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)
Subway 500 sold out: Martinsville Speedway officials announced Tuesday's 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 7:30 a.m. Sunday. Tickets do remain for Saturday's Kroger 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. Tickets for Saturday's event, which include two NEXTEL Cup practice sessions, are $35 for adults in advance, $40 at the gate. Tickets for children 6-12 are $5 and children under six get in free.(Martinsville Speedway)(10-18-2005)
ISC to buy Pikes Peak Intl Raceway the close and sell, Busch race to Martinsville: Pikes Peak International Raceway announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell its assets to Rocky Mountain Speedway Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of International Speedway Corporation ("ISC"). Closing of the transaction is expected within the next week, and financial terms were not disclosed. ISC will honor all of PPIR's currently scheduled community uses and rentals through October 31, 2005. After that date, ISC expects to close the facility and begin to market the approximate 1,200-acre parcel for sale. ISC plans to petition NASCAR to realign PPIR’s NASCAR Busch Series event to Martinsville Speedway for 2006. In addition, ISC intends to relocate certain PPIR fixed assets to other racing venues in its portfolio. These assets include grandstand seating, furniture and other equipment and structures that can be utilized for future ISC expansion projects. PPIR’s 16 permanent employees will be given severance packages and a handful will assist in closing the facility. In its nine years of existence, PPIR hosted NASCAR, IRL, AMA, SCCA, USAC and IMSA-sanctioned events.(PPIR)(9-30-2005)
Thompson Named H.Clay Earles Award Winner: Dick Thompson, one of the first public relations representatives in NASCAR, was awarded the H. Clay Earles Award in ceremonies prior to the Advance Auto Parts 500 at Martinsville Speedway Sunday. Thompson was hired by Martinsville Speedway founder Earles in 1966 as the track's first public relations director. At the time he was only the second fulltime public relations person in the sport. Thompson retired from Martinsville Speedway on January 1. The H. Clay Earles Award is presented each spring to a member of the motorsports community for their dedication and contributions to the sport. Former winners include Bill France Jr., Chris Economaki, Bill Joyner and Junie Donleavy.(Martinsville Speedway)(4-14-2005)
Martinsville Pre-Race Highlights: Kroger 250 Truck Race:
National Anthem, Trick Pony
Colors presented by Virginia National Guard
Honorary Grand Marshal, Anthony Edwards of ER fame Advance Auto Parts 500
National Anthem, Bobbie Eakes, from All My Children
Colors presented by Virginia National Guard
Flyover: Four Blackhawk Helicopters, Virginia National Guard
Grand Marshal,Seargeant Sean MaGuire, National Guardsman, giving command live from Iraq.(4-8-2005)
Soap Opera Star to sing Cup race National Anthem at Martinsville: Bobbie Eakes, star of ABC TV's "All My Children" will be performing the National Anthem prior to the Advance Auto Parts 500 at Martinsville Speedway Sunday afternoon. Eakes presently plays the feisty Krystal Carey on "All My Children." Prior to that, she portrayed Macy Alexander on the CBS drama "The Bold and the Beautiful" But it is her singing, not acting, that brings Eakes to the stage for the National Anthem. Eakes also hosts "Top 20 Country Countdown" for the Great American Country cable TV network, which is seen by 27 million people weekly. She recently starred in the feature fillm Charlies War opposite Lynn Redgrave, Olympia Dukakis and Diane Ladd and has guest-starred on ABC's hit comedy "Hope and Faith." Tickets for both the Advance Auto Parts 500 on Sunday, April 10, and the Kroger 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race, on Saturday, April 9, may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway)(4-8-2005)
Truck Series National Anthem by Trick Pony, Actor the Grand Marshal: Trick Pony will perform the National Anthem prior to the Kroger 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway on April 9. During the race, their likeness will emblazon the hood of Bobby Labonte's #47 All-Star Chevrolet Silverado. Labonte. It will be the first of two trips to Martinsville Speedway for Trick Pony in 2005. They will be the featured act for Celebration 2005, the annual free concert at the speedway, set for July 1. The trio - Heidi Newfield, Ira Dean and Keith Burns - will perform their stirring acappella version of the Nation Anthem, the version that garnered national acclaim after they performed it before an Atlanta Falcons' NFL playoff game last winter.
