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Justin Owen: Sprint car racer, 26, dies in accident after vehicle flips over mutiple times during race

Justin Owen grew up just 20 minutes north of the Lawrenceburg circuit, where the accident happened

LAWRENCEBURG, INDIANA: A sprint car racer succumbed to his injuries following a car crash during a qualifying race in southeast Indiana. Justin Owen, 26, of Harrison, Ohio, was a career race car driver who was the reigning track champion at Lawrenceburg Speedway with two feature wins and the title in 2022.

The US Auto Club (USAC) said that on Saturday night, April 8, during a qualification race for the AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship at the Lawrenceburg Speedway, his car crashed into the outside wall and flipped over multiple times along the third turn. The crash led to the cancellation of the remaining portions of the event. 

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Who was Justin Owen?

Owen came into this weekend's competition as the current track champion at Lawrenceburg Speedway. The triumph was the 10-year sprint car veteran's first victory at the 3/8-mile circuit, where he had been competing for long in the sprint car category.

Owen's finest on-track accomplishments, according to a USAC release, included a victory in the season-ending Dick Gaines Memorial during his Lawrenceburg title-winning season. In 2019, he won three times: once in the Buckeye Outlaw Sprint Series at Lernerville Speedway in Pennsylvania, once at Paragon Speedway in Indiana and once during Lawrenceburg's Night of Champions. He also won with BOSS at Lernerville in 2016. He had previously raced in two USAC feature events, both in Lawrenceburg in 2019 and 2021, as per IndyStar. He grew up just 20 minutes north of the track.

How did Justin Owen die?

The racer drifted high into Turn 3 during his qualifying run for the competition, lost control and slammed into the wall. His car was airborne and flipped a number of times before stopping in the middle of the circuit. When the incident happened just before 6.30pm, USAC quickly red-flagged the race, and 30 minutes later, the event was canceled. Soon after midnight, they announced Owen's death.

The racing community, as well as the young star's family and friends, paid tribute to Owen. His fiancee Kenzie Knapp changed her profile picture and added the message, "I love you more than you'll ever know."

NASCAR Cup Series driver Chase Briscoe, who is from southern Indiana and grew up two hours away from the Lawrenceburg track, mentioned that he had competed against Owen "quite a bit" in sprint cars. "Ended up 7th tonight banging the boards, had a lot of fun and appreciated the opportunity," Briscoe tweeted, adding, "Post race I learned about the passing of Justin Owen, raced against Justin quite a bit in sprint cars. Thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."

Tony Stewart Racing, owned by the famed NASCAR and sprint car driver, said, "It's Never easy to be reminded how quickly things happen in this sport or that we're not promised tomorrow. Keeping the family, friends and fans of Justin Owen in our prayers. We're so sorry for your loss."

Christopher Bell, driver of the No 20 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing said, "This win is for fellow dirt racer Justin Owen. My sincere condolences go out to his family and friends."

"Justin Owen, a sprint car competitor for more than a decade, succumbed to injuries sustained in a crash during Saturday’s USAC @AMSOILINC National Sprint Car event at @BurgSpeedway," tweeted USAC Racing, adding, "USAC send its deepest condolences to his family & friends." 

Sprint Cars Only page mentioned, "So deeply saddened to hear the passing of Justin Owen. Justin crashed during his Qualifying effort earlier tonight with the AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Series at the Lawrenceburg Speedway. My thoughts and prayers are with Justin's Family, Friends and Fan." 

"Justin Owen has passed away after his accident at the Lawrenceburg Speedway tonight. Another tragedy and these never get easier…. RIP," said NASCAR Prophecy.