Nebraska driver loses cancer battle
Brandon Saltzman, the reigning IMCA Late Model champion at Iowa's Shelby County Speedway who courageously rebounded from brain tumor surgery for his first career Late Model victory in 2020, died Monday night, family members reported on Facebook. The Omaha, Neb., driver was 24.
Saltzman, who was 21 when doctors discovered a brain tumor in 2019, returned to competition the past two seasons but in October was diagnosed with a new form of cancer that spread in his brain, requiring hospice care shortly before his death.
Saltzman's lone career Late Model feature victory on July 17, 2020, at I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb., ended in victory lane with hugs, high-fives and tears among family members celebrating 13 months after the removal of his brain tumor. Physicians were concerned about his return to competition, but Saltzman was determined to continue racing.
“It’s something that I’ve always dreamed of doing it, and you just never know how long you’ll have to do things if you don’t do them now," he said in a DirtonDirt.com story after his victory. “I guess that’s one thing I learned for what I’ve been though.”
Saltzman captured the 2021 track championship at Harlan, Iowa's Shelby County Speedway, posting four top-five finishes and edging A.J. Jorgensen by three points in IMCA Late Model competition.
“Brandon has always been like a brother to me and always will,” his longtime friend and fellow competitor Kale Kosiski wrote on Facebook. “We have so many memories together I can’t even put into words the sadness my heart feels. I love you Brandon. Rest in paradise brother I can’t wait to see you again.”
Arrangements are incomplete.
