When Charlotte Motor Speedway opened in June 1960, the track built by
Bruton Smith and Curtis Turner became a cornerstone in the decade that
launched NASCAR's superspeedway era. Stock car racing's first paved
1.5-mile track immediately grabbed the motorsports world's attention
with the young sport's longest event--a 600-mile race. And the track
never left the spotlight, despite struggling through several years of
bankruptcy. After regaining control of his beloved track in 1975, Smith,
along with former speedway general manager H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler and
current president Marcus Smith, transformed the facility into a
groundbreaking showplace with trackside condominiums, a
16,000-square-foot high-definition television screen, the luxurious
Speedway Club, VIP suites, stadium seating, and the first superspeedway
in NASCAR's modern era to host night racing. The historic speedway has
always been a favorite with Hollywood filmmakers and in recent years has
expanded into a multiuse motorsports facility.