Robbie Brewer suffered a heart attack while racing at Bowman Gray Stadium
Bowman Gray Stadium is a famed short track located in Winston Salem, North Carolina.
On Saturday night, the track hosted a weekly racing program. In the Sportsman feature, Robbie Brewer, driver of the No. 17 car appeared to lose control.
He lost control coming to a restart on lap 16, before the green flag dropped. The car just went straight, bouncing off the outside wall.
He then came across the track and was struck by two more cars. Brewer’s car came to a rest right before turn one.
Brewer suffered a heart attack coming to the green flag.
Safety officials rushed to the scene. The driver didn’t climb out.
The safety team had to help remove Brewer from his car. The team cut off the roof of the car to remove the driver from the machine. He was then placed in the ambulance and taken to the hospital.
Brewer was 53 years old.
Update: Fiancée confirms Robbie Brewer has passed
On Sunday morning, the family confirmed the drivers has passed:
Brewer’s fiancée Angel opened, “Where do I even begin?”
“Sixteen months with the best man I’ve ever known. Robbie truly loved me with his whole heart, and I loved him with every fiber of my being.”
“We had just returned from vacation yesterday, after celebrating Kash’s 2nd birthday and making so many sweet memories with Landyn too! Robbie couldn’t wait to get back to racing. His first practice went great, so he decided to skip the second one.”
“I will never forget that long walk down the halls at Baptist Hospital — that moment is forever etched in my soul. Robbie left this world in a way so fitting for the man he was — doing what he loved most.”
“We had just gotten our marriage license on July 26, planning to be married Monday, August 25 — exactly one year from the day we got engaged.”
“Now… I’m lost. I’ve lost my best friend. I don’t know where to start picking up the pieces.”
“To everyone who has reached out — thank you. I’m trying to respond to each of you. Please keep us in your prayers; his daughters, Krista Paquette, his dad, Glenn Brewer step mom Dianne, his sister Jake N Melinda Britt, and his aunt Sheila Boles along with all of our friends that are family at the race track!”
“Robbie Brewer, I love you to the moon and back… and all around the race track.”
Update: Bowman Gray Stadium issues a statement
The track issued the following statement on Sunday:
“We are saddened by the passing of Robbie Brewer after he was transported to an area medical facility following an on-track medical incident during last night’s event at Bowman Gray Stadium,” The track opened.
They added, “Robbie was a talented and passionate racer, and highly respected competitor among his peers. Our thoughts and prayers are with Robbie’s family and friends at this time.”
Bowman Gray Stadium recently saw the return of the NASCAR Cup Series. Ahead of that race, the track installed safer barriers the full length of the track.
The walls were previously a concrete barrier. With the update, the impact zone is steel with foam crush panels between the steel wall and the original concrete wall.
