Brownfield died in an accident at the track Friday night, his family confirmed in a statement posted on a Web site for the National Sprint Tour. He was struck by a car while lining up modified stock cars for the main race of the Shipwreck Beads Northwest Modified Nationals, track officials said in a statement.
The death was dubbed a "tragic accident" by Dave Pimentel, chief criminal deputy with the Grays Harbor County sheriff's office.
Brownfield, a former World of Outlaws driver, was named the group's promoter of the year in 2005. He started the Northern Sprint Tour in 1996 and began the National Sprint Tour this season.
More than 800 spectators were at the track when the accident occurred, including Brownfield's wife, Debbie, a son-in-law and two grandchildren.
"There was a couple of cars out of line from where they should have been and one of them was on the outside of the track and on the high side," said Stormy Glick of Elma, a longtime friend. "He needed to be on the inside of the track and he dove down to go around some cars on the inside and never saw Fred on the track at all.
"The driver did nothing wrong. He was just trying to get into position. He just picked the wrong place and it was absolutely horrible -- instantaneous. The medics were there within a minute ...but there was absolutely nothing they could do," Glick said. He estimated the car was traveling 30 mph when it struck Brownfield.
Brownfield, 53 and the father of five, died of blunt force trauma to the head, according to Deputy County Coroner George Patrick.
Brownfield, of Snohomish, was nationally known in the tight-knit racing community. He made his mark as a promoter and tour operator.
Brownfield's family has scheduled a memorial celebration June 26 at the Raceway.
"He loved it. He lived it. He breathed it. That's where he should be," said daughter Shelby Nicoletti of Snohomish.
In addition to his wife and Nicoletti, Brownfield is survived by daughters Carrie Troy and Jessica Kellogg, and sons, Luke Prigg and Ty Brownfield.