Stock car racing is a family sport, and that is true at all levels, from Late Model racing to the NASCAR Cup Series. During times of personal loss and grief, it’s not just families who share those emotions, but the entire racing community. That was true when fans turned up at Bowman Gray Stadium to pay their respects to veteran driver Casey Kepley Jr.

The 49-year-old died of cancer. Fans gathered at the racetrack to share their grief and honor Kepley Jr. Bowman Gray Stadium’s official handle on X shared visuals from the gathering with the caption: “Missing one of our own. ❤️‍🩹”

Kepley Jr. always promoted grassroots racing and welcomed NASCAR’s return to Bowman Gray and North Wilkesboro Speedway. He also competed in the 2022 North Wilkesboro Revival race, an event that also featured Dale Earnhardt Jr.

In 2025, Kepley underwent brain surgery, but he was right back at the racetrack working on his son’s Sportsman Division car. He was a true racing fan, and for many, his recovery from surgery was seen as a walking miracle.

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“The world tells me I am (walking miracle). The only person in history to make it through left-side brain surgery and walk in and be normal twelve hours later. Well, as soon as I realized I was gonna make it, I’ll be honest, the first thing I thought was fixing my race car while I was in the hospital. And, I’ll see y’all on Saturday. That’s how my brain wins,” Kepley Jr. said in an interview with the Winston-Salem Journal.

This comes after Bowman Gray fans were just recovering from another major loss. Melwin “Puddin” Swisher, a 33-time winner at Bowman Gray, passed away at 90 after battling health issues. Last week, before the 50-lap Modified event on Saturday, fans, drivers, family, and friends pushed Swisher’s No. 53 Modified race car around the track in his honor.

The race that followed also made headlines. Burt Myers became the driver with the most wins at Bowman Gray, with 108 victories. He broke the tie he held with Tim Brown for the most all-time wins at the track. Myers now leads the Modified championship by 28 points and heads into the AgSouth 150 on Saturday to wrap up the season.

Racing at the Madhouse will continue, but the track has lost some of its local heroes, including Casey Kepley Jr. and Melwin Swisher, this year.