Bryan Clauson
Driver of the No. 41 CGRFS Dodge
Personal Statistics
Age: 18
Birth Date: June 15, 1989
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 145
Birthplace: Carmichael, Calif.
Residence: Noblesville, Ind.
Racing Statistics
2006 National Midget Rookie of the Year
2006 Became youngest Sprint Car National Feature winner in USAC history(winning at Winchester (Ind.) Speedway in April)
2006 Became youngest driver ever to sweep a USAC Midget/Sprint double-header weekend (winning both Midget and Sprint Car feature events at Salem (Ind.) Speedway in August)
2006 Became youngest driver ever to do a victorious sweep of the high banks of USAC competition (winning at both Salem and Winchester (Ind.) Speedways)
2005 Became youngest Midget National Feature winner in USAC history (winning at Columbus (Ohio) Motor Speedway in October)
2005 Signed on to Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) Driver Development Program
2004 National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Wildcard Award
2004 Bloomington Speedway Rookie of the Year
2004 Lawrenceburg Speedway Rookie of the Year
2003 Kokomo Speedway Sprint Car Rookie of the Year
2002-03 North American Auto Racing Series (NAMARS) Kenyon Midget National Champion
2002 HARF First Year Driver
2002 NAMARS Kenyon Midget Series Rookie of the Year
2001 Camden Speedway Rookie of the Year
2000 Quarter Midget Light A Division National Champion
2000 Indiana Quarter Midget State Champion
1998 California Quarter Midget State Champion
One of the most exciting young talents to ever enter the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) stables, Bryan Clauson is a young, yet seasoned racer by all means. During his relatively short career to date, Clauson has tallied multiple championships, wins, rookie of the year honors, podium finishes and has been the youngest driver to achieve and receive some of the most prestigious awards in Midget and Sprint Car racing history. Now, he is ready to race his way into the stock car history books beginning this fall when he climbs inside the No. 41 Memorex Dodge to go NASCAR Busch Series racing for the first time.
Clauson caught the racing bug from his dad, Tim, watching him compete in a sprint circuit around their Northern California hometown, Antelope. The younger Clauson finally got to go racing himself when he was just 5-years old.
First, he competed in the Quarter Midget ranks and dabbled some in go-karts, becoming the youngest ever to be named rookie of the year in the Outlaw Go-Kart program. After that, he spent the next few years focusing 100 percent toward his quarter midget career, which collected multiple championships. Even after his dad's job relocated to Indiana and moved the family to the Midwest halfway through the 1999 season, Clauson still topped the total-win charts and managed to capture a western states championship. The move truly was a blessing in many ways, as the family had hoped to eventually move there because they knew that is where they needed to be to further Clauson's racing aspirations.
Altogether during his six-year run in quarter midgets, from 1994-2000, Clauson amassed a national championship, two state championships (California and Indiana), two Northern California regional championships, and four western states championships. He also set a new track speed record during the Nationals in Pablo, Colo., and topped the 20-win mark almost every year he competed, grabbing a total of 30 wins during the 1997 season when he was just 8-years old.
Clauson concluded his quarter midget career on a high note in 2000. Not only did he post more than 20 wins along with an Indiana state championship, but his final race at the Nationals in Apopka, Fla. resulted in a Quarter Midget Light A Division National Championship title.
At 10-years of age, Clauson already had more than 200 quarter-midget victories under his belt and thus began looking at other racing avenues to pursue. He decided 600 Micro and North American Auto Racing Series (NAMARS) Kenyon Midgets would be his next course of action.
In 2001, Clauson embarked on his 600 Micros career that over a two-year period resulted in a rookie of the year title at Camden (Ind.) Speedway and 26 A Main event wins. In the midst of his 600 Micros career, he also started running the Kenyon Midgets, presenting him with the challenge of a double-duty season in 2002. The heavier schedule didn't seem to deter Clauson's on-track performance as he again captured rookie of the year honors in the Kenyon Midgets as well as a national championship. Clauson's outstanding efforts also led him to being named the "First Year Driver" by the Hoosier Racing Fan Club (HARF). It was a prestigious award for a young racer to receive, with former recipients including some of the most successful racers in motorsports today, including Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman.
Clauson proceeded to compete in both the 600 Micros and Kenyon Midgets the following year to score an unforgettable career finale victory in the Open Division of the Tulsa Shootout. The win made him the youngest racer to ever win the prestigious event. During that same 2003 season, he also scored six A Main Event victories in the Kenyon Midgets on his way to claiming a second-consecutive national championship.
