Bobby East, three-time USA Auto Club National Champion and former Nascar driver, died after being stabbed this week at a gas station in southern California. He was 37.
The Westminster Police Department issued a statement Saturday identifying Robert John East of San Dimas as the man who was stabbed in the chest at the 76 Gas Station on Wednesday. A statement said stabbing suspect Trent William Millsap was shot and killed in Anaheim on Friday as officers tried to arrest him.
Police say they do not have a motive for the stabbing and the investigation into both deaths is ongoing. They said they arrived at the gas station shortly before 6 p.m. and found East with a stab wound. He was taken to the University of California Medical Center in Irvine, where he died.
East, whose father was a well-known short-track car designer, won the USAC National Midgets title in 2004 and the Silver Crown championship in 2012 and 2013. He had 56 USAC-sanctioned victories, 48 of them in national divisions.
He was just 16 years old in 2001 when he became the youngest rider to win a USAC National Midget race. He won 15 USAC races in 2004 and had a brief Nascar career. He has made 11 career starts in Nascar’s current Xfinity Series and has two top-10 finishes in 31 Truck Series races.
“Nascar is saddened to learn of the tragic passing of Bobby East,” Nascar said in a statement. “We extend our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Bobby, a true racer.”
“Very sad to hear about the tragic incident involving Legend USAC driver Bobby East. He was a great driver,” tweeted former Truck Series champion Todd Bodine.
Westminster police said Millsap, 27, was on parole for the armed robbery and had an outstanding warrant for his arrest for an unrelated parole violation.