Sprint car driver Justin Owen has died after sustaining injuries in a crash during a qualifying race Saturday night, the U.S. Auto Club announced. He was 26 years old.

The incident occurred during the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship event at Lawrenceburg Speedway in southeastern Indiana. Owen’s car hit the outside wall in turn three at the 3/8-mile dirt oval and flipped multiple times. USAC then announced the rest of the race was canceled.

Owen had been competing in the sprint car ranks for more than 10 years and was the reigning track champion at Lawrenceburg Speedway, according to USAC. It was his first track championship.

Last year, Owen earned two feature wins and the Lawrenceburg title. He also had two feature starts for USAC, both at Lawrenceburg, in 2019 and ’21.

Owen recorded three victories in 2019 and a victory in ’16. Two of those four wins came at Lernerville Speedway in Pennsylvania.

source si.com