Who is Eddie Gossage
It only seems appropriate, according to Speedway Motorsports Executive Chairman and NASCAR Hall of Famer Bruton Smith, that “The Great American Speedway!” was guided by “America’s Greatest Racing Promoter.”
Smith bestowed legendary Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage with that flattering title and considering the speedway mogul’s 70+ years in motorsports, it resonates as the ultimate compliment.
Under Gossage’s 25-year leadership, Texas Motor Speedway:
- Hosted the largest single-day crowd in Texas sports history
- Created the first Preferred Seat License (PSL) and season ticket plans in motorsports
- Created a free special season ticketholder event known as “Fandango”
- Produced some of America’s largest music festivals
- Staged the first-ever nighttime Indy-car race
- Annually attracted some of the largest crowds of the season for all the major series that compete at the speedway
- Produced an aggressive and edgy “No Limits” marketing campaign in August of 2010 aimed at attracting younger fans while also providing a multitude of new benefits to all fans in the most comprehensive approach the speedway ever undertook.
- Installed the world’s largest television known as “Big Hoss.”
Smith and Gossage began developing Texas Motor Speedway in 1995, and Gossage was the guiding force for the new state-of-the-art facility in Fort Worth, Texas, that had its debut in 1997. Texas Motor Speedway is considered one of the premier motorsports venues in the world following 25 seasons of innovative and creative leadership under Gossage.
Gossage also has been influential in the career starts for many of the top executives and talent in the sport today. As manager of Bristol Motor Speedway in the early 1980s, Gossage helped a local radio advertising salesman land his first job in motorsports when he assisted Mike Helton in becoming the public relations director at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Today, Helton is the Vice Chairman of NASCAR.
Others who have worked for Gossage through the years include former Talladega Superspeedway President Rick Humphrey; Speedway Motorsports Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing Kevin Camper; Las Vegas Motor Speedway Vice President of Operations David Stetzer, Speedway Motorsports Senior Vice President of Ticket and Marketing Information Jason Bowling, Speedway Motorsports Vice President of Corporate Sales Mike Ziegler and long-time Penske Racing publicist Tom Roberts, among others.
Gossage regularly staged events attracting 100,000 to 400,000 people in attendance and is one of the most knowledgeable mega-event experts in the world, from a marketing, security, public safety and logistical standpoint. Additionally, his company established the nation’s most efficient covid vaccination site in the United States in 2021, vaccinating almost 15,000 people per day.
Speaking Engagements
GATEWAY BUSINESS LEADERS
Testimonials
Danica Patrick
Female Racing Superstar
He definitely stirs the pot, and he can heighten the controversy of things. But you know, you’ve got to have fun with it.
Tony Stewart
NASCAR Hall of Fame driver and team owner
The fun part is…he likes to get out of the safety zone and make things bigger and better every year.
Mark Cuban
Star of ABC's Shark Tank and owner of the Dallas Mavericks NBA franchise
Eddie obviously knows his stuff. He is a good guy that eats, sleeps and breathes his business which is why he is so successful.
Bruton Smith
NASCAR Hall of Fame who owns eight major league speedways
He spent a half-billion dollars building the Texas Motor Speedway but he made it profitable. Who am I to argue with Eddie? Look at his success.
Kyle Petty
Retired race car driver and NBC Sports analyst
While we think in black and white, Eddie thinks in color. He’s the Walt Disney of American Motorsports.
Dallas Observer
Gossage is at it again, creating headlines, generating revenue, and never donning a muzzle in an otherwise buttoned-down, politically correct fraternity of sports owners.
Don King
Promoter
I sit at the hem of Eddie’s garment and gaze in great wonderment!
