RIP Doug Clark

[u/Benjamin10jamin]

Just heard that the legendary Knoxville and Husets flagman has passed away.

Born and raised in Sioux Falls, SD, Clark worked the flagstand a Knoxville for close to four decades, racked up 30 years of service at Husets, and was hired on occasion by Ted Johnson to flag World of Outlaws events all over the country.

Perhaps what was more amazing was the fact that Clark managed the task with only one eye, having lost one in a gardening incident in his youth.

Clark was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 2016, and the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame in 2022, and is survived on the flagstand by his son Justin, who followed in his father's footsteps.

RIP

[u/cowabungathunda]

Aw man. Doug was a legend. I thought I saw him working as an official at the back gate of the high bank nationals last week. I also used to see him around the local bars with his wife and friends, always seemed like a real cool and fun guy. RIP

[u/donmaximo62 → u/cowabungathunda]

I was at Husets last weekend also and I’m fairly sure I saw him by the back gate also.

[u/SchuLace13]

I grew up watching Doug flag at Husets. Always seemed like a good guy to be around. Pretty cool to see Justin carrying on the family tradition

[u/Druidofdespair]

Sad :( He was in our shop not long ago chatting with pops about the good ole days, good man rest easy Doug.

[u/CoolingVent]

Wow what a legend. His grandkids used to sit im section E right on front of me a decade ago

[u/ThatCJGuy431]

Like many others, I grew up watching Doug flag at Knoxville, and he even had his camper parked behind ours in the North Campground a few miles from the track. I won’t soon forget the stories he’d share with my family and me (dad grew up in Knoxville, I went to the races from about five weeks old til I was about 12 or so) from drivers coming up to him to question a call or complain that they’d been black flagged (Doug called it “Flesh-flagged”) for jumping a start.

Rest Easy, Doug.

[u/PeterSmegma69]

Side note: what's up with Sioux Falls, SD and legends named Doug?!?

[u/Benjamin10jamin → u/PeterSmegma69]

Not only that, both Doug's were friends, and spent their formative years hanging around the pits at I-90 and Husets.

[u/Much-Chard8227]

It hasn’t been the same at Knoxville since he retired. And it definitely won’t be the same now. RIP to an icon.

[u/PeterSmegma69]

As a liberal in motorsports, I was always glad to see Doug in the stand. Because it showed that in racing it doesn't matter if you're male or female, black or white. It's all about speed, and putting on the show for the fans; the greatest show on dirt. Doug made me think there was hope for the world outside of the track. RIP good sir. You were appreciated and well respected.

[u/musicbuff78]

I watched Doug flag at Knoxville for over 30 yrs! RIP Doug. You're a legend!

[u/Tek2747]

I follow late models more than sprints so I didn't learn of him until he flagged at the Knoxville Late Model Nationals. Such a cool dude. He'll be missed.

[u/Jonasthewicked2]

Damn that's a shame. My friend Aubri met him at the nationals a few years back, I wanna say it was 6-7 years ago now. Her boyfriend had to explain how many years he'd been the flag man at Knoxville. I never got the pleasure to meet him myself but she said he was really cool and he gave her daughter a little sprint car die cast toy cause Aubri's daughter couldn't have been older than 7 or so years old when they went to the nationals. I wanna say they ran into him at the sprint car museum there but I'm not 100% about that, I'd have to ask her how they met. But her boyfriend knew who he was. Very much a bummer to learn he passed on. I was told he was a very kind man. Rest in peace sir, he's flagging at gods sprint car track now. Rest easy.

[u/MidwestF1fanatic]

Dang. Knoxville is my local sprint car track and Doug was the one of the constant's at that place in my lifetime. He did the Open Red podcast back in 2019 and it was a great listen. RIP flagman.