As part of its effort to recognize the success across its premier motorsports facilities, Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE: TRK) officials have named Vice President of Operations and Development Stephen Swift as the O. Bruton Smith Award recipient for 2016. In addition, Bristol Motor Speedway earned Track of the Year honors and Bristol General Manager Jerry Caldwell was recognized as Promoter of the Year for the second straight year.
"The dedicated crew members at our Speedway Motorsports facilities come to work with a mission to exceed expectations in every way," said Marcus Smith, the CEO of Speedway Motorsports. "We are blessed with innovative thinkers who have helped establish our state-of-the-art facilities as cutting-edge, globally acclaimed destinations. We are proud to celebrate Steve and Jerry's accomplishments and to recognize the entire crew at Bristol Motor Speedway for their achievements, which included entertaining a world-record crowd for the Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol only three weeks after a thrilling Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race."
Bruton Smith Award
Annually presented to one employee across all of Speedway Motorsports and its subsidiaries, this prestigious award recognizes someone who exhibits the traits that define Speedway Motorsports Executive Chairman and Founder O. Bruton Smith: character, enthusiasm, drive, a heart for helping others, respect and appreciation for team members, vision and determination.
A 2000 graduate of East Tennessee State University, Swift joined the Speedway Motorsports family as a construction manager in June 2004. He became the vice president of operations and development at Kentucky Speedway in July 2011 and acquired the same title under the Speedway Motorsports banner last year. His numerous contributions to the company include playing a pivotal role in Kentucky Speedway's repaving project, which drew positive reviews after July's Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts
"I am beyond humbled and appreciative," Swift said. "It is a great honor to be given such recognition. I definitely do not feel deserving but I am grateful to be honored and I am thankful for this prestigious award."
Track of the Year
Bristol Motor Speedway was chosen as Track of the Year from among the eight Speedway Motorsports facilities. The award is presented annually for best overall performance in aspects such as fan friendliness, attendance, financial performance, sponsor relations and creativity.
In 2016, Bristol Motor Speedway hosted a thrilling entertainment lineup which included two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, two NASCAR XFINITY Series races, one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event, an NHRA drag race weekend and the first-of-its-kind Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol college football game in the speedway's infield. The long-awaited showdown between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Virginia Tech Hokies included a record crowd of 156,900 people packed into "The Last Great Colosseum" for a showcase event that set a Guinness World Record for college football attendance.
Bristol's impressive year also featured the heralded debut of "Colossus," the world's largest four-sided video board which features four 30-foot-by-63-foot screens suspended from cables above the speedway.
"This is such an honor for all of us at Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway," Caldwell said. "There is no other group of dedicated and talented individuals that I would rather work with, and I know that the best is yet to come for this storied venue."
Promoter of the Year
The Promoter of the Year award is presented by Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith to the general manager who best displayed the creativity, innovation, leadership, planning and execution that are fundamental to the company's success.
For the second consecutive year, Jerry Caldwell was honored for outstanding achievement promoting both of Bristol Motor Speedway's 2016 NASCAR event weeks, plus the Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol, "Colossus'" introduction and the Honda Ridgeline Presents Bristol's Tailgate Party concert, which celebrated Kenny Chesney's homecoming to his native east Tennessee.
The Bristol branch of Speedway Children's Charities also played a prominent role in the year's success, raising more than one million dollars through events including The Pinnacle Speedway in Lights.
"While we look back fondly at 2016, we are ready to go for 2017 and beyond," Caldwell said. "With all we have accomplished, the possibilities are endless. The future is very bright at Bristol Motor Speedway."
Previous Speedway Motorsports award recipients:
2015
Bruton Smith Award - David Stetzer, Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Track of the Year - Texas Motor Speedway
Promoter of the Year - Jerry Caldwell, Bristol Motor Speedway
2014
Bruton Smith Award - Claudia Byrd, Bristol chapter of Speedway Children's Charities
Track of the Year - Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Promoter of the Year - Steve Page, Sonoma Raceway
2013
Bruton Smith Award - Bill Brooks, Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
Track of the Year - Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Promoter of the Year - Eddie Gossage, Texas Motor Speedway
2012
Track of the Year - Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Promoter of the Year - Eddie Gossage, Texas Motor Speedway
About Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
Speedway Motorsports, Inc. is a leading marketer, promoter and sponsor of motorsports entertainment in the United States. The Company, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates the following premier facilities: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Sonoma Raceway and Texas Motor Speedway. The Company provides souvenir merchandising services through its SMI Properties subsidiaries; manufactures and distributes smaller-scale, modified racing cars and parts through its U.S. Legend Cars International subsidiary; and produces and broadcasts syndicated motorsports programming to radio stations nationwide through its Performance Racing Network subsidiary. For more information, about the company, please visit the Speedway Motorsports website.