bruton smith son bruton smith son

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 . 2023 Forbes Media LLC. Their known children: Bannie Ashia Bruton Smith 1875-1931 Carmanious Nias Carmie Bruton 1875-1952 He was married. He was like a 2nd father to me, I met him when he opened Bristol. Im going to miss him. By JENNA FRYER Associated Press. Smiths ideas often flew in the face of NASCARs more traditional standards. 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. The native of Oakboro . Sargeant 1st American on F1 grid since 2015, Murdaugh verdict sends a Lowcountry message: No one is above the law | Opinion, Mail carrier cant believe his eyes after seeing NC lottery win. I am so thankful to be a dad, and to have an amazing dad, said the post, which was accompanied by photos of Smith surrounded by his family. Parent (s) James Smith, Mollie Smith. Race fans are, and always will be, the lifeblood of NASCAR. Smith is survived by sons Scott, Marcus and David, daughter, Anna Lisa, their mother, Bonnie Smith and seven grandchildren. Our Founder O. Bruton Smith (1927 - 2022) Directors Marcus G. Smith David Bruton Smith BRUTON SMITH: Tickled by NASCAR Hall selection, positive reaction, "It will truly be an honor to be remembered at the Hall of Fame along with people like Dale Earnhardt,Richard Petty,Glen Wood,Junior Johnson,Darrell Waltripand so many others who helped build this sport," Smith said in a statement released by Charlotte Motor Speedway when he learned he was tapped in May 2015. He was inducted into NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2016 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2007. Smith also played a heavy role in philanthropic efforts, founding Speedway Children's Charities in 1982. Type above and press Enter to search. As a rendition of I Can Only Imagine by soloist David Culberson concluded, Smiths casket was carried out of the church by pallbearers Bryan Smith, Marcus Smith, David Smith, Scott Smith, Wyatt Smith and William Brooks. Sam Gannon cause of death, wife, children, net worth, Barbara Everitt Bryant funeral, burial service, pictures, date, time, venue. You can't fight your mom and God, so I stopped driving.. But times were difficult. Since its inception, Speedway Childrens Charities has distributed more than $61 million to improve the quality of life for children in need. Along with former SMI president H.A. Bruton Smith makes his Hall of Fame acceptance speech on January 23, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Ollen Bruton Smith, the founder and executive chairman of Sonic Automotive, Speedway Motorsports and Speedway Children's Charities died today of natural causes. Hendrick called Smith an unbelievable innovator who never quit coming up with ideas to improve things or grow things, including four-wide drag racing. In 2007, he was inducted intothe International Motorsports Hall of Fame. 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. Once in a lifetime, Charlotte Waffle House found with live roach, unclean equipment during health inspection. NASCAR races this weekend at Nashville Superspeedway, a track that was purchased by Speedway Motorsports late last year. Bruton Smith was the founder and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, who owned NASCAR tracks including the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Jim France called Smith "a giant of a sport. It was launched in 1982 in memory of his late son Bruton Cameron Smith, and has distributed more than $58 million to . 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. Brutons 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.. "Race fans are, and always will be, the lifeblood of NASCAR. 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. Smith became known for building state-of-the-art facilities that embraced the fan experience. World famous musicians and athletes. They argued about race dates, race purses, the expansion of the Sprint Cup Series and other subjects over the years. Smith was a key figure during NASCARs expansion in the 1990s as the sport began to transition away from a Southeast-driven sport to one with more of a national focus. They entered their dogs in fights and watched them die. On March 3, 2023, the media reported on suspected poison attacks affecting hundreds of girls at schools across several cities in Iran. Bruton Smith, a North Carolina native and entrepreneur who fell in love with auto racing and parlayed it into a career as an eccentric . "Humpy" Wheeler retired. Published Opened in 1966, his first dealership was Frontier Ford in Rockford, Ill, where he married and started a family. Everything is hard work.. Smith would quickly grow into the race-promotion game. He and former track president H.A. He watched all that he did on Earth. Four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon credited Smith for helping to grow NASCAR beyond its roots as a predominantly Southern sport. 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. He dedicated his life to speedways and improving the racing experience for fans everywhere. 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. "Our sole concern at SCC is to help a child in . The whole idea at that time was that I was going to be a race car driver. That needed to be changed and eventually they did it. Funeral arrangements were pending. Where are F1 2023 absentees Vettel, Ricciardo and Schumacher? The track opened in June 1960 with a 600-mile race, the longest ever in NASCARs history. Rockinghams lone remaining Cup Series date went to Texas. The NASCAR family mourns the loss of Hall of Famer and visionary track operator, Bruton Smith. He was 95. 