Anthony Edwards is best known for his roles as Dr. Mark Greene on "ER" and Goose Bradshaw in "Top Gun." His favorite role, though, isn't on either the big or small screen; it's the support he gives the Cure Autism Now Foundation (CAN). And it is in that role - as an ambassador for the Cure Autism Now Foundation - that Edwards will serve as honorary grand marshal for Saturday's Kroger 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Martinsville Speedway. Edwards will be a guest of truck series Brandon Whitt and the #38 Clean Line Motorsports team, which will carry a special Cure Autism Now paint scheme for the Kroger 250.
Tickets for both the Advance Auto Parts 500 on Sunday, April 10, and the Kroger 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race, on Saturday, April 9, may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway)(4-8-2005)
Fans can get an 'inside look' at Martinsville: Pepsi will give fans who purchase $40 backstretch tickets to the Advance Auto Parts 500 on April 10 a special "inside look" at race morning with the Pepsi Track Walk. Anyone buying a $40 backstretch ticket between now and race day will be eligible for the Pepsi Track Walk, an experimental, first-time offering at Martinsville Speedway. For $5 extra, fans who purchase a $40 backstretch ticket will be able to walk around the historic half-mile oval. Pepsi will also give participating fans a coupon good for a free 12-pack of Pepsi. The $40 backstretch tickets and the Pepsi Track Walk may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX. Participating fans can take the Pepsi Track Walk between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. on race day. Good seats in other areas are also available for both the Advance Auto Parts 500 and the Kroger 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race.(Martinsville Speedway)(4-8-2005)
Beer sales at Martinsville: For years, the beer that flows into the Martinsville Speedway has come from the coolers NASCAR fans are allowed to tote inside. Soon it will also flow from speedway concession stand taps. Selling beer to race fans, which will begin at Sunday's Nextel Cup race, is one of the changes implemented by the speedway's new owner, International Speedway Corp. The change -- which allows both carry-in and concession-sold beer -- runs counter to a national trend aimed at cutting back on drinking at sporting events. Beer is sold at professional football, basketball and baseball games, but fans are not allowed to bring their own alcohol, and beer sales are usually cut off before the game ends. While some NASCAR tracks have followed suit, Martinsville is not one of them. Although Martinsville will let fans buy 12-ounce cups of beer at concession stands, the speedway is limiting the size of coolers it allows through the gates. Each fan can bring a 6- by 6- by 12-inch container that speedway spokesman Mike Smith called a "six-pack sized cooler." At past races, fans could bring coolers as large as 14 by 14 by 14 inches. Smaller coolers are part of an ISC policy implemented after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Smith said. The goal was make it easier for track officials to search for weapons, not to restrict the amount of alcohol. Until fans adjust to the new rule, the policy could have the practical effect of reducing the amount of beer consumed at the speedway. Some speedways shut down beer stands as the race winds down. But ISC, which added Martinsville Speedway last year to its group of 12 NASCAR tracks, does not. Henry County, Va., Sheriff Frank Cassell said there have been no major problems at the Martinsville Speedway despite typical crowds of about 70,000 fans. It's not that the speedway doesn't have drunken fans. It's just physically impossible to arrest them all, Cassell said. Though about 130 officers working full-time on traffic and crowd control, only the most obvious -- and potentially dangerous -- drunk is likely to get arrested. Last year, authorities made four drunk-in-public arrests during the three-day race weekend in April. At the October race, there were six such arrests. Martinsville Speedway made no public announcement about its plans to sell beer. Lewis said ISC hopes to make money on $3 beers as it restricts the size of coolers filled with cheaper beer.(News and Record)(4-6-2005)
Jackson Hewitt Pole Day Sponsor At Martinsville: With tax day looming the week after the running of the Advance Auto Parts 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race, Martinsville Speedway has found the perfect pole-day partner. Speedway officials announced today that Jackson Hewitt Tax Service will be the sponsor of pole day for the Advance Auto Parts 500. Jackson Hewitt Pole Day will be Friday, April 8, exactly one week before the April 15 deadline for federal tax filing. "We are thrilled to be the 2005 Pole Day sponsor for the Advance Auto Parts 500. We feel this is a great opportunity for us to amp up our presence at Martinsville and connect with NASCAR fans," said Mike Lister, President and CEO, Jackson Hewitt Tax Service. "We are especially excited about the Advance Auto Parts 500 race as we will be the primary sponsor on the #16 Ford driven by Greg Biffle for the first time." Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. is the second largest tax preparation service company in the United States, with over 5,400 franchised and company-owned offices in 49 states and the District of Columbia. Tickets for Jackson Hewitt Pole Day are $15 and may be purchased the day of the event. Tickets may be purchased online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com. Anyone buying an Advance Auto Parts 500 ticket between now and April 1 can receive $5 off the purchase of a Kroger 250 ticket. Children's truck tickets are discounted $1 when bought with an Advance Auto Parts 500 ticket.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(3-15-2005)
