Bruton Smith was a character, and I mean that in the best sense of the word. He died Wednesday at age 95, but he leaves a remarkable legacy, full of tall tales that often turned out to be true.
Racing promoter, Charlotte Motor Speedway builder, billionaire auto dealer, NASCAR Hall of Famer, guy who sometimes liked to pick a fight just to see if you were paying attention: If Bruton Smith hadn’t 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.
