The motorsports world lost a dear friend and a racing icon on Wednesday with the passing of famed track operator and promoter Bruton Smith. He was 95.

Smith was the owner and CEO of Speedway Motorsports Inc., which owns and manages auto racing facilities across the United States. From humble beginnings as a local track promoter in his home state of North Carolina to owner and operator of some of the world’s most prestigious race tracks, Smith was revered for his impact on multiple areas of the racing world.

Smith was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2016 as his impact on that sport has been felt for more than 30 years. He was best known as a showman, taking an already exciting sport and making it into a must-see experience with the addition of world-class amenities and entertainment options.

While Smith was best known for his work in NASCAR, he also had a pronounced role in the drag racing community as owner of NHRA tracks in Bristol, Tennessee, Charlotte, North Carolina, Las Vegas, Nevada and Sonoma, California. Notably, Smith was one of the driving forces behind the entertainment-driven four-wide races in Charlotte and Las Vegas.

After learning of his passing, messages began pouring in from drivers, team owners and others within the motorsports community lauding the legendary track owner and promoter for his impact on the sport. One of those drivers, 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force, expressed just how much Smith meant to him.

“I’m really sad to hear about the passing of Bruton Smith,” Force said. “He was a personal friend of mine. Everyone knows what he’s done for motorsports, NHRA and NASCAR, building the Bellagio of drag racing and the Four-Wide. He was like a second father to me, I first met him when he opened Bristol. I sure loved him and I’m going to miss him. His legacy will live on.”

To commemorate the life and legacy of the legend, the John Force Racing teams are sporting special stickers on the side of their machines this weekend that read “Bruton Smith - a true legend, a true friend.”

“That is a small thing we are doing this weekend. I knew the guy and I loved him dearly,” Force added. “To me, he was the P.T. Barnum of drag racing. What he did for us helping our sport grow to the top level was unbelievable and now we have to keep it there.

“He was an innovator and he wanted to be the best, not just because he wanted to make money, he liked to do that too, but it was about the racers. He liked (Dale) Earnhardt and (Richard) Petty and (Jeff) Gordon and he liked all of us out here. He wanted to make it great and he did just that.”

For Force, perhaps his most lasting legacy on the sport of drag racing is the debut of the four-wide format in 2010 at zMax Dragway in Charlotte, N.C. Force won the inaugural four-wide event over his daughter Ashley Force-Hood, Ron Capps and Matt Hagan.

“He built the four-wides. To go see 40,000 horsepower at one time on a race track is something everyone should see at some point,” Force said. “I won the inaugural race and it was just unbelievable. He was always creative and doing stuff. He just loved motorsports and drag racing. He is going to be missed.”