Sonic Automotive CEO David Bruton Smith arrested on felony assault He was like a 2nd father to me, I met him when he opened Bristol. 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. Domestic violence charges against son of Speedway Motorsports CEO 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. 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. His disputes with NASCAR were well documented. 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. Speedway Motorsports founder Bruton Smith dies at 95 - WTHR 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.. Smith was executive chairman of Speedway Motorsports, which owns and operates auto racing speedways across the country. A trailblazer in countless ways.We pay tribute to Bruton Smith's life and legacy. The Smith family grew cotton, corn and wheat and owned some cattle. He was 95. 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. This story was originally published June 22, 2022, 4:25 PM. 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.". Their known children: Bannie Ashia Bruton Smith 1875-1931 Carmanious Nias Carmie Bruton 1875-1952 He was married. Smith played a major role in transforming American motorsports into the consumer-friendly product it is today. Bruton Smith, who was born and raised in the nearby rural community of Oakboro, North Carolina, was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2016. All Rights Reserved. Their children also were friends, Hendrick told The Charlotte Observer Wednesday. By JENNA FRYER Associated Press. 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. Speedway Motorsports also owns and operates a number of subsidiaries. Trained as a paratrooper, Smith was never deployed overseas. 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. 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. 1988 was a rough year for Bruton Smith. I'm competitive, and I want to be sure we're doing everything we can to provide a fantastic motorsports experience to our fans.". 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. 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. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. 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. 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. Knowing the Frances and Bruton, neither one of them wanted to let the other get ahead of them, said former driver Darrell Waltrip. Meanwhile, a group led by businessman Richard Howard of Denver, N.C., brought the speedway out of bankruptcy in 1967. What people dont realize about Bruton is that he had a rough edge but a big heart.. His Sonic Automotive Group ranks among the nations biggest auto dealerships. All registered. Bruton Smith children: Marcus G. Smith, Anna Lisa Smith, Scott Smith In doing do, Bruton helped grow NASCAR's popularity as the preeminent spectator sport.". Chris RankGetty Images. Bruton Smith and his son, Marcus," Caldwell . Speedway Motorsports founder Bruton Smith dies at 95 - KY3 Hailing from Minnesota, Ellis L. Williams joined the Observer in October 2021 to cover the Carolina Panthers. Bruton Smith, a key promoter and track operator and a pioneer in auto racing, died at 95, NASCAR reported and Speedway Motorsports Inc. announced Wednesday afternoon. Photos through the years: Bruton Smith, Charlotte Motor Speedway founder, Smith family plans to take Speedway Motorsports private in $734 million deal, Logan who? Smith instead became an entrepreneur promoting his first race at age 18 and became one of the giants in stock car racing. Given his experience, Smith became passionate about wanting to help . A Speedway Motorsports statement announcing his death said he died of natural causes.. "As I look back, that was a gift, even though I certainly didn't think so at the time. 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. Type above and press Enter to search. Marcus G. Smith is one of the 4 children of the late Bruton Smith. Sons Scott, Marcus, and David are survivors, as with his daughter Anna Lisa, their mother, Bonnie Smith, and seven grandkids. 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? Also in 2004, he became the executive vice president of national sales and marketing for SMI. Everything is hard work.". "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. But the greatest man I ever met was Bruton Smith," said Gossage, who retired last summer. 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. The nonprofit has distributed more than $58 million to charities over the years. He recalled sitting at the Texas Motor Speedway in 1997 and thinking, How could someone dream of something like this? He was 95. Attack On Titan Season 4, Part 3, Part 2 has a release date. A Speedway Motorsports statement announcing his death said he. SMI also owns the Performance Racing Network, which features radio broadcasts of NASCAR races and other motorsports-related content. Bruton Smith, the owner and primary visionary for Speedway Motorsports Inc., has spent the past few months battling non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Smith was no stranger to controversies off the track. Bruton Smith makes his Hall of Fame acceptance speech on January 23, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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. Where are F1 2023 absentees Vettel, Ricciardo and Schumacher? Funeral Planned For Bruton Smith: Legendary Businessman, Philanthropist 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 . [2] In 1999, Smith led talks between SMI and Lowe's Corporation, Inc. to sell the naming rights of Charlotte Motor Speedway. His Sonic Automotive Group ranks among the biggest auto dealerships in the U.S. Smith was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2016. I'm going to miss him. Bruton Smith: The Motorsports World Reacts to the Death - Sportscasting SPEEDWAY OWNER LIVES IN FAST LANE - Greensboro News and Record Bruton had all kinds of ideas, and money never seemed to be an object, said hall-of-fame driver Richard Petty in 2016. Im a frustrated builder who had a knack for promoting races, and its been fun to always try and push the sport to greater heights for the fans, Smith told the Associated Press in 2015. 