Late Driver Bryan Clauson Helped Save Five Lives By Being An Organ Donor

Bryan Clauson, the 27-year-old driver who died on Sunday, helped save five lives by being an organ donor, his family revealed on Wednesday.

Late Driver Bryan Clauson Helped Save Five Lives By Being An Organ Donor

Clauson was sent to Bryan Medical Center West in Lincoln, Nebraska, following a fatal crash in the 39th annual Belleville Nationals at the Belleville High Banks Speedway Fairgrounds in Belleville, Kansas on Saturday night.

The driver’s family announced that he was in critical condition on Sunday and, Monday morning, United States Auto Club (USAC) and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced that he had died Sunday night from the injuries he sustained in the crash.

On Wednesday, it was revealed on the Bryan Clauson Racing Facebook page that Clauson was an organ donor, something his family only discovered when they sat by his hospital bed.

The family said the process was made possible by the “comforting” Nebraska Organ Recovery team.

Clauson had been in the middle of a season-long campaign called “Chase to 200” to compete in 200 races in 2016.

His family released a statement Wednesday. The entire statement can be seen below:

“We would all like to thank you for all of your prayers and concerns over the last few days. It provided strength and comfort during a very difficult time for us.

Nothing prepares you for these moments. We have all watched from afar as other families have had to face their own tragedies or been there to support our family and friends as they have spent their own time in the hospital. However, nothing makes you ready to say goodbye. You take each moment as it comes and we could not have made it to this point without all of you.

One of the gifts that Bryan gave us while we sat next to him praying for some good news, was the moment we found out that he was an organ donor. It shouldn’t have surprised us. All of us have felt Bryan’s generosity throughout his life. The gift of life is the most amazing gesture and Bryan will live on not only through us and all the people he touched along the way, but from the lucky individuals that will benefit from Bryan making a decision to be a donor.

It was not lost on our family as we sat huddled around him, holding his hands, comforting him and each other, saying our last goodbye that five families were also sitting in a hospital room somewhere, comforting their loved one and each other while praying for a miracle that Bryan ultimately delivered for them. We are so proud of our Bryan for making this decision.

The Nebraska Organ Recovery team made the entire process very comforting. Their compassion, love, and respect when treating Bryan did not go unnoticed. We want to acknowledge every member of the Nebraska Organ Recovery team. Thank you for loving our Bryan.

If you are a donor, thank you. If you are not, please consider for a moment becoming one. We have seen first hand how amazing it feels on both sides of the coin. It is the greatest gift that one person can give another. We promise.

Again, thank you for all of your thoughts, prayers and friendship. We look forward to seeing you at the races.

Lauren, Tim, Di, Taylor”

Clauson’s fiancee, Lauren Stewart, tweeted this after the statement’s release:

NASCAR also announced it would honor Clauson with a decal available to Xfinity Series teams this weekend for its race at Mid-Ohio. Clauson competed in 26 Xfinity Series races in 2007 and 2008.

HAMPTON, GA – OCTOBER 24: Bryan Clauson driver of the #40 Target/Guitar Hero World Tour Dodge during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on October 24, 2008 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)