MARTINSVILLE MOTOR SPEEDWAY NEWS/RUMORS
Phone:
(877)-RACE-TIX (Tickets)
(276) 956-3151
Address:
Martinsville Speedway
PO Box 3311
Martinsville, Virginia 24112
Speedway Road
Ridgeway, Virginia 24148
Track Specs:
Degree of Banking: Turns: 12 degrees
Straightaways: Banking: 0 degrees(flat)
Straights: 800 feet
Grandstnd Seating: 91,000
Pit Stalls: 43 pits, 14-feet wide by 28-feet long
Websites:
Martinsville Speedway
ESPN's NASCAR Track Guide: Martinsville Speedway
- Martinsville Speedway Announces $2 Million Improvement Project: Fans and competitors will be the beneficiaries of more than $2 million in improvements set for
Martinsville Speedway before the October 19th running of the TUMS QuikPack 500. Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell said work will begin on them in the next
few weeks and will be completed by the fall event. The centerpiece of the track enhancements will be a new, state of the art scoreboard. Campbell also announced that pit road would be resurfaced, the fourth-turn pit gate will be reconfigured to include SAFER barrier technology and portable chair seats surrounding the track will be replace with individual stadium seats. The scoreboard will be 120 feet tall and be positioned behind the backstretch. It will feature three 30-foot video display screens that can be utilized for everything from scoring rundowns to instant replays. There will also be rotating signage atop the scoreboard. The addition of roughly 100 feet of SAFER barrier to cover the fourth-turn pit gate and the exit of the fourth turn will improve safety in that area. It is a major undertaking that will include the excavation and resurfacing of the road outside of the gate. Presently
the gate opens inward, but with the addition of the SAFER barrier, it will need to open out. Because of that, the roadway will have to be cut down several feet, leveled and resurfaced.
The pit-road project will mark the first resurfacing of the area in recent history. The decision was made to use concrete because of its durability. "Pit road has gotten rough and bumpy over the past few years. It was something we really need to do," said Campbell. "And I think the drivers and pit crews will appreciate it." For years, a row of padded, portable chairs have circled the track just below the high-rise seats. They have always been some of the track's most popular seats, but over the years have aged. The new individual seats should be even more appealing, with folding seats and storage space underneath.(Martinsville Speedway)(5-2-2008)
- Martinsville Grand Marshal can't make it: Inclement weather has derailed the schedule of Virginia Tech head football coach Frank Beamer, who was set to serve as grand marshal for today's Goody's Cool Orange 500 race at Martinsville Speedway. Icy weather in Blacksburg grounded Beamer's flight plans, according to the coach, who spoke to the media via telephone this morning. Recent knee surgery has made it difficult for Beamer to get around. "I had a helicopter that could bring me right to the track and I was going to be in good shape, but then they couldn’t fly (due to the ice)," said Beamer. "Once that happened, I felt like I needed to cancel out." Beamer apologized repeatedly for his cancellation, lamenting the fact that he couldn't attend in person. "I’m very sorry because I really like racing, and I really like the Martinsville track, and I really like the people at the Martinsville track," said Beamer. "I think the heart of NASCAR is right here in Virginia when you talk about Bristol and Richmond and then Martinsville." A spokesman for Goody's Cool Orange, the race's primary sponsor, said various members of the Virginia Tech community, including the Tech band, which is set to play the national anthem, would serve in Beamer's place as grand marshal. The most notable grand marshal duty is announcing the famous racing line, "Gentlemen, start your engines."(Martinsville Bulletin)(3-30-2008)
- Tums to sponsor fall Martinsville race and #40, #41 cars: TUMS announced that it is using its newest product, the TUMS QuikPak instant dissolve powder, to bring its fastest relief ever to Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va., as the entitlement sponsor of the October 19, 2008 Sprint Cup series race – The TUMS QuikPak 500. The TUMS QuikPak 500 will be the first NASCAR race sponsored by the TUMS brand. The race sponsorship will continue to build on the long-standing relationship between GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Consumer Healthcare and the .526-mile Virginia short track. The partnership began in 1983 when Goody’s Headache Powder first sponsored the Goody’s 500 at Martinsville Speedway. In addition to the TUMS QuikPak 500 at Martinsville Speedway, TUMS will serve as an associate sponsor of the #40 and #41 Dodges for Chip Ganassi Racing with
Felix Sabates (CGRFS) throughout the 2008 season. The TUMS logo will appear on the B-post and rear quarter panel. The agreement also includes a primary sponsorship in two races. TUMS QuikPak will serve as the primary sponsor of Sprint Cup series rookie Dario Franchitti’s #40 Dodge Charger for the Aaron’s 499 race at Talladega Superspeedway on
April 27. CGRFS teammate Reed Sorenson will carry the TUMS QuikPak paint scheme under the lights August 23 for the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. TUMS will host 18 fan events at race tracks during the season. For each event, TUMS will bring its blue QuikZone display to the fan concourse area along with TUMS Racing simulators, games and the TUMS show car. Fans will have an opportunity to learn more about TUMS fast relief and simple solutions for heartburn and sample the new TUMS QuikPak. The TUMS QuikZone debuted in Daytona for Speedweeks. The TUMS QuikZone also will travel to community events throughout the country. For more information on TUMS Racing, visit www.TUMSracing.com.(Clear!Blue PR) see images of the cars on my #40 Team Schemes page and #41 Team Schemes page.(3-29-2008)
- Tix still available for Martinsville Cup race: The Goody's Cool Orange 500 weekend is just about here, but fans still have time to purchase tickets for all three days of action. Hospitality packages with appearances on Sunday with appearances by Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart or Kasey Kahne also remain available to fans. Tickets remain in many areas of the track's grandstands for Sunday's Goody's Cool Orange 500, ranging in ticket prices from $42 to $80. Families can take advantage of the Spring Family Special for the Goody's Cool Orange 500 with adult backstretch tickets priced at $42 and $47 and tickets for children 12 and under just $10. Martinsville Speedway proudly offers special pricing for members of the United States Armed Forces. Under the special Military Offer, military members can purchase a seat in either the Clay Earles Tower or the South Annex for $50, with children tickets in those areas just $10. The Military Offer is also in place for the Kroger 250 Craftsman Truck Series race on March 29. The special offers adult general admission tickets to the Kroger 250 for $30 while tickets for children 6-12 are $5 and children under six are free. Gordon, Stewart and Kahne will headline three separate fan zones prior to the Goody's Cool Orange 500. Gordon will be in the Pepsi Fan Zone, Stewart will be in the Goody's Cool Orange Fan Zone and Kahne in the Bud Fan Zone. Each driver will make an appearance in his respective fan zone for an emceed question and answer session. The price for each fan zone is $99. The price includes a ticket to the fan zone, continental breakfast and lunch buffet, Pepsi products and four beer coupons per adult, track tram tour rides from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Martinsville Speedway souvenirs and door prizes. The $99 price does not include a ticket to the Goody's Cool Orange 500. Each of the three fan zones will open at 8 a.m. Tickets for both the Goody's Cool Orange 500 on Sunday, the Kroger 250, on Saturday, and hospitality passes are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(3-28-2008)
- Goody's Cool Orange 500 News and Notes:
Coach Beamer to Grand Marshal: Virginia Tech Head Football Coach Frank Beamer, one of college football's most revered coaches, has accepted Grand Marshal duties for
the upcoming Goody's Cool Orange 500 race at Martinsville Speedway, March 30. The Hillsville, Va native is an avid NASCAR fan that has waved the green flag at racing events but has never said the famous words "Gentleman start your engines". Beamer's Hokies won the ACC championship and finished ninth in the country last year. He was the
national coach of the year in 1999 and is ranked third in wins among all active Division I coaches. With team colors of maroon and orange, and having competed in this past season's Orange Bowl, Beamer is the perfect fit for the Goody's Cool Orange 500, a race named after the newest flavor of Goody's headache powder.
