Marcus Smith | |
|---|---|
&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:Marcus_G._Smith_(cropped).jpg) Smith at the Arlington National Cemetery in 2023 | |
| Born | Marcus Graham Smith April 11, 1973 |
| Education | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (dropped out) |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Organization | Speedway Motorsports |
| Spouse |
Cassandra Anne Mitchell
(m. 1996) |
| Children | 2 |
Marcus Graham Smith (born April 11, 1973) is an American businessman. He is best known as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Speedway Motorsports, LLC (SMI), an organization that owns or operates 11 racetracks across the United States. Smith, being the heir of his father, Bruton Smith, had previously worked for SMI at various positions within the organization before being officially promoted to becoming CEO in 2015.
Smith was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. Initially wanting to train to become a doctor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he later dropped out and joined his father's company, working at the Charlotte Motor Speedway's marketing team as a sales associate. He later was promoted to the manager of new business development of the speedway in 1999. In 2004, he was reassigned to the track's parent company, SMI, to become their head of sales and marketing. Four years later, Smith was promoted to become the president of SMI and was also put in charge to run the Charlotte Motor Speedway, replacing longtime promoter Humpy Wheeler in a controversial transition. In 2015, Smith was promoted to become the SMI's CEO, essentially taking over control of the company from his father.
Under his leadership at SMI, Smith oversaw numerous changes within the company. In 2019, he took SMI off of the New York Stock Exchange, turning the company into a private company. Throughout 2021 and 2022, with monetary assistance from COVID-19 relief grants from North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, he made efforts to revitalize the North Wilkesboro Speedway, which had been left desolate since the late 1990s when his father bought partial control of the track along with Bob Bahre. He has also directed numerous changes in an attempt to reverse declining attendance at some racetracks, including holding the NASCAR Cup Series' first ever dirt race since 1970 at the Bristol Motor Speedway, ordering the reconfiguration of the Atlanta Motor Speedway to produce pack racing, and by holding a "roval" race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.
In contrast to his father, Speed Sport writer Keith Waltz considers Marcus to be "not as boisterous or flamboyant". Marcus has drawn praise for a focus on fan experience and interaction and for revitalizing the North Wilkesboro Speedway, one of NASCAR's founding tracks. However, his tenure has seen continued decline at SMI racetracks despite numerous changes formulated to increase attendance, along with criticism from drivers and media outlets for repaves of certain tracks.