Businessman, NASCAR Hall of Famer Bruton Smith passes away at age 95
Ollen Bruton Smith, the founder and executive chairman of Sonic Automotive, Speedway Motorsports and Speedway Children’s Charities died today of natural causes.
Rod Mullins covers NASCAR for AFP, and co-hosts the mid-week “Street Knowledge” focusing on NASCAR with AFP editor Chris Graham. A graduate of UVA-Wise, Rod began his career in journalism as a reporter for The Cumberland Times, later became the program director/news director/on-air morning show host for WNVA in Norton, Va., and in the early 1990s served as the sports information director at UVA-Wise and was the radio “Voice of the Highland Cavaliers” for football and basketball for seven seasons. In 1995, Rod transitioned to public education, where he has worked as a high school English, literature, and creative writing teacher and now serves as a school program coordinator in addition to serving as a mentor for the robotics team.
Ollen Bruton Smith, the founder and executive chairman of Sonic Automotive, Speedway Motorsports and Speedway Children’s Charities died today of natural causes.
Ron Capps’ chance at winning at Thunder Valley almost went up into smoke and flames before his team rebounded and the California native continued his Funny Car dominance at Bristol Dragway.
Looking for his first win of the season, four-time defending Top Fuel world champ Steve Torrence started his weekend at Bristol Dragway on the right note, taking the provisional No. 1 qualifier on Friday at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.
NHRA drivers Greg Anderson and Tony Schumacher both agree, it’s been a strange start to the season but both firmly believe their key to a rebirth or resurgence can happen at Bristol’s Thunder Valley.
Kyle Busch won the Food City Dirt Race from a distant third place after the Ford of second-place Chase Briscoe slid up the high-banked dirt track into the Chevrolet of leader Tyler Reddick in the final corner, turning both cars sideways.
Prior to the start of the Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway, Ben Rhodes said he would rather race on dirt than the concrete.
In the midst of revitalizing historic North Wilkesboro Speedway, Speedway Motorsports will bring grassroots racing back to the famed .625-mile short track in August and October of 2022.
At first glance, the compacted dirt looks like the surface of Mars. Reddish orange East Tennessee dirt and clay, packed to where it looks like shiny, polished glass.
Kyle Larson picked up his first victory at The Last Great Colosseum on Saturday night passing Kevin Harvick on lap 397 to win the Bass Pro Shops Night Race.
Thirteen leaders, 23 lead changes, a dominant performance by Kyle Larson from start to finish and a monumental accomplishment by Hendrick Motorsports in reaching the all time total wins in NASCAR. Yes, this Coca-Cola 600 was one to remember.
Augusta Free Press launched in 2002. The site serves as a portal into life in the Shenandoah Valley and Central Virginia – in a region encompassing Augusta County, Albemarle County, Nelson County and Rockingham County and the cities of Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Staunton and Waynesboro, at the entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway, Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park and the Appalachian Trail.
Augusta Free Press LLC | Privacy