[Tim Clauson]

I wanted to share this story as it really touched me and I think it exemplifies the love that Bryan had for young drivers accepting new challenges and an understanding of how much guts it takes to step out of their comfort zone to compete at the highest of levels.

A message (post) sent to me last week.

I wanna tell you guys about the first time I met Bryan Clauson.

We were at Eagle Raceway a couple years ago when he was still driving for Tony Stewart. It was my first year in a sprint car and my first time ever running a non wing car. We ended up pitting next to Bryan that night.

I'll be honest. I was scared out of my mind. I had maybe 6-7 nights in a 305 wing sprint car under my belt and I was lining up against the best 410 non wing racers in the country. In my mind I wasn't worthy to even catch the mud off these guys' tires in hotlaps. I was in wayyyy over my head.

I had no sponsors, was running used tires, had a small horsepower engine, and was just there to get a little experience and a paycheck. In the eyes of the big USAC teams there, I was just a slow underfunded ******* that would be in their way. And they were right.

But Bryan didn't see it that way. He saw a young kid chasing a dream.

He came over to my pit and talked to me for a while. Bryan told me I had guts for coming out and trying and race against those guys.

He wished me good luck and later on in the night he gave me a thumbs up as we were getting strapped in to our cars for the heat race.

I was a nobody and Bryan made me feel like I mattered. I don't think he realized what kind of impact that made on me.

Bryan was somebody I really looked up to. He was everything I wanted to be as a sprint car driver. Professional, fearless, extremely talented, focused, and incredibly humble. He had every reason to brag about his racing career but there was not a sliver of pride in his character. And he loved helping young drivers trying to get their careers going. Whether they actually drove for him or just happened to pit next to him that night, he'd do anything to help.

It still doesn't seem real that he's gone.
Rest in peace, Bryan. We love you and miss you.

While I had no knowledge of the interaction between Bryan and this driver on this night I do remember it well as on the way to where ever it was we were heading Bryan made the comment that we were lucky that kid next to us didn't have a 410 because he did one heck of a job.

I post this because Bryan truly enjoyed and more importantly respected those who stepped out of their comfort zone to chase a dream ... the dream.

If this can inspire just one driver to step out and make that first start at kokomo next Wednesday I think he would be proud.

Thank You
Tim Clauson