Bryan Clauson has been honored with the IndyCar Fan Favorite Award
When racing, nothing is sweeter than the taste of victory, but when you look at the bigger picture, being the fan favorite might tie that feeling or be trailing behind in a close second. Having the support of people who don’t even know you on a personal level is a feeling that’s quite indescribable. You have truly made it.
After passing away in a tragic way from injuries sustained in an accident in the Belleville Nationals, Bryan Clauson’s legacy would be solidified when the three-time Indy 500 starter was awarded with the IndyCar Fan Favorite award and the scene was one that would tug at the heart strings.
The late Bryan Clauson’s family appeared on stage tonight at the Verizon IndyCar Series awards banquet after fans voted the three-time Indy 500 starter – and dirt-track superstar – as their favorite
At the event, motorsport.com tells us that “Conor Daly, one of his teammates at Coyne for this year’s Indy 500, introduced the Clauson family on stage.”
“Bryan and I both grew up in Noblesville, Indiana, but we both took very different paths to eventually end up as teammates at the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500. I always heard countless stories of Bryan Clauson, the legend, as I went through high school, because our high schools were not that far apart. But I first got to know him when I shared an Indy Lights car with him in 2011.” -Conor Daly via motorsport.com
Teammates and fellow racers alike would attest to the positive and strong impact that he had on racing and Daly would talk about how much of an honor it would be to be on the same track as him.
Bryan’s family, when invited on stage would continue to talk about the humble driver, someone who seems to have only good things said about him as he seems to have made such a positive impact on the racing community around him.
Bryan’s fiance, Lauren Stewart, would thank the fans in a moment that had to be incredibly bittersweet for the family. “To all you fans who voted every day for weeks on end, thank you so much. Bryan loved you. He loved his fans, he loved getting to meet all of you, loved interacting with you.
“And I’d just like to thank everyone who gave Bryan an opportunity to race at the Speedway, the big track. Bryan put the weight of the dirt-track world on his shoulders and made us all so proud, every time he strapped into an IndyCar. It wouldn’t have been possible without everyone at Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, Jonathan Byrd’s Racing, KVSH and Dale Coyne.
“He made three ‘500’ starts that we’ll treasure forever. And we’re so sorry he won’t get the chance to do more.
“But I can’t wait to be around you, and it’s so great to be here. Thank you guys for having us, and fans – thank you for letting Bryan park it one more time.”
Motorsport.com continues that the family left the stage to a standing ovation which we think was well deserved, an act that had to be highly appreciated by the family. While it has to be hard to say goodbye to a loved one that seems to have left this world too soon, this was a nice final sendoff for a racer who seems to have done so much good.