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. Smith was executive chairman of Speedway Motorsports, which owns and operates auto racing speedways across the country. I learned from my own experience that when people go to an event like a big race they may know who won the race, but all the other stuff they dont remember, Smith once said, according to the statement. He was 95. NASCAR Chairman Jim France said in a statement released by NASCAR. 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. Credited by Roger Penske as a man who brought "so much to NASCAR," the founder and executive chairman of . 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. Speedway Motorsports, Inc. announced Smiths death, saying it occurred due to natural causes. Example video title will go here for this video. As NASCAR rose in popularity in the 1980s and 90s, the Smith-Wheeler tandem developed Charlotte and other SMI tracks into among the more innovative sports facilities in the country. [2], Smith assumed theposition as president, chief operating officer and director of SMI on May 28, 2009 after H.A. As I look back, that was a gift, even though I certainly didnt think so at the time. "You hear us preach about 'fan friendly.' He was 95. 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. 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 was 95. Bruton Smith and his son, Marcus," Caldwell . 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. 2. Everything is hard work.". His vision and legacy inspired many, and his fan-first mentality remains today through his son, Marcus. Thomas Strahan was fired from the job he held at Lake Norman High since 2017, authorities said. Speedway Motorsports' leadership team manages 11 premier properties across the United States. On Wednesday, Smith died at the age of 95, marking the end of a NASCAR Hall of Fame career during which he became one of motorsports most successful and influential race promoters and track owners. He was billionaire on the Forbes 400 list. He was a personal friend, Force wrote on Twitter. Smith, a native of Oakboro, North Carolina, was born March 3, 1927. . Bruton Smith, right, was inducted into NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2016. To come from a small Carolina town and amassing all the accomplishments that he did. A Speedway Motorsports statement announcing his death said he. To the delight of his mother, those ambitions did not last long. 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 service for Smith the Charlotte Speedway builder, race promoter and billionaire auto dealer was held at Central Church of God and was a celebration of the life of the Oakboro native and Charlotte resident. 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 track construction costs ran well past budget, and Smith eventually lost control of the speedway in bankruptcy proceedings. Speedway Motorsports also owns and operates a number of subsidiaries. Smith died June 22 of natural causes. A lot of people dont have that gift because they didnt grow up working. 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. 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. Ive met American Presidents and scholars. He helped grow not just NASCAR, but all kinds of racing. 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.". His death was announced by Speedway Motorsports, which cited natural causes. Now two NC men face prison. "Bruton Smith has been one of my heroes since I started racing in NASCAR in 1972." Smith founded Speedway Children's Charities in 1982 as a memoriam and legacy to his son, Bruton Cameron . Marcus Smith attended the University of North Carolina studying to become a doctor, then later a journalist, but did not earn a degree. CHARLOTTE, N.C. Domestic violence charges against the CEO of a Fortune 500 company based in Charlotte have been dropped months after he was arrested. 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. Follow me on Twitter @kwadwo_dost, Ghanaian songstress and actress Hajia4Real. 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. After leaving the Army in 1953, he learned that mismanagement in his absence had forced his racing organization to dissolve. Smith founded a nonprofit, Speedway Children's Charities. The nonprofit has distributed more than $58 million to charities over the years. Born March 2, 1927, on a farm in Oakboro, a small town 30 miles east of Charlotte, Ollen Bruton Smith was the youngest of nine children. The company went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 1995. He had an estimated worth of $1.5 billion in 2005. Ollen Bruton Smith (March 3, 1927 - June 22, 2022) was a promoter and owner/ CEO of NASCAR track owner Speedway Motorsports, Inc. 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. Their children also were friends, Hendrick told The Charlotte Observer Wednesday. Get in-depth, sideline coverage of Charlotte area sports - only $1 a month. He was a personal friend. In 1959, he partnered with NASCAR driver Curtis Turner and built his first permanent motorsports facility, Charlotte Motor Speedway. He left North Carolina to open an auto dealership in Rockford, Ill. 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. His legacy will live on. Few knew this better than Bruton Smith," said NASCAR chairman Jim France. 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? 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. He was named executive chairman in 2015 after serving as SMI chairman and chief executive officer since 1995. Smith was on the ground floor as stock car racing grew in popularity, starting in the Deep South. Did you encounter any technical issues? 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. Were here to entertain fans, and I want them to go home with a memory that will last forever.. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) 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. Im going to miss him. "We are not close" said MEC Chair Garth Thompson. When promoted, Smith stated "I'm going to bring the same passion to work each day that the race fans bring to the track every week. 