Sportsman driver Robbie Brewer (48) surveys the damage after a wreck in turn three in this 2019 photo.
Andrew Dye/Journal
Driver Robbie Brewer, a fixture at Bowman Gray Stadium for several years, has died.
Brewer, 54, suffered a medical emergency while in his car driving in a Sportsman Division race on Saturday night at the historic track.
Robbie Brewer (68) just before the Hayes Jewelers 200 Modified series race portion of the opening night of the 2012 NASCAR season at Bowman Gray Stadium on the campus of Winston-Salem State University in Winston-Salem, N.C., Saturday April 28, 2012.
Winston-Salem Journal
Courtney Marquette, who is Brewer’s daughter, confirmed the death on social media.
Track officials rip the roof off of Robbie Brewer’s car to remove him after a serious injury in the first 20-lap Sportsman Series race on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025 at Bowman Gray Stadium. Brewer, a former Sportsman Series champion, was taken by ambulance to a local hospital.
Walt Unks, Journal
“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,” she wrote.
As Brewer was coming around turn three, he failed to make turn four and headed straight into the wall.
Randy Smith, the chief flagman, was the first to reach Brewer’s car after it had come to a stop near the start-finish line. Track supervisor Jimmy Brown and his crew then peeled the roof off and extracted Brewer from the car. He was taken to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital by ambulance.
Robbie Brewer’s car skids down the front stretch after a wreck on the restart on lap 16 of the first 20-lap Sportsman Series race on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025 at Bowman Gray Stadium. Brewer, a former Sportsman Series champion, was taken by ambulance to a local hospital.
Walt Unks, Journal
“We are saddened by the passing of Robbie Brewer after he was transported to an area medical facility following an on-track medical incident during last night’s event at Bowman Gray Stadium,” track officials said in a statement. “Robbie was a talented and passionate racer, and highly respected competitor among his peers. Our thoughts and prayers are with Robbie’s family and friends at this time.”
Brewer made nearly 260 starts in his career in the Sportsman Division, according to track historian Justin Mincey. In 2011, he had his best season winning the points championship. In 2006, he was second in the rookie of the year voting in that division to Kenny Bost.
He was a consistent driver finishing in the top 10 in points in 10 of his 13 seasons. He had 11 wins overall, which placed him 36th all-time and he had 76 top five finishes.
Bowman Gray race fans stand in silence as track workers and emergency personnel work to remove Robbie Brewer from his car on the front stretch after a wreck on the restart on lap 16 of the first 20-lap Sportsman Series race on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025 at Bowman Gray Stadium. Brewer, a former Sportsman Series champion, was taken by ambulance to a local hospital.
Walt Unks, Journal
Brewer also made 28 starts in the Stadium Stock Division and made his first career start in June 1990.
Brewer also raced at other tracks. In 2018 and 2019, he was the Caraway Speedway champion in the 602 Modified Division, according to Mincey. He had six featured wins in 2019 and over a span of those two seasons won 12 times at Caraway.
Smith, who has been working at the stadium for 16 years, said Robbie had no enemies.
“He was loved by everyone,” Smith said. “I don’t think there is one person that can say anything bad about Robbie. He was a great guy.”
Track crew work to remove Sportsman Series driver Robbie Brewer from his car after a wreck on the restart on lap 16 of the first 20-lap Sportsman Series race on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025 at Bowman Gray Stadium. Brewer, a former Sportsman Series champion, was taken by ambulance to a local hospital.
Walt Unks, Journal
Fellow driver Brad Lewis, whose race shop is about two minutes from where Brewer lived, said he’s heartbroken at the loss.
“He was like a big brother to me even though we were not that far apart in age,” Lewis said. “I’m bet everybody in that pit area has a Robbie story and that’s a testament to what he meant to that place and to all of us who compete over there.”
Lewis said there’s been countless times where Brewer helped him with a part or advice.
“He answered the phone one night at midnight and I needed torque wrench, and about three minutes after I hung up, he was over at our shop helping us,” Lewis said.
Lewis said it’s going to be hard to race this coming weekend but he’s going to honor his friend the best that he can.
“He was a wheelman through and through,” Lewis said. “I’m not only going to honor him the rest of the season but for as long as we race out there. He’ll be missed.”
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