Lights at Martinsville for Mod race; Cup soon? NASCAR's modified series will be returning to Martinsville Speedway to run the track's first ever night race - has as much to do with the future as anything else. Southern Virginia's historic speedway is flipping the switch. Joining the trend. Trying to keep up. And for a track faced with an uncertain future, the idea isn't half bad. The lights are only temporary. They'll be brought in three days before the Sept.3 event, whisked away after 250 white-knuckle, open-wheel laps. But in the interim, you can bet speedway officials will be taking notes, and it might not be long until we see a Nextel Cup event here finish after dusk. "It's a good opportunity for our sheriff's department to see how things flow at night," speedway president Clay Campbell said of the Labor Day weekend event. "It's a good opportunity for our operations department to see the problems that we have running at nighttime. So it's good for everybody, for NASCAR and the fans. So it is a good trial run. Who knows what the future holds as far as another event being run at night?"
That's as close as Campbell would come to addressing night-racing's future at Martinsville. But one look at the 2005 Nextel Cup schedule shows you that this is where the sport is heading. More and more, NASCAR wants to appeal to the West Coast television markets, and it's hard to do that at Martinsville when both races, which will start at 12:30 p.m. local time, 9:30 a.m. Pacific, get underway during breakfast in Los Angeles. Permanent lights would allow some flexibility in the scheduling. A 3 p.m. local time start for the October race would be manageable. A Saturday night race could be considered.
Pleasing NASCAR is a must for Martinsville, which was sold last May to International Speedway Corp. Even though it sells out its Cup events and remains a fan favorite, the speedway is in danger of losing one or both of its Cup dates as the sport continues to expand to larger markets. Campbell insists that adding the modified race has nothing to do with such speculation. "There are no [Cup Series] assurances past 2005, but Talladega doesn't have assurances past 2005," Campbell said. "Nobody does. It's a year-to-year deal, and they don't give you any hint whatsoever as to the future. So that's nothing that has changed. It's the same thing it was 5 or 10 years ago. We feel confident moving forward. The money we have spent in the past nine months is probably as much as we've ever spent, redoing the catch fence, moving the railroads. We've spent millions of dollars to improve what we have, and I don't think we'd be doing any of that if we knew our revenue stream would be cut in half." So perhaps a Cup race at night will be just another improvement, but none of that can materialize without careful planning. Serving more than 60,000 fans is complicated enough in the daytime. The modified race, which Campbell hopes can draw 15,000-20,000 spectators, can provide numerous lessons.(Ronaoke Times)(3-9-2005)
Martinsville Speedway Unveils New Ticket Office Hours: Race fans will soon have the opportunity to do some Saturday ticket shopping at Martinsville Speedway. Beginning Saturday, March 12, Martinsville Speedway's ticket office will begin staying open on Saturday's from 9:00am to 1:00pm/et. The expanded hours will be in effect until the Advance Auto Parts 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Martinsville Speedway on April 10. Tickets for both the Advance Auto Parts 500 on Sunday, April 10, and the Kroger 250, on Saturday, April 9, are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX. Advance Auto Parts 500 tickets may also be purchased online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(3-7-2005)
Martinsville Speedway Claims NASCAR.com Fan Award: Martinsville Speedway has been a fan-favorite for just about every minute of its almost 60-year existence. And some things never change. In NASCAR.COM's Third Annual 2004 Fan's Voice Awards, Martinsville Speedway was honored as the "Location You'd Hate to See Lose A Race." And this was not a poll of a handful of fans. Almost 600,000 votes were cast in the online voting, which lasted the last three weeks of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season. The next chance for fans to visit Martinsville Speedway will be the Advance Auto Parts 500 weekend, set for April 8-10. Both the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and Craftsman Truck Series will qualify on April 8 while the Kroger 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race is on April 9. The Advance Auto Parts 500 is set for April 10. Good seats remain for both events and may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(2-25-2005)
