SMI Exec Chair BRUTON SMITH "leads the newest class of inductees" to the NASCAR HOF, as he received 68% of the vote from the 57 votes that were cast, according to Jim Utter of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. Joining Smith in the Class of '16 are TERRY LABONTE, CURTIS TURNER, JERRY COOK and BOBBY ISAAC. In announcing Smith’s selection to the HOF, NASCAR Chair & CEO BRIAN FRANCE, who is also on the voting panel, said Smith “gave our fans an experience that has transformed the sport.” Meanwhile, Darlington Raceway Founder HAROLD BRASINGTON "was named the second winner of the Landmark Award for outstanding contributions to NASCAR" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 5/21). USA TODAY's Mike Hembree notes the class "will be inducted in Charlotte on Jan. 22, increasing the membership to 35." Smith and Turner "teamed to build Charlotte Motor Speedway" in '60 (USA TODAY, 5/21). ESPN.com's Bob Pockrass wrote it is "appropriate" that Smith is being inducted because it is "quite likely that without Smith, there would be no NASCAR Hall of Fame." Smith "poured money" into his tracks, but "maybe his biggest contribution to the sport is that he was the biggest name -- and one of the biggest wallets -- of those not named France in the industry." As SMI and the France family's ISC "battled to buy and build tracks, he was the perfect person to challenge the way they did business" (ESPN.com, 5/20).
PUTTING ASIDE DIFFERENCES: In Charlotte, Scott Fowler notes while talking to fellow voters before the vote, France "spoke positively about Smith and said he deserved to be in the hall," despite the fact that Smith-France family feud used to be "legendary in NASCAR circles." Within a few hours, Smith "had become the leading vote-getter" for '16, and that was "after Smith hadn’t been among the top eight vote-getters" in '15. NASCAR HOFer and voter NED JARRETT: "Some people might have been surprised. Brian France showing his support was important. ... But I think NASCAR realizes that whatever rivalry there was between Bruton and the France family, it was good for the sport." Former CMS President HUMPY WHEELER: "It was really important. Brian obviously carries a lot of weight when he comes out for somebody" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 5/21). In Ft. Worth, Drew Davison notes Smith "had plenty of support, including a public plea by respected team owner RICK HENDRICK" during his induction into the Texas Motorsports HOF last month. At the time, Hendrick said, "I love Bruton Smith. I want to say Bruton Smith should be in the NASCAR Hall of Fame" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 5/21).
THE SON ALSO RISES: USA TODAY's Jeff Gluck profiles 42-year-old SMI CEO MARCUS SMITH, one of Bruton Smith's four children, as the exec who "has become the face of SMI" since taking over as CEO in Feburary, while Bruton "has stayed out of the spotlight." Being appointed CEO "has been a driving force for Smith to avoid the stereotype of the boss's kid, which he described as the 'stuck-up, rich-kid jerk.'" He has "done it despite following in the footsteps of two major personalities: his often-brash, sometimes-controversial father" and Wheeler. Fox Sports' DARRELL WALTRIP: "He's really grown into the role of track promoter. I think he knows what it takes to put on a good show and put on a good race. He really has matured in that job" (USA TODAY, 5/21).
