Smith Honors Father’s Myrtle Beach Racetrack Dream

NASCAR CEO Reflects on Unfulfilled Vision

Marcus Smith, president and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, is steering the company through a mix of track revivals and innovative events. However, he recently shared a deeply personal insight into his father, the legendary promoter Bruton Smith, and a racetrack dream that never materialized.

A Vision for Myrtle Beach

Speaking on the Happy Hour podcast with Kevin Harvick, Marcus Smith revealed his father’s long-held ambition to establish a racetrack in Myrtle Beach. Such a venue, he explained, would leverage the appeal of a popular tourist destination.

“It wasn’t my idea, but it was my dad’s idea was, he had a couple of things that he was working on to possibly put a racetrack at in Myrtle Beach. And, you know, race tracks in destination markets, it’s really helpful. You know, think about Las Vegas, Sonoma. You’ve got these destinations that people want to go to anyway. So having a racetrack in a place like, you know, Myrtle Beach, that’s big.”

—Marcus Smith, CEO of Speedway Motorsports

Discussions reportedly progressed to the point of potentially acquiring land for a Myrtle Beach Speedway. Despite the progress, the project ultimately remained an unrealized concept.

Myrtle Beach Speedway’s Legacy

The Rambi Raceway, later known as Myrtle Beach Speedway, opened in 1948. It hosted NASCAR’s convertible division and Cup Series races from 1958 to 1965. By 1968, the track was paved, aiming to capitalize on Myrtle Beach’s growing tourism industry. The Busch Series (now Xfinity Series) raced there from 1988 to 2000.

In 2012, a new group took ownership, launching the Icebreaker series and upgrading facilities. However, the track’s chapter closed in May 2020 when developers purchased the site. The final race occurred in August 2022, with demolition following in December 2021. By summer 2023, only remnants of the oval remained.

Many prominent figures in NASCAR history found victory lane at Myrtle Beach Speedway. Dale Earnhardt Jr. secured three late model wins there starting in 1994. Other notable winners in the Xfinity Series included Jimmy Spencer, Mark Martin, Jeff Burton, Larry Pearson, David Green, Elliott Sadler, and Randy LaJoie. Jeff Green claimed the final two races in 1999 and 2000.

Smith’s Passion for Revival

Marcus Smith has embraced a role as a track revivalist, demonstrated by his work on projects like the North Wilkesboro Speedway. He described the 2023 All-Star race at North Wilkesboro as one of the most rewarding moments of his career.

“The other one probably is that first All-Star race at Wilkesboro. To see the incredible, positive impact that we had on a community. Be able to able to bring North Wilkesboro Speedway back.”

—Marcus Smith, CEO of Speedway Motorsports

Smith highlighted the profound effect these revivals have on communities and the personal fulfillment derived from fan stories. He noted that the 2023 All-Star race, won by Kyle Larson, generated numerous cherished memories for attendees reconnecting with the venue from their past.

This year, North Wilkesboro once again hosted the All-Star race, with Christopher Bell taking the victory. As Marcus Smith continues to breathe new life into historic racing venues, the possibility of a future for a revived Myrtle Beach Speedway lingers in the minds of many fans. The sport’s ability to draw crowds to revitalized locations is evident, with NASCAR events often seeing strong attendance; for example, the 2023 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway drew an estimated 100,000 spectators (Fox News, 2023).