Again, looking to further develop as a driver, Clauson took a stab at racing Sprint Cars toward the latter part of 2003, competing at Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway. Although he was almost twice as young as most of his competitors, Clauson quickly gained respect as he showed he could run with the best. He was nicknamed "The Bullet," after proving to qualify his Sprint Car into all 10 races he entered. Clauson's consistency not only earned him an intimidating nickname but also rookie of the year honors at Kokomo.
Clauson's sophomore year in Sprint Car competition resulted in unprecedented numbers. The 14-year old racer made a total of 37 starts, which resulted in six wins, 20 podium finishes and 31 top-five finishes. Clauson, again, looked back on another racing season that concluded with two more rookie of the year honors-one coming from Lawrenceburg (Ind.) Speedway and the other at Bloomington (Ind.) Speedway, where he also finished second in the overall 2004 speedway points standings. The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame recognized Clauson's outstanding efforts and presented him with the "Wildcard Award," which made him the youngest recipient ever to receive the infamous prize.
The 2005 season started with Clauson running the first half of the year in his Sprint Car on the local Indiana track scene. Then, after his 16th birthday in June, Clauson made his first United States Auto Club (USAC) start in the Buckeye Nationals at Limaland Speedway in Lima, Ohio. He couldn't have asked for a better first step into USAC as his first run resulted in a podium third-place finish.
One of Clauson's most notable runs of the year came at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind., as he took on his first Indiana Sprint Week. The teenager turned heads as he grabbed five top-10 qualifying efforts and topped it all off with a podium finish.
The young man's talent caught a lot of attention and soon he was picked up by Keith Kunz Motorsports, which was one of the most successful USAC teams in the country. The new partnership enabled Clauson to race on both dirt and pavement, in both midgets and sprints, which would only continue to strengthen his talent and broaden his experience.
In October of that same year, Clauson won his first USAC Midget race at Columbus (Ohio) Motor Speedway, which also made him the youngest National Feature winner in USAC history. By the conclusion of the 2005 season, Clauson accumulated a total of nine victories on dirt and pavement in three different divisions-Midgets, Sprints and Kenyon Midgets.
Again Clauson's performance caught a lot of attention including that of Lorin Ranier, director of driver development for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS). Clauson soon met with the team and was signed up to be part of the CGRFS development program.
Going into 2006, Clauson was solidly in the hunt for a USAC championship and his on-track results quickly proved that as he collected wins in both the USAC Sprint Car and Midget Series'. One of the victories included an April USAC National Sprint car event at Winchester (Ind.) Speedway, which also made him the youngest driver to ever claim the top seat at "The World's Fastest Half-Mile" and the youngest to ever win a Sprint Car feature in USAC history.
From there through the late summer, Clauson proceeded to record 11 top-five and 18 top-10 National Sprint Car finishes, in addition to eight top-five National Midget finishes. August was highlighted when the 17-year old became the youngest driver ever to sweep a Midget/Sprint double-header weekend by winning both USAC Midget and Sprint Car feature events at Salem (Ind.) Speedway. The victorious sweep placed Clauson in the USAC history books alongside other notable drivers who had accomplished the same feat, including Jeff Gordon, Pancho Carter and Dave Steele. The wins at Salem and Winchester also meant Clauson had successfully swept the high banks of the 2006 USAC competition schedule.
Even after an injury at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., sidelined him for the remainder of the year, Clauson still maintained a top-10 position in both the National Sprint and Midget Car Series' by season's end. He brought home a fifth-place standing in the National Midget division and a seventh-place rank in the National Sprint division. In addition to the outstanding final tally, Clauson again received freshman props by being named the 2006 rookie of the year in the National Midget division.
It was in late 2006 when Clauson asked his teacher for a hall pass so he could be excused from class to meet briefly with a potential sponsor that was interested in supporting him in the NASCAR Busch Series. Just a few months later, in January 2007, it was announced Clauson would pilot the No. 41 Memorex Dodge for CGRFS in the last seven NASCAR Busch Series races of the season, starting at Richmond International Raceway (RIR) in early September.
Leading up to that fall weekend at RIR, Clauson will embark on a 26-race schedule, competing in the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) with CGRFS, and also running the American Speed Association (ASA) North, ASA Challenge, USAC and the Georgia Asphalt Series (GAS) with various car owners, including Kasey Kahne.
The 2007 season is going to involve some major turning points in Clauson's young life, both personally and professionally. In addition to his hectic racing schedule, he will graduate from high school in May, and then celebrate an 18th birthday in June. However, the third major turning point of his year will arrive in September when he climbs inside the No. 41 Memorex Dodge to take his first green flag ever in NASCAR Busch Series competition. Just like any teenager, he is looking forward to graduation, as well as the big 1-8, but glancing over his racing credentials one will quickly realize this teen has been preparing and anxiously awaiting that ride in September more than anything else.
