CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — O. Bruton Smith, who emerged from rural North Carolina and parlayed his love of motorsports into becoming a NASCAR Hall of Famer and one of its most eccentric and successful promoters, died Wednesday. He was 95.

What You Need To Know

  • Bruton Smith founded Speedway Motorsports, a company that owns 11 facilities across the U.S., including Charlotte Motor Speedway

  • Smith, the youngest of nine children, was born March 2, 1927, on a farm in Oakboro, N.C.

  • Smith also founded auto retailer Sonic Automotive, which has dealerships in 23 states

His death was announced by Speedway Motorsports LLC, the company formed when he consolidated his entities in 1994. Smith made it the first public motorsports company to trade on the New York Stock Exchange three months later. Speedway Motorsports said Smith died of natural causes.

Smith and NASCAR driver Curtis Turner built Charlotte Motor Speedway, which opened in June 1960 with a 600-mile race.

Smith's son, Marcus, the current president and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, on Tuesday posted a tribute to his father on social media. “I had a wonderful Father's Day weekend. I am so thankful to be a dad, and to have an amazing dad.”

Born March 2, 1927, on a farm in Oakboro, Ollen Bruton Smith was the youngest of nine children. He watched his first race as an 8-year-old and bought his first race car at 17 for $700.

“The whole idea at that time was that I was going to be a race car driver. I learned to drive, but that career didn't last long,” Smith said about his early start.

After his mother discouraged him from racing, Smith instead became an entrepreneur and promoted his first race at age 18. He was also a stateside paratrooper during the Korean War in his early 20s.

But his love was promoting and he founded Speedway Motorsports, a company that currently owns 11 facilities across the United States. The tracks host NASCAR, IndyCar and other series in Atlanta; Bristol, Tennessee; Charlotte; Las Vegas; New Hampshire; Sonoma, California; Texas; Dover, Delaware; Nashville; North Wilkesboro, N.C., and Kentucky.

Smith also founded Sonic Automotive, which in 2000 was officially recognized as a Fortune 500 company based in Charlotte, according to a news release from Speedway Motorsports. The auto retailer has more than 160 dealerships in 23 states.

NASCAR races this weekend at Nashville Superspeedway, a track that was purchased by Speedway Motorsports late last year.