At 69 Tony Formosa, who initiated NASCAR deal at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, is racing again
Tony Formosa Jr., who set in motion a deal that could return NASCAR sanctioned racing to Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, is back in the driver's seat for the first time in more than a decade.
Not the driver's seat of the deal he initiated in 2017 when he started talks with Speedway Motorsports to bring NASCAR back to the historic facility. Formosa's letting others steer that course today.
At age 69 and 15 years since his last run, the former lease holder and general manger of Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway is actually back in a racecar. He competed in a sportsman series race at Highland Rim Speedway in Greenbrier earlier this month. He plans to be back in a late model car and a super truck for races later this season at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.
"I had an absolute blast," Formosa said. "I jumped in the car in the first practice session and they told me I was turning in really, good consistent laps. I was faster than the guy who had driven the car and won the week before."
Formosa admitted the 10 years he spent running Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway took a toll on him. He thought his racing days were in the past.
"I lost my desire to drive when I was running the Speedway because I was just so doggone busy," Formosa said. "It was a big job keeping the track in good condition, keeping the walls painted and the bathrooms clean. I had 65 employees on race day and it was a major undertaking."
In the three years since he left the Fairgrounds Formosa has continued to dabble in the sport mostly helping his nephew Nicky Formosa race in the truck series.
Still, getting back in a car never crossed Formosa's mind until he got a call in April from Jonathan Dishman, a car owner who was looking for someone to drive at Highland Rim.
"Jonathan said, 'What are you doing Saturday night?'" Formosa said. "I told him I was working on some engines and he asked me to come over and get fitted in the seat of a car. I asked why and he said he wanted me to race it. I said, "Aw, get out of here.' But he was serious."
Returning to Highland Rim was special for Formosa. His first race was there in 1969 before the track was converted from dirt to asphalt the next year.
Formosa started sixth and finished fifth in the 30-lap feature race.
"I actually did better than I thought I would and you know what's happening now," Formosa said. "I've got the fever again. I've got the bug again. I just happened to have a truck and I'm going to get it ready and run at the Fairgrounds. And I've got a brand new Day (Racing Products) pro late model car I'm going to drive there too."
Belmont's Ben Sheppard going to NBA Combine
Former Belmont basketball standout Ben Sheppard accepted an invitation to the 2023 NBA Combine May 15-20 in Chicago.
Sheppard, a 6-foot-6 guard from Atlanta, was a finalist for the Lou Henson national player of the year award. He was Belmont’s leading scorer (18.8 points) and rebounder (5.2).
He made the All-Missouri Valley Conference first team and All-Defensive Team.
MTSU's Dean Hayes going into OVC Hall of Fame
Legendary Middle Tennessee State track and field coach Dean Hayes will be inducted posthumously into the Ohio Valley Conference Hall of Fame on June 2.
Hayes died in 2022 after spending 57 years as the Blue Raiders coach.
In his tenure in the OVC, Hayes led MTSU to 29 conference titles, more than any other OVC member in conference history. He coached Blue Raiders athletes to 374 individual or relay championships, had 28 individuals earn All-American status a total of 53 times and led MTSU to 15 NCAA Top 25 finishes.
He also had athletes earn six individual national championships.
Hayes was named OVC Coach of the Year 15 times, including 10 in a row from 1977-86.
Hayes will be inducted with former UT Martin men's golf coach Jerry Carpenter and former Southern Illinois Edwardsville women's softball coach and administrator Sandy Montgomery. The induction will be at the Hilton Franklin Cool Springs.
Harry Taylor, Victor Franklin, Phil Gardner in DuPont Hall of Fame class
The DuPont High All-Sports Hall of Fame 2023 class includes former Bulldogs golfer Harry Taylor, basketball star Victor Franklin and track and field athlete Phil Gardner.
Taylor won The Tennessean/Metro Parks Schooldays Golf Tournament in 1971 and 1972. He finished third in the TSSAA individual state championship as a senior.
Taylor went on to play at Tennessee and on the PGA Tour. He also was co-owner of TaylorMade Golf and is currently director of golf operations at Gaylord Springs Golf Links.
Franklin was an All-Nashville Interscholastic League player as a senior in 1971-72. He led the Bulldogs to the regional tournament averaging 16.5 points per game.
Gardner was runner-up to East’s Butch Stewart as The Tennessean’s Trackman of the Year in 1965.
He finished second in the Midstate Decathlon and tied the high jump record in the Optimist Invitational at 6-feet-3 1/2 inches.
Gardner also played basketball and led the Bulldogs in scoring (15.5 points).
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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: At 69 and 15 years since his last race Tony Formosa is racing again
