Stock-car racing veteran Robbie Brewer tragically passes away due to a medical emergency during a race competition
Veteran Stock-Car Driver Robbie Brewer Dies in Racing Accident at Bowman Gray Stadium
Robbie Brewer, a seasoned stock-car driver, passed away over the weekend following a tragic incident during a race at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The cause of Brewer's death was a heart attack, which led to a head-on collision with the outside wall on the quarter-mile track.
The incident occurred during the final stages of a Sportsman division race, with Brewer's car failing to turn exiting turn 4, resulting in the high-speed impact. The crash happened during a restart with just four laps remaining. Brewer's family announced his death the following morning.
Brewer's passing marks the first fatality at Bowman Gray Stadium in over 20 years, with the previous being Bubba Beck in 2002, who also suffered a heart attack on track.
Brewer was a well-respected and talented competitor among his peers. He had a long history at Bowman Gray, making nearly 311 starts across multiple divisions and securing 11 career wins. Brewer was a multiple division champion, with victories in the Sportsman Division and 602 Modified competition. His most recent triumph came in 2011 when he won the points championship in the Sportsman Division.
Brad Lewis, a fellow Bowman Gray driver, referred to Brewer as a "wheelman" and shared that Brewer was like a big brother to him. Lewis stated that he will honor Brewer for the rest of the season and for as long as they race at Bowman Gray.
Track officials expressed their condolences for Brewer's passing. Brewer's first career start at Bowman Gray Stadium was in 1990, and he made nearly 260 starts in the Sportsman Division at the track.
This year, Bowman Gray Stadium served as the locale for the preseason NASCAR Cup Series exhibition event. The details of Brewer's medical emergency that led to his death were not released.
[1] Winston-Salem Journal, "Robbie Brewer, veteran stock-car driver, dies after weekend crash at Bowman Gray Stadium," 17 April 2023.
[2] Fox Sports, "Robbie Brewer dies after crash at Bowman Gray Stadium," 17 April 2023.
[3] ESPN, "Robbie Brewer dies following crash at Bowman Gray Stadium," 17 April 2023.
[4] Associated Press, "Robbie Brewer, veteran stock-car driver, dies after crash at Bowman Gray Stadium," 17 April 2023.
Despite the tragic accident that occurred during a Sportsman division race, Brewer's love for racing was evident in his long history at Bowman Gray Stadium, where he competed in multiple divisions and secured 11 career wins. Despite the heartbreaking loss, his fellow driver Brad Lewis announced his intention to honor Brewer for the rest of the season and for as long as they race at Bowman Gray, showcasing the impact Brewer had on his peers and the sport of hockey on the tracks.
