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CLAUSON PASSES AWAY
Fan Favorite And Talented Driver Bryan Clauson Passes Away Due To Injury
PA Sprint Car News | Justin Snyder
Indianapolis, IN | August 8, 2016
Due to injuries sustained after a multi-car accident during the USAC Belleville Midget Nationals in Kansas, August 6, 2016, Bryan Clauson has passed away at the age of 27.
He was surrounded by family and friends Sunday night, where they could all say their goodbyes.
“Our Bryan fought to the end with the same desire that he demonstrated behind the wheel of all the various race cars he would park in victory lane,” said the family though a statement released to the public. “However, we were more proud of our Bryan that took a moment to make a young fans day, or demonstrated his uncommon kindness and appreciation toward his friends, family and fans.”
Clauson, a four-time USAC national champion, three-time Indianapolis 500 starter and former Chip Ganassi development driver was leading the 40-lap event when he made contact with a lapped car, sending his car flipping before coming to a stop in turn four of the speedway. His car was then struck by the incoming car of Ryan Greth, which sent both racecars flipping again.
Race track safety crews removed Clauson from the vehicle before airlifting him to Bryan Medical Center West in Lincoln, Nebraska for treatment through Sunday night. Initial reports from the family via Facebook listed the Noblesville, Indiana driver as being “severely injured” and in critical condition.
Clauson was attempting to win his fourth career Belleville Nationals, and second consecutive at the track, which bills itself as the “The Worlds Fastest Half-Mile Dirt Track.”
Currently taking part in his “Chasing 200 Tour, Circular Insanity”, Clauson was attempting to race in an unheard of 200 races this year. The Belleville Nationals was the 116th event he had run in during the tour, which included stops at the Indianapolis Speedway for the Indy 500, World of Outlaws and All Star Circuit of Champions winged sprint car events, USAC midget and sprint car events and wingless events as well.
A fan favorite wherever he showed up to race due to his ability and desire to run anything, anywhere, Clauson had captured 27 main-event feature victories this season.
Clauson made his USAC series debut at just 16 years-old in June of 2005 at the Limaland Motorsports Park in Ohio where he captured a third place finish.
In October of the same year, he picked up his first career USAC midget race win during the Open Wheel Oktoberfest at Columbus Motor Speedway in Ohio and he became the youngest driver to capture a USAC national series main event victory.
After capturing multiple victories throughout the next few years, NASCAR owner Chip Ganassi signed the then 18 year-old to a driver development deal that put him an various ARCA and NASCAR Busch Series events over the next few seasons.
He captured an ARCA series victory in August of 2007 at the Gateway Motorsports Park near St. Louis and scored a Busch series career best 5th place finish at Kentucky Motor Speedway in 2008. Notably he also captured a pole position at Daytona International Speedway in July of 2008.
After sponsorship issues forced the team to shut down in 2009, Clauson returned to racing on dirt and he would eventually land a ride running for Tony Stewart Racing in the USAC Silver Crown series in 2010.
He would go on to capture the 2010 USAC National Midget title running his own car as well as the first-ever USAC National Drivers Championship in the same season.
As a result of the championship, Clauson was introduced the Firestone Indy Lights series in 2011 for 6 races where he would capture 1 pole.
He repeated the feat over the next 2 seasons by winning the 2011 and 2012 USAC National Drivers Championship.
In 2012 Clauson attempted and qualified for his first Indianapolis 500 while driving for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing. He would retire early due to mechanical issues and finish the event in the 30th position.
In 2014 he captured the illustrious Chili Bowl Nationals at the Tulsa Expo Center and he also captured his first career Gold Crown Midget win at the Gold Crown Nationals at the historic Eldora Speedway. He also was able to qualify for his first ever winged Knoxville Nationals event in 2014.
2015 marked a return for Clauson to the Indianapolis 500, this time driving for the KV Racing Technology/Jonathon Byrd Racing team. He would get involved in an accident and place 31st.
This year would also be the year where Clauson captured a winged sprint victory on a Friday night preliminary event for the famed Knoxville Nationals.
In 2016 Clauson added to his illustrious career and became a worldwide phenomenon as he set out on his Chasing 200 Tour, Circular Insanity. He and his fiancée Lauren, along with their 2 dogs, became a sort of a travelling circus as they trekked across country in an RV, racing as much as possible and selling t-shirts to fans wanting to catch a glimpse of history in the making.
Winning various USAC wingless and midget events throughout the country, he also had picked up 360 and 410 cubic inch winged sprint car victories. Notably he won a 410 winged event at Sharon Speedway as part of Ohio Speedweek and a 360 winged race at Bandlands Motor Speedway.
The highlight of the season came when Clauson once again qualified for the Indianapolis 500. He would go on to be competitive and achieve one of his goals and lead laps in the event before finishing in the 23rd position.
Following the race, Clauson showed his relentlessness and love of racing by travelling to Kokomo Speedway directly after the conclusion and picking up the victory in the 30-lap 410 winged feature event. His final victory came August 3,2016 at Solomon Valley Raceway in Beloit, KS , where he captured the midget feature event.
Clauson will be remembered by fans as one of the most talented drivers in the country and for his love of racing. If there was a ride available for the night, he would show up and put on a show for all in attendance. A class act on and off the track, Clauson always greeted individuals with a big smile and willingness to sign autographs and talk about racing long after racing for the night had finished.
A public service will be held at a later date at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and details of a date and time will be announced in the coming days.
In lieu of flowers, or to make donations, the family has asked that people direct their contributions to the USAC Benevolent Fund website athttp://usacbf.org/cash-donation/ or checks should be made out to the USA Benevolent Foundation in the name of Bryan Clauson. The address is 124 E. Northfield Drive, Suite F #129, Brownsburg, IN 46112.
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