Charles "Smiley" D. Sitton, Jr.

Charles “Smiley” D. Sitton, Jr.

May 20, 1940 – January 16, 2026

Dallas

Charles “Smiley” Douglas Sitton, Jr. passed away peacefully on January 16, 2026, at the age of 85. He was born on May 20, 1940, in Dallas, Texas, to Charles Douglas Sitton, Sr. and Mary White Sitton.

Smiley graduated from Sunset High School and began racing sprint cars as a young man in 1965. Throughout his life, he owned many racing-related businesses and always worked within the industry, in one way or another.

He owned Buffalo Park Speedway in Carrollton and Big H Speedway in Houston. As many know, Smiley’s promoting skills were unmatched and regularly brought huge crowds to the races.

Smiley founded Smiley’s Racing Products, a business he sold to Tom Lorenz in 1985. Following the sale, he spent considerable time buying/selling custom street rods.

In 1992, he became the owner/founder of Smiley Sitton’s Outlaw Driving School. The school was well known throughout the industry and attracted drivers from all over the world. Owning the driving school allowed Smiley the opportunity to teach students the skills needed to drive sprint cars, while feeding his life-long passion for the sport.

Around 2004, Smiley founded the Sprint Car Series of TX (SST), an IMCA RaceSaver touring series. At that time, Smiley began working for Tom Lorenz at Smiley’s Racing Products, where he continued spear-heading the sale of sprint car parts and tires for the duration of his life.

Smiley was a true pioneer for dirt racing, with a far-reaching influence that will shape the sport for generations to come.

Smiley was preceded in death by his father, Charles Douglas Sitton Sr. and his mother, Mary White Sitton.

He is survived by Cathy Vines, his son Todd Douglas Sitton, his brother James Roy Sitton, his niece Erin and nephews Ryan and Zach.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Rustic Rail Golf Course venue in Crandall, Texas on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.