Jeff Hammond to wave the green flag: To celebrate Jeff Hammond's long history at Martinsville Speedway, it is only fitting he gets to wave the green flag for the Goody's Cool Orange 500. Hammond has been named as Honorary Starter for the upcoming Goody's Cool Orange 500 at Martinsville Speedway. As a jackman, Hammond stood
in Martinsville's victory lane four times with driver Cale Yarborough. Once promoted to crew chief for Darrell Waltrip, Hammond found victory lane 10 more times at Martinsville, four of which were Goody's 500 events (1984, 1987, 1988, 1989). Hammond secured a total of 43 wins as a crew chief. NASCAR fans now enjoy Hammond's commentary during FOX and
SPEED television broadcasts.
Doug Agee Awards: Doug Agee, a pioneer of racing promotions, will be on hand to present the Doug Agee Award at the Goody's Cool Orange 500. The Goody's
Headache Powders brand created the award to be given to a person or persons who most embodies the value and spirit of Doug Agee and is presented annually at Martinsville Speedway - a track as deeply rooted in NASCAR as Goody's 31-year tenure in racing. Agee invented the fan favorite Goody's Headache of the Race promotion with MRN Radio and
brought Goody's to NASCAR. He also started what is now a lifetime relationship with Richard Petty.
Virginia Tech's Highty-Tighties Perform: To celebrate Goody's new flavor, Goody's Cool Orange will have a Virginia Tech flavor with both Head Football Coach Frank Beamer as grand marshal and the Highty-Tighties performance. The world-renowned Regimental Band of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, better known as the Highty-Tighties, will perform at the Goody's Cool Orange 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Always a crowd favorite, the Highty-Tighties will entertain the race fans during pre-race ceremonies and also perform the national anthem. The military marching band carry traditions dating back 125 years with performances at presidential inaugurals since President Eisenhower.
Fan Participation: Goody's will be giving away Goody's Cool Orange towels to race fans entering the grandstands at Martinsville Speedway for Sunday's Sprint Cup race the Goody's Cool Orange 500. Fans will be encouraged to wave the orange-colored towels during the start and end of the race. The stands will look like a sea of orange celebrating Goody's long time relationship with both the race fan and the Martinsville Speedway. Goody's has been a strong supporter of Martinsville Speedway since the first Goody's 500 in 1983.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(3-27-2008)
- Martinsville Fans In South Terrace Won't Have To Leave Seats for food: Fans sitting in the South Terrace at Martinsville Speedway will no longer have to leave their seats to sample the world famous Martinsville Speedway hotdogs. Beginning with the Kroger 250 Craftsman Truck Series race March 29 and the Goody's Cool Orange 500 on March 30, fans in the South Terrace, overlooking the first and second turns, will be able to purchase hot dogs and Pepsi products without missing a single lap of action. It is the first time, at least in recent memory, that sellers have taken their products directly to the fans at Martinsville Speedway. Tickets are available in the South Terrace area and are $105 for the two days of racing. They can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or online at martinsvillespeedway.com. Tickets in the South Terrace can only be purchased as a two-day package. Tickets are also available in other areas for both the Goody's Cool Orange 500 on Sunday, March 30, and the Kroger 250, on Saturday, March 29.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(3-5-2008)
- Virginia Tech's Military Marching Band Will Perform National Anthem at Martinsville: Virginia Tech's world-renown military marching band, the Highty-Tighties, will perform prior to the Goody's Cool Orange 500 Sprint Cup race at Martinsville Speedway on March 30. The Highty-Tighties will perform the national anthem in prerace ceremonies. Earlier in the day they will perform their precision marching and music on track. The Goody's Cool Orange 500 will have a very Virginia Tech flavor to it. The Hokies' football coach, Frank Beamer, one of the most successful college coaches in the country, will serve as the race's grand marshal. The Highty-Tighties grew out of Virginia Tech's Corp of
Cadets on the Blacksburg campus in 1893. Since then their record of excellence has continued to grow and they are a sought-after marching unit for special events and parades around the country. Tickets for both the Goody's Cool Orange 500 on Sunday, March 30, and the Kroger 250, on Saturday, March 29, are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(3-3-2008)
- Great Deals Remain For Martinsville Race: The Goody's Cool Orange 500 is barely a month away, but some pretty awesome deals remain for race fans. Good seats are still available for the Sprint Cup event scheduled for March 30. In addition there are openings remaining in fan hospitality, featuring Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Kasey Kahne. Gordon, Stewart and Kahne will headline three separate fan zones prior to the Goody's Cool Orange 500. Gordon will be in the Pepsi Fan Zone, Stewart will be in the Goody's Cool Orange Fan Zone and Kahne in the Bud Fan Zone. Each driver will make an appearance in his respective fan zone for an emceed question and answer session. The price for each fan zone is $99. The price includes a ticket to the fan zone, continental breakfast and lunch buffet, Pepsi products and four beer coupons per adult, track tram tour rides from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Martinsville Speedway souvenirs and door prizes. The $99 price does not include a ticket to the Goody's Cool Orange 500. Each of the three fan zones will open at 8 a.m. Great seats remain at great prices, and the speedway ticket office has some even better ticket deals for fans. Families can take advantage of the Spring Family Special for the Goody's Cool Orange 500 with adult backstretch tickets priced at $42 and tickets for children 12 and under just $10. Martinsville Speedway proudly offers special pricing for members of the United States Armed Forces. Under the special Military Offer, military members can purchase a seat in either the Clay Earles Tower or the South Annex for $50, with children tickets in those areas just $10. The Military Offer is also in place for the Kroger 250 Craftsman Truck Series race on March 29. The special offers adult general admission tickets to the Kroger 250 for $30 while tickets for children 6-12 are $5 and children under six are free. Martinsville Speedway is also offering a group sales plan for the Goody's Cool Orange 500. Groups of 15 tickets or more are available in the Bill France Tower, rows 1-10, for $50. Groups of 30 tickets or more in rows 11-45 in the Bill France Tower are available for $60. Tickets for both the Goody's Cool Orange 500 on Sunday, March 30, the Kroger 250, on Saturday, March 29, and hospitality passes are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or online at martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(3-3-2008)
