Big Machine Music City Grand Prix To Honor Driver Bryan Clauson

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The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix will honor the late race car driver Bryan Clauson by naming the pole winner trophy after him.

The driver who wins the pole will receive the Bryan Clauson Pole Trophy on August 7, an accolade that highlights the event’s partnership with Tennessee Donor Services to raise awareness for organ and tissue donation.

“Bryan Clauson was the definition of a racer,” says Matt Crews, CEO of Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. “He was an extremely talented driver and just an incredible person. Losing him was very painful on the entire racing community, but his legacy lives on, and there’s no truer statement than that.”

A ferocious competitor on the racetrack, Clauson was incredibly giving off the track. He promoted animal welfare causes and was an ambassador for Cancer Treatment Centers of America, a national oncology network of hospitals and outpatient care centers.

Clauson was also an extremely versatile and accomplished racecar driver who worked his way up the racing ladder with his 112 career USAC victories, ranking him fifth all-time. Clauson was a nine-time USAC champion who made his way to INDYCAR, first in Indy Lights and then in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, making his debut in the 2012 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. Sadly, Clauson passed away on Aug. 7, 2016 at the age of 27 after injuries sustained in a crash at the Belleville Midget Nationals in Kansas.

“Bryan was an organ donor,” says Crews. “He ended up saving five lives and helped heal about 75 people through tissue donation. His heart literally lives on. By presenting the NTT P1 Award winner with the Bryan Clauson Pole Trophy, we at the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix want to recognize Bryan’s generosity and encourage others to #BeTheGift.”

Taylor McLean, Bryan’s sister, along with their father and mother, Tim and Diana Clauson, will hand the Bryan Clauson Pole Trophy to the NTT P1 Award winner.

“Bryan was a very giving person,” says McLean, marketing program specialist at Indiana Donor Network, where she oversees the Driven2SaveLives program. “We are so proud of his accomplishments on the track, but we are prouder of the person he was off of it. He helped so many people and never hesitated to take the time to interact with his fans.

“When Bryan died, he gave the best gift of all – the gift of life – through his decision to sign up as an organ donor. Organ donation not only saved the lives of the people who received his organs, but Bryan’s donation started a movement in the racing community.” She continues, “We are so proud of our Bryan, and it is extremely humbling to continue Bryan’s legacy in this sport in partnership with the Music City Grand Prix and Tennessee Donor Services.”

The Bryan Clauson Pole Trophy will be presented to the NTT P1 Award winner on Saturday, Aug. 7 following qualifying for the inaugural Big Machine Music City Grand Prix NTT INDYCAR SERIES race. The date marks the five-year anniversary of Clauson’s passing.

Each car entered in the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix NTT INDYCAR Series race will also be provided #BCstrong decals to run during the event weekend which has shown the motorsports industry’s collective remembrance of Clauson.

Steven Boero
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