RIP Bruton Smith

[pnance26]

Legendary track owner Bruton Smith, died on June 22, 2022 with little to notice in the news or trades.

Bruton was the owner of Speedway Motorsports Inc., the largest rival to the France family ownership of NASCAR tracks (International Speedway Corporation). SMI has, at one time or another, controlled or built Charlotte Motor Speedway, Bristol, Sonoma, Las Vegas, Texas, Atlanta, and New Hampshire. The purchase of Dover was completed in 2021.

Bruton was an innovator and was initiated into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2016.

RIP, Mr. Smith. You did a lot for NASCAR. Too bad no one noticed your passing (including me).

[Oldtimer]

I had the opportunity to watch the final Nascar race of the 1996 season from the owner’s suite at Atlanta.

The company I worked for was pursuing a relationship with Speedway and a couple of us were invited to attend the race.

In addition to Mr. Smith and Humpy Wheeler, most of the other guests were referred to as something like Your Honor, etc.

Craig T. Nelson was also there.

Mr. Smith was very cordial to us and we appreciated his candor.

His dedication to Nascar, notwithstanding his love/hate relationship with the France family, solidified that sanctioning body as the premier among all those in North America.