He was succeeded as SMI CEO by his son, Marcus Smith. Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Sonoma Raceway, Texas Motor Speedway, Dover Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, North Wilkesboro Speedway, and Kentucky Speedway are among the 11 motorsports entertainment facilities owned and operated by his company. He had his hands in all of it, and even though hes gone, his fingerprints remain. Race fans are, and always will be, the lifeblood of NASCAR. He was like a 2nd father to me, I met him when he opened Bristol. And then make it happen., It tells you something about the legendary drive that Bruton had, Gibbs said. Type above and press Enter to search. CNN Bruton Smith, a longtime fixture in NASCAR and a Hall of Fame inductee for building and promoting auto racing events nationwide, died Wednesday at age 95 of natural causes, according to. AP Auto Racing Writer. There was a whole lot of unrest with the drivers and car owners at that time, Speedway Motorsports officials quoted Smith as saying at the time. The council relented, and the dragway was eventually built adjacent to Charlotte Motor Speedway. He often sparred with NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. and his successor, Bill France Jr., and battled the NASCAR leadership for decades trying to bring elite Cup Series races to his properties. He took NASCAR and the tracks to some really unique places. On behalf of the France family and all of NASCAR, I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Bruton Smith, a giant of our sport.. Although he battled numerous health problems in his 80s, Smith remained very involved in the operation of his automobile businesses and speedways, often declaring he would never retire. A year before his NASCAR Hall of Fame induction, he overcame a case of non-Hodgkins lymphoma and was deemed healthy after surgery during the summer of 2015. Smith also pushed for changes in the competition side of NASCAR. He was 95. Few made a bigger impact to help the sport grow, Humpy Wheeler: Bruton Smith was the Ritz Carlton and I was Holiday Inn, Who was Bruton Smith? Melissa Burden Sonic Automotive Inc. CEO Scott Smith is stepping down and the nation's fifth-largest auto retailer said it promoted his brother David Smith to CEO and named Jeff Dyke as. Smith founded Speedway Motorsports, which is now run by Smith's son, and Speedway Motorsports, Inc. CEO, Marcus Smith. When you think of the things Bruton accomplished, they are unbelievable and we will remember them forever, Hendrick said. FILE - Hall of Fame inductee Bruton Smith entertains the crowd as his son, Marcus Smith, left, looks on during NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. The company went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 1995. For his lifetime of dedication and innovation, he was inducted to both the NASCAR Hall of Fame (2016) and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame (2007). There was a long-going argument about whether Smiths speedway in Texas deserved a second date on the NASCAR schedule (it eventually got one). Legendary NHRA funny car champion John Force had this to say about Smiths death: Im really sad to hear about the passing of Bruton Smith. He dedicated his life to speedways and improving the racing experience for fans everywhere. Hendrick followed France and discussed his friendship with the Smith family. Smith purchased Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1990, built Texas Motor Speedway outside of Dallas, and bought Las Vegas Motor Speedway, taking NASCAR onto the national stage and far beyond the small tracks in places like Rockingham and Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Follow us on Twitter@sportscasting19and subscribe to ourYouTube channel. He could look you in the eye and say something, and youd be afraid he was deadly serious. Were the only sport that has that. But the greatest man I ever met was Bruton Smith," said Gossage, who retired last summer. Ollen Bruton Smith (March 3, 1927 - June 22, 2022) was a promoter and owner/ CEO of NASCAR track owner Speedway Motorsports, Inc. As a young man, Smith thought hed be a racer. It was so much for the better., Although the two competed in the car business, NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick said he and Smith were good friends. The tracks host NASCAR, IndyCar, NHRA and other series in Hampton, Georgia; Bristol, Tennessee; Concord, North Carolina; Loudon, New Hampshire; Sonoma, California; Fort Worth, Texas; Dover, Delaware; Nashville, Tennessee; North Wilkesboro, North Carolina; Sparta, Kentucky, and Las Vegas. Speedway Motorsports also owns and operates a number of subsidiaries. Bruton Smith, one of the richest people in the United States, according to Forbes magazine, was known for his auto racing empire but also owned