Funeral for NASCAR icon Bruton Smith will be Thursday: Thursday, June 30

Bruton Smith, the founder of Speedway Motorsports, the parent company of Charlotte Motor Speedway, will be laid to rest Thursday during a public funeral in Charlotte. Smith's life will be celebrated at Central Church on Sardis Road. The service, which is open to the public, will begin at 1 p.m. Charlotte Motor Speedway will provide a livestream for those who are unable to attend Smith's funeral. Smith died of natural causes on June 22. The 95-year-old visionary got his start as a promoter in the 1950s after serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He bought his first race car for $700 when he was 17 years old. During his 2016 NASCAR Hall of Fame induction speech, Smith said he gave up aspirations of being a race driver when his mother prayed for him to quit.READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/motor/nascar/bruton-smith-charlotte-motor-speedway-founder-funeral-plan-stream/275-72d70226-d8ed-4a2d-8918-1b6a3781530fFallen R&B superstar R. Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison Wednesday for using his fame to subject young fans — some just children — to systematic sexual abuse.Through tears and anger, several of Kelly's accusers told a court, and him, that he had preyed on them and misled his fans.“You made me do things that broke my spirit. I literally wished I would die because of how low you made me feel,” said one unnamed survivor, directly addressing a Kelly who kept his hands folded and his eyes downcast.“Do you remember that?” she added.Kelly, 55, didn't speak at his sentencing, where he also was ordered to pay a $100,000 fine. The Grammy-winning, multiplatinum-selling singer and songwriter was convicted last year of racketeering and sex trafficking at a trial that gave voice to accusers who had previously wondered if their stories were being ignored because they were Black women.READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/r-kelly-sentenced-sex-trafficking-case/67-4b3dd2ab-da01-4b28-a7f1-d6f4379807e5Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!