CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Dec. 19, 2025) – Speedway Motorsports officials formally recognized a year marked by exceptional leadership, innovation, and performance across its portfolio of premier venues by announcing the 2025 recipients of the company’s annual awards during a company-wide town hall meeting conducted this week.

Leading the commendations was Bristol Motor Speedway President and General Manager Jerry Caldwell, who was designated the 2025 H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler Promoter of the Year, a distinction that underscores another consequential year for Bristol Motor Speedway and its capacity as an industry-wide innovator. The organization also recognized Jim Hosfelt of Dover Motor Speedway with the O. Bruton Smith Award, Las Vegas Motor Speedway as Speedway of the Year, and Sonoma Raceway with the Acceleration Award.

“At Speedway Motorsports, our objective is to surpass expectations in the realm of sports and entertainment by delivering indelible moments at every juncture,” stated Marcus Smith, president and CEO of Speedway Motorsports. “That mission is brought to fruition by exemplary leaders and the dedicated teams throughout our company who persistently challenge the boundaries of possibility. It is a privilege to acknowledge the individuals and facilities that were pivotal to our success this year.”

H.A. Humpy Wheeler Promoter of the Year

Acknowledged for his team’s ingenuity, execution, and leadership, Bristol Motor Speedway President and General Manager Jerry Caldwell was named the 2025 H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler Promoter of the Year.

Caldwell and the Bristol team were honored for their efforts surrounding the Speedway Classic partnership with Major League Baseball, in addition to their sustained success across NASCAR and secondary events. As a groundbreaking event in baseball, the Speedway Classic generated the highest single-event ticket sales in Major League Baseball history, with a recorded sale of over 91,000 tickets.

This annual award, established in tribute to the venerable promoter H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler, is selected by a committee and conferred upon the Speedway Motorsports general manager who best exemplifies creativity, innovation, leadership, and execution.

“Humpy was renowned as the P.T. Barnum of motorsports,” Mr. Smith remarked. “He inspired individuals to cultivate unconventional thinking. Naming Jerry as this year’s promoter is appropriate, given his leadership of the Bristol team to phenomenal success. Bristol has cultivated a reputation where the feasibility of a bold undertaking is not questioned—it is recognized as achievable.”

O. Bruton Smith Award

Dover Motor Speedway Vice President of Safety and Security Jim Hosfelt was presented with the 2025 O. Bruton Smith Award, the preeminent distinction conferred annually by Speedway Motorsports.

Established thirteen years prior, the award recognizes one employee from across Speedway Motorsports and its affiliated subsidiaries who embodies the defining characteristics of the company’s founder: character, enthusiasm, drive, vision, determination, and a philanthropic spirit toward aiding others.

Mr. Hosfelt joined Dover Motor Speedway in 2014 and supervises the daily operations of security and public safety. Subsequent to Speedway Motorsports’ acquisition of Dover in 2021, he also assumed the capacity of Director of Safety and Security for Speedway Motorsports, fulfilling the role of liaison with NASCAR and federal agencies throughout the company’s portfolio.

A native of Cumberland, Md., Mr. Hosfelt dedicated twenty-five years to the Dover Police Department, retiring as Chief of Police. He is an Air Force veteran, a graduate of the FBI National Academy, and has served on the Dover City Council and the Kent County Levy Court. Furthermore, he coordinates food distribution initiatives in conjunction with the Food Bank of Delaware.

“The contributions rendered by Jim are inestimable,” commented Speedway Motorsports Chief Operating Officer Mike Burch. “Public safety constitutes one of our most paramount responsibilities, and Jim performs a critical function in ensuring the security of fans at our facilities nationwide.”

“When we acquired Dover Motorsports, we were unaware of how perfectly aligned the teams would prove to be,” Mr. Smith added. “Jim’s professional demeanor and the impact he has had across our organization have been extraordinary.”

Speedway of the Year

Las Vegas Motor Speedway earned Speedway of the Year honors, marking its eleventh recognition in the past fourteen years. The award acknowledges the Speedway Motorsports facility demonstrating the most robust overall performance in domains including fan experience, attendance figures, financial outcomes, sponsor relationships, and creativity.

The award was presented to LVMS President Patrick Lindsay, who assumed leadership of the facility following the retirement of long-serving president Chris Powell earlier this year.

“It is challenging to build upon an already exceptional operation,” Mr. Smith observed. “Patrick has managed the transition of leadership remarkably well, and the entire Las Vegas team has performed admirably across every facet of the business.”

Acceleration Award

For the second consecutive year, Sonoma Raceway was granted the Acceleration Award, which is conferred upon a Speedway Motorsports subsidiary for substantial year-over-year improvement across multiple performance indicators.

Accepted by Sonoma Raceway Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Flynn, the award acknowledges robust growth in track rental activity at the premium Turn 11 facility and the implementation of strategic cost-efficiency measures that refined operations while sustaining an elevated standard of fan experience.

“Several speedways demonstrated noteworthy progress, yet Sonoma truly distinguished itself,” Mr. Burch stated. “They continue to augment the fan experience, curtail expenditures, and discover novel methods to serve clients.”

--

Media Inquiries:

Scott Cooper, [[email protected]]

About Speedway Motorsports:

Speedway Motorsports is a preeminent marketer, promoter, and sponsor of motorsports entertainment within the United States. The Company, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates the following premier facilities: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Dover Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, North Wilkesboro Speedway, Sonoma Raceway, Texas Motor Speedway, and Kentucky Speedway. Speedway Motorsports offers souvenir merchandising services via its SMI Properties subsidiaries; manufactures and distributes smaller-scale, modified racing vehicles and components through its U.S. Legend Cars International subsidiary; and produces and broadcasts syndicated motorsports programming to radio stations across the nation through its Performance Racing Network subsidiary.