News anchor Fred Shropshire is leaving Charlotte station WCNC. 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. Hendrick followed France and discussed his friendship with the Smith family. Smith who didnt drink, smoke or swear was also known for his numerous feuds with NASCAR and local governments, many of which played out in public. Since the early days in 1959, when Speedway Motorsports, LLC Executive Chairman O. Bruton Smith began construction of Charlotte Motor Speedway, Speedway Motorsports has developed a robust history of innovation and improvement to the race experience enjoyed by our fans, sponsors, team owners, drivers, media and others. The previous year, he overcame a case of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, receiving a clean bill of health after surgery during the summer of 2015. Smith is survived by sons Scott, Marcus and David, daughter Anna Lisa, their mother, Bonnie Smith and seven grandchildren. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Race fans are, and always will be, the lifeblood of NASCAR. He helped grow it from its humble southern roots to a major league, national sport. I think we all followed that.. His tracks have condominiums, Speedway Clubs that offer fine dining and giant, high-definition video screens. A trailblazer in countless ways.We pay tribute to Bruton Smith's life and legacy. Sons Scott, Marcus, and David are survivors, as with his daughter Anna Lisa, their mother, Bonnie Smith, and seven grandkids. Look at all he did in building a world-class motor speedway and automobile dealership, Evans said. Smith founded the company that is Speedway Motorsports and owns nine tracks that host Cup races, including Nashville Superspeedway, which hosts the NASCAR Cup, Xfinity and Truck Series this weekend. Jim France called Smith a giant of a sport., Everyone knows what hes done for motorsports, NHRA and NASCAR," said legendary drag racer John Force. He was 95. In the years that followed, Smith found success opening several automotive dealerships. He and former track president H.A. 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. Funeral arrangements were pending. [2] In 1999, Smith led talks between SMI and Lowe's Corporation, Inc. to sell the naming rights of Charlotte Motor Speedway. In addition to an $80 million incentives deal, mainly for road improvements and drag strip noise abatement, the Concord council offered Smith something else: In 2008, the road connecting Concord Mills Mall and Interstate 85 to the speedway was renamed Bruton Smith Boulevard. In doing do, Bruton helped grow NASCAR's popularity as the preeminent spectator sport.". Their children also were friends, Hendrick told The Charlotte Observer Wednesday. You can't fight your mom and God, so I stopped driving.. Get in-depth, sideline coverage of Charlotte area sports - only $1 a month. Marcus Smith, his son and president of the company his father led for decades, said on social media, While we mourn the passing of my father, we also rejoice for the life he lived and for the amazing legacy he left to inspire us all.. He was inducted into NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2016 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2007. Having escaped cold winters, hes thrilled to consume football, hoops, music and movies within the Queen City. His vision and legacy inspired many, and his fan-first mentality remains today through his son, Marcus. Driver arrested after video shows him nearly hitting students at their school bus stop. Since its inception, Speedway Childrens Charities has distributed more than $61 million to improve the quality of life for children in need. France and NASCAR won that competition, as the NSCRA faded. Bruton Smith, a North Carolina native and entrepreneur who fell in love with auto racing and parlayed it into a career as an eccentric and successful promoter, died Wednesday, June 22, 2022 of. 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. He had his hands in all of it, and even though hes gone, his fingerprints remain. "Bruton Smith has been one of my heroes since I started racing in NASCAR in 1972." In addition to his business interests, Smith founded Speedway Children's Charities in 1982 as a memoriam and legacy to his son, Bruton Cameron Smith, who passed away at a very young age. CHARLOTTE, N.C. O. Bruton Smith, who emerged from North Carolina farm country and parlayed his love of motorsports into a Hall of Fame career as one of the biggest track owners and most successful promoters in the history of auto racing, died Wednesday. Born March 2, 1927, on a farm in Oakboro, N.C., a small town 30 miles east of Charlotte, Ollen Bruton Smith was the youngest of nine children. 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. Smith founded Speedway Motorsports, which is now run by Smiths son, and Speedway Motorsports, Inc. CEO, Marcus Smith. Sam Gannon cause of death, wife, children, net worth, Barbara Everitt Bryant funeral, burial service, pictures, date, time, venue. Hendrick called Smith an unbelievable innovator who never quit coming up with ideas to improve things or grow things, including four-wide drag racing. The FTX founder would also be prohibited from using his parents devices. 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. His legacy will live on.". It opened in June 1960 with a 600-mile race, the longest in NASCAR history. "My parents taught us what work was all about," Smith said in 2008. Come right down to it, Im a softie kind of person.. Smith played a major role in transforming American motorsports into the consumer-friendly product it is today. Smith died June 22 of natural causes. Everything is hard work.. He took NASCAR and the tracks to some really unique places. Bruton Smith was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2007. Both Marcus and David are the son of Bruton Smith, CEO of Speedway . But the greatest man I ever met was Bruton Smith," said Gossage, who retired last summer. NASCAR races this weekend at Nashville Superspeedway, a track that was purchased by Speedway Motorsports late last year. 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.. His tracks have condominiums, Speedway Clubs that offer fine dining and giant, high-definition video screens. Smith became known for building state-of-the-art facilities that embraced the fan experience. I met him when he opened Bristol. He watched his first race as an 8-year-old during the Depression and bought his first race car at 17 for $700. 