WESTMINSTER, Calif. — Three-time USAC national champion Bobby East has died. East was 37 years old.
East died of stab wounds on Wednesday afternoon in Westminster, California, near Los Angeles. According to mynewsla.com, East sustained a stab wound to the chest and died at a local hospital. Police were seeking Trent William Millsap, 27, in connection with the death.
The son of legendary, car builder Bob East, Bobby East took the USAC world by storm during the early 2000s and his success launched him toward a brief career in NASCAR racing.
East became the youngest midget winner in USAC history at age 16 in 2001, and his career exploded from there. Driving Steve Lewis’ famed “Nine Car” midgets prepared by his father, East was the youngest USAC midget champion at that time, taking the crown in 2004.
That season was the best of East’s career as he won 15 races across all three USAC divisions. He earned seven midget victories, five in sprint cars and one in Silver Crown.
East has 22 USAC national midget feature victories to his credit.
East began a stock car career in 2005, competing in the ARCA Menards Series and attempting to qualify for a pair of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
Hired as a Ford Motor Co. development driver, East ran full time in the Truck Series in 2006 and finished 23rd in points.
He competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for Brewco Motorsports in 2007 and was back in the Truck Series in 2008.
His last NASCAR start was in the Truck Series in 2008.
East returned to USAC competition and won the Silver Crown Series championship in 2012 and ’13. East has 11 victories in Silver Crown competition.