CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Speedway Motorsports officials, in recognition of exemplary performance and exceptional service on behalf of and its world-class facilities, recognized the 2025 recipients for the company’s O. Bruton Smith Award, Promoter of the Year, Speedway of the Year and the Acceleration Award.

Announcements were made during a company-wide town hall meeting this week as the industry-leading company wraps up a successful year hosting entertainment and motorsports events across the country.

Dover Motor Speedway’s Jim Hosfelt earned the 2025 O. Bruton Smith Award, while Bristol Motor Speedway President and General Manager Jerry Caldwell received Promoter of the Year honors. Las Vegas Motor Speedway was named Speedway of the Year award and Sonoma Raceway earned the fourth annual Acceleration Award.

“At Speedway Motorsports, our goal is to exceed expectations in sports and entertainment by delivering unforgettable moments at every touchpoint,” said Marcus Smith, president and CEO of Speedway Motorsports. “That mission is only possible because of the passion, dedication and effort our teams across the country bring to their work each day. It’s a privilege to celebrate the leaders and teammates across our footprint whose commitment fuels our momentum and helps transform every event into a truly remarkable experience for our fans.”

Dover Motor Speedway Vice President of Safety and Security, Jim Hosfelt, received the 2025 O. Bruton Smith Award.

Established 13 years ago to recognize one employee annually across all of Speedway Motorsports and its subsidiaries, the recipient of this prestigious award is someone who exhibits Speedway Motorsports’ founder O. Bruton Smith’s traits: character, enthusiasm, drive, a heart for helping others, respect and appreciation for team members, vision and determination. It is the company’s highest honor.

Hosfelt joined Dover Motor Speedway in 2014 to oversee the day-to-day security and event-time public safety at the facility. Shortly after Speedway Motorsports acquired Dover in 2021, Hosfelt added the title of Director of Safety and Security for Speedway Motorsports, working as a liaison for NASCAR and federal agencies at events across the company’s portfolio of properties.

Prior to his speedway tenure, the Cumberland, Md. native spent 25 years in law enforcement with the Dover Police Department, where he retired as Chief of Police.

Away from the track, Hosfelt serves as a coordinator for food distribution events conducted by the speedway with the Food Bank of Delaware. An Air Force veteran and graduate of the FBI National Academy, he was elected to seats on Dover City Council (2015-2017) and Kent County Levy Court (2017-2019).

“The contributions Jim makes, the relationships he has across the sport, thankfully it’s a low profile thing, but (public safety) is one of the most important things we do,” said Speedway Motorsports Chief Operating Officer Mike Burch. “We talk about ‘safe, clean and comfortable.’ He’s invaluable to making sure our fans from across the nation are safe when they come to our race tracks.”

“When we finished the transaction to acquire Dover Motorsports, we had no idea what an amazing fit our teams would be,” Smith added. “Jim, specifically, is just remarkable – how he is able to be everywhere and always deliver so professionally. It’s really impressive and he’s made a tremendous impact on our company.”

Recognized for his team’s effort around the Speedway Classic partnership with Major League Baseball and continued success in NASCAR and other secondary events, Bristol Motor Speedway President and General Manager Jerry Caldwell was named H.A. Humpy Wheeler Promoter of the Year for 2025. The annual award, named in honor of the legendary promoter who passed away in August, is chosen by the selection committee and given to the Speedway Motorsports general manager who best displayed the creativity, innovation, leadership and execution that are fundamental to Speedway Motorsports’ way of doing business.

A first-of-its-kind event in baseball, the Speedway Classic saw the highest ticket sales for a single event in the history of Major League Baseball with over 91,000 tickets sold.

“Humpy was known as the PT Barnum of motorsports,” Smith said. “He inspired a lot of people to think outside the box. To name Jerry as this year’s promoter is very fitting as he’s done a great job in leading the team to phenomenal success this year. Bristol has a reputation where people aren’t going to question if something like building a baseball stadium inside a race track can happen – they know it can.”

Las Vegas Motor Speedway received Speedway of the Year recognition, edging out 10 state-of-the-art Speedway Motorsports entertainment complexes to earn top honors 11 of the last 14 years. The award was presented to LVMS President Patrick Lindsay, who replaced the facility’s longtime head Chris Powell upon his retirement earlier this year. The award recognizes the Speedway Motorsports facility with the best overall performance during 2025 in such aspects as fan friendliness, attendance, financial performance, sponsor relations and creativity.

“It’s not easy to grow on an already fantastic performance,” Smith said. “Patrick has carried the torch well and it’s great to have his leadership. It’s a huge effort because everything that happens — from corporate sales to operations and logistics — this team has done a great job and delivered every time.”

For the second year in a row, Sonoma Raceway was honored with the Acceleration Award, which recognizes a Speedway Motorsports subsidiary for significant year-over-year gains across multiple performance measures. The award was accepted by Sonoma Raceway Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Flynn.

