Bob Bahre, who built the New Hampshire Motor Speedway and also owned Oxford Plains Speedway in Maine, died. He was 93 years old.
New Hampshire Motor Speedway opened in 1990. NASCAR ran its first Cup race there in 1993. Rusty Wallace won that first race. Kevin Harvick and NASCAR NBC analyst Jeff Burton each share the record for most Cup wins with four. The Series Cup runs on August 2.
Bahre was known in the racing community for his generosity, often providing towing money to competitors who were unable to compete.
Bahre bought half of North Wilkesboro Speedway in 1995 and moved one of the track dates to New Hampshire Motor Speedway, giving it a second date. Bruton Smith bought the other half of North Wilkesboro Speedway and transferred that date to Texas Motor Speedway.
Bahre and her son Gary sold New Hampshire Motor Speedway to Speedway Motorsports in 2007 for $ 340 million.
Bruton Smith, CEO of Speedway Motorsports, said: “Bob Bahre was a true pioneer of motorsports in New England. I wanted to grow our sport and build things that people remember. He was a smart businessman and I respect him a lot, but I respect even more the positive impact he had on people. I will pray for Sandy and Gary during this difficult time, and I know they are proud of the legacy that Bob leaves behind. ”
Marcus Smith, President and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, said of Bahre: “What I will remember most about Bob Bahre will be his character, discreet but charming. Every time I saw him, he wore khaki pants and a white shirt. I always enjoyed our genuine conversations. He was very generous to the people in the motorsport industry and to the New England communities where he did business. He took care of things in a calm and dignified way, and often that simple approach is the most shocking. It is truly an honor to have met Bob. He lived a meaningful life. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. “
David McGrath, NHMS Executive Vice President and General Manager, said of Bahre: “On behalf of our team at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to Sandy, Gary and the entire Bahre family. Bob made an incredible mark in auto racing in the New England region, and his love of motorsports was legendary. He had a passionate commitment to both drivers and racing fans, and that commitment was evident when he built our facility in 1990. I am proud to have met Bob. It was a real pleasure to have spent time getting to know him and learning from him over the years. He will be missed, but his legacy of supporting and building motorsports in New England will live on forever. ”
Deeply saddened by the loss of my friend and mentor … Bob Bahre
Bob had a tremendous positive influence on New England auto racing and his career at @NASCAR
Built for the fans and worked for the sport!
It had a profound impact on my life … I will miss it 🏁 pic.twitter.com/Rgg2B8iuqx– Ricky Craven (@ RickyCraven32) July 24, 2020
Bob and Dick Bahre felt that New England deserved a great race track. He knew how difficult it would be to obtain permits to build one from scratch. So Bob bought Bryar Motorsports Park, almost gone, and with his own funds turned it into @NHMS, a track we can all be proud of.
– Mike Joy (@ mikejoy500) July 24, 2020
Bob Bahre’s Yankee wit:
Loudon denied Bob’s permission to build a tall grandstand with suites at @NHMS. Why? The city (fire) truck would not go that high.
Bob went to the parents in town and asked, “Well, what if I buy you a new ladder truck?”
Problem solved. #PapaBahre– Mike Joy (@ mikejoy500) July 24, 2020
Bob is one of the most generous and thoughtful people I have met over the years. His impact on the New England racing community will never be matched. I will be thinking about the Bahre family this weekend. https://t.co/oIK2uxoaWv
– Austin Theriault (@AustinTheriault) July 24, 2020
