Russ Conway & Kenny Smith

Promoters
CLASS OF 2006

Russ Conway & Kenny Smith created the New England Super Modified Racing Association (NESMRA) in 1965, then teamed with Charlie Elliott to buy Star Brick Yard in Epping, NH, which became the site of their new race track Star Speedway. It was a 1/4 mile asphalt track that would be the place they’d showcase their NESMRA events like the Star Speedway Classic, one of the premiere super modified events that continues today. They purchased Hudson Speedway in 1979 as a sister track to their operation and the facility enjoyed a resurgence under their direction.

They also teamed with Don Hoenig & Carl Merrill of Thompson Speedway and Harvey Tattersall Jr of Waterford Speedbowl to organize an open modified series called the Yankee All-Star League from 1975-1978. They also promoted the Super Sprint Winter Nationals in Florida during February under the NESMRA banner. The trio promoted over 1,000 events and over 10,000 actual races during those 35 seasons, paying out over $6 million in prize money.

In 1980, they sold Star Speedway to Bob Webber. Then in late 1983 they’d buy Lee Raceway and reopen it as Lee USA Speedway for a late season event in 1984 called “Octoberfest”, a tradition that continues to this day. In 1989, they sold Hudson Speedway (again to Bob Webber).

They also held numerous NEMA midget and late model events at the tracks they operated. They were known for outrageous promotions, such as largest wedding cake contests or a visiting alligator. Conway would usually create flyers for their events and personally hand them out to patrons while saying “Tell your friends”

Outside of racing, Smith was a banking executive while Conway was also an accomplished investigative journalist, nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1991 for his series of articles questioning the business practices of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Kenny Smith died on February 24, 2017, Russ Conway passed away from heart disease on August 20, 2019 at the age of 70. They were posthumously awarded the Frank Maratta Award for outstanding contribution to auto racing at the 2019 NEAR Hall of Fame Ceremony.