KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Brian Brown’s pursuit of a Knoxville Nationals victory will have to wait another year.
Brown was injured in a heat race crash Thursday night at Knoxville Raceway after contact with the car driven by J.J. Hickle.
Brown’s wife, Heather, reported on social media that the 46-year-old Missouri driver suffered a broken right hand and a broken left wrist in the terrifying accident that occurred on the backstretch at the half-mile oval.
“Welp, not the news we wanted to have on Thursday night of the Knoxville Nationals but things could have been so much worse after seeing the race car,” Heather Brown posted on X. “One right broken hand and one left broken wrist and a few cuts and bruises, but we have left the hospital.”
Brown, a multi-time Knoxville track champion, is a two-time runner-up in the Nationals. He made a statement on social media on Friday.
“Unfortunately after last nights wreck @knoxvilleraces I have suffered a broken left wrist and a fractured right hand. With that being said our 2025 Knoxville Nationals are over,” Brown posted. “So heartbroken and gutted for our whole @caseysgenstore | @FVPparts team as I felt like we had great car speed.
“I’ll get seen by a specialist when I get home to determine how long until I can be back in the car. Thanks for all the messages with your concern about me.”
Following Brown’s wreck tempers flared between Brown’s team and Hickle’s Matt Moro-led operation.
Hickle was salty about the situation during his DIRTVision interview.
“It’s not really about what I left him. Obviously, he crashed so I didn’t leave him enough room,” Hickle said. “I can’t see behind me. If he’s not all the way up next to me, I can’t see the right rear of these race cars. The guy in back — it’s kind of his job to get by me. Sorry it happened. I never went into the corner once trying to crash Brian, but he’s an extremely aggressive racer also.”
