Bowman Gray Racing Recap – Saturday August 9th 2025

Bowman Gray Stadium Recap — Saturday, August 9, 2025
Twin-50 Modified card draws big crowd; racing marred by tragic loss of veteran Sportsman driver Robbie Brewer

WINSTON-SALEM — What began as another high-energy Saturday night at Bowman Gray Stadium turned somber after a blockbuster night of racing and an on-track medical emergency that cost one of the track’s best-known Sportsman competitors his life.

On the racetrack, the Ortega-sponsored twin-50 Modified program produced two different winners and an absolute clinic of short-track excitement across all divisions. Off the track, the racing community is mourning the loss of Robbie Brewer, a longtime Sportsman competitor who suffered an on-track medical incident during the first Sportsman feature and later died. Track officials called it an “on-track medical incident,” and family members confirmed Brewer’s death. Sources told FloRacing that Brewer suffered a heart attack in the car that precipitated the crash; Bowman Gray’s official statement offered condolences and noted that Brewer was “a talented and passionate racer.”

Full feature results (top three finishers in each event)

BRAD’S GOLF CARS MODIFIED SERIES — Ortega Twin 50, Race 1

1. Mike Speeney
2. Tim Brown
3. Burt Myers.

BRAD’S GOLF CARS MODIFIED SERIES — Ortega Twin 50, Race 2

1. John Holleman IV
2. Trey Hutchens
3. Mike Speeney.

LAW OFFICES OF JOHN BARROW SPORTSMAN SERIES — 20-Lap Race 1

1. Tommy Neal
2. Chase Robertson
3. Mitch Gales. (Robbie Brewer was scored 15th in the running order prior to the incident.)

LAW OFFICES OF JOHN BARROW SPORTSMAN SERIES — 20-Lap Race 2

1. Mitch Gales
2. Chase Robertson
3. Tommy Neal. (Brewer was scored 5th in Race 2 results on the official sheet.)

QRC HVAC & REFRIGERATION STREET STOCK SERIES — 20-Lap Feature

1. Christian Joyce
2. Craig Hartless
3. Bryant Robertson.

Q104.1 STADIUM STOCK SERIES — 15-Lap Race 1

1. Luke Smith
2. Levi Holt
3. AJ Sanders.

Q104.1 STADIUM STOCK SERIES — 15-Lap Race 2

1. Andrew Cates
2. Austin Cates
3. Austin Long.

(Full official finish order and the track’s results page are available on the Bowman Gray website.) (Bowman Gray Racing)

Race-by-race notes and highlights

• Modifieds (Twin 50s): The night’s marquee Twin-50 program was a study in veteran savvy and tire management. Mike Speeney took the opener by navigating traffic and timed restarts, while John Holleman IV rallied in Race 2 to score the win after a mid-race charge. Speeney’s pair of top-3 finishes kept him prominent in the early points chase.
• Sportsman division: The Sportsman mains were competitive and physical throughout the evening. Tommy Neal and Mitch Gales each took a win on the night, while Chase Robertson stayed steady with two runner-up finishes. Unfortunately, the division’s results were overshadowed by the medical emergency involving Robbie Brewer late in Race 1.
• Street Stock & Stadium Stock: Christian Joyce and Andrew Cates added their names to the winners’ circle on a night where close-quarters quarter-mile racing produced multiple side-by-side duels and last-lap passes.

The loss of Robbie Brewer

Shortly before a scheduled restart with four laps to go in the first Sportsman feature, Robbie Brewer’s No. 17 car veered and struck the outside wall exiting Turn 4. Track crew and safety personnel worked at the scene to extract Brewer from the car; officials had to remove part of the roof to free him. He was placed on a stretcher, rushed to an ambulance and taken from the facility. Bowman Gray Stadium later issued a statement: “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… Our thoughts and prayers are with Robbie’s family and friends at this time.”

FloRacing reported that sources at the track indicated Brewer suffered a heart attack in the car that led to the crash; those accounts have been repeated by multiple outlets but, as of this writing, officials described the event as an on-track medical incident while the family confirmed his death. The story remains under review by authorities and the track.

Community reaction and memories

Tributes poured in across social media and in the pits as word spread. Bowman Gray announcer Matthew Dilner told WXII that Brewer was “a racer’s racer” with “an unmistakable personality and a flair all to his own,” adding that the mood in the pit area after the incident was heavy as friends and fellow competitors gathered to console one another. Brewers’ daughter (quoted by WFMY) described her father as someone who “loved being behind the wheel” and a mentor to many; the network’s coverage captured the deep affection the local racing community held for him. Social media pages run by fans, pit crews and regional racing outlets also posted condolences and video tributes, and Bowman Gray’s Facebook feed carried the track’s official message of sorrow and support for Brewer’s family.

FloRacing, ShortTrackScene and other racing outlets ran longer obituaries and career retrospectives noting Brewer’s many starts, wins and status as a fixture at Bowman Gray and other Carolina short tracks; those pieces emphasized his competitiveness and his presence in the racing fraternity for decades.

What’s next

Bowman Gray officials said they will cooperate with any local authorities investigating the incident. The track has not yet announced plans for a memorial or tribute; teams, drivers and fans have privately discussed ways to honor Brewer’s memory at upcoming events. Saturday’s remaining card continued after an extended pause and with on-site support focused on the family and the safety crews involved.

Final thoughts

Saturday at the Madhouse offered a reminder of both the thrills and the risks of short-track racing. On one hand you had classic Bowman Gray racing — hard charging, strategic restarts and edge-of-the-seat finishes. On the other hand the community lost one of its own. As tributes continue and officials complete their review, fans and competitors alike are keeping Robbie Brewer’s family in their thoughts. The track’s results, updated points and video highlights are posted on the Bowman Gray website and channel partners; a fuller remembrance of Brewer’s career and legacy is likely in the days ahead.