Speed racer Justin Owen tragically passed away Saturday night following a crash at the Lawrenceburg Speedway in southeastern Indiana. He was 26 years old.
Multiple news outlets reported that the racer was attempting to qualify for the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship when his car crashed into the track’s wall, resulting in an airborne vehicle. The car reportedly flipped multiple times and Owens died upon impact. The rest of the races were canceled and the media would go on to confirm his death later in the day.
“Justin Owen, a sprint car competitor for more than a decade, succumbed to injuries sustained in a crash during Saturday’s USAC @AMSOILINC National Sprint Car event,” U.S. Auto Club Racing wrote in a statement issued on Twitter. “USAC send its deepest condolences to his family & friends.”
The NASCAR Sprint Cup grew up in a town 20 minutes from Lawrensbrug in Harrison, Ohio, and was regarded as the reigning track champion at Lawrenceburg Speedway. Over the course of his career, the 26-year-old driver held two feature wins and the title in 2022. As a prominent force in the speed racing industry, many community members publicly mourned his tragic death.
Racing community, family, and friends mourn the loss of Justin Owen
“The nights don’t get any tougher than last night. Praying for peace and comfort for all. Will always love @OwenTwoSix and never forget,” said Chad Cunningham, the announcer at Lawrenceburg Speedway.
In a similar fashion, Owen’s longtime friend Connor McCurley shared his own grief on social media. McCurley relayed, “Justin was a friend of mine since grade school.. Such a fun and charismatic spirit who was loved by everyone around him. Gone far too soon – Fly high and race fast up there Crust.”
Furthermore, Buckeye Outlaw Sprint Series, which the driver worked with various times over the course of his career, dedicated an entire memorial post to Owen on FaceBook.
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“If you were fortunate enough to know him, then you know what the world has lost,” the Buckeye Outlaw Sprint Series said of the late NASCAR star. “If you didn’t know him, you missed out on a guy who lived life to the fullest. Justin was always upbeat and positive and could light up a room or a pit area with his smile and demeanor.”
The organization concluded with the sentiment, “Most of all, he was a hardcore race car driver.”
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