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. 2023 Cable News Network. Jay Weston funeral, burial service, pictures, date, time, venue, Hajia4Real tops Twitter trends following U.S. jail reports, Sulley Muntari, Agyeman Badu, Asamoah Gyan, others visit Christian Atsus family home, VIDEO: Government will be fully involved in providing Christian Atsu a befitting burial Dr. Bawumia, Christian Atsus mortal remains arrive in Ghana via Turkish Airlines, Maybe I created enemies along the line Kofi Amoabeng on UT Banks collapse, Christian Atsu was one of Ghanas finest personnel Akufo-Addo. Currently, Speedway Motorsports owns an array of properties, including 10 tracks with Cup Series dates, including Dover, Bristol, Atlanta, Texas, and Las Vegas. He was like a 2nd father to me, I met him when he opened Bristol. Humpy Wheeler turned the track, actually located in Concord, N.C., into an auto racing palace, adding huge grandstands, condominiums and other innovations unheard of in racing circles at the time. "Our sole concern at SCC is to help a child in . 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. Smith, a native of. He would throw the ax through the window, Wheeler told the Observer. Smith's brother, Marcus, is the general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway, which will be hosting NASCAR races this weekend. He was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2016 for his contributions to the sport. Manchester City are now ready to sell Bernardo Silva to FC Barcelona and have named their asking price for the Portuguese midfielder, according to reports. I enjoy the contributions Ive been able to make to the sport.. And then hed bust out laughing.. I'm a frustrated builder who had a knack for promoting races, and it's been fun to always try to push the sport to greater heights for the fans.". In doing so, Bruton helped grow NASCARs popularity as the preeminent spectator sport. Logos for Charlotte Motor Speedway and Sonic Automotive Group during the funeral service Thursday stood beside Smiths casket, which was topped with a collection of white roses and lilies. "Race fans are, and always will be, the lifeblood of NASCAR. Bruton Smith, the legendary businessman and racing promoter, died Wednesday. He was named executive chairman in 2015 after serving as SMI chairman and chief executive officer since 1995. NASCAR has lost one of its true pioneers, visionaries and innovators, Hall Executive Director Winston Kelley said in a statement. Born March 2, 1927,. Both Marcus and David are the son of Bruton Smith, CEO of Speedway Motorsports and a NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee. What people dont realize about Bruton is that he had a rough edge but a big heart.. Ollen Bruton Smith, founder of Speedway Motorsports Inc. and one of the most forward-thinking track operators died Wednesday at age 95. Given his experience, Smith became passionate about wanting to help . I enjoy the contributions I've been able to make to the sport.". 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 . His legacy will live on., Bruton Smith was a pioneer who helped make motorsports mainstream and allowed guys like me to make a living doing what we love. Opened in 1966, his first dealership was Frontier Ford in Rockford, Ill, where he married and started a family. Speedway Motorsports said Smith died of natural causes. Smiths reach, however, extended beyond NASCAR. 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. "The whole idea at that time was that I was going to be a race car driver. Sonic Automotive CEO David Bruton Smith was arrested Monday in Charlotteand charged with multiple felonies including assault on a woman and assault by strangulation. Ive met American Presidents and scholars. Few knew this truth better than Bruton Smith. Smith was the billionaire founder and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, Inc., a group of race tracks that includes Charlotte Motor Speedway. Smith also played a heavy role in philanthropic efforts, founding Speedway Children's Charities in 1982. The Smith family grew cotton, corn and wheat and owned some cattle. He founded Speedway Childrens Charities in 1982 in memory of his late son Bruton Cameron Smith, who died as a child. 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. Outside the family farm, he was only 12 when he started his first job, working at a local saw mill, according to Speedway Motorsports. His disputes with NASCAR were well documented. He was 95. 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. This story was originally published June 30, 2022, 1:19 PM. He was 95. Our Founder O. Bruton Smith (1927 - 2022) Directors Marcus G. Smith David Bruton Smith Bruton Smith's life, business A lover of people, racing and charity, Smith founded and was CEO of Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which owns and operates 11 tracks across the country, including. Bruton was a builder. A lot of people don't have that gift because they didn't grow up working. 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. Eddie Gossage, who worked for Smith at Charlotte before leaving to help open Texas Motor Speedway and guide it through its first 25 years, paid tribute to his former boss. succeeded as SMI CEO by his son, Marcus Smith, Marcus Smith, son of SMI founder, crafts fan experience at Charlotte, Smith was inducted into NASCAR's 2016Hall of Fame class, Tickled by NASCAR Hall selection, positive reaction, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 2. Bruton was married first to Elmina Henderson Hunsucker 21 Jan 1875 in Uwharrie Township, Montgomery County. Stroll to race in Bahrain after missing F1 testing, AlphaTauri denies talk of sale by Red Bull, Everything you need to know about F1's 2023 season, Bahrain rights group urges F1 drivers to speak up. Published appreciated. Smith is the son of O. Burton Smith, the executive chairman of Speedway Motorsports LLC. Few knew this better than Bruton Smith," NASCAR chairman Jim France said. He was always on the leading edge at his tracks more seats, more pomp and ceremony, said NASCAR team owner Roger Penske. 6 things to know about the late race track billionaire, Bruton Smith timeline: From a rural NC farm to fame and fortune on NASCAR tracks, Bruton Smith, legendary race promoter and founder of Charlotte Motor Speedway, has died.