Sonoma Raceway delivered a strong performance in 2025, driven by growing track rental activity in the raceway’s premium Turn 11 facility, along with strategic cost-efficiency initiatives that enhanced operations across the property while maintaining a high-quality fan experience.

“We had multiple speedways that made significant improvements, but we had one that really outdid themselves year-over-year,” Burch said. “They continue to bolster the fan experience, drive down expenses and find new ways to use the speedway to serve their clients.”

FOX Sports and IndyCar have confirmed the race broadcast start times of the 2026 season for Indy NXT.

For the second consecutive year, the developmental category for the IndyCar Series will have all 17 rounds shown on live television, with 15 scheduled for FS1 and two on FS2. All practice and qualifying sessions will be shown on a combination of FS1, FS2, the FOX Sports App and FOX One.

“Our immersive partnership with FOX Sports has fueled impressive gains across our ecosystem, most especially within Indy NXT by Firestone,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said.

“In 2026, we expect that significant growth to continue with additional races providing even more intense on-track action for our development series. The competition will be fierce for the drivers vying to advance to the NTT IndyCar Series, and FOX Sports’ coverage will provide another remarkable showcase.”

The road to the 2026 championship begins at 10 a.m. (all times Eastern) Sunday, March 1 on FS1 on the Streets of St. Petersburg.

One of the most anticipated rounds takes place two weeks later with the inaugural Streets of Arlington, with the race on the 14-turn, 2.73-mile temporary circuit beginning at 11 a.m. Sunday, March 15 on FS1.

The summer stretch of races at Road America, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Nashville Superspeedway will coincide with FOX Sports’ expansive coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The doubleheader in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, will take place at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 20 at and at noon Sunday, June 21, with both races airing on FS1. Coverage at Mid-Ohio’s doubleheader begins at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 4 and at 10 a.m. Sunday, July 5, with both races scheduled to air on FS1.

The television tune-in time for the Indy NXT race at Nashville will be announced in the coming weeks.

The championship concludes with the final doubleheader of the year at Laguna Seca with a race at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5 on FS2, followed by the season finale and the crowning of the Indy NXT champion at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6 on FS1. It is the 15th time in series history that the legendary and historic track on California’s central coast will play host to the title celebration.

FOX SPORTS 2026 INDY NXT SCHEDULE

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Greg Biffle, a former NASCAR star who was named to the sport’s 75 Greatest Drivers list in 2023, was killed Thursday morning in a plane crash at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina. A joint statement from the families confirmed that Biffle died alongside his wife, Cristina, their son Ryder, and his daughter (from a previous marriage) Emma, as well as Dennis Dutton, his son Jack Dutton, and Craig Wadsworth.

The tragedy sent shockwaves through the NASCAR community and beyond throughout Thursday as concern lingered due to the lack of confirmation of the identities of those fatally injured.

The aircraft, a Cessna 550 Citation owned by Biffle’s company, GB Aviation, took off from Statesville on an overcast and misty morning before reporting engine trouble and attempting to return to the airport.

The plane crashed during the attempted landing around 10:15 a.m. ET and burst into flames. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has taken over the investigation, and the airport was temporarily shut down as cleanup and investigative efforts continued.

In a heartfelt joint statement, the families described Biffle and his wife as devoted parents and philanthropists, centered on their children and community. They also paid tribute to Emma and Ryder, as well as to Dennis and Jack Dutton and Craig Wadsworth, all of whom were deeply loved. The families asked for privacy and compassion as they grieve and focus on honoring the lives lost.

NASCAR and longtime team owner Jack Roush both released statements expressing devastation over the loss. Roush called Biffle a dear friend and valued partner whose contributions to the team and the sport were immeasurable. NASCAR remembered Biffle not only as a champion and fierce competitor, but also as a generous humanitarian who notably helped North Carolina residents during the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

A native of Vancouver, Washington, Biffle enjoyed a distinguished racing career that included 19 NASCAR Cup Series victories and championships in the Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series. He spent the bulk of his Cup career with Roush Fenway Racing, driving the No. 16 Ford, and made occasional starts in later years across several series. His legacy endures both through his accomplishments on the track and his impact off it, within the NASCAR community and beyond.

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Retired NASCAR star Greg Biffle alongside wife Cristina Grossu Biffle, daughter Emma, son Ryder and three others were killed in an aviation crash on Thursday morning at Statesville Regional Airport north of Charlotte, North Carolina.

First Sergeant Chris Knox of the North Carolina Highway Patrol first confirmed the death of the Biffle family and added it was ‘one of the worst crashes’ he had ever seen.

“We can tell you at this point that seven confirmed occupants on the aircraft are deceased,” Knox said “… The only person we can confirm is a Mr. Greg Biffle was one of those seven deceased occupants.”

However, he also later said the victims ‘include Mr. Greg Biffle and his immediate family,’ which would be confirmed shortly thereafter.