- Martinsville to upgrade pit road: Clay Campbell, president of Martinsville Speedway, said officials plan to upgrade the track's pit road this summer. That would mean putting a concrete surface on pit road -- it is asphalt now -- new inner walls and maybe some other things. Campbell said that pit road likely won't be any wider because of the limited space in the infield. Campbell also said that he'll continue racing. He plans to drive a Late Model at South Boston Speedway and Motor Mile Speedway in select races.(Roanoke Times)(2-18-2008)
- VT Football Coach Beamer Grand Marshal For Martinsville race: Everything is coming up orange in 2008 for Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer. First up for Beamer is the Orange Bowl in Miami where Virginia Tech will face Kansas on January 3. He'll follow that up with a trip to Martinsville Speedway and the Goody's Cool Orange 500 Sprint Cup Series race on March 30. Beamer, whose Hokies are ranked fifth in the nation headed into the Orange Bowl showdown, has accepted an invitation from Martinsville Speedway to be the Grand Marshal for the Goody's Cool Orange 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race on March 30. Tickets are on sale for both the Goody's Cool Orange 500 Sprint Cup race on March 30 and the Kroger 250 Craftsman Truck Series race on Saturday, March 29, and may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(12-27-2007)
- Martinsville Speedway Special Holiday Ticket Package Now Available: If you don't want to fight the mall crowds to do your holiday gift shopping, Martinsville Speedway has
the perfect alternative: a Christmas ticket package for the Goody's Cool Orange 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup weekend. The two-day Christmas package includes either an Old Dominion Tower or South Terrace seat for both the Goody's Cool Orange 500 on March 30 and the Kroger 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on March 29 for just $90. Martinsville Speedway is also offering a single-day Christmas deal for the Goody's Cool Orange 500 with a special $55 seat in either the South Annex or the Clay Earles Tower. The Christmas packages are available until Dec. 14. Tickets will be shipped in time for Christmas.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(12-1-2007)
- Earles' Martinsville Speedway Dream Gains Historic Status: When H. Clay Earles first viewed the land he had purchased for a race track in 1947, he was thinking about turning a hobby into livelihood. He built a monument to the sport and a legacy that will live forever. And it is for that history and heritage that Martinsville Speedway was honored by the Department of Historic Resources Wednesday with a Virginia Historic Marker, kicking of the Subway 500 week at the track. "This is such an honor for my family and for Martinsville
Speedway," said Speedway President Clay Campbell, Earles' grandson. "My grandfather was so proud of Martinsville Speedway and this honor today would be so special to him. And I think it's a fitting way to close out our 60th anniversary." The state historical highway marker program commemorates facts, persons, events and places prominently identified with the
history of the nation, state or region. The wording for each marker must be reviewed and edited by the manager of the marker program and the staff of the Department of Historic Resources. The location has to be approved by the Board of Historic Resources. There are more than 2,000 historic road markers throughout the Commonwealth, but this is the first to honor a speedway.
Following is the text as it appears on the historic marker: "H. Clay Earles (1913-1999) opened Martinsville Speedway in 1947 with seating for 750. The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) first raced here in 1948. Martinsville Speedway was one of eight tracks to host the inaugural 1949 season of NASCAR's Strictly Stock division, later called Winston Cup and then Nextel Cup racing. It is the only original NASCAR track still hosting the highest division as of 2007. It features a short .526-mile track and seats more than
68,000."(Martinsville Speedway PR)(10-18-2007)
- Choice Seats Remain For Subway 500 At Martinsville: Fans who want the chance to catch all the action in the Subway 500, the only short-track stop in the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup, still have the opportunity. Good seats remain for the Subway 500 Nextel Cup race at Martinsville Speedway on October 21. In addition to available tickets for the Subway 500, there are plenty of prime seats available for the Kroger 200 Craftsman Truck Series race, scheduled for October 21. Ticket prices for the Subway 500 range from $42 to $77. Tickets for the Kroger 200 are $37 in advance and $42 on the day of the event. All seats are unreserved. Kroger 200 tickets for children ages 6-12 are $5. Martinsville Speedway is also offering the Fall Family Special with Subway 500 tickets for children 12-and-under for free when an adult purchases a regularly-priced ticket on the backstretch for the October 21 race. The child's ticket must be picked up at the ticket office when the adult ticket is purchased. All children need a reserved ticket to get into the backstretch grandstands, so when buying adult tickets, please make the ticket agent aware of the number of children's tickets needed. Adult tickets on the backstretch are $42 and $47. Tickets for both the Subway 500 on Sunday, October 21, and the Kroger 200 Craftsman Truck Series race, on Saturday, October 20, are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX.(10-14-2007)
- Improvements Will Greet Fans At Martinsville: When fans roll into Martinsville Speedway for the SUBWAY 500 next week, they'll notice quite a few not-so-subtle improvements. Almost 10,000 tons of asphalt has been put down, new accessible amenities, including paved parking, have been added and a VIP RV area overlooks the backstretch.
