A longtime North Carolina stock car driver died Saturday night after experiencing a heart attack and crashing during a Sportsman Division race at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, as reported [1] by The New York Post.
Robbie Brewer, 54, was competing in the race when the incident occurred. According to the Winston-Salem Journal, Brewer was approaching turn three when he failed to make turn four and struck the wall head-on.
Racing star Robbie Brewer passes away at 53 after heart attack causes Bowman Gray Stadium crash. On Sat night, August 9, 2025, car struck head-on a wall on the quarter-mile track at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem and came to a stop near the start-finish line, died over the… pic.twitter.com/2VSFw4itsq [2]
— Sumner (@renmusb1) August 11, 2025 [3]
The crash took place during a 20-lap race, and Brewer’s car came to rest near the start-finish line. Chief flagman Randy Smith was the first to reach the vehicle, and track crews removed the roof to extract the driver.
Tragedy struck at Bowman Gray Stadium as NC racing champ Robbie Brewer, 53, died after a heart attack mid-race. His car slammed into the wall during a restart with 4 laps to go. Crews tore off the roof to reach him; he was rushed to a hospital but didn’t survive. His… pic.twitter.com/j2nkriKg4O [4]
— GoodMorningRooster (@RoosterGM) August 11, 2025 [5]
Brewer’s daughter, Courtney Marquette, confirmed her father’s death in a social media post, writing:
“I didn’t just lose my dad, many people just lost a best friend, mentor, talking buddy or someone they could have a good time with.”
Bowman Gray Stadium officials issued a statement describing Brewer as “a talented and passionate racer, and highly respected competitor among his peers.”
The Winston-Salem Journal reported that Brewer’s death is believed to be the first driver fatality at the track since 2002.
The Bowman Gray community mourns the loss this weekend of Robbie Brewer after a medical emergency at the track Saturday night.
Brewer was an 11-time winner in the Sportsman ranks at ‘The Madhouse’ and the 2011 division champion. pic.twitter.com/UKQ8LtXo1n [6]
— Chanel Porter (@chanelcporter) August 11, 2025 [7]
Spectator Tom Radulovic, who witnessed the crash, described the atmosphere in the stands in the moments after the impact. “The atmosphere in the stands was a mixture of how you feel coming up on a terrible crash on the interstate and being in church,” he said.
“There was silence and reverence with some folks clearly praying.”
Track historian Justin Mincey noted that Brewer made nearly 260 career starts in the Sportsman Division. His most successful season came in 2011, when he won the division’s points championship.
The race and events surrounding the accident remain under review.