Garrett Mitchell, better known as YouTuber Cleetus McFarland, first stated on his social media channels that the Biffle family was on board the plane and died in the incident.

“Unfortunately, I can confirm Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, and son Ryder were on that plane… because they were on their way to spend the afternoon with us. We are devastated. I’m so sorry to share this.”

Biffle and Mitchell had become close friends over the past five years, bonding over natural disaster relief efforts, and the latter’s efforts to become a NASCAR driver himself with sporadic ARCA starts at Daytona, Talladega and Bristol.

A joint statement was issued by the Biffle, Grossu, Dutton and Lunders families confirming those lost in the incident:

“We are devastated by the loss of our loved ones. This tragedy has left all our families heartbroken beyond words. Greg and Cristina were devoted parents and active philanthropists whose lives were centered around their young son Ryder and Greg’s daughter Emma (mother – Nicole Lunders). Emma was a wonderful human being with a kind soul who was loved by many people. Ryder was an active, curious and infinitely joyful child.

“Dennis Dutton and his son Jack were deeply loved as well, and their loss is felt by all who knew them. Craig Wadsworth was beloved by many in the NASCAR community and will be missed by those who knew him. Each of them meant everything to us, and their absence leaves an immeasurable void in our lives.

“We ask for privacy, compassion and understanding as we grieve and begin to process this unimaginable loss. We are gratefyl or the kindness and support that has been extended to our families during this incredibly difficult time. At this moment, our focus is on honoring their lives and supporting one another.”

NASCAR also released a statement on Thursday.

“NASCAR is devastated by the tragic loss of Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, son Ryder, Craig Wadsworth and Dennis and Jack Dutton in a fatal plane crash.

“Greg was more than a champion driver, he was a beloved member of the NASCAR community, a fierce competitor, and a friend to so many. His passion for racing, his integrity, and his commitment to fans and fellow competitors alike made a lasting impact on the sport.

“On the track, Greg’s talent and tenacity earned him championships in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, as well as numerous wins and accolades in the NASCAR Cup Series. Beyond his racing career, he gave of himself for the betterment of our community. Most notably, Greg spent countless hours of his time helping the citizens of North Carolina during the disasters that followed Hurricane Helene. His tireless work saved lives. Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to Greg’s entire family, friends, and all who were touched by his life.”

Biffle spent the entirety of his full-time NASCAR career with Roush Racing, now known as RFK Racing, which also issued a statement mourning the loss.

The incident occurred at 10:15 a.m. at the airport located 45 miles north of Charlotte, North Carolina, one of the regional facilities used by a plurality of organizations and individuals within the industry.

Flight tracking data shows the jet departed Statesville at approximately 10:06 a.m. and reached a maximum altitude of 4,300 feet by 10:08 a.m. but began to descend a mile from where it departed.

By time it reached 11 miles from the airport, the plane turned around and made an attempt to return to Statesville Regional. The final data point, which came at 10:15 showed the plane less than a half mile from the airport, in line with its runway and near the Lakewood Golf Club at arout 800 feet and 95 knots (109 mph).

It crashed at the east end of the runway.

Immediately overseeing the incident was the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office but in the hours since the crash, they have been joined on-site by the Federal Aviation Administration and the North Carolina State Patrol. A brief press conference was held shortly after noon with airport manager John Ferguson sharing what little he could at the time.

“Like we said, at approximately 10:15 a.m., we got a report of a jet that crashed off the end of the runway on the east end. By time I came out, it was fully engulfed. We’ve had multiple agencies that have come. The FAA arrived at about 12 o’clock today.

“They are taking over the scene and the investigation. We have no information on the cause. The airport is closed until further notice. It will take time to get the debris off the runway.”

Dan DePodwin, AccuWeather Vice President of Forecasting Operations issued a statement about weather conditions at the time of the incident.  

“Adverse weather conditions were reported in the vicinity of Statesville Regional Airport around the time of the plane crash,” DePodwin said. “Heavy drizzle and a cloud ceiling near 1,200 feet were reported at 10:15 a.m. The cloud ceiling had reportedly lowered to around 400 feet, with heavy rain reducing visibility to less than 2 miles at 10:30 a.m. Weather conditions are often a critical factor that investigators carefully review after a plane crash. It may take months to a year or longer for investigators to determine if the weather conditions contributed to the crash.”

The plane was quickly identified in the moments after the crash as a Cessna C550 with the tail number N257BW, which is owned by Biffle’s GB Aviation Leasing, LLC.

Biffle was the 2002 NASCAR Busch Series champion, the 2000 Craftsman Truck Series champion and was named as one of the sport’s 75 greatest drivers in 2023 due to his 19 wins at the highest level from 2002 through sporadic starts this decade.

In recent years, Biffle became known for philanthropy centering on animal welfare through his Greg Biffle Foundation and his relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in 2024. Biffle is a registered pilot and used his helicopter to take supplies to Western North Carolina in the aftermath of the devastating storm.

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