The large display and souvenir area adjacent to the fourth turn is perhaps the biggest eye-catcher among the improvements. Paving of the five-acre display area, along with the souvenir-row area, was completed last week. The paving project will make shopping and browsing in the area more enjoyable for both fans and vendors. At the opposite end of the track, outside of the second-turn area, work has been completed on a paved accessible parking lot with just over 200 spots. Each of the spots is large enough to accommodate accessible vans. The new parking area is close to recently completed accessible seating overlooking the first and second turns. The seats are elevated to eliminate any obstruction by standing fans. Fans will be greeted by the Champions' Overlook above the backstretch. The Overlook is a VIP motor coach lot, offering an amazing view of the entire race track. There has been other extensive work in the speedway's campground during the past few months. The main road to the campground has been paved for about a quarter-mile into the campground. Also large portions of the campground have been leveled or filled to make for a better camping experience. The competitors also will notice improvements. The driver/owner motor
coach lot has been expanded, with unpaved areas graded and paved. Tickets remain for both the SUBWAY 500 on Sunday, October 21, and the Kroger 200 NASACAR Craftsman Truck Series race, on Saturday, October 20, and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(10-12-2007)
- Children Get Free Backstretch Tickets For Subway 500: The Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway just got much more affordable for families. Subway 500 tickets for children 12-and-under are free when an adult purchases a regularly-priced ticket on the backstretch for the October 21 race. The child's ticket must be picked up at the ticket office when the adult ticket is purchased. All children need reserved ticket to get into the backstretch grandstands, so when buying adult tickets, please make ticket agent aware of the number of children's tickets needed. Adult tickets on the backstretch are $47 and $42. Tickets for both the Subway 500 on Sunday, October 21, and the Kroger 200 Craftsman Truck Series race, on Saturday, October 20, are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX. Ticket prices for the Subway 500 range from $40 to $77. Tickets for the
Kroger 200 are $37 in advance. Kroger 200 tickets for children ages 6 to 12 are $5. The Subway 500 weekend kicks off on October 19 with Carilion Pole Day, featuring times trials and practice for the Subway 500. The Kroger 200 is scheduled for October 20 and the Subway 500 on October 21.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(9-11-2007)
- Martinsville Schedules 60th Anniversary Open House: Race fans who have always dreamed of driving on the famed .526-mile oval at Martinsville Speedway will get
their chance during the track's 60th anniversary open house on Sunday, August 26. The guided drive-around of the track will be part of a free, behind-the-scenes fun afternoon at Martinsville Speedway, which is winding down its 60th anniversary season. The drive around is just a small part of the fun on tap for race fans. Famous Martinsville Speedway hotdogs and Pepsi products will be free while supplies last. Guided tours will run continuously from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and will include stops in the press box, corporate suites, the flagman's
stand, the infield and the garage area. There will be NASCAR Whelen Modified and Late Model Stock cars on display along with all of Martinsville Speedway's pace cars. Children won't be forgotten either with the Moon Walk, an inflatable bouncer, on site for plenty of free fun. And local band Fatz will be providing live music during the entire afternoon. Martinsville Speedway's ticket office will be open during the open house. Anyone purchasing tickets to the Subway 500 Nextel Cup race during the open house will be entered in a drawing to
win either a pair of tickets for the Bud Fan Zone or the Pepsi Fan Zone on the morning of the Subway 500. The ticket office will kick off its expanded hours on Sunday, Aug. 26 when it will be open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The following Saturday, Sept. 1, the day of the Made In America Whelen 300 NASCAR Modified Tour race, the ticket office will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Beginning Saturday, Sept. 8, the ticket office will be open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through the Subway 500 weekend Oct. 19-21. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(8-16-2007)
- Champions' Overlook Offers Unique View Of Martinsville Speedway: Martinsville Speedway's new Champions' Overlook will offer the most spectacular race-day view of any RV spots in racing. RV sites in the Champions' Overlook will sit just above the
third-turn and backstretch seats and will allow fans a close-up view of the entire racing surface from the comfort of their RV or their site.
Also included in the overall project is the creation of more level camping spots and enlarging and paving the accessible parking lot. There will be 30 sites in the Champions' Overlook, each site named for a former winner at Martinsville Speedway. More than 20,000 cubic yards, or over 1,500 dump trucks of dirt have been moved in leveling ground for the Champion's Overlook and other RV sites in the backstretch area. That dirt was moved to other areas of the campground to create more level areas for campers. The improved accessible parking lot outside the second-turn area of the track will be easily-served by the Speedway's disabled guest assistance. Tickets for events can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(5-26-2007)
- Martinsville Prez not amused by NASCAR.com report: Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell, one of the most respected track operators on the circuit, was not amused by a column on NASCAR.com that labeled the venerable Southern Virginia track “a dinosaur” doomed for extinction. So Campbell fired back Sunday, leaving no uncertainty to the strength of his convictions about the track built by his grandfather, Clay Earles in the late 1940s. “The future looks very bright for Martinsville contrary to some rumors, some ignorance,” said Campbell. “Everything is good. We've got several things planned for the fall when you guys come back. In the past, the greatest thing this speedway has going for it is the style of racing it has. No one else has the style of racing that Martinsville has, nobody else has the type of atmosphere we have. We don't have the glitz and the glamour of some of the other tracks, but that's the way they started. We have our own unique atmosphere. Does that make us on the hit list for extinction? I don't think so.”(SPEEDtv.com)
AND Martinsville Speedway will make an announcement in the next month concerning changes and upgrades coming to the Virginia race facilities this season. When additional seating is added at the track, Clay Campbell, President of Martinsville Speedway stated it would be on the frontstretch with suites above. Seats can also be added in turns one and two above the suites and press box.(Insiderracingnews.com)
and see another article at Circletrackracing.com)(4-2-2007)
- Great Fan Offers Remain For Goody's Cool Orange 500: Good seats are still available for the Nextel Cup Goody's Cool Orange 500 event scheduled for April 1. In addition there are openings left in fan suite seating along with fan hospitality, featuring Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon. For the first time in its 60-year history, Martinsville Speedway is offering luxury suite seating to fans for the March 30-April 1 events. Each suite pass includes suite seating for Carilion Pole Day on March 30, the Kroger 250 Craftsman Truck Series race on March 31 and the Goody's Cool Orange 500 Nextel Cup race on April 1. Also included with each suite pass will be a pre-race pit pass for the Goody's Cool Orange 500. There will be one Suite Parking pass included for each two suite passes ordered.
