and Scott Hatton in your prayers as well. I cannot even imagine what they must be feeling, along with the family and close friends of Bryan. Bryan just had something special about him. Not just in his ability to wheel a race car. But also as a human being, outside of a race car. You talked with him once and you felt like you had a friend for life. The fact that they plan to do a public ceremony for him at IMS just proves that fact, and it shows how many people his close friends and family know he touched. I remember a time at Chili Bowl about 5 years ago, I was wearing his hat in the trade show. He literally walked through the crowd to shake my hand and say "Thanks for the support". We chatted for a few minutes and I wished him luck for the week. Everyone loved him, and so many considered him a friend. I was fortunate to see him win MANY races on the last lap. One at Angell park and another at Western World a few years ago come to mind. I will always cherish those memories of him in a race car, and also who he was outside of a race car. A true ambasador for open wheel racing. There will never ever be anyone else like him. One of a kind, and one of the best ever, simply put. For those of you that currently feel like you hate racing, as many do right now. Take some time to share some tears, some smiles, some memories and a beverage or two. Remember how strong of a family the racing community is. Although Bryan was taken too soon, he was doing what he loved. Which is more than most people in this world can say. He was also leading the race, right where he should be.

Godspeed Bryan

Real race cars don't have fenders...

This is worded well and truly helped me this morning. I had the pleasure of meeting BC on a few occasions and he was always smiling. Thank you for these kind words of encouragement for the racing community... RIP BC.

Had the opportunity to visit with Byran and Tim on many occasions early in his career.  A really, really good guy and obviously he was brought up well. We all understand that these guys and their families accept the risks that go with racing but it's still a very sad day. Bryan will always be remembered with fondness and a smile.

Keep the stories coming, I know there are a lot of people that come to this board that have probably spoke to him face to face. I am guessing some that come here but really don't post much because of the volatile nature of this particular online community. It's a time to grieve but also to celebrate his life and remember him. 

Follow me on the social medias! ; twitter - 
larryitis   Facebook - Michael Collins 

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