Race car driver Bryan Clauson died Sunday from injuries sustained in a horrible crash the previous night at the Belleville Midget Nationals.
He was just 27 years old.
Just after taking the lead at the event Saturday night, Clauson climbed a guard rail between Turns 3 and 4 and flipped in extreme fashion.
He was then hit by a car driven by Ryan Greth, reports indicate; the race continued after a red flag period and was won by Chad Boat.
Clauson would not recover from injuries sustained in the crash, which can be seen in the video below (and may be upsetting for viewers).
"This is truly one of the darkest days in the 60-year history of the United States Auto Club," USAC CEO Kevin Miller said of the tragedy.
"Not only have we lost one of our greatest USAC champions," Miller added, "but we"ve lost a true ambassador for all of motor sports."
Clauson ran in three Indianapolis 500 races, including a 23rd place finish in May in which he led three laps, and on the NASCAR circuit.
He became best known in the dirt racing world, however, and as a beloved, versatile driver who racked up wins at an impressive pace.
"Bryan"s passion for our sport was unparalleled," Miller said. "He was a leader not only on the track, but in the pits with his fellow competitors."
"There"s a tremendous hole in the hearts of our community today as we grieve his loss along with his family and friends," Miller added.
He earned two USAC national sprint car championships, two USAC national midget car championships and 170 feature wins in his career.
Specifically, Clauson was a three-time winner of the Belleville Nationals, where he fatefully raced as the defending champion this weekend.
Bryan even endured a major crash on the same track Friday.
“Took a tough hit last night, but the guys have me another hot rod ready for tonight"s Belleville Midget Nationals!” he tweeted on Saturday.
Hours later, he crashed again, and this one proved fatal.
Clauson was planning to marry fiancée Lauren in February.
One of his close friends, NASCAR star Tony Stewart, expressed overwhelming sadness following Sunday"s race at Watkins Glen International.
"It’s a tragedy," Stewart said. "That kid drove for us for a long time and did a great job and never went anywhere, I don’t care what happened."
"No matter how bad his day was, he always found a way to smile with it. Him and Lauren being engaged, kid had such a bright future."
"It’s just … it was hard to start the day today in the car."
"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."
Stewart continued, shaken up at the loss of his friend:
"I feel for Lauren and Bryan’s parents and his sister, and I hope to see them soon, but just thinking about them more than anything right now."
A statement from Bryan"s family said that Clauson "fought to the end with the same desire that he demonstrated behind the wheel."
More than that, they said, they revere the person he was.
Bryan, they said, always "took a moment to make a fan"s day or demonstrated kindness and appreciation toward his friends, family and fans."
R.I.P.
