The Charlotte Observer from Charlotte, North Carolina • G1

THURSDAY JUNE 30 2022 THE CHARLOTTE 1G BRUTON SMITH, 1927-2022 Bruton Smith was a character, and I mean that in the best sense of the word. He died June 22 at age 95, but he leaves a remarka- ble legacy, full of tall tales that often turned out to be true. Racing promoter, Charlotte Motor Speedway builder, bil- lionaire auto dealer, NASCAR Hall of Famer, guy who some- times liked to pick a fight just to see if you were paying attention: If Bruton Smith existed, some screenwriter would have made him up. He was good for Charlotte, no doubt about that. I asked him once during one of our several long interviews over the years what he was proudest of in his life.

got to say and I hope it sound corny that I have four very successful and remarkable Smith said. love my kids to death. They all work in my businesses and will keep them going long after gone. No. 1 without question.

The second thing is very proud that made a lot of people million- aires. Hundreds of Everyone called him sometimes admiringly and sometimes in a you see what Bruton has done sort of way. He was contro- versial. Energetic. Charismatic.

Well into his 80s, he liked to tell everyone he was 39 years old. His funeral is Thursday at 1 p.m. at Central Church on 5301 Sar- dis Road in Charlotte and is open to the public. Smith grew up poor in Oak- boro, N.C., about 30 miles from Charlotte, working on the family farm. He was the youngest of COMMENTARY A one-of-a-kind life, knocking down doors the whole way BY SCOTT FOWLER DAVID T.

FOSTER III Staff file Charlotte Motor Speedway owner Bruton Smith laughs as he answers a question in 2007. Smith died on June 22 at age 95. SEE FOWLER, 4G Bruton Smith, the visionary and combative executive who helped shape NASCAR into the sport it is today, died on June 22. He was 95. A Speedway Motorsports statement announcing his death said he died of Smith was the billionaire founder and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, a group of race tracks that includes Char- lotte Motor Speedway.

His Son- ic Automotive Group ranks among the biggest auto dealer- ships in the U.S. Smith was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2016. The previous year, he overcame a case of lym- phoma, receiving a clean bill of health after surgery during the summer of 2015. Smith began his career in motorsports as a short-track race promoter in Cabarrus County. But, always thinking big, he would later be known as one of great in- novators.

had all kinds of ideas, and money never seemed to be an said hall-of- fame driver Richard Petty in 2016. get his people to- gether, and if they came up with an idea, he went and did Along with former SMI presi- dent H.A. 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. ideas often flew in the face of more traditional standards. would throw the axe through the Wheeler told the Observer.

maybe build a new window. what we all fans are, and always will be, the lifeblood of NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France said on Twitter. knew this truth better than Bruton Smith. Bru- ton built his race tracks employ- ing a simple philosophy: give race fans memories they will cherish for a BRUTON SMITH AND HIS 8 TRACKS SMI owns eight NAS- CAR tracks: Charlotte, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Bristol, New Hamp- shire, Texas, Kentucky and Sonoma They host 13 of 38 Cup events each year. Smith also founded Speedway Charities in 1982 in memory of his late son Bruton Cameron Smith.

The nonprofit has distributed more than $58 million to charities over the years. BRUTON EARLY YEARS Born on March 2, 1927, Smith grew up in the Stanly County town of Oakboro, roughly 30 JEFF SINER Observer file NASCAR Hall of Famer Bruton Smith, the founder and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, died on June 22 at age 95. Charlotte Motor Speedway founder dies at 95 TOM FRANKLIN File From left, Stevie Waltrip, Darrell Waltrip and speedway owner Bruton Smith celebrate in victory lane after Darrell Waltrip won the 1979 World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1979. SEE SMITH, 2G NASCAR mogul built a legacy with tracks and promotions BY DAVID SCOTT Funeral arrangements were announced Saturday night for Bruton Smith, the legendary race promoter and founder of Charlotte Motor Speedway. Smith died on June 22 at age 95.

He was the billionaire founder and CEO of Speedway Motor- sports a group of race tracks that includes Charlotte Motor Speedway. His Sonic Automotive Group ranks among the biggest auto dealerships in the U.S. funeral is scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday, June 30, at the Central Church Charlotte campus, 5301 Sardis Road, ac- cording to a Speedway Motor- sports announcement. The funeral is open to the public.

Guests are asked to be seated by 12:30 p.m. The service also will be live- streamed on Charlotte Motor YouTube channel. Smith was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2016. The previous year, he over- came a case of lymphoma, receiving a clean bill of health after surgery during the summer of 2015. Joe Marusak: 704-358-5067, Public invited to funeral on Thursday BY JOE MARUSAK.