CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Eddie Gossage, the longtime head of Texas Motor Speedway and an old-school promoter mentored by stock car racing’s pioneers, has died, Speedway Motorsports announced Thursday night. He was 65.
Gossage stepped down three years ago after 25 years as president of the track in Fort Worth, Texas. In all, Gossage spent 32 years working for Speedway Motorsports, learning the art of selling tickets, packing grandstands and turning races into must-see spectacles from company founder Bruton Smith and longtime executive Humpy Wheeler.
“There was nothing too crazy for Eddie,” IndyCar team owner Bobby Rahal said Friday. “There was nothing too extreme for Eddie in terms of promotions at the races. He was a promoter. You don’t see that often anymore. Most people, yeah, they rent the track out and that’s it, and then complain about not enough spectators coming or something. He was a promoter.”