Top dirt-track racer Bryan Clauson dies from crash injuries

Bryan Clauson at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Ala., on Oct. 4, 2007. (Rainier Ehrhardt)

INDIANAPOLIS -- Bryan Clauson, a popular driver considered by many to be the top dirt-track racer in the country, died Sunday night from injuries suffered in a crash during a race in Kansas. He was 27.

His death was announced Monday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

"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," the Clausons said. "However, we were more proud of our Bryan that took a moment to make a young fan's day, or demonstrated his uncommon kindness and appreciation toward his friends, family and fans."

Clauson was leading the race at the Belleville (Kansas) Midget Nationals on Saturday night when he crashed while passing lapped traffic. His car rolled and was hit by another competitor. He was airlifted to a hospital in Nebraska, where he died surrounded by his family.

It was another sad blow for an auto racing community that has been hit hard in recent years. In 2013, Jason Leffler died following a crash at a New Jersey sprint car race and the following year Formula One driver Jules Bianchi suffered head injuries in the Japanese Grand Prix that ultimately cost him his life. A year ago, Justin Wilson was killed when he was struck in the head by a piece of debris during an IndyCar race at Pocono.

Clauson was injured just 24 hours after he was involved in another crash Friday night. Afterward, he posted on Twitter his appreciation for his safety equipment, his chassis manufacturer and his team for getting his car ready for him to race Saturday night.

Clauson was on pace to compete in 200 races this year. He had 27 victories in 116 starts, and he led three laps in the Indianapolis 500 on May 29 before winning a sprint car race that night in nearby Kokomo in what he called an "Indiana Double." A four-time USAC national champion, Clauson was aiming to become the winningest driver in series history. He was a three-time winner and the defending champion at Belleville.

Clauson came from the same mould of old-school racers such as A.J. Foyt, Gary Bettenhausen and Tony Stewart -- he would race anything, anywhere. He was a California native and got a USAC-IndyCar scholarship for winning the 2010 USAC national driver's title.

The scholarship earned Clauson six Indy Lights starts in 2011 in a car shared with current IndyCar Series rookie Conor Daly at Sam Schmidt Motorsports while Clauson continued to race in USAC's national series. His best finish in eight career Indy Lights races was third at Iowa in 2011.

Clauson won the scholarship award again in 2012, allowing him to make his Indianapolis 500 debut in 2012 with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing. He returned to the Indy 500 in 2015 with KVSH/Jonathan Byrd's Racing, then led his first career laps this year driving for Dale Coyne.

"Bryan Clauson combined his passion and enthusiasm for grassroots racing with a God-given talent that made him the favourite to win every time he got in a midget or sprint car," said Doug Boles, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president. "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."

Clauson was a development driver for Chip Ganassi in NASCAR, where he competed in 26 races over the 2007 and 2008 seasons. He also spent several seasons driving for Stewart's sprint car team. Stewart said after the NASCAR race on Sunday he hoped to see Clauson's parents and fiancee, Lauren, soon.

"I don't care what happened, no matter how bad his day was, he always found a way to smile with it," Stewart said. "Him and Lauren being engaged, kid had such a bright future. 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."

Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR's executive vice-president, called Clauson a friend to many in racing.

"He touched the lives of so many in our motorsports family, and his warm presence and relentless enthusiasm will be missed," he said.

Clauson is survived by his parents, Tim and Di, sister Taylor and fiancee Lauren Stewart. Funeral arrangements were pending. A memorial service in his honour will take place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway at a date to be announced.