Robbie Brewer, veteran racer, dies after crash at Bowman Gray Stadium

A veteran short track racer died Saturday night after a crash at Bowman Gray Stadium. Robbie Brewer, a Winston-Salem, N.C., native, crashed while racing in the Sportsman division at Bowman Gray.

FloRacing reported that Brewer suffered a heart attack inside his racecar, which led to the crash. He was 53.

The crash occurred as the field was coming to a restart with four laps to go in the race. Brewer, running fourth at the time, never turned on the exit of Turn 4. His car veered right, sending him nearly head-on into the outside wall.

Safety workers rushed to the aid of Brewer, where they removed the roof of his car to extricate him. He was taken to a local hospital. His family announced his death Sunday morning.

“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. Robbie was a talented and passionate racer, and highly respected competitor among his peers,” Bowman Gray Stadium said in a statement. Our thoughts and prayers are with Robbie’s family and friends at this time.”

Robbie Brewer was an accomplished racer in the Carolinas

Brewer was an 11-time winner in the Sportsman ranks at Bowman Gray. The 2011 division champion, Brewer made 311 starts at the racetrack, his first coming June 2, 1990, in the Buzzbomber division. Brewer had a successful career driving Modifieds in the Carolinas, winning 12 races in 21 starts in 2018 and 2019. He also captured the 2016 602 Super Limited (Late Model) Series championship.

According to FloRacing, Brewer was part of the Robbins & Lewis family racing stables with Sportsman competitors Dylan Ward, Chase Lewis and Street Stock racers Brad and Emilee Lewis. Brad Lewis wrote the following on Facebook:

“I gave my last fist bump to Robbie last night and told him to give ’em hell. Emilee spoke the last words to him over the radio. Hardest thing I’ve had to do was climb in a car after he was gone, but he would’ve told me to pump them up and get on the wheel. He was my family. A true man’s man. I’m broken, as most are that he touched through his life. I will never forget you, Robbie. I’ll be driving for you.”