Lunch and snacks will be served on Saturday and Sunday and appetizers on Friday. Pepsi products will be served all weekend long. A
cash bar will be available all three days. Earnhardt Jr. and Gordon will headline two separate fan zones prior to the Goody's Cool Orange 500. Earnhardt will appear in the Bud Fan Zone while Gordon will be in the Pepsi Fan Zone. Earnhardt and the Bud Fan Zone and Gordon and the Pepsi Fan Zone will be in separate tents in Martinsville Speedway's hospitality area. Each driver will make an appearance in his respective fan zone for an emceed question and answer session. The Bud Fan Zone and the Pepsi Fan Zone is $99 each. The price includes a ticket to the fan zone, continental breakfast and lunch buffet, Pepsi products and four beer coupons per adult, track tram tour rides from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Martinsville Speedway souvenirs, a Goody's Cool Orange 500 program and door prizes. The $99 price does not include a ticket to the Goody's Cool Orange 500. Each of the two fan zones will open at 8 a.m. Reserved seat tickets also remain for the Goody's Cool Orange 500 and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or visiting
martinsvillespeedway.com online. The Martinsville Speedway ticket office is open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and phones orders may be made from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The ticket office will be open this Saturday, March 24, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(3-27-2007)
- The King named Grand Marshal for Martinsville: Richard Petty, lifetime spokesperson for Goody's Headache Powders, has been named Grand Marshal for the Goody's Cool Orange 500 Nextel Cup race on Sunday, April 1 at Martinsville Speedway. Petty will
be honored throughout the race weekend as Goody's celebrates 30 years in motorsports and Martinsville Speedway marks its 60th year. On Friday evening of race weekend, Petty will be honored at a Goody's 30th Anniversary celebration hosted on the grounds of the Martinsville Speedway. Guests will include NASCAR legends, Cup drivers, team owners and other friends from within the motorsports industry. Petty will also handle the traditional grand marshal duties including saying "Gentlemen, Start Your Engines" to start the Goody's Cool Orange 500. "To be the Grand Marshal at Martinsville and continue to be a part of Goody's rich racing history is truly an honor," said Petty. "Goody's will always be the favorite pain reliever of race fans just as it has been for 30 years. I am a lifetime Goody's user and look forward to a big weekend at one of my favorite tracks - Martinsville Speedway." Petty is NASCAR's all-time record holder with 200 career wins and seven championships. At Martinsville, Petty is the track's all-time wins leader with 15 victories spanning from 1960 to 1979. In its 30 years in the sport, Goody's has sponsored races at Daytona, Bristol, Rockingham and Martinsville. From 1983 - 2000, Goody's sponsored the Goody's 500, the NASCAR Cup race at Martinsville. In 2006, Goody's returned to Martinsville as the race title sponsor of the Busch Series Goody's 250, won by Kevin Harvick. In 2007, Goody's returns as a Cup sponsor at Martinsville with the running of the Cool Orange 500, the first race in a new three-year sponsorship. The race's name recognizes Goody's revolutionary new flavor - Cool Orange. The first flavored powder pain reliever on the market, Goody's Cool Orange provides the same fast pain relief as the original Goody's with a new, fresh orange flavor, in a new convenient stick packs that were specially designed for race fans. Race fans attending the Goody's Cool Orange 500 will have the opportunity to sample the new flavor at the popular Goody's Fast Relief Zone exhibit trackside at Martinsville Speedway. For more information on Goody's Headache Powders, visit www.goodyspowder.com. To order tickets to the Goody's Cool Orange 500, call 877-RACE-TIX (722-3849) or log on to martinsvillespeedway.com.(Lighthouse Marketing/Martinsville Speedway PR)(3-21-2007)
- Ridgeway Clock Helps Martinsville Speedway Celebrate 60th Birthday: Forty-three years ago Martinsville Speedway founder H. Clay Earles decided it was time for a "different" type of trophy for winners at his race track. His choice? A grandfather clock. Specifically a grandfather clock produced by The Ridgeway Clock Company (ridgewayclocks.com), a local furniture manufacturer. On September 27, 1964, Earles awarded the first Ridgeway Clock trophy to Fred Lorenzen, the winner of the Old Dominion 500 that afternoon. The long tradition will continue late on the afternoon of April 1 when Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell awards the winner of the Goody's Cool Orange 500 the latest in a long line of grandfather clocks produced by Ridgeway Clocks. And the newest trophy clock, the Independence Grandfather Clock, is by far the biggest, most striking of all. The Independence Grandfather Clock is the only clock in the world that plays the American chimes of "God Bless America" and "America the Beautiful," along with the traditional Westminster chime. The retail value of this numbered and limited edition is over $11,000. Of all drivers who have competed at Martinsville Speedway, seven-time NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Richard Petty has the most clocks with 12, winning his first in 1967. Jeff Gordon leads all current drivers with seven Ridgeway Clock grandfather clocks. Based in Ridgeway, VA, the Ridgeway Clock Company is America's oldest grandfather clock manufacturer. The company opened as part of the Gravely Furniture Company in 1960 and today is part of the Howard Miller Corporation. Ridgeway Clock is one of the few furniture/clock companies that still builds its heirloom quality clocks in the United States. Today, Ridgeway supplies a complete line of time-keeping products such as grandfather, chiming wall and mantle, gallery wall and outdoor clocks. Good seats remain for both the Goody's Cool Orange 500 on April 1 and the Kroger 250 Craftsman Truck Series race on March
31. Tickets may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(3-16-2007)
- Martinsville Offers Fan Suite Seating: For the first time Martinsville Speedway is offering luxury suite seating to fans for the March 30-April 1 events. Each suite pass includes suite seating for Carilion Pole Day on March 30, the Kroger 250 Craftsman Truck Series race on March 31 and the Goody's Cool Orange 500 Nextel Cup race on April 1. Also included with each suite pass will be a pre-race pit pass for the Goody's Cool Orange 500. There will be one South Lot Parking pass included for each two suite passes ordered. Lunch and snacks will be served on Saturday and Sunday and appetizers on Friday. Pepsi products will be served all weekend long. A cash bar will be available all three days. The cost of the luxury suite seating is $450 per seat. Tickets may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(2-27-2007)
