Wednesday, February 15, 2017

R.I.P. Gary Cressey



Former promoter of Shasta Speedway and the man known as The Golden Voice of west coast racing, Gary Cressey passed away the morning of February 15, 2017 at the age of 80.

Cressey was born and raised in Seattle, Washington but was a graduate of Shasta High School in 1950. Cressey was the promoter and lead announcer of Shasta Speedway throughout the late 70s, 80s and 90s. His final year promoting the speedway was 1996. Cressey was also an ordained minister and beer distrubutor.

In addition to his duties as a promoter, Cressey also served as the lead announcer of some of the biggest events up and down the west coast. In addition to calling events at Shasta Speedway, Cressey served as the voice of NASCAR's biggest events in the west including races in NASCAR's Winston West, Northwest Tour and Southwest Tour series. In addition, Cressey announced many of the biggest open competition events during the hey-day of open comp racing. Cressey also announced televised auto racing for Sports Channel Northwest. In all, Cressey's voice was heard at 51 different tracks in the region for over 50 years.

Cressey served on NASCAR's rules and competition committee which garnered him honors over the years including Top NASCAR Short Track "Promoter of the Year" and NASCAR "Team Player of the Year". Cressey was the first recipient of the City of Redding "Volunteer of the Year" award in 1994 for his community service. In 2003, Evergreen Speedway honored Cressey with an induction into the speedway's Hall of Fame. In 2006, Cressey was inducted into the Northern California Auto Racing Alumni Hall of Fame. Cressey was also inducted into the Shasta County's Sports Hall of Fame. In 2015, Shasta Speedway renamed a boulevard near the track to Gary Cressey Boulevard.

Everyone involved in racing throughout the years mourns the loss of one of the greatest announcers in all of sports.

Link To Christening of Gary Cressey Boulevard: http://www.krcrtv.com/sports/race-track-honors-auto-announcer-of-50-years-_20160513173013637/11088338