Icon Sportswire via AP ImagesThe racing world has lost one of its most celebrated.
Bryan Clauson, a longtime professional racer, died Sunday following a car crash during the Belleville Midget Nationals. His family confirmed his passing in an announcement on Monday after he was hospitalized Saturday for injuries he had sustained from the collision. Clauson was 27 years old.
"Last night, the 7th of August, we said goodbye to our son, my fiancé, our friend, Bryan Clauson. He was surrounded by family and friends and we were grateful that we could experience his final moments with him," the driver's Facebook page reads. "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. 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 began competing as a teenager, subsequently becoming the youngest driver in the United States Auto Club's history to win a national feature event. Throughout his career, he won a series of championships, including several USAC National Midget, National Drivers and Sprint Car championships. In 2016, he became the sixth and youngest driver in history to accumulate 100 USAC feature wins.
Around the time of his death, Clauson was participating in "The Chasing 200 Tour, Circular Insanity," a series consisting of 200 races, while living out of a motorhome.
During Saturday's race, Clauson was in the lead until he climbed the guard rail between turns and flipped before he was hit by Ryan Greth. The driver was airlifted to Bryan Medical Center West in Nebraska. A day earlier, he had taken a "tough hit" during another race. "Thankful he's ok after that," his fiancée Lauren Stewart tweeted Saturday.
"This is one of the darkest days in the history of the United States Auto Club," USAC President Kevin Miller said in a statement. "Not only have we lost one of our greatest USAC Champions, we have lost a true ambassador for all of motorsports. Bryan's passion for our sport was unparalleled. He was a leader not only on the track, but in the pits with his fellow competitors. There is a tremendous hole in the hearts of our community today as we grieve his loss along with his family and friends."
Republican vice presidential candidate Governor Mike Pence took to social media to publicly express his condolences. "As we pause to honor the passing of a Hoosier racing champion, let us keep the Clauson family & his fiancée Lauren in our thoughts & prayers," he tweeted Monday afternoon. Bryan was set to wed Stewart in February 2017.
Our thoughts are with Clauson's family and friends during this difficult time.