Larry Kelley, the owner and operator of Sunset Speedway in Omaha, Neb., from 1976-’90 and former RPM Auto Racing Promoter of the Year nominee, died June 21. The Waterloo, Neb., resident was 79.

Kelley, who also owned race teams that competed in drag racing, stock cars and go-karts, set a standard for promoting success at the NASCAR-sanctioned track carried on later at Sunset by his ex-wife Sharon and son Craig, who later went on to promote Nebraska Raceway Park (now I-80 Speedway). Larry Kelley fielded Dirt Late Models for drivers including John Anderson, Bill Martin, Bud Burdick and National Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer Steve Kosiski.

Promoting trademarks of the Kelley clan included the use of track-packing trucks, point-average lineup inversions and dependable fire and safety crews, according to racing historian Lee Ackerman.

John Larry Kelley is survived by Craig and another son, Michael, along with three grandchildren. Memorials can be made in Larry's honor to Jeff Gordon's Cancer Foundation that fights pediatric cancer. Find a complete obituary at hoyfuneral.com.

Editor's note: Updates with Kelley's Dirt Late Model drivers.