CONCORD, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Long time Speedway Motorsports, Inc. director, William P. Benton passed away on February 19, 2009. Mr. Benton, 85, served on the Speedway Motorsports Board of Directors since just before the company went public in 1995. Mr. Benton retired from Ford Motor Company as Vice President of Marketing worldwide after a distinguished 37-year career with the company.

During that time, Mr. Benton held the following major positions: Vice President/General Manager of Lincoln/Mercury Division, Vice President/General Manager of Ford Division, four years in Europe as Group Vice President of Ford of Europe and a member of the company’s Product Planning Committee, responsible for all products of the company worldwide. Most recently, Mr. Benton was Vice Chairman of Wells Rich Greene and Executive Director of Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide in New York.

“Bill Benton is one of the finest people I have ever been around and his contributions to Speedway Motorsports will be greatly missed” said Bruton Smith, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Speedway Motorsports. “It is truly a sad day for Speedway Motorsports. Our thoughts and prayers are with Bill’s family and many friends.”