<p class="wp-block-paragraph">On behalf of the National Motorsports Press Association, I offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of longtime racing journalist and one of the NASCAR&#8217;s most celebrated writers, Steve Waid, 77, who passed away today in North Carolina after a lengthy illness.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A mainstay in racetrack pressrooms for decades, the Old Dominion University graduate started his career for the smalltown Martinsville (Va.) Bulletin in his home state and that marked the beginning of an amazing and long-standing tenure covering the sport and people he loved dearly.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Although he worked at other newspapers throughout the Southeast, Waid’s longest tenure – 28 years – came as Editor in Chief of the Grand National Scene. His commentary and coverage for the sport’s most popular publication was a must-read for everyone – fan and racer alike – and made him one of the most influential reporters the sport has ever seen. He served 12 years in multiple terms as President of the NMPA.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Although Waid officially “retired” when Grand National Scene ceased operations in 2010 he remained a busy freelance reporter to this day – working for Frontstretch.com and since 2018 co-hosting the weekly, “The Scene Vault Podcast” with longtime friend and journalist Rick Houston.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Waid’s writing received many distinguished accolades including the NMPA’s George Cunningham Writer of the Year Award and the Henry McLemore Award for outstanding contributions to motorsport. His is a 2014 NMPA Hall of Fame inductee and won the prestigious Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence presented by the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2018.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Waid is survived by his wife Margaret, and their children, Celeste and Andrew; and his brother, Dr. Lewis Randolph Waid of Mount Pleasant, S.C.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In lieu of flowers, consider contributions to either Atrium Health Cancer Institute or Victory Junction.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">–NMPA President Holly Cain</p>