Speedway Motorsports, for whom Gossage labored for greater than 30 years, made the announcement Thursday night on behalf of Gossage’s household.
“At present we now have misplaced one of many world’s greatest race followers,” Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith stated in a press release. “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 associates and his beloved household. We’re praying for his spouse, Melinda, daughter Jessica, son Dustin and daughter-in-law Lauren throughout this making an attempt time in addition to his grandchildren Lyra, Evelyn and Oliver. We all know the kids have been the sunshine of his life.”
Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage with Lil Dale, a stuffed goat
Picture by: Michael C. Johnson
Gossage first joined Speedway Motorsports Inc. in 1989 as vice chairman of public relations at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He was named basic 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 observe.
Funeral preparations can 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, recognized then as The Winston and marketed as ‘One Scorching Evening.’ The occasion, held at Charlotte Motor Speedway (CMS), was the first-ever NASCAR evening race at a superspeedway.
Gossage, nevertheless, acquired extra publicity than he meant.
Gossage had rigged an enormous gentle 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 affect in our sport can be felt for a few years to come back,” Smith stated. “We repeat one in every of Eddie’s favourite sayings typically. ‘If we don’t make an enormous deal out of it, no one else will.’
“He lived that mantra day-after-day at work creating inventive publicity stunts, pre-race reveals and over-the-top leisure.”
Throughout Gossage’s tenure on the observe, TMS hosted hundreds of thousands of followers at NASCAR, IndyCar and World of Outlaw races, automotive reveals and live shows, together with The Rolling Stones, ZZ High and Willie Nelson. In 2015, TMS added the world’s largest LED high-definition tv, named ‘Huge Hoss.’
As passionate as he was about huge occasions, Gossage additionally had an incredible coronary heart for youngsters 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 vital as Speedway Motorsports expanded NASCAR into the Lone Star State,” stated TMS Government Vice President and Normal Supervisor Mark Faber. “Every day I come to work, I see the affect he had all through our property.
“Eddie laid a basis for achievement to construct upon for generations to come back and made Texas Motor Speedway a showplace of which Texans will all the time be proud.”
