The loss of a master storyteller, Steve Waid

It is a heavy day for the motorsport community. Steve Waid, a man who documented the soul of stock-car racing across generations, has died at 77 following a battle with cancer. His passing was confirmed by his longtime colleague Rick Houston.

Waid’s career began with nothing more than a bold request at the Martinsville Bulletin in 1970. He built a legacy defined by integrity and a deep appreciation for the traditions of the sport, serving as a pillar of publications like NASCAR Scene and NASCAR Illustrated. Whether he was working from a humble desk at a converted country store or being recognized in 2019 with the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence, he remained an essential voice.

He was a man who lived the history he wrote, serving as the NMPA president for 12 years and co-authoring the biography of Junior Johnson alongside Tom Higgins. NASCAR honored his memory by noting that he helped fans better understand the personalities who shaped the sport. It is a profound loss for all of us who believe that the story of the machine is only as good as the writer behind it.