- Martinsville Speedway Offers New Ticket Gift Certificates: Martinsville Speedway is offering gift certificates for sale just in time for Christmas. The gift certificates are good for the purchase of tickets for any of Martinsville Speedway's big race weekends in 2007. The certificates are printed on high-quality paper with a racing-themed background. To purchase a gift certificate or for more information, call 1.877.RACE.TIX or visit martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(12-6-2006)
- Martinsville Cup race sold out: Martinsville Speedway officials announced Saturday afternoon that all of the grandstand
seating for Sunday's SUBWAY 500 NASCAR Nextel Cup have been sold. A limited number of standing-room only seats will be put on sale at 8 a.m. Sunday.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(10-22-2006)
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- Goody's 500 to return to sponsor Martinsville spring Cup race: Goody's Headache Powders will return to historic Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, VA. as title sponsor of the Nextel Cup Series race for the next three years, announced Alan McKirby, Director of Goody's Marketing, and Clay Campbell, President Martinsville Speedway. Next year's Goody's 500 will
be held on Sunday, April 1, 2007. Goody's entered the sport in 1977 and currently holds the record as the longest non-automotive sponsor in NASCAR. The Goody's 500 will mark the 114th running of a NASCAR Cup race at Martinsville Speedway. In its 30 years in the sport, Goody's has sponsored races at Daytona International Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, North Carolina Speedway and Martinsville Speedway. From 1983 - 2000, Goody's sponsored the Goody's 500, the NASCAR Cup race at Martinsville. In 2006, Goody's returned to Martinsville as the race title sponsor of the Busch Series Goody's 250. In addition to sponsoring next year's Goody's 500 at Martinsville Speedway, Goody's sponsors the Goody's Headache of the Race and the Goody's Fast Relief Zone. The Goody's Headache of the Race Award is given to the driver that suffers the worst luck in each week's Nextel Cup and Busch Series race as determined by fans voting online at goodyspowder.com. The Goody's Fast Relief Zone is an interactive NASCAR experience for fans to enjoy and sample Goody's Headache Powders at select NASCAR races including next year's Goody's 500 at Martinsville.
Tickets to the Goody's 500, Nextel Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway are now on sale. To order tickets to the Goody's 500 or for more information, call 877-RACE-TIX (722-3849) or log on to martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(10-21-2006)
- Local Marching Band to play Martinsville National Anthem: Martinsville High School’s Bulldog band is scheduled to make its international debut playing the national anthem Sunday at the Martinsville Speedway’s NASCAR Nextel Cup race. The SUBWAY 500 race will be televised internationally by NBC, according to speedway officials. Mike Smith, public relations director at the speedway, said officials at the track want the national anthem to be played in a traditional style — “the way it’s supposed to be played,” he said. He said the speedway has used small brass ensembles for smaller events, such as some of the Saturday races. But the speedway wanted a bigger sound. “They just sound so good,” Smith said. “We’ve got so much talent right here in our backyard. Why not use it?” The band plans to play “Tribute to America,” “Rocky Top” and “Celebration” in addition to the national anthem.(Martinsville Bulletin)(10-19-2006)
- Good Seats Remain For The SUBWAY 500 At Martinsville: Good seats remain for the SUBWAY 500 Nextel Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway on October 22. In addition to available tickets for the SUWBAY 500, there are plenty of prime seats available for the Kroger 200 Craftsman Truck Series race, scheduled for October 21. Ticket prices for the SUBWAY 500 range from $42 to $77. Tickets for the Kroger 250 are $35 in advance and $40 on the day of the event. All seats are unreserved. Openings also remain in several hospitality packages, including the Ultimate Fan Zone. Dale Earnhardt Jr. will lead a group of three young drivers who will make an appearance at the Ultimate Race Day Experience at Martinsville Speedway on October 22. Tickets for the SUBWAY 500 on Sunday, October 22, the Kroger 200, on Saturday, October 21, and for fan hospitality may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX.(10-4-2006)
- No Busch Race at Martinsville in 2007: The 2007 Busch Series schedule will not include Martinsville Speedway. Martinsville held a stand-alone Busch race this season on the same July weekend Nextel Cup raced at Pocono Raceway. That opening will now go to Montreal, to be held Aug. 4. Martinsville President Clay Campbell said the track was not completely blindsided. "This is something that we knew was possible," Campbell said. "We're not really upset about it. It was tough for us to turn a profit on the race with it being in the middle of the summer. With the Modified, Late Model and Cup race, we were tapping into the same market numerous times in a short time span. It's really OK with us."(Richmond Times Dispatch)(9-26-2006)
- Mark Martin fans will have a rare chance for an up-close experience with the driver of the AAA Ford Fusion prior to the SUBWAY 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 22. Martinsville Speedway and AAA, the official auto club of Martinsville Speedway, are offering a special ticket and hospitality package for the SUBWAY 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race on October 22. The offer, which costs $145 for AAA members and $170 for non-members, includes:
* Tower ticket to the SUBWAY 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race
* Admission to exclusive fan forum with Mark martin
* Admission to AAA member hospitality chalet
* Lunch buffet with non-alcoholic beverages
* Tram tour of track on race morning.
Call 1-877-722-3849 today and ask for the Mark Martin package.(9-26-2006)
- Martinsville Music Teacher To Play National Anthem For Goody's 250: Martinsville City School instrumental music
teacher William Norris will perform the National Anthem on saxophone at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday, July 22 prior to the start of the Goody's 250 NASCAR Busch Series race. Goody's 250 tickets are on sale and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or visiting martinsvillespeedway.com on the web. Tickets are $30 in advance and $40 the day of the event.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(7-21-2006)
- 3 Children From Victory Junction Gang Camp To Serve As Grand Marshals at Martinsville Busch race: Goody's Headache Powders has announced that three children from the Victory Junction Gang Camp will serve as Grand Marshals for the Goody's 250
Busch Series race set for Saturday, July 22 at 3:30pm/et. They include Nick of Clemmons, NC age 13; Will "Cheese" of Greensboro, NC age12; and Danielle of Martinsville, VA age 12. Race festivities kick off on Thursday, July 20th, when the Grand Marshals will visit Martinsville Speedway to tour the track, participate in pace car rides and visit several drivers at their haulers for autographs and photos.