and operated automobile dealerships across the country under Sonic Automotive, launched in November 1997. The whole idea at that time was that I was going to be a race car driver, Smith later recalled, according to the Speedway Motorsports statement. The two largest operators of racetracks in the country rarely saw eye-to-eye, but Smith, with his gold-framed shaded sunglasses and wild sport coats, never backed down. Im going to miss him. A charitable side. Ollen Bruton Smith, founder of Speedway Motorsports Inc. and one of the most forward-thinking track operators died Wednesday at age 95. He was inducted into NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2016 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2007. Race fans are, and always will be, the lifeblood of NASCAR. Everything is hard work.". [2], Smith assumed theposition as president, chief operating officer and director of SMI on May 28, 2009 after H.A. Here are his plans. https://t.co/wsbrQMo7UM, Three-time Cup Series champion Tony Stewart, who began his racing career in Indiana open-wheel cars with dreams of competing in the Indianapolis 500, called Smith a pioneer., Bruton Smith was a pioneer who helped make motorsports mainstream and allowed guys like me to make a living doing what we love, Stewart tweeted. "That's what I've tried to do my entire life. He made an extraordinary impact on the industry and lived such an impressive life, David Morton, a member of the North Carolina Motorsports Association, said before the service Thursday. He founded Speedway Childrens Charities in 1982 in memory of his late son Bruton Cameron Smith, who died as a child. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Bruton Smith, the visionary and combative executive who helped shape NASCAR into the sport it is today, died Wednesday. After Pastor Livingston led the congregation in signing Amazing Grace, France spoke first, remembering his friends full and well-lived life., I think we all hope that our time on Earth is of meaning and purpose, and will make a positive difference in the lives of our families, friends, folks we work with, our country and society. He was 95. According to records on the Mecklenburg County Sherrif's Office website, Smith was released Monday afternoon. His vision and legacy inspired many, and his fan-first mentality remains today through his son, Marcus. And along the way, he helped a lot of families build better lives.. While Delta pilots have signed a new contract and American pilots appear to be moving quickly towards one, United pilots appear to be lagging. More than two dozen flower bouquets lined the front of Central Church. Hall of Fame inductee Bruton Smith entertains the crowd as his son, Marcus Smith, left, looks on during NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn, File) Author: JENNA FRYER (AP Auto Racing Writer) Published: 5:12 PM EDT June 22, 2022 . Brutons legacy and incredible accomplishments in and contributions to NASCAR will forever remain in our minds, our archives, at the cathedrals of speed he built and celebrated at the NASCAR Hall of Fame forever.. He had an estimated worth of $1.5 billion in 2005. A lot of people don't have that gift because they didn't grow up working. Bu if you are on a family farm, that's what you do. Marcus G. Smith (born 1973) is president and chief executive officer and director of NASCAR track owner Speedway Motorports, Inc.(SMI) and general manager of SMI owned Charlotte Motor Speedway. The latter is currently serving as the president and chief operating officer as well as director of NASCAR track owner Speedway Motorports, Inc. Marcus G. Smith rose through the ranks to his current position as president, chief operating officer and director of SMI as of May 28 . Bruton Smith, a North Carolina native and entrepreneur who fell in love with auto racing and parlayed it into a career as an eccentric . Press Esc to cancel. Few made a bigger impact to help the sport grow, Humpy Wheeler: Bruton Smith was the Ritz Carlton and I was Holiday Inn, Who was Bruton Smith? His legacy will live on.. Smith died June 22 of natural causes. Now two NC men face prison. He often appeared at newsconferences and in speedway media centers in the final years ofhis life to verbally spar with reporters and deliver praise or criticism to NASCAR officials. Hed get his people together, and if they came up with an idea, he went and did it.. The NASCAR and motorsports community mourns the loss of Bruton Smith, the NASCAR Hall of Famer, visionary track promoter and founder of Speedway Motorsports who died at 95 years old Wednesday. O. Bruton Smith, who emerged from rural North Carolina and parlayed his love of motorsports into becoming a NASCAR Hall of Famer and one of its most eccentric and successful promoters, died Wednesday. Smith played a major role in transforming American motorsports into the consumer-friendly product it is today. LikeSportscastingon Facebook. He founder and chairman of Speedway Motorsports, which owns and manages eight NASCAR tracks. Debts incurred in great part by construction problems and delays put Smith and the track into bankruptcy two years later. Astronauts and artists. 