Beard Motorsports Announces Tragic Death Of Longtime NASCAR Spotter

The motorsport community is dealing with a huge loss for the sport as Beard Motorsports announces the tragic death of Ron Lewis Jr., their longtime team spotter, at the age of 53.

A well-respected figure in NASCAR, Lewis played a crucial role in the No. 62 team, most recently providing his expertise to Parker Retzlaff at one of NASCAR’s most prestigious tracks, Daytona. His passing marks the end of an eight-year tenure with Beard Motorsports.

Lewis Jr.’s career with Beard Motorsports began in 2017, the same year the team made its debut in the NASCAR Cup Series. His tenure with them saw him guiding drivers through intense races.

Lewis’s expertise extended beyond just spotting for Beard Motorsports. His comprehensive experience includes working with several notable drivers such as Justin Allgaier, Noah Gragson, Austin Hill, Anthony Alfredo, Brendan Gaughan, and Parker Retzlaff. His ability to communicate effectively and provide critical guidance during races made significant contributions to the performances and successes of these athletes.

Beard Motorsports, the part-time NASCAR Cup Series team, has publicly mourned the loss of Lewis in a heartfelt statement, stating:

“The Beard family and Beard Motorsports team are heartbroken over the passing of Ron Lewis. Ron has been with us since 2017. We have so many wonderful memories over the last eight years and we send our sincere condolences to his family. Rest easy, Ron.”

The Beard family and Beard Motorsports team are heartbroken 😔 over the passing of Ron Lewis. Ron has been with us since 2017. We have so many wonderful memories over the last eight years and we send our sincere condolences to his family. Rest easy, Ron. pic.twitter.com/FG0Uhm6J0s

— Beard Motorsports (@BeardOil62) October 10, 2024

Lewis’s last race as a spotter was nothing short of memorable. At the Daytona International Speedway, Parker Retzlaff came close to clinching a victory in one of the season’s most exciting races. His choice to have Retzlaff support Harrison Burton on the final lap may not have led to a win for their team but demonstrated the bold, calculated strategies Lewis was known for.

The team did not reveal the cause for Lewis’s passing at this time.

Our thoughts are with Lewis’s family and friends during this difficult time.

NASCAR Cup Series: Current Standings

1. William Byron – 3122 points
2. Christopher Bell – 3105 points
3. Kyle Larson – 3100 points
4. Denny Hamlin – 3078 points
5. Alex Bowman – 3074 points
6. Ryan Blaney – 3073 points
7. Tyler Reddick – 3062 points
8. Chase Elliott – 3061 points
9. Joey Logano – 3048 points
10. Daniel Suárez – 3041 points
11. Austin Cindric – 3032 points
12. Chase Briscoe – 3029 points
13. Ty Gibbs – 2144 points
14. Martin Truex Jr – 2130 points
15. Brad Keselowski – 2104 points
16. Harrison Burton – 2048 points
17. Ross Chastain – 812 points
18. Chris Buescher – 810 points
19. Bubba Wallace – 789 points
20. Kyle Busch – 684 points
21. Carson Hocevar – 579 points
22. Todd Gilliland – 560 points
23. Michael McDowell – 548 points
24. Ricky Stenhouse Jr – 522 points
25. Noah Gragson – 516 points
26. Ryan Preece – 495 points
27. Josh Berry – 491 points
28. Austin Dillon – 478 points
29. Corey LaJoie – 456 points
30. Erik Jones – 452 points
31. Justin Haley – 448 points
32. Zane Smith – 442 points
33. Daniel Hemric – 442 points
34. John H. Nemechek – 392 points
35. Kaz Grala – 178 points
36. Cody Ware – 130 points
37. Joey Hand – 43 points
38. Jimmie Johnson – 40 points
39. Derek Kraus – 32 points
40. David Ragan – 17 points
41. Kamui Kobayashi – 8 points
42. Will Brown – 6 points
43. Juan Pablo Montoya – 5 points
44. Cam Waters – 2 points