A night to remember at Carroll Stadium: Indy Eleven honors the late Bryan Clauson in BC39 Driven2SaveLives inspired match day

By: Connor Mahoney, Indy Eleven Communications

Honoring the late dirt track open-wheel driver Bryan Clauson, Indy Eleven held a Driven2SaveLives BC39 match day event on Sept. 24, 2023 with opportunities to bring awareness to the organization. Clauson was a prolific, professional racer, winning sprint car racing titles and competing in the Indianapolis 500 three times before passing in a midget sprint racing crash in 2016. However, Clauson, unbeknownst to his family, was an organ donor which resulted in him saving five lives through organ donation and heal many more through tissue donation.

Indy Eleven Director of Community Relations Jonathan Jones, an avid racing fan, developed the idea for a cross-promotion event with BC39 and Indy Eleven. Jones said he was immediately drawn to Clauson’s story after attending the first BC39 night in 2018.

“I’m a huge race fan, so that’s how this got to Indy Eleven being involved…I’ve actually gone to the event almost every year,” Jones said. “The first year of BC39, it had horrific rain, and there was a noise ordinance [in place…]; not a soul left, everybody stood and waited until this race was able to get done… [After the rain] a rainbow showed up over [Clauson’s banner] in this first annual [race]. Everybody’s sitting there going ‘We have to run this race.’”

Jones said he looked for the opportunity for the event as soon as the Indy Eleven schedule came out.

“So, the way we got tied to it is when our schedule came out, I was already planning on going to the race… And I thought, well, that’d be cool if we could figure out a way to tie in this crowd and our game.”

On the racing side, the BC39 Driven2SaveLives event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway involves multiple-day programming spanning Sept. 27-30 where Jones said he is hoping to take some of the players to witness for themselves.

At the match, Indy Eleven auctioned player warm-ups promoting BC39 and Clauson. Additionally, a lucky fan won a racing helmet containing the entire starting field for the Indy Grand Prix by showing they were an existing organ donor or signing up with the Indiana Donor Network.

Learning more about the meaning of this event, Jones said a few staff members took the Indy Eleven team to the Clauson Marshall Garage to understand what this night truly meant by showing a video of Clauson’s heart recipient. Indy Eleven midfielder Jack Blake said it was an emotional but inspiring day.

“Having kids of my own, seeing the perspective of Bryan’s dad being there and telling us the story firsthand, it was very emotional,” Blake said. “I know I was, and a lot of my teammates, were very touched by the story and inspired.”

Indy Eleven midfielder Bryam Rebellon said after going to the garage, being able to spread the message of Clauson’s story was important. Like Blake, Rebellon said being a father helped him think of how important the event would be.

“I became a father 11 months ago, and seeing his father, his mother, his family, everybody came together to honor him [was inspiring],” Rebellon said. “He made me really think of how you can help so much even after you pass away. It is an honor for us as an organization to represent in some tribute to Bryan for everything that he did on the track and off the track.”

While at the garage, Blake said the memorabilia for Clauson stood out to him adding more to the importance of Clauson’s legacy.

“They had Bryan’s first helmet, first gear, all of his helmets and trophies,” Blake said. “Seeing that personal side, and his father and his sister gave heartfelt stories, it was extremely emotional, and powerful at the same time. So, I think that what they’re doing for him and carrying on his name is inspiring.”

Rebellon said he is a huge racing fan, so the opportunity to learn about this cause was important for him. Additionally, Rebellon asked how he could be part of the foundation in some way.

“It really touched me in a way that I automatically got in touch with the people in the organization with his family because I wanted to be part of it as well,” Rebellon said, “It is amazing how you can use the platform in honor of his cause, and his family’s cause is unbelievable. I’m very proud to be part to be of the Indy Eleven organization that is supporting and using the platform to spread the [good] word. We never know when we’re going to have to leave this world and that anybody can help someone after our lives end.”

Given the power of sports, Blake said he related to Clauson’s love for racing as it echoes his love of soccer. Blake shared that he had the opportunity to go to the Indy 500 where he experienced the passion of race fans from the stands.

“We’re all on this planet for [some reason] some people find that meaning; some people don’t,” Blake said, “A lot of people find it through sport. I have personally, and obviously, Bryan did, when you can’t really describe the feeling you get about it.”

Before the match day event, Rebellon said he hoped the fans could learn and see Clauson’s legacy given its importance.

“[The day] is going to be a huge honor for us as an organization, and I have to say that I feel very proud to belong to Indy Eleven,” Rebellon said. “…The story of Bryan is amazing, it’s an honor. And I hope that everybody can have a little glimpse of the story because I had no idea of what he did, off the track… He’s an amazing story that hopefully, we can bring up to many more people and touch many more lives.”

At the conclusion of the match day event, Indy Eleven auctioned off 25 BC39 inspired warm-ups to raise money for the Bryan Clauson Legacy Fund while raising awareness for Driven2SaveLives and the Indiana Donor Network. Nearly 100 adults and over 200 children joined the Indiana Donor Network on match day to learn more about how they can get involved. If you wish to learn more about Driven2SaveLives and Indiana Donor Network you can follow these links.

Indy Eleven has also partnered with Today’s Champions, an organization inspired by the friendship between Bryan Clauson and Ben William Hodgin, to host Autism Sensitivity Training for Indy Eleven staff with the goal of becoming a more inclusive venue. Following the training Today’s Champions donated sensory backpacks that will be available at every home match. To learn more about Today’s Champions you can follow the link.