Bristol Motor Speedway President and General Manager Jerry Caldwell was inducted into the Tri-Cities Business Hall of Fame on Thursday, Nov. 13 during a ceremony held at the Meadowview Conference Resort in Kingsport.
Caldwell was joined by Dr. Brian Noland, the president of East Tennessee State University, as Laureate Inductees for the 2025 class. The pair were inducted by the master of ceremonies Andy Dietrich of Champion Cadillac GMC, himself a member of the hall’s 2024 class. The event is presented annually by Junior Achievement of East Tennessee. A distinguished list of the region’s top businesses also served as sponsors, headlined by Ballad Health.
Under Caldwell’s guidance, Bristol Motor Speedway has become a multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue known around the world. Host of two major NASCAR Cup Series weekends each year, the facility has also has made headlines for its award-winning transformations into a dirt racing facility, country music arena, NCAA college football stadium and Major League Baseball stadium. The rich history and appeal of Bristol Motor Speedway lures guests from all 50 states and more than 25 countries annually.
Noland, the ninth president in ETSU history, has led the university to its largest freshman enrollment, highest graduation and retention rates and highest employee satisfaction rates in school history, while also securing record-breaking levels of research funding for the state-funded Johnson City, Tenn. public university. Noland has overseen several important capital projects, including the addition of the state-of-the art Martin Center for the Arts. He also helped relaunch the university’s football and marching band programs during his tenure.
The Tri-Cities Business Hall of Fame was founded in 1994 to honor outstanding business leaders and entrepreneurs who, through their work, have made a significant contribution to the quality of life in North East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. More than 70 remarkable laureates from diverse backgrounds have been inducted into the Tri-Cities Business Hall of Fame since its inception.
The event directly benefits Junior Achievement’s financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship K-12 programs which are designed to inspire and empower young people.
This past school year, more than 37,000 students from 30 counties in East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia experienced real-world learning through Junior Achievement’s curriculum, delivered in partnership with educators and community leaders in 200-plus schools.
