Article: Bryan Clauson, a Teenager on a Fast Track

By Joe Jennings

This article appears courtesy of OpenWheelRacers.com

The youth movement is on a fast track in racing, and although most of the prospects are not old enough to vote, their résumés are chock full of experience. Teenager Bryan Clauson, who has been racing ten of his 16 years, is one of those hot prospects. The California native started out in quarter midgets before working his way into midgets and the more powerful sprint cars. And he has won often.

Bryan Clauson in Action
(Joe Jennings photo)

Since California had age restrictions on young drivers and didn’t offer the career-building opportunities afforded by in the mid-west, the Clauson family migrated to Indiana a few years ago, to allow their son to hone his skills. They knew what they were getting into, as Tim Clauson, father of the young driver, had been a sprint car driver for more than a decade.

It didn’t take long for the young Indiana transplant to start turning heads, as he won often in Kenyon midgets and held his own in the torrid world of sprint cars. His accomplishments weren’t lost on racing’s talent scouts. In particular, the acclaimed team of Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates focused on young Clauson, signing him to a driver development contract last fall.

Bryan Clauson (Joe Jennings photo)

“Bryan’s a phenomenal talent,” says Lorin Ranier, director of driver development for the Ganassi team. “It is rare to find kids his age that can win races. Indiana sprint-car racing is as tough as it gets, and Bryan can do just about everything.”

The Ganassi team has a driver development arrangement with the successful Keith Kunz Motorsports team, and they worked out a plan for the 2006 season that will have Clauson race 100 times in midgets, sprint cars and USAC Silver Crown cars. Kunz will provide the midgets and sprint cars while others will provide the Silver Crown cars.

“Young drivers are fun to work with, but they can be very nerve-racking too,” Kunz said. “But Bryan is very mature for his age, and he has been very easy to work with.” The team owner said the Ganassi group had Clauson at the top of their prospect list, and after just one test, they knew he was the one for them.

To give the new combination a head start going into 2006, Kunz entered Clauson in 20 races toward the end of last season. The new combo hit it off well, including an impressive USAC midget victory at the Columbus Motor Speedway. In winning, Clauson became the youngest driver to win a USAC national feature race.

Bryan Clauson and Keith Kunz (Joe Jennings photo)

Clauson is thrilled with the opportunity at hand, but his new-found fame has not affected him. Off the track, he continues to be quiet spoken, level headed and a very polite young man. Once the youngster dons his helmet, the politeness is put aside, and he becomes a force to be reckoned with.

“This is really awesome for me,” Clauson said. “It is pretty exciting to have an opportunity like this. My experience racing with USAC experience should help with my career.”

Clauson has no stock car experience, other than attendance at Mike Loescher’s Finish Line Racing School a year ago. According to Ranier, Clauson did as well as previous graduates Jamie McMurrary, Reed Sorenson, Kraig Kinser and Erin Crocker. For now, his exposure to stock car racing will be limited, due to NASCAR’s age restrictions for its top divisions.

While an older driver can focus 100% on his or her vocation, Clauson has another equally important priority - his formal education. Clauson’s parents and his school administrators have structured a program that allows the high school junior to have time off for racing as long as his school work is under control. Since Clauson does well in the classroom, everyone is satisfied. “Bryan is an ‘A’ and a ‘B’ student, which helps a lot,” says his father.

With the school’s permission, Clauson started out the 2006 season with a trip to Oklahoma to race a midget at the famed Chili Bowl, finishing third in Friday’s A-Main, followed by a quick trip to Tampa, Florida, for three wingless sprint races as part of the O’Reilly Sprint Bandits Tour at East Bay Raceway Park. While there, he chalked up a third place in one feature event and challenged eventual winner Corey Kruseman for the lead in the grand finale.

As soon as the race action ended, Clauson and his father were winging their way home, so the young charger could return to the classroom the following day. Undoubtedly, he told his classmates a few stories about his successful trip to Florida.

Visit OpenWheelRacers.com for all of the latest open wheel racing news, results, and information.