Career Highlights 2006 * Late-August injury at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., forces him to set out the remainder of the season * Finished fifth in the United States Auto Club (USAC) National Midget standings * Finished seventh in the USAC National Sprint Car standings * Named National Midget Rookie of the Year * In nine USAC Midget starts, which is only 50 percent of the race schedule), Clauson scored three wins and six second-place finishes on his way to finishing fourth in the Indiana regional midget point standings * Posted eight top-five National Midget Series finishes * Recorded 11 top-five and 18 top-10 USAC National Sprint Car finishes * The victorious Midget/Sprint double-header sweep at Salem (Ind.) Speedway places Clauson in the USAC history books alongside other notable drivers, including Jeff Gordon, Pancho Carter and Dave Steele * USAC Midget and Sprint Car double-header wins at Salem Speedway make him the youngest driver ever to sweep Midget/Sprint double-header feature events
2005 * Became part of Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) driver development program * Won four USAC Kenyon Midget Series features in only seven starts * Posted nine victories on both dirt and pavement in three divisions - Midgets, Sprints and Kenyon * Recorded first USAC Midget win in October at Columbus (Ohio) Motor Speedway, becoming the youngest National Feature winner in USAC history * Began driving for Keith Kunz Motorsports, which gave him the opportunity to race on both dirt and pavement in both midgets and sprints * Grabs five top-10 qualifying efforts and a podium finish during his first Indiana Sprint Week at the Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind. * Scored third-place finish in first USAC start at Limaland Speedway in Lima, Ohio * Turned 16 in June and immediately started USAC racing.
2004 * Became the youngest recipient ever to receive the prestigious Wildcard Award from the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame * Named rookie of the year at Lawrenceburg (Ind.) Speedway and Bloomington (Ind.) Speedway * Finished the season second in points at Bloomington Speedway * Scored an impressive six wins, 20 podium finishes and 31 top-five finishes in 37 Sprint Car starts * Captured first Sprint Car victory in the 50th Anniversary Race at Paragon (Ind.) Speedway * Finished third in inaugural Sprint Car run at Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track * Still running part-time in the North American Auto Racing Series (NAMARS) Kenyon Midgets results in three more additional wins * At age 14, embarks on sophomore season of Sprint Car competition at local Indiana tracks.
2003 * Won six A Main events in Kenyon car * Captured second-consecutive national Kenyon Midgets championship * Closed out 600 Micro Midgets career with a shocking win in the Tulsa Shootout at the Tulsa Expo Raceway, which made him the youngest driver ever to win the Open Division in the Tulsa Shootout * Earned Sprint Car rookie of the year honors at Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway * At age 13, makes Sprint Car debut at Kokomo Speedway.
2002 * Bestowed with the "First Year Driver" award from the Hoosier Racing Fan Club (HARF), joining previous winners Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman * Led every statistical category on his way to winning the Kenyon Midget Series National Championship * Named Kenyon Midget Car Series Rookie of the Year * Won the Outlaw Nationals at Pikes County Speedway in Pittsfield, Ill. * Won the Coca-Cola Nationals in Sikeston, Mo. * Picked up more than 20 A Main Event victories in the 600 Division * Took on a double-duty season of racing, competing in both the 600 Micros and Kenyon Midgets.
2001 * Named rookie of the year at Camden (Ind.) Speedway * Won six A Main events in the 600 Division * Began racing 600 Micros.
2000 * At 10 years of age, completed Quarter Midget career with more than 200 feature wins on his resume * Won the Quarter Midget Light A Division National Championship in Apopka, Fla. * Crowned Indiana Quarter Midget state champion * Scored more than 20 victories in Quarter Midget competition.
1999 * Halfway through the season, Clauson and family move to the Midwest after his father's job is relocated to Indiana * The mid-season move doesn't keep Clauson from capturing over 20 wins in Quarter Midget competition * Scored two top-five finishes at the Nationals in Langley, Canada * Captured another western states Quarter Midget championship.
1998 * At just 8 years old, finished the season with a total tally of 30 Quarter Midget victories * Set a new track speed record at the Nationals in Pablo, Colo. * Winter Nationals event winner in Las Vegas, Nev. * Won the California Quarter Midget state championship title * Grabbed three western states championships * Claimed two Northern California Quarter Midget regional championships * Named to drive the new Quarter Midget -the GT American house car.
1995 - 1997 * At age 7, decided to focus 100 percent on Quarter Midget competition * At 6-years of age, became youngest ever rookie of the year in the Outlaw Go-Kart program * Proceeded to race Quarter Midgets and raced some go-karts.
1994 * Began racing Quarter Midgets at age 5.