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. 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. I'm going to miss him. Bruton Smith was the founder and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, who owned NASCAR tracks including the Charlotte Motor Speedway. After losing his young child, Smith became passionate about wanting to help children in need. They entered their dogs in fights and watched them die. "We had so much fun working together. Im going to miss him. Smith was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1951 during the Korean War. A lot of people dont have that gift because they didnt grow up working. In 1959, Smith and colleague Curtis Turner (who was also a top NASCAR driver) began construction of Charlotte Motor Speedway. 2023 Forbes Media LLC. Under the guidance of choir director Dennis Livingston, the Central Church Choirs soft hymns started the 1 p.m. service. Did you encounter any technical issues? 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. 4, including Marcus. I think NASCAR owes him a lot, Hendrick said. Parent (s) James Smith, Mollie Smith. 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. Smith worked long hours and days to have the 1.5-mile track in Concord ready for the tracks inaugural World 600 on June 19, 1960. The native of Oakboro . Bruton Smith, NASCAR Hall of Famer and track owner, dies at 95 ", "Everyone knows what he's done for motorsports, NHRA and NASCAR," drag racing great John Force said. 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. He was 95. I met him when he opened Bristol. Few knew this better than Bruton Smith," NASCAR chairman Jim France said. He always treated me like an equal as he taught me lessons about business and life. He was 95. pic.twitter.com/6Zuhiqnx69. Bruton Smith, founder of Speedway Motorsports and one of the most forward-thinking track operators and promoters in motorsports, has died. He is the son of SMI CEO Bruton Smith. He is survived by sons Marcus, Scott and David, daughter Anna Lisa, their mother Bonnie Smith as well as seven grandchildren. Hendrick spoke about his deep love for Smith, rooted in their farm boy upbringing and obsessive passion for cars and racing. He took a job in a hosiery mill two days after graduating from Oakboro High School and eventually bought a race car for $700, launching his motorsports career, Speedway Motorsports officials said. . 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 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. "You can't fight your mom and God, so I stopped driving.". He was billionaire on the Forbes 400 list. NASCAR Hall of Famer Bruton Smith dies at 95 - NBC Sports "I've met American Presidents and scholars. 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 . 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. 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. 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. NASCAR Chairman Jim France said in a statement released by NASCAR. "That's what I've tried to do my entire life. Bruton Smith with Dale Earnhardt Sr. (Bristol Motor Speedway) BRISTOL, Tenn. (WVLT) - Speedway Motorsports Executive Chairman Bruton Smith, who built Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway into a one-of-a-kind world-renowned sports and entertainment destination, passed away on June 22, 2022. 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. Outside the family farm, he was only 12 when he started his first job, working at a local saw mill, according to Speedway Motorsports. 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 built successful businesses. Bruton Smith, founder of Speedway Motorsports, dies at 95 - WJHL He and former track president H.A. World famous musicians and athletes. Bruton Smith (center), seen in 2016 with son Marcus Smith (left) and NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski, has died at the age of 95, according to one of the companies he founded. He had his hands in all of it, and even though hes gone, his fingerprints remain. Both Marcus and David are the son of Bruton Smith, CEO of Speedway Motorsports and a NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee. Smith was named as the oldest CEO to make the Fortune 500 list in 2012, heading several companies well into his 80s. "I had not thought anything about it, quite honestly," he said. 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. Chris Dolmetsch. Smith's brother, Marcus, is the general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway, which will be hosting NASCAR races this weekend. He was a personal friend, Force wrote on Twitter. Smith, a native of. I think it may be that they think Im tougher than I am. Bruton Smith son: Who is Marcus G. Smith? - vimbuzz.com By JENNA FRYER While photos of Smith with his family, friends and colleagues filled the church, hundreds poured in to pay their respects to the racing icon. [1] He started working at Charlotte Motor Speedway during summers as an intern picking up trash, selling tickets and souvenirs, and cutting the grass. He worked for decades before he got to a place where he had a few pennies to rub together, son Marcus Smith, now president of SMI, told the Observer in 2016. Brock Lesnar could be making his WWE exit in the near future. 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 was like a second father to me. His 17-year marriage to his wife, Bonnie Harris Smith, 43, effectively came to an end that year.