Hall of Fame videographer Stephens dies
Greg Stephens, among short-track racing's most prolific and pioneering videographers whose wide-traveling gray van logged 840,000 miles in the middle of a four-decade career, died early this morning in Illinois after a long battle with cancer. The 2019 National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductee was 72.
"We’ve been beyond overwhelmed with the continued outpouring support everyone has showed us since May," his daughter Mindy posted on Facebook today. "While we were already pretty aware of how much a badass our Dad was, it’s still mind-blowing how many people he has touched and had a positive impact on."
While most of his career focused on the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, there were few tours of any kind that Stephens didn't shoot at one time or another as his company provided footage for TNN, ESPN, the Speed Channel and a variety of mainstream racing shows. Much of his career focused on open-wheel racing but his lens often found Dirt Late Models as well.
"I spent enough money on video equipment in my career that I could have bought a very nice house with," Stephens told Dean Mills before his 2019 Hall of Fame induction, "but I wouldn't have been able to do all the things I have done in my career if I hadn't have invested in it. It's been a real good life."
Mindy and brother Nick spent their father's last day watching golf and racing, including Eldora Speedway's 4-Crown Nationals where announcer Blake Anderson paid tribute to Stephens's contributions to racing.
Arrangements are pending, but the family plans several celebrations of life in Taylorville, Ill., Indianapolis, Ind., Charlotte, N.C. (during the World Finals) and at 2022's Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway. Details will be announced.