Martinsville Speedway Unveils Reserved Camping For 2005: For the first time, Martinsville Speedway will be offering reserved camping in several areas of the Tom Johnson Campground in 2005. The reserved spots will go on sale Wednesday, February 16 and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX. To be eligible to reserve a spot, customers must be a season ticket holder for both the April and October NASCAR NEXTEL Cup events at Martinsville Speedway. Each ticket holder can reserve one spot. Anyone purchasing a reserved camping spot will receive two free tickets for the Advance Auto Parts 500 Pole Day on Friday, April 8. The reserved areas are in four locations: parallel to the backstretch; adjacent to the third turn; near the entrance to the Tom Johnson Campground; and in the north area of the campground. All but a few of the reserved spots are 18 feet wide and 42 feet deep. The reserved spaces are for self-contained specialty vehicles only.The Backstretch and Third Turn reserved spaces are $300 per year and
are renewable. The Campground Entrance reserved spots are $250 per year and are renewable. The North reserved spots are $100 per NASCAR NEXTEL Cup event weekend and are non-renewable. To reserve a spot or for more information, call 877.RACE.TIX.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(2-18-2005)
More FREE Parking at Martinsville: Martinsville Speedway will open three new parking areas for this spring's Advance Auto Parts 500 weekend, adding about 20 acres of free parking within easy walking distance of the track. The new parking areas will serve west-bound traffic off of the U.S. 58 bypass. Fans who park in the new areas will be able to access the track via pedestrian walkway through the Tom Johnson Campground. The Advance Auto Parts 500 weekend is scheduled for April 8-10. Both the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and Craftsman Truck Series will qualify on April 8 while the Kroger 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race is on April 9. The Advance Auto Parts 500 is set for April 10. Good seats remain for both events and may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(2-7-2005)
New Carry-In Policy at Martinsville: To help insure quicker and easier access into events, Martinsville Speedway will have a new policy for carry-in items beginning with the 2005 season. Fans may bring one soft side bag or cooler, no larger than 6 x 6 x12 into the venue. They may also bring in one clear plastic bag, no larger than 18 x 18 x 4. Binoculars, scanners, headsets and cameras, not placed in a bag, but worn separately over the neck or on the belt, and seat cushions carried separately are also allowed. "This is a move we think will help make entry to the grandstands smoother because now gate security will have much less to search, therefore speeding up the process," said Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell. "This policy has worked well at other ISC (International Speedway Corporation) tracks and we believe it will work well here, also." The new policy will go into effect with the Advance Auto Parts 500 weekend which is April 8-10. Examples of approved soft side bags or coolers include a soft side cooler, a scanner bag, a fanny pack, a purse, a diaper bag, or a binocular bag. This one bag may be carried in any manner * by the handle, with shoulder straps or on a belt. The soft side cooler may contain ice. The approved clear plastic bags may not contain ice. Seat cushions with compartments will be reviewed on an individual basis. Fans may continue to bring their own food and beverages into the grandstands as long as it is brought in the approved bags or coolers. All items brought through the grandstand gates will be inspected. Qualifying for both the Advance Auto Parts 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Series race and the Kroger 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race is set for Friday, April 8. The Kroger 250 is scheduled for Saturday, April 9 while the Advance Auto Parts 500 will take the green flag on Sunday, April 10. Tickets for both the Kroger 250 and the Advance Auto Parts 500 are on sale and may be purchased by calling 1-877-RACE-TIX or by visiting the Martinsville Speedway website, www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(1-4-2005)
Cup car and Simulator on hand at Martinsville Toy Drive: Martinsville Speedway's 11th Annual Toy Drive will be capped off with an appearance by a Dale Earnhardt Inc. race car, a chance to ride in a race-car simulator and an appearance by Santa Claus. The toy drive will make its second stop at Martinsville's Wal-Mart on Saturday, December 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will feature a few unique race-fan opportunities while raising toys for needy youngsters in Martinsville and