USAC: Sprint car driver Justin Owen, 26, latest oval track victim

Justin Owen, a sprint car driver who was competing at a USAC race in Indiana, died from injuries he suffered in a qualifying crash Saturday night, the U.S. Auto Club (USAC) announced. Owen was 26.

Owen, a longtime sprint car racer, was competing to qualify for the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship at Lawrenceburg Speedway. His car struck the outside wall and flipped several times along the third turn of the track.

He was the reigning track champion with two feature wins and the title in 2022.

USAC canceled the remainder of the event after the crash.

“USAC expresses its deepest condolences to Justin’s family, team and many friends throughout the racing community,” the organization said in a news release.

Our condolences to his family. What a tragedy on this Easter and Passover weekend.