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Bruton Smith To Be Inducted Into Tennessee Sports Hall Of Fame
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Speedway Motorsports Executive Chairman Bruton Smith, who built Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway into a one-of-a-kind world-renowned sports and entertainment destination, will be inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.
Smith’s company purchased the Northeast Tennessee half-mile oval and quarter-mile dragstrip in 1996.
“To be inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame is a true honor,” said Smith, who was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2016. “My goal was to help grow Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway into a state-of-the-art facility and I’m proud that it has become an iconic Volunteer State venue that hosts world-class events for fans all over the globe. Our mantra of ‘we work for the fans’ continues to this day and it’s amazing to see what the state of Tennessee means to the sport of auto racing.”
Under his ownership, Smith has created NASCAR’s only 360-degree seat facility, increased suites from 20 to nearly 200, and grown the facility workforce to 70 full-time employees and around 5,000 part-time workers on NASCAR weekends. Enhancements also include the 2016 debut of Colossus TV, the world’s largest outdoor, center-hung, four-sided video display.
In addition, the legendary “Thunder Valley” drag strip has hosted some of the biggest events in drag racing history and continues to host major events throughout the year.
And in 2016, the Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol became the biggest game in college football history with 156,990 guests in attendance and featuring the Tennessee Volunteers and the Virginia Tech Hokies.
Smith joins 10 other individuals on a 2020 induction list that also includes names such as NCAA National Championship Vanderbilt baseball coach Tim Corbin, longtime Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher, Tennessee football great and former U.S. Congressman Heath Shuler and former East Tennessee State and Auburn basketball coach Sonny Smith.
For more information, visit bristolmotorspeedway.com.
Smith’s company purchased the Northeast Tennessee half-mile oval and quarter-mile dragstrip in 1996.
“To be inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame is a true honor,” said Smith, who was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2016. “My goal was to help grow Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway into a state-of-the-art facility and I’m proud that it has become an iconic Volunteer State venue that hosts world-class events for fans all over the globe. Our mantra of ‘we work for the fans’ continues to this day and it’s amazing to see what the state of Tennessee means to the sport of auto racing.”
Under his ownership, Smith has created NASCAR’s only 360-degree seat facility, increased suites from 20 to nearly 200, and grown the facility workforce to 70 full-time employees and around 5,000 part-time workers on NASCAR weekends. Enhancements also include the 2016 debut of Colossus TV, the world’s largest outdoor, center-hung, four-sided video display.
In addition, the legendary “Thunder Valley” drag strip has hosted some of the biggest events in drag racing history and continues to host major events throughout the year.
And in 2016, the Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol became the biggest game in college football history with 156,990 guests in attendance and featuring the Tennessee Volunteers and the Virginia Tech Hokies.
Smith joins 10 other individuals on a 2020 induction list that also includes names such as NCAA National Championship Vanderbilt baseball coach Tim Corbin, longtime Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher, Tennessee football great and former U.S. Congressman Heath Shuler and former East Tennessee State and Auburn basketball coach Sonny Smith.
For more information, visit bristolmotorspeedway.com.