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 Charlotte Motor Speedway. Everything is hard work.. FC Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez has spoken more on his team's 'sensational' defensive performance against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg ahead of his team's clash with Valencia in La Liga on Sunday. He was always on the leading edge at his tracks more seats, more pomp and ceremony, said NASCAR team owner Roger Penske. 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. Updated: 4:12 PM CDT June 22, 2022. In 1959, Smith and colleague Curtis Turner (who was also a top NASCAR driver) began construction of Charlotte Motor Speedway. Died: June 22, 2022 ( Who else died on June 22?) Also in 2004, he became the executive vice president of national sales and marketing for SMI. Speedway Motorsports said Smith died of natural causes. I think NASCAR owes him a lot, Hendrick said. Just brave enough to try anything.. 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 . The council relented, and the dragway was eventually built adjacent to Charlotte Motor Speedway. Hendrick spoke about his deep love for Smith, rooted in their farm boy upbringing and obsessive passion for cars and racing. The track was the first major speedway to host night races. 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. In addition to Marcus Smith, Bruton Smith is survived by sons Scott and David, daughter Anna Lisa, and their mother, Bonnie Smith, along with seven grandchildren. 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. In 1949, he ran the National Stock Car Racing Association, a Georgia-based racing sanctioning body that was a rival to NASCAR, which Bill France Sr. had formed in 1948. 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. Then maybe theyd build a new window. After building a successful chain of car dealerships, Smith re-entered NASCAR in the mid-1970s, buying enough shares in CMS stock to regain control of the speedway. He could bluff with the best of them, Max Muhleman, a former sports marketing executive in Charlotte who covered racing for the Charlotte News in the 1950s, told the Observer in 2007. Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife, son in June 2021, Alex Murdaughs attorneys say theyll appeal double-murder conviction, Video shows driver nearly hitting 2 students crossing NC road to board their bus, NASCARs Bruton Smith had a one-of-a-kind life, knocking down doors the whole way, Photos through the years: Bruton Smith, Charlotte Motor Speedway founder, NASCAR world reacts to Bruton Smiths death. 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. "Speedway President Didn't Get Degree, School Says (Update2)", "Bruton Smith's son to replace Wheeler as prez, GM of LMS", "Lowe's tells speedway it won't renew deal", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Marcus_G._Smith&oldid=1118918011, Businesspeople from Charlotte, North Carolina, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumni, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 29 October 2022, at 18:04. A Speedway Motorsports statement announcing his death said he. He took the company public in 1995; his son Marcus Smith is the CEO. After losing his young child, Smith became passionate about wanting to help children in need. Head of content and Editor-at-large at Ghanafuo.com Dickson Ofori Siaw is a blunt writer who loves to make his readers see "the other perspectives of a news story". In 2011, the Charlotte speedway installed a 16,000 square-foot high-definition video screen, then the largest in the world but since eclipsed by the Big Hoss screen at Smiths Texas track (where Smith also built condos). In doing so, Bruton helped grow NASCARs popularity as the preeminent spectator sport. 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 . It's amazing the reaction about this, and I think that's very special.". Read More 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. appreciated. He was 95. I sure loved him. This weekend, NASCAR is set to race at the Nashville Superspeedway, which was purchased by Speedway Motorsports last year. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. While photos of Smith with his family, friends and colleagues filled the church, hundreds poured in to pay their respects to the racing icon. 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 a statement from track operating company Speedway Motorsports. Its not just the money. "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., June 22, 2022 -- ( BUSINESS WIRE )--A visionary and transformative figure in both business and entertainment, Ollen Bruton Smith, the founder and executive chairman of Sonic. Funeral arrangements were pending. 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. He was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2016 for his contributions to the sport. This story was originally published June 22, 2022, 4:25 PM. He founder and chairman of Speedway Motorsports, which owns and manages eight NASCAR tracks. 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. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. After being ordered to replace the trees, Smith instead sold the property. And then make it happen., It tells you something about the legendary drive that Bruton had, Gibbs said. Smith also pushed for changes in the competition side of NASCAR. Ollen Bruton Smith, founder of Speedway Motorsports Inc. and one of the most forward-thinking track operators died Wednesday at age 95. He was 95. Smith slowly began to work his way up the SMI corporate ladder, becoming a sales associate in 1996 and manager of new business development in 1999. The tracks first 600-miler was held at its grand opening in 1960. I love the racing business. He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2007 and the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame a year earlier. When he was 22, in 1949, Smith went into direct competition with NASCAR, forming the National Stock Car Racing Association, which staged races in North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. Sons Scott, Marcus, and David are survivors, as with his daughter Anna Lisa, their mother, Bonnie Smith, and seven grandkids. Given his experience, Smith became passionate about wanting to help . Smith was inducted into NASCAR's 2016Hall of Fame class. I'm competitive, and I want to be sure we're doing everything we can to provide a fantastic motorsports experience to our fans.". I learned to drive, but that career didnt last long., His mother started fighting dirty, Smith recalled with a laugh in a 2005 interview with Motorsport.com, Speedway Motorsports officials said. 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. The previous year, he overcame a case of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, receiving a clean bill of health after surgery during the summer of 2015. But if you are on a family farm, thats what you do. France said Smith is one of the pioneers of NASCAR. Smith founded Speedway Motorsports, which is now run by Smiths son, and Speedway Motorsports, Inc. CEO, Marcus Smith. Smith's brother, Marcus, is the general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway, which will be hosting NASCAR races this weekend. Smith played a major role in transforming American motorsports into the consumer-friendly product it is today. Smith assumed control of several other tracks, including Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and formed Speedway Motorsports, Inc. to run the facilities. LikeSportscastingon Facebook. All Rights Reserved. But the greatest man I ever met was Bruton Smith," said Gossage, who retired last summer. 1988 was a rough year for Bruton Smith. My parents taught us what work was all about, Smith said in 2008. He recalled sitting at the Texas Motor Speedway in 1997 and thinking, How could someone dream of something like this? Under the guidance of choir director Dennis Livingston, the Central Church Choirs soft hymns started the 1 p.m. service. 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. The suspected poison attacks are said to have been lasting at least three months and are ongoing. Bruton Smith, founder of Speedway Motorsports and one of the most forward-thinking track operators and promoters in motorsports, has died. But that was just the beginning for Smith, who built the 1.5-mile Charlotte track with partner Curtis Turner. . You hear us preach about fan friendly. I think that is a driver for me to just do more things. Left-handed batters, hurt by the increasingly popular practice of bunching defenders on one side of the field, are exacting their revenge by signing sweet post-shift contracts. Barbara Everitt Bryant cause of death: How did Barbara Everitt Bryant die? Were the only sport that has that. He founded Speedway Motorsports, which owns and operates 11 . 4, including Marcus. 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. The following is a statement from the President and General . His friend may be next. I learned to drive, but that career didn't last long, Smith said about his early start, claiming his mother prayed for him to find another passion. Smith was no stranger to controversies off the track. Speedway Motorsports, the company he founded, was the first motorsports company to trade on the New York Stock Exchange and it currently owns 11 facilities across the United States. Driver arrested after video shows him nearly hitting students at their school bus stop. Few knew this better than Bruton Smith," NASCAR chairman Jim France said. 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. Smith joked he was "unlucky enough" to be appointed by a committee of frustrated racers and car owners to begin promoting races. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. 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. Remembering NASCAR Hall of Famer Bruton Smith. The company owns and operates several auto raceways including the Atlanta Motor Speedway, Charlotte. His legacy will live on.. I think that is a driver for me to just do more things. God made Bruton. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. 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. Hed get his people together, and if they came up with an idea, he went and did it.. I want to contribute more and more," Smith said in 2015. When Concord City Council voted in 2007 to stop Smith from building what is now zMax Dragway, he threatened to shut down the speedway and build another one (along with a dragway) somewhere else. He lost the speedway eight years later due to financial reasons, but managed to get it back in 1975. I enjoy the contributions Ive been able to make to the sport.. 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? At Charlotte, Smiths vision included condominiums overlooking the speedway, luxury suites, and other amenities unheard of in NASCAR to that point. 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. I am so thankful to be a dad, and to have an amazing dad," said the post, which was accompanied by photos of Smith surrounded by his family. Smith was the billionaire founder and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, Inc., a group of race tracks that includes Charlotte Motor Speedway. Bruton Smith died of natural causes Wednesday. Race fans are, and always will be, the lifeblood of NASCAR. Smith is survived by sons Scott, Marcus and David, daughter Anna Lisa, their mother, Bonnie Smith and seven grandchildren. Bruton built his race tracks employing a simple philosophy; give race fans memories they will cherish for a lifetime.