Get Braden Eves back on track
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Before I tell you our story, I want to thank everyone who has already reached out to my family for emotional support. This last week has been a true test of love and faith, and we could not have done it without the encouraging words of so many.
On Thursday, September 3, 2020, my 21-year-old son – and my hero -- Braden Eves, was in a frightening crash during the Cooper Tires Indy Pro 2000 race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. While exiting turn eleven of the 18th lap, Braden had a incident on track which launched his car into the air, and then landed with such force that the roll hoop designed to protect him was crushed.
Braden’s head hit the ground at nearly 120 mph.
His Arai helmet saved his life, but he suffered severe injuries to his vertebrae and right eye and his racing season came to an abrupt end.
Braden's helmet after the crash
For most, this would be the end of the story, but I know my son, and the minute his eyes opened in the hospital I knew that it was just another beginning for a young man who simply doesn’t understand what it is to give up.
Braden was born to race. He started in go karts at the age of six. As he developed as a driver, he moved on to World Karting Association, United States Pro Kart Series and Superkarts! USA series. By the time Braden was 16, he had won in every series he entered.
Auto racing is an extremely competitive and expensive sport, and people that know me and my family know how practical and somewhat frugal we can be. But when your child dreams big, you have to go big. In 2017 the family pulled together enough money and found a few sponsors to help Braden achieve his goal of entering the F4 US Championship.
2018 was an up-and-down learning year for Braden, but he fought adversity on the track and, on a shoe-string budget eventually won two of three races in the F1600 Championship Series. This opened the door for Braden and gave him the chance to compete for a Team USA scholarship.
Unfortunately, adversity knocked on Braden’s door again. He had been experiencing severe pain in his arm and was diagnosed with blood clots caused by arterial Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. He had to decline his scholarship on the day he underwent surgery on his arm.
Within months, Braden had recovered and had an opportunity to win scholarship money in the Mazda Road to Indy Shootout, but he finished in second place – just short of his goal and well short of continued funding.
This was a turning point for Braden and our entire family. It would have been easy to call it quits. The effort had been there. Nobody would have questioned us. Instead, our family leveraged everything we had to run a few tests and secure sponsorship money to run the USF2000 series on the Road to Indy in 2019.
With everything on the line, Braden won the championship and secured the scholarship money and sponsorships he needed to enter this year’s Indy Pro 2000 series.
Last week Braden was in the hunt for a championship and this week he is in a neck brace, once again dreaming big. Within 24-hours of crashing, he was planning his path back.
Can't keep this racer down- stopping at the track on the way home from the hospital
The Eves family has not done this alone. Braden has had so many supporters over the years. We are forever grateful to Jeremy Shaw, Exclusive Autosport, Meyer Shank Racing, Community Choice Financial, Cooper Tires, the Road To Indy series, MDRN Livery and Huston Insurance for helping us get this far. I also want to thank Braden’s racing crews and teammates over the years, as well as David Land, RacingNationTV, Road to Indy Insider and everyone else who have shared Braden’s story with the world. No driver drives alone.
Unfortunately, the cost of getting Braden back on the track is more than our family and a few wonderful sponsors can handle. We are focusing all of our resources on getting Braden healthy and are now facing over $100,000 in bills to pay for a car and replace his racing helmet and suit so we can get him back on track as soon as he is able.
Unfortunately, the car is most certainly a total write off
If you have followed Braden’s career, or are simply touched by his story, we would truly appreciate any support you can provide. Below you will find a message my son sent from his hospital bed. I’ve also included some links that will give you a deeper look into his journey so far.
We hope Braden Eves is as much of an inspiration to you as he is to our family and thank you in advance for helping him cross the finish line.
