Video: Racer Bryan Clauson stable after accident at Belleville Nationals

Bryan Clauson made 27 starts in NASCAR, one in the Cup series in 2008 and 26 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. All his NASCAR starts came in 2007-2008. (NASCAR)
Bryan Clauson made 27 starts in NASCAR, one in the Cup series in 2008 and 26 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. All his NASCAR starts came in 2007-2008. (NASCAR)
Bryan Clauson made 27 starts in NASCAR, one in the Cup series in 2008 and 26 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. All his NASCAR starts came in 2007-2008. (NASCAR)

UPDATE: Bryan Clauson succumbs to injures after accident at Belleville Nationals

Versatile racer Bryan Clauson was listed in stable condition in a hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska early Sunday morning after a horrific crash during the Belleville Nationals midget race in Belleville, Kansas Saturday night.

Clauson who has raced in NASCAR, IndyCar and several other racing series, started the USAC midget car race ninth in the feature. He had just passed Chad Boat for the lead of the race and was widening the gap when he came upon lapped traffic entering turn 3 on the half-mile dirt track.  Clauson was up near the outside wall when he made contact with a lapped car. The car of Clauson was sent into a series of violent flips, as it was coming to rest near the exit of turn 4, another car hit Clauson’s machine at near full race speed.

Clauson started ninth in the feature at Belleville Saturday night. His team posted this photo just prior to the start.
Clauson started ninth in the feature at Belleville Saturday night. His team posted this photo just prior to the start.

It took rescue workers nearly 30-minutes to extract the 27-year old to extricate Clauson.  According to law enforcement officials he was airlifted about 11:00 p.m. local time to Bryan Trauma Center in Lincoln, Nebraska and was unconscious, but breathing on his own.

Early Sunday morning a hospital spokesperson confirmed that Clauson was listed in stable condition after being upgraded from critical. No other updates would be provided the spokesperson added, citing privacy concerns.

Clauson had been involved in a crash Friday evening at the same track. He was uninjured in that incident. Chad Boat went on to win the event Saturday night.  Clauson made 27 starts in NASCAR, one in the Cup series in 2008 and 26 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. All his NASCAR starts came in 2007-2008.

Sunday afternoon the family tweeted an update indicating that Clauson’s condition had worsened:

UPDATE: Bryan Clauson succumbs to injures after accident at Belleville Nationals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_yptCQUsWM

Greg Engle
About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.