Death at Bowman Gray

A veteran stock-car driver died after a medical emergency during a Bowman Gray Stadium race in Winston-Salem, prompting questions about safety and emergency readiness.

Death at Bowman Gray tests safety at short track racing

Robbie Brewer, 53, suffered a medical emergency during a 20-lap Sportsman Series race on the quarter-mile Bowman Gray Stadium track in Winston-Salem. His car struck a wall near the start-finish line and was extracted from the vehicle before being transported to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist hospital, where he died.
Brewer began racing at the oval in 1990 and had almost 260 starts in the Sportsman Division, winning the 2011 points title, according to the Winston-Salem Journal. Bowman Gray is known for weekly night races that attract thousands and hosted a preseason NASCAR Cup Series exhibition earlier this year.

The death at a small venue highlights the ongoing risk in racing, especially at tracks with limited resources. Emergency medical staffing, on-site response times, and the design of barriers all come under scrutiny when a crisis hits. The sport faces a quiet pressure to show that speed can be enjoyed without compromising safety.
Fans and families form the heartbeat of Bowman Gray, a historic venue that blends local culture with high-stakes competition. This incident may push track operators and regulators to review safety protocols and invest in faster medical response, clearer procedures, and stronger barriers, even if that means higher costs for a sport that relies on community support and volunteer efforts.

Highlights

Safety must keep pace with speed, especially where communities gather to watch the sport they love.