NASCAR star Ryan Newman’s 2022 Driven2SaveLives midget car unveiled at Clausen Marshall Racing
December 22, 2021
Newman, Indiana Donor Network to honor Hoosier donor hero Cody Brommer with unique nameplate on race car
FISHERS, Ind. – Indiana native and NASCAR star Ryan Newman will drive a Driven2SaveLives midget car as he returns to his dirt track racing roots for the 36th annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl presented by General Tire in January.
The car, owned by Clausen Marshall Racing and sponsored by Indiana Donor Network through its Driven2SaveLives program, was unveiled this week at the racing team’s suburban Indianapolis headquarters. The nameplate on the car, normally reserved for the driver, honors a Hoosier donor hero with the words, “Our hero, Cody Brommer.”
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“One of my favorite parts of working with Indiana Donor Network and the Driven2SaveLives program is recognizing donor heroes and meeting their families. This year at the Chili Bowl, we are honoring Cody Brommer. I’ll be running the No. 75B and Cody’s name will be on the nameplate of my car,” Newman said. “We’re continuing to raise awareness by honoring heroes who made the decision to sign up as an organ donor.”
Cody died in 2015 at age 21. Because he was an organ and tissue donor, eight people’s lives were saved through organ transplants and two others gained sight through corneal transplants. Since his death, Cody’s parents, Julie and Randy Brommer of Columbia City, Indiana, have paid tribute to Cody by encouraging Hoosiers to sign up as organ and tissue donors.
Newman, originally from South Bend, Indiana, has been racing on the NASCAR circuit since 2000, winning 18 times in the NASCAR Cup Series, including the 2013 Brickyard 400 and 2008 Daytona 500. He’s also won seven times in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and once in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Before NASCAR, his open-wheel career started in 1983 when he drove in his first quarter midget race.
To further increase awareness, Indiana Donor Network is also sponsoring Franklin, Indiana, native Emerson Axsom, 18, who will drive the Driven2SaveLives sprint, midget and winged sprint cars throughout the 2022 season, competing in all USAC National Sprint Car races and Indiana midget races. Axsom competed full time in the USAC National Midget Series in 2021, finishing fourth in the championship points standings.
The 2022 Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals is Jan. 10-15 at Tulsa Expo Raceway in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The event will be broadcast to Hoosiers via Flo Racing streaming service.
About Driven2SaveLives
Indiana Donor Network’s Driven2SaveLives program raises awareness about the critical importance of organ, tissue and eye donation and inspires race fans across the country to sign up to become organ donors.
The initiative began in 2016, a year after IndyCar driver Justin Wilson died while competing in an IndyCar race in Pennsylvania. A registered organ donor, his selfless decision saved five lives. Indiana Donor Network started Driven2SaveLives with Justin’s brother, Stefan, as he readied to compete in the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500. Through the partnership, race fans began signing up to become organ donors in honor of Justin and all donor heroes.
Later that year, tragedy again struck the racing world when USAC and IndyCar driver Bryan Clauson was killed during a midget car race in Nebraska. He too was a registered organ donor whose organ and tissue gifts saved the lives of five people and healed countless others. Driven2SaveLives continues today in honor of Clauson and all donors.
In 2020, Newman joined the Driven2SaveLives team and will continue to partner with Indiana Donor Network in 2022.
Regardless of age or medical history, anyone can sign up to be a donor online via Donate Life Indiana.
About Indiana Donor Network
The decision to become an organ, tissue and eye donor is a decision to give the gift of life. Indiana Donor Network serves as the vital link between donors and patients waiting for lifesaving organ transplants, healing tissue and corneas to restore sight. The organization is a federally designated organ recovery organization and accredited tissue bank serving 85 of Indiana’s 92 counties. Its team of more than 250 dedicated professionals is committed to saving and healing lives through donation and transplantation, championing the cause through education and outreach and supporting donor families in their time of need. For more or to sign up as a donor, visit Indiana Donor Network online.
Indiana Donor Network® and the Indiana Donor Network Foundation® are federally registered trademarks.
About Donate Life Indiana
Since 1998, Donate Life Indiana has been the state-authorized nonprofit organization responsible for managing the Indiana donor registry. Its mission is to save lives by creating opportunities for all Indiana citizens to sign up on the organization’s official state registry while striving to raise awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation through public education. For more, visit Donate Life Indiana online.