Sincerely,
Greyson Eves
https://www.bradeneves.com/biography
https://www.bradeneves.com/post/team-usa-scholarship-my-story
https://www.usf2000.com/news/catching-up-with-braden-eves
https://www.bradeneves.com/post/the-unforgettable-season
On Thursday, September 3, 2020, my 21-year-old son – and my hero -- Braden Eves, was in a frightening crash during the Cooper Tires Indy Pro 2000 race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. While exiting turn eleven of the 18th lap, Braden had a incident on track which launched his car into the air, and then landed with such force that the roll hoop designed to protect him was crushed.
Braden’s head hit the ground at nearly 120 mph.
His Arai helmet saved his life, but he suffered severe injuries to his vertebrae and right eye and his racing season came to an abrupt end.
Braden's helmet after the crash
For most, this would be the end of the story, but I know my son, and the minute his eyes opened in the hospital I knew that it was just another beginning for a young man who simply doesn’t understand what it is to give up.
Braden was born to race. He started in go karts at the age of six. As he developed as a driver, he moved on to World Karting Association, United States Pro Kart Series and Superkarts! USA series. By the time Braden was 16, he had won in every series he entered.
Auto racing is an extremely competitive and expensive sport, and people that know me and my family know how practical and somewhat frugal we can be. But when your child dreams big, you have to go big. In 2017 the family pulled together enough money and found a few sponsors to help Braden achieve his goal of entering the F4 US Championship.
2018 was an up-and-down learning year for Braden, but he fought adversity on the track and, on a shoe-string budget eventually won two of three races in the F1600 Championship Series. This opened the door for Braden and gave him the chance to compete for a Team USA scholarship.
Unfortunately, adversity knocked on Braden’s door again. He had been experiencing severe pain in his arm and was diagnosed with blood clots caused by arterial Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. He had to decline his scholarship on the day he underwent surgery on his arm.
Within months, Braden had recovered and had an opportunity to win scholarship money in the Mazda Road to Indy Shootout, but he finished in second place – just short of his goal and well short of continued funding.
This was a turning point for Braden and our entire family. It would have been easy to call it quits. The effort had been there. Nobody would have questioned us. Instead, our family leveraged everything we had to run a few tests and secure sponsorship money to run the USF2000 series on the Road to Indy in 2019.
With everything on the line, Braden won the championship and secured the scholarship money and sponsorships he needed to enter this year’s Indy Pro 2000 series.
Last week Braden was in the hunt for a championship and this week he is in a neck brace, once again dreaming big. Within 24-hours of crashing, he was planning his path back.
Can't keep this racer down- stopping at the track on the way home from the hospital
The Eves family has not done this alone. Braden has had so many supporters over the years. We are forever grateful to Jeremy Shaw, Exclusive Autosport, Meyer Shank Racing, Community Choice Financial, Cooper Tires, the Road To Indy series, MDRN Livery and Huston Insurance for helping us get this far. I also want to thank Braden’s racing crews and teammates over the years, as well as David Land, RacingNationTV, Road to Indy Insider and everyone else who have shared Braden’s story with the world. No driver drives alone.
Unfortunately, the cost of getting Braden back on the track is more than our family and a few wonderful sponsors can handle. We are focusing all of our resources on getting Braden healthy and are now facing over $100,000 in bills to pay for a car and replace his racing helmet and suit so we can get him back on track as soon as he is able.
Unfortunately, the car is most certainly a total write off
If you have followed Braden’s career, or are simply touched by his story, we would truly appreciate any support you can provide. Below you will find a message my son sent from his hospital bed. I’ve also included some links that will give you a deeper look into his journey so far.
We hope Braden Eves is as much of an inspiration to you as he is to our family and thank you in advance for helping him cross the finish line.
Sincerely,
Greyson Eves
https://www.bradeneves.com/biography
https://www.bradeneves.com/post/team-usa-scholarship-my-story
https://www.usf2000.com/news/catching-up-with-braden-eves
https://www.bradeneves.com/post/the-unforgettable-season
Organizer
Greyson Eves
Organizer
New Albany, OH
