NASCAR driver Bobby East, 37, stabbed to death at gas station

NASCAR driver and three-time USAC champion Bobby East has died at age 37 after being stabbed by a man at a Southern California gas station.

His death was confirmed by the United States Auto Club, which called East “one of the most prolific drivers of his era.”

Police responded to a stabbing at a 76 gas station in Westminster, located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, Wednesday just before 6 p.m., according to the Westminster Police Department.

“The victim was found on the ground suffering from a serious stab wound to the chest area,” authorities said in a statement.

Police attempted life-saving measures before he was transported to a trauma center, where he later died.

On Saturday, several media outlets identified the victim as East, a three-time champion on the US Auto Club circuit.

The Torrance, Calif.-native, who was the son of USAC Hall of Fame car builder Bob East, also won the USAC Silver Crown championships in 2012 and 2013.

Two-Time NASCAR Champion Todd Bodine paid tribute to the fellow racer on social media.

“Very sad to hear of the tragic incident involving Legend USAC driver Bobby East,” he tweeted Saturday morning. “He was one heck of a wheelman. Thoughts and prayers to his family,” he added.

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A 27-year-old man named Trent William Millsap, described by police as “transient and known to frequent Westminster, Garden Grove, and Anaheim motels,” fled the area prior to police arrival.

On Friday, Westminster detectives received a tip that the suspect was in hiding in an apartment in Anaheim.

The West County SWAT team responded to serve an arrest warrant for the suspect. During the service of the search warrant, an officer-involved shooting took place, police said in a news release.

No officers were injured in the shooting. However, a police dog was hit by a bullet, but the wound is not life-threatening.

Kimberly Edds, a spokeswoman for the Orange County District Attorney’s office, told the Daily News that the investigation into the shooting is being handled by the State Attorney General’s office, since it was believed the suspect was unarmed.

According to The Mercury News, Milsap was shot and killed by at least one officer. He was taken to the UCI Medical Center, Deputy Chief Cameron Knauerhaze said Saturday morning.

Police are still investigating the shooting, he added.