Charlie Powell passed away on Saturday after contracting the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) at the age of 83.
Powell was formerly the promoter and owner at Summerville Speedway and the owner of Florence Motor Speedway. He was also the father to 1988 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series champion Robert Powell, and two-time regional champion Charles Powell, III. Prior to promoting races, he was a racer himself.
He was the 1996 national Promoter of the Year.
“I’m not too good at this, especially right now, but my dad, Charlie Powell, passed away this afternoon,” his son, Charles Powell, III, said in a public Facebook post. “He gave at least 60 years of his life to racing and he loved it. He was my hero and my best friend and this is going to be the hardest thing I ever had to do these next few days.”
“It is with profound sadness to address the passing of one of the greatest people to ever grace short track racing, especially down here in the Southeast,” Florence Motor Speedway stated in a Facebook post. “This is never a post we would ever want to deliver, but with our deepest regret, we have unfortunately lost Charlie Powell. Charlie was and always will be a true pioneer of short track racing down in our area and he never shied away from putting in the work and relentless effort to make short track racing survive.
“Mr. Charlie will be forever missed but he will always obtain the high amount of respect that he so greatly deserves. Thank you, sir, for everything you have done and more importantly, thank you for being who you are and always being so passionate bout what you love. We ask that everyone keep the family and friends in prayer.”
