Bryan Clauson

3 time Belleville Midget Nationals Champion (2009, 2010, 2015) Indycar Series Nation Fan Favorite driver (2016) Bryan Timothy Clauson (June 15, 1989 – August 7, 2016)[2] was an American professional auto racing driver, best known for his achievements in dirt track open-wheel racing, such as USAC Silver Crown, Midget and Sprint cars.

Clauson was increasingly seen competing with the World of Outlaws (WoO) sprint cars in his last couple of years.

The facility also built the Bryan Clauson Tower with fan donations overlooking turn 2 at the famed Knoxville Raceway.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway's new infield dirt track conducts a 39-lap USAC Midget race in his memory starting in 2018.

Born in Sacramento, California, Clauson made his USAC National Sprint Series debut just two days after his 16th birthday on June 17, 2005, at Limaland Motorsports Park, Ohio, garnering a third place podium finish.

On October 8, 2005, Clauson won the Open Wheel Oktoberfest Midget race at Columbus Motor Speedway, Ohio, becoming the youngest driver in USAC history to win a National feature event, aged 16 years, 3 months and 23 days.

He competed full-time during the 2007 season in the USAC National Sprint and Midget Series as part of the Keith Kunz Motorsports stable.

He was set to make his Cup debut at the Bank of America 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway driving the No.

[4] Clauson ran the 2012 Indianapolis 500 with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, but finished 30th with mechanical problems.

[5] Following the 2013 season, Clauson replaced Jerry Coons Jr. in the Joe Dooling/Rusty Kunz number 63 Westin Packaged Meats Esslinger powered Midget.

On January 18, 2014, he won the Chili Bowl Nationals at the Tulsa Expo Center,[6] while teammate Michael Pickens, driving the number 63 Dooling Machine, Esslinger powered midget, flipped with 11 to go.

Named 'Chasing 200,' by the time of Clauson's memorial service on August 24, more than 750 people had registered, after which the campaign expanded its goal to 2000 registrants.

[19] And on May 28, 2017, at the 100 lap of the Indianapolis 500 race, the video board located at the start-finish line displayed a commemorative green image with the legend #BCFOREVER on it.

The Bryan Clauson Classic, known as the Driven2SaveLives BC39 presented by NOS Energy for commercial reasons, is held during the NASCAR meeting at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

[20] Originally run for the 25th Brickyard 400, the event was moved to the week after the NASCAR meeting in 2021 in order to avoid a date clash with the Knoxville Nationals.

On May 19, 2021, the NTT IndyCar Series announced that the driver who qualifies on pole for the inaugural Big Machine Music City Grand Prix in Nashville, Tennessee, will receive the Bryan Clauson Trophy, awarded to highlight the event's partnership with Tennessee Donor Services to raise awareness for organ and tissue donation.

Clauson (40) racing Marcos Ambrose at Nashville in 2008
Clauson's damaged car returning to the garage, at the 2015 Indianapolis 500