BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Bruton Smith, the founder of Speedway Motorsports Inc. and a 2016 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, battled non-Hodgkin's lymphoma earlier this year, according to quotes provided by SMI officials.
Smith, 88, is Executive Chairman of SMI. The company owns eight facilities that host 13 of this year's 38 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events.
Smith is on hand this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway, site of Saturday's Irwin Tools Night Race. It is his first appearance at one of his company's facilities since late May.
"The doctors said I probably needed a bit of rest and I got that," Smith said. "And I probably needed it."
Smith's son, Marcus, was named Chief Executive Officer for SMI earlier this year, with the elder Smith named Executive Chairman.
Marcus Smith said the family discussed publicly addressing his father's illness but noted, "We're private about personal matters."
Now that his father's prognosis is positive, Marcus Smith said the family decided to explain his father's recent absence.
"I'm really excited about this weekend because Bristol was a goal. … The time was such that it was a good goal to try to hit to be healthy and strong," Marcus Smith said.
The most recent reports concerning his father's health "have been really good," Smith said. "He's progressed beyond expectations they all had and we're very thankful about that … and they have given a really good prognosis on his health."
In May, Bruton Smith was selected as one of five members for induction into the Hall next January. Others tabbed for induction are drivers Jerry Cook, Terry Labonte, Bobby Isaac and Curtis Turner.
"I hate to miss any of our races," Bruton Smith said. "I really do. It's kind of heartbreaking really. I like to be there and see what's going on.
"I enjoy what I do. I like the automobile business (Smith's Sonic Automotive is one of the largest automotive retailers in the U.S.). I'm into that. I love the racing business. I want to do more and more and more. … I just like what I do."