4, including Marcus. Bruton Smith, right, was inducted into NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2016. Bruton was a builder. Smith gradually bought back shares of the track and regained control in 1975. Smith, a native of Oakboro, North Carolina, was born March 3, 1927. . Smith also played a heavy role in philanthropic efforts, founding Speedway Children's Charities in 1982. Marcus Smith, son of SMI founder, crafts fan experience at Charlotte. Having escaped cold winters, hes thrilled to consume football, hoops, music and movies within the Queen City. Marcus G. Smith is one of the 4 children of the late Bruton Smith. He is survived by sons Marcus, Scott and David, daughter Anna Lisa, their mother Bonnie Smith as well as seven grandchildren. "Bruton's contribution to stock car racing is hard to measure," said fellow NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. "His ambitious vision created growth and opportunities that I am forever thankful for.". R.G. Bruton Smith makes his Hall of Fame acceptance speech on January 23, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. His 17-year marriage to his wife, Bonnie Harris Smith, 43, effectively came to an end that year. But if you are on a family farm, thats what you do. Humpy Wheeler, Smith was responsible for among many other things fan-focused innovations at Charlotte, including building condominiums in Turn 1, the upscale Speedway Club high above the front stretch and installing lights. "You hear us preach about 'fan friendly.' He was 95. Ollen Bruton Smith was a NASCAR track promoter and the owner/CEO of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. On January 23, 2016, he was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. "Humpy" Wheeler retired. Bruton Smith, the legendary businessman and racing promoter, died Wednesday. With the opening of the Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1960 came one of NASCARs Crown Jewels and the longest race in the Cup Series, now known as the Coca-Cola 600. A few days later,Smith, sitting in the owner's suite as theCoca-Cola 600took the green flag at Charlotte Motor Speedway, told a small group of reporters he had all but given up hope of being chosen for the Hall. Bruton built his race tracks employing a simple philosophy; give face fans memories they will cherish for a lifetime. Years later he partnered with Curtis Turner in 1959 to build his first permanent motorsports facility, the Charlotte Motor Speedway, which would come to host NASCARs longest race at 600 miles. I love the racing business, he said at the time. I think it may be that they think Im tougher than I am. Marcus Smith attended the University of North Carolina studying to become a doctor, then later a journalist, but did not earn a degree. Oh, wed argue about things, Wheeler said. According to that organization's website, Smith wanted to help children in need and was moved to start the group as a legacy for Bruton Cameron Smith, asonwho died young. Stock car maven O. Bruton Smith attended his first auto race at age 8, promoted events on a dirt track in Midland, North Carolina as a teen, and opened the Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1960 at age 33. One of NASCAR's most legendary figures, Smith, pictured above in 2010, gave up his dream of being a race car driver to become a force to be reckoned with on the business side. Jim France called Smith "a giant of a sport. The following is a statement from the President and General . "Our sole concern at SCC is to help a child in . Smith was also rumored to want to split off from NASCAR entirely, buying off some of the best drivers and developing his own race series at his own tracks. Sen. John Warner, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Petty, Lynda Petty, daughter and Bruton Smith in victory lane at the 1975 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He will be missed by a lot people who cherished his work. By JENNA FRYER Bruton had all kinds of ideas, and money never seemed to be an object, said hall-of-fame driver Richard Petty in 2016. But times were difficult. The Coca-Cola 600 to this day is considered a crown jewel on the NASCAR calendar. Everything is hard work.. And I wouldnt be surprised if he is sitting with God and telling him about the new project he wants to do., Bill Evans, a Charlotte business owner and former Jaguar car salesman, said before the service he found Smiths life and career unbelievable.. Bruton Smith, a key promoter and