The motorsports community grapples with a great loss to the sport as Beard Motorsports announces the tragic death of Ron Lewis Jr., their longtime team spotter, at the age of 53.

A respected figure in NASCAR, Lewis played a critical role on the No. 62 team, most recently lending his expertise to Parker Retzlaff at one of NASCAR’s most prestigious tracks, Daytona. His death 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 NASCAR Cup Series debut. During his time with them, he led the drivers through intense races.

Lewis’ expertise went beyond just spotting for Beard Motorsports. His extensive experience includes working with several notable riders 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 contributed significantly to these athletes’ performances and successes.

NASCAR
Austin Cindric, driver of the #2 Discount Tire Ford, leads the field in the NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 6, 2024 in Talladega, Alabama. Beard Motorsports announces the death of…


Sean Gardner/Getty Images

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

“The Beard family and the Beard Motorsports team are heartbroken by the passing of Ron Lewis. Ron has been with us since 2017. We have so many wonderful memories from the last eight years and extend our sincerest condolences to his family. Get some rest, Ron.”

Lewis’ final race as a spotter was simply unforgettable. At Daytona International Speedway, Parker Retzlaff nearly took a win in one of the most exciting races of the season. His decision to have Retzlaff support Harrison Burton in the final round may not have resulted in a win for his team, but it did show the bold, calculated strategies Lewis was known for.

The team did not release any information about the cause of Lewis’ death at this time.

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

NASCAR Cup Series: Current status

  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 Suarez – 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. Eric 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. Jimmy 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