Speedway Motorsports, for whom Gossage labored for greater than 30 years, made the announcement Thursday night on behalf of Gossage’s household.
“At this time now we have misplaced one of many world’s greatest race followers,” Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith stated in an announcement. “From his legendary promotions to the lasting relationships he developed all through the sports activities and leisure industries, Eddie Gossage meant a lot to the world of motorsports.
“On behalf of our Speedway Motorsports teammates throughout the nation, our hearts exit to his many pals and his beloved household. We’re praying for his spouse, Melinda, daughter Jessica, son Dustin and daughter-in-law Lauren throughout this attempting time in addition to his grandchildren Lyra, Evelyn and Oliver. We all know the youngsters had been the sunshine of his life.”
Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage with Lil Dale, a stuffed goat
Photograph by: Michael C. Johnson
Gossage first joined Speedway Motorsports Inc. in 1989 as vp of public relations at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He was named normal supervisor of Texas Motor Speedway in 1995 earlier than it formally opened and named its president 9 years later. He retired following the 2021 NASCAR All-Star Race weekend on the monitor.
Funeral preparations might be introduced at a later date.
Gossage’s dying comes on the eve of the fortieth NASCAR All-Star Race weekend.
One of many first main races he ever promoted was the 1992 NASCAR All-Star Race, identified then as The Winston and marketed as ‘One Sizzling Night time.’ The occasion, held at Charlotte Motor Speedway (CMS), was the first-ever NASCAR evening race at a superspeedway.
Gossage, nonetheless, acquired extra publicity than he supposed.
Gossage had rigged an enormous mild swap to focus on the revolutionary new lighting system on the speedway. When Bruton Smith threw the swap, sparks flew, setting the speedway founder and proprietor’s hair on hearth.
“His influence in our sport might be felt for a few years to return,” Smith stated. “We repeat certainly one of Eddie’s favourite sayings usually. ‘If we don’t make an enormous deal out of it, no person else will.’
“He lived that mantra daily at work growing artistic publicity stunts, pre-race exhibits and over-the-top leisure.”
Throughout Gossage’s tenure on the monitor, TMS hosted tens of millions of followers at NASCAR, IndyCar and World of Outlaw races, automotive exhibits and live shows, together with The Rolling Stones, ZZ Prime and Willie Nelson. In 2015, TMS added the world’s largest LED high-definition tv, named ‘Large Hoss.’
As passionate as he was about huge occasions, Gossage additionally had an incredible coronary heart for kids and the fundraising efforts of the TMS chapter of Speedway Youngsters’s Charities.
“Eddie Gossage was a trailblazer, promoter and innovator at a time when attracting consideration was crucial as Speedway Motorsports expanded NASCAR into the Lone Star State,” stated TMS Government Vice President and Basic Supervisor Mark Faber. “Every day I come to work, I see the influence he had all through our property.
“Eddie laid a basis for achievement to construct upon for generations to return and made Texas Motor Speedway a showplace of which Texans will all the time be proud.”