track operator and a pioneer in auto racing, died at 95, NASCAR reportedand Speedway Motorsports Inc. announced Wednesday afternoon. The top-ranked pie in North Carolina doesnt look like pie at all. NACAR Hall of Famer Bruton Smith, founder and executive chairman of Speedway Motorsports which owns Nashville Superspeedway, died Wednesday at 95. . He recalled sitting at the Texas Motor Speedway in 1997 and thinking, How could someone dream of something like this? On March 3, 2023, the media reported on suspected poison attacks affecting hundreds of girls at schools across several cities in Iran. Speedway Motorsports' leadership team manages 11 premier properties across the United States. David Bruton Smith is CEO of Sonic. Smith had exhausted himself to the point that he fell asleep midway through the race, which was won by Joe Lee Johnson. The Coca-Cola 600 to this day is considered a crown jewel on the NASCAR calendar. Trained as a paratrooper, Smith was never deployed overseas. His son, Marcus, the current president and CEO, on Tuesday posted a tribute to his father on social media: "I had a wonderful Father's Day weekend. In 1959, Smith and colleague Curtis Turner (who was also a top NASCAR driver) began construction of Charlotte Motor Speedway. Smith founded Sonic Automotive in early 1997 and took it public 11 months later; in 2000, it was recognized as a Fortune 500 company and has hundreds of dealerships in over 20 states. Smith was no stranger to controversies off the track. Bruton Smith, one of the city's richest men, has been ordered to pay his ex-wife $21 million in the next 10 years, a divorce settlement that includes more cash than what Ivana Trump got from. Bruton Smith, a North Carolina businessman who became one of the most prolific track owners and promoters in the history of NASCAR, died Wednesday of natural causes at the age of 95 . Smith established Speedway Racing in December 1994 by merging his motorsports businesses, and in February 1995, he made it the first motorsports firm to list on the New York Stock Exchange. All Rights Reserved. Sonic Automotive Inc. Chief Executive Officer David Smith has been indicted on four charges related to his October arrest for an alleged assault on a woman, according to the . Ollen Bruton Smith was born on March 2, 1927, the youngest of nine children, and grew up on a farm in North Carolina. You hear us preach about fan friendly. I think that is a driver for me to just do more things. Family, loved ones and admirers of Bruton Smith paid their final respects to the businessman and NASCAR Hall of Famer on Thursday. What people dont realize about Bruton is that he had a rough edge but a big heart.. Smith's brother, Marcus, is the general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway, which will be hosting NASCAR races this weekend. Funeral arrangements were pending. I met him when he opened Bristol. The FTX founder would also be prohibited from using his parents devices. It had been troubled for a number of years, and the. Once in a lifetime, Charlotte Waffle House found with live roach, unclean equipment during health inspection. Under the guidance of choir director Dennis Livingston, the Central Church Choirs soft hymns started the 1 p.m. service. A trailblazer in countless ways.We pay tribute to Bruton Smith's life and legacy. Meanwhile, a group led by businessman Richard Howard of Denver, N.C., brought the speedway out of bankruptcy in 1967. He had his hands in all of it, and even though hes gone, his fingerprints remain.. The nonagenarian is also the executive chairman and director of Sonic Automotive, which owns 106 car dealerships in 13 states. His legacy will live on.". As I look back, that was a gift, even though I certainly didnt think so at the time. I love the racing business. Our Founder O. Bruton Smith (1927 - 2022) Directors Marcus G. Smith David Bruton Smith "You can't fight your mom and God, so I stopped driving.". CHARLOTTE, N.C. ( WJHL) Bruton Smith, founder and executive chairman of Speedway Motorsports, died Wednesday of natural causes, according to a press release from the company. Sons Scott, Marcus, and David are survivors, as with his daughter Anna Lisa, their mother, Bonnie Smith, and seven grandkids. Legendary Businessman, Philanthropist and NASCAR Hall of Famer Bruton Smith Passes Away Smith had trailblazing careers in motorsports, philanthropy and automotive retail, serving as Founder. Smith instead became an entrepreneur promoting his first race at age 18 and became one of the giants in stock car racing. The tracks host NASCAR, IndyCar, NHRA and other series in Atlanta; Bristol, Tennessee; Charlotte; Las Vegas; New Hampshire; Sonoma, California; Texas; Dover, Delaware; Nashville, Tennessee; North Wilkesboro, North Carolina; and Kentucky.
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