On Saturday, July 22 prior to the running of the NASCAR Busch Series Goody's 250, the three Victory Junction Gang Camp Grand Marshals will attend the drivers meeting, participate in driver introductions, then jointly give the command "Gentlemen, Start your Engines" to start the Goody's 250. Tickets to the NASCAR Busch Series Goody's 250 race on Saturday, July 22 at Martinsville Speedway are now on sale. To order tickets to the Goody's 250 or for more information, call 877-RACE-TIX (722-3849) or log
on to martinsvillespeedway.com.(Victory Junction Gang Camp PR)(7-18-2006)
- Martinsville Speedway's Campbell Honored By EDC: Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell was honored by the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation recently for his help with economic development in Martinsville and Henry County. Campbell received the Ambassador of the Year Award from EDC President and CEO Mark Heath during a Business Appreciation Luncheon sponsored by the EDC and the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes efforts that exceed expectations when hosting local economic development prospects. Campbell has been involved in economic development at both the local and state level. He is on the board of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. Campbell, a lifelong resident of Martinsville and Henry County, used a local community pride slogan in accepting the award.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(5-22-2006)
- Goody's returns to sponsor Martinsville Busch race: Goody's Headache Powder will return to historic Martinsville Speedway as title sponsor of the NASCAR Busch Series race, announced Darren Singer, Vice President of Goody's Marketing for GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare and Clay Campbell, President Martinsville Speedway. Goody's Headache Powder and Martinsville Speedway have agreed on terms for the sponsorship of the Goody's 250, to be held on Saturday, July 22. The Goody's 250 will mark the first time that the NASCAR Busch Series has raced at Martinsville Speedway in over a decade. A total of 33 NASCAR Busch Series races were run at Martinsville from 1982 - 1994.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(5-16-2006)
- No plans to move any of Martinsville or California races: International Speedway Corp. Chief Operating Officer John Saunders says the company has no plans to move any of its NASCAR Nextel Cup races from Martinsville Speedway and California Speedway. Answer questions during a conference call with financial analysts to discuss the company's first-quarter financial results, Saunders today said that overall weekend attendance was down at California for February, but ISC remains bullish on the Los Angeles market. He said that the move of a race from North Carolina Speedway at Rockingham for a second California event beginning in 2004 has resulted in increased ticket sales and sponsorship revenues but has not met the company's expectations.
"While the Southwest is an underdeveloped region for NASCAR racing, we believe it is strategically important to have two major Cup weekends in the nation's second-largest media market," Saunders said. "As part of our long-term growth efforts. We are changing ticket pricing and packaging strategies, as well as adding amenities designed to enhance the fan experience. We remain confident in the long-term success of the California Speedway."
Martinsville is typically the subject of rumors about tracks that might lose a race because it has only 64,000 grandstand seats, about 5,000 more than Darlington, which has one race. All other ISC tracks that have two races have at least 75,000 seats, except the Watkins Glen road course. Martinsville is also located in Virginia, not far from Richmond International Raceway and Bristol Motor Speedway "We have stated previously that realignment, which is a NASCAR initiative, is something that we're very interested in and that we would look in time to markets that are saturated, smaller markets and where we have opportunities to go to larger, underserved markets," Saunders said. "But having said all of that, there are no plans sitting here today to do anything with Martinsville's schedule in 2006, 2007 and no plans beyond that at this point"(SceneDaily.com)(4-6-2006)
- Martinsville to 1 race? Vegas to 2? UPDATE: Might Martinsville Speedway lose one of its two NASCAR Cup dates to Las Vegas next season? Speculation is growing that something like that might be in the works. If so, Martinsville's fall race - in the middle of NASCAR's championship chase - might be the chip on the table between the France family and Bruton Smith.(Winston Salem Journal)(4-1-2006)
UPDATE: Clay Campbell isn't a bit happy with speculation about possible changes at Martinsville Speedway - the track built by his grandfather, the late Clay Earles. But Campbell, Martinsville's promoter, conceded that it might be helpful if the France family's International Speedway Corp., which owns the half-mile track, was more forthcoming about how NASCAR plans to incorporate new speedways in Seattle and New York into the Nextel Cup tour's 36-race schedule. NASCAR officials also have steadfastly insisted that the schedule will not be lengthened. Not only does ISC plan to add Seattle and New York to the tour, but Bruton Smith also is pushing for a second date for Las Vegas Motor Speedway, even though he also is without a specific way to wrangle another date from NASCAR.
It seems that the only solutions are that some current tracks with two Cup races will lose one, or that NASCAR will expand the Cup tour with two new dates.(more at Winston Salem Journal)(4-4-2006)
- Good Seats Remain For Martinsville races: Good seats remain for the DIRECTV 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Series race at
Martinsville Speedway on April 2 despite rumors to the contrary. About this time every spring the Speedway ticket office gets calls
questioning if the event is sold out. Although the DIRECTV 500 is normally sold out before the green flag flies, there are good seats
remaining for the event. In addition to available tickets for the DIRECTV 500 on April 2, there are plenty of prime seats available for the Kroger 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race, scheduled for April 1. Ticket prices for the DIRECTV 500 range from $42 to $77.
Tickets for the Kroger 250 are $35 in advance and $40 on the day of the event. All seats are unreserved. Speedway officials also warn potential ticket buyers to avoid unauthorized independent ticket agencies across the country who are selling tickets far above face value. These agencies have no connection with Martinsville Speedway. They have obtained tickets through over-the-phone or internet orders, without divulging their planned use for the tickets. Tickets for both the DIRECTV 500 on Sunday, April 2, and the Kroger 250,
on Saturday, April 1, may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or see Martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(3-22-2006)
- DIRECTV to sponsor Martinsville Cup race: NASCAR partner DIRECTV, the nation'sleading digital TV service, announced today that it will be the title sponsor of the upcoming NEXTEL Cup Series race in Martinsville, VA on April 2, 2006. In addition to
sponsoring the DIRECTV 500, DIRECTV will also be the primary sponsor of Richard Childress Racing's (RCR) #07 Chevrolet in the race with rookie Clint Bowyer in the driver's seat. In addition to being an associate sponsor of the #07 Jack Daniel's Chevy during the 2006 NEXTEL Cup Series season, DIRECTV will also be the primary sponsor of the #07 Chevy at the Pocono 500 (June 11) and the UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway (October 8).(Martinsville Speedway)(3-8-2006)
- Petty Driving Experience to Martinsville Speedway: The Richard Petty Driving Experience will make its first visit to Martinsville Speedway this spring and offer race fans a chance to see the .526-mile speedway like never before. The 2006 dates will include March 18 and 19 and will offer the Ride Along Experience ($99) where customers ride shotgun with professional instructors for three high-speed laps and the "Martinsville Experience," a custom-driving program ($399) offered only at Martinsville Speedway. Participants in the "Martinsville Experience" will drive themselves for 12 laps after a brief orientation and instruction period. Reservations to drive can be made by calling 1-800-BE-PETTY. There is no reservation required for the Ride Along, which will be offered first-come, first-serve each day.To order tickets for Martinsville Speedway's spring NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race, the Virginia 500, call 1.877.RACE.TIX.(Martinsville Speedway)(1-25-2006)
- Local agencies' response to Martinsville Speedway 'crisis' tested: Local Martinsville, VA officials on Tuesday sharpened their skills in the event of a weapons-of-mass-destruction incident during a NASCAR race. The mock disaster drill, dubbed "Chase to the Green," was designed to evaluate current plans, policies and procedures that would help the Martinsville Speedway and 93,000 visitors in the event of a worst-case scenario. It was held at the county's Public Safety Building on DuPont Road and was called a table-top drill, meaning it involved discussions, not action. In the drill scenerio that unfolded Tuesday, participants learn in January that California and federal law enforcement agencies uncovered a terrorist plot to detonate several bombs at the Rose Bowl and that affiliated terrorist cells in other cities planned attacks at other sports venues. By Feb. 1, the Homeland Security Advisory Systems' threat level is raised to orange.
In early April, after completing security checks, federal, state and local security personnel deem the Martinsville Speedway safe and allow other staff access to it. Race day dawns cool and sunny as thousands of fans make their way into the speedway and things appear normal until about 10:05 a.m. That is when authorities notice a "serious-looking male wearing a heavy raincoat" approaching one of the gates. Authorities detain the man and search him, finding literature on how to make a suicide-bomb vest and a map of the Martinsville Speedway. They also suspect the man came to the speedway with others who already may have passed through the gates. By 10:45 a.m., a small fire breaks out in the kitchen of a hot dog stand. The flame spreads quickly and soon intensifies, engulfing the entire hot dog stand. Shortly after noon, a suspicious-looking car is found abandoned on the roadside and police find several items in the vehicle that could be used to make a bomb. The scenerio built on that theme, culminating in an incident that could have required the evacuation of almost a hundred thousand race fans. After each stage of the drill, members of the Multi-Agency Command Center (MACC), which includes representatives of individual groups and acts as a unified command center in case of an incident such as an attack, discussed ways to improve communications and provide a more organized approach to investigating such incidents. Other groups involved included track officials, local government, law enforcement and representatives from the hospital, health department and other agencies. Another roundtable discussion will be held in the next several months, and the process will culminate with a full disaster drill at the speedway in about two years. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Grants & Training Office, formerly the Office for Disaster Preparedness, and the Alexandria-based consulting firm of Community Research Associates Inc. helped coordinate and facilitate the drill.(Martinsville Bulletin)(12-8-2005)
- Busch Series returns to Martinsville under the lights: Martinsville Speedway will host a Busch Series night race July 22, track and series officials confirmed Saturday. The race, expected to be a 250-lap event, will be held the same weekend the Nextel Cup series is at Pocono Raceway. No other series is scheduled to race with the Busch Series that weekend. Portable lights will be used. Clay Campbell, track president, said there are no plans to add permanent lights.(Roanoke Times)(10-23-2005)
- Texas/Martinsville Date Swap in 2006? UPDATE 2: NASCAR executives are reported to be interested in persuading Texas Motor Speedway to swap its April 9, 2006, Cup weekend with Martinsville's April 2 date, in order to keep the Texas race from going head-to-head against the Masters. However, Texas has already started selling tickets for the April 9 race.(Winston Salem Journal)(10-18-2005)
UPDATE: NASCAR officials have approached Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage about a possible date swap for the 2006 Samsung/RadioShack 500 Nextel Cup weekend. The race in Fort Worth currently is scheduled for April 9, one week after the series visits Martinsville Speedway. Gossage said Fox Network officials would like TMS and Martinsville to swap dates, taking TMS out of a battle for viewers against the Masters -- one of golf's biggest tournaments. "They want to maximize TV ratings [for TMS], and that's a compliment," Gossage said. "But I do want to caution people -- do not move any reservations. It's an ongoing discussion." Gossage said a decision should be announced in "a week or two." In any event, individual tickets for the Samsung/RadioShack 500 and the IRL IndyCar Series Bombardier 500 night race in June will go on sale at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9.(Fort Worth Star Telegram)(10-20-2005)
UPDATE 2: Following discussions with NASCAR over the past few weeks about the feasibility of moving up the April date of the 2006 Samsung/RadioShack 500 race weekend, Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage confirmed today that the event will remain in its previously announced weekend slot of April 6-9. NASCAR, along with television partner FOX, was considering the possibility of the Samsung/RadioShack 500 being moved to Sunday, April 2 so the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race would not have to go head-to-head with the final round of the Masters, golf's marquee event. The move, which would have involved switching dates with Martinsville Speedway, would have further bolstered the television audience for an event that routinely is one of the top rated in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season, but all agreed there were multiple considerations and obstacles that could not be overcome at this juncture. "We discussed the possibility of moving the race date in the best interest of the sport, but ultimately both Texas Motor Speedway and NASCAR decided that we did not want to inconvenience the tens of thousands fans that have already made hotel reservations, airline reservations and bought tickets to the Samsung/RadioShack 500," Gossage said. "The fans always come first, and we will run the Samsung/RadioShack 500 on Sunday, April 9, 2006, as originally announced." The spring event in 2006 will mark the 10th running of the Samsung/RadioShack 500 and seventh of 36 races on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series schedule. Race times will be announced at a later date when available.
(TMS PR)(10-21-2005)
