Grant Lynch, longtime chairman of Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway and a pioneer in the development of modern, fan-friendly track amenities and services, received the prestigious annual Buddy Shuman Award during last week’s NASCAR® Meyers Brothers Awards Ceremony in Las Vegas. The award, which recognizes individuals and organizations that have helped advance the sport, was established in honor of the late Louis Grier “Buddy” Shuman, one of the most popular figures in the early years of professional stock car racing. The Buddy Shuman Award has been sponsored throughout its 62-year history by Federal-Mogul Motorparts’ iconic Champion® brand.
Lynch, who has announced plans to retire in 2019, joins such racing luminaries as Bill France Sr., Bill France Jr., Richard Petty, Rick Hendrick, Jack Roush and Bruton Smith in receiving the Shuman award. Buddy Shuman was a beloved member of the NASCAR community who competed in Grand National (now Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series) racing before serving as the sanctioning body’s first technical inspector.
Lynch began his career as a show-car driver in the early 1980s. In 1993, he joined the operations staff at Talladega, the 2.66-mile tri-oval that annually offers some of the sport’s most exciting racing. From the moment he assumed responsibility for the track, Lynch focused on turning Talladega into a bucket-list destination for racing enthusiasts, with unlimited free camping, more comfortable seating, concerts and other fan-friendly amenities. His commitment to a world-class fan experience continues with a soon-to-be-completed, $50 million enhancement of the track’s infield.
“Grant Lynch’s legacy, like that of Buddy Shuman, will be the extraordinarily strong connection he has forged with NASCAR fans,” said Tim Nelson, motorsports director for Federal-Mogul Motorparts. “His visionary leadership of one of the sport’s iconic tracks has helped the Cup Series and its sponsors connect with a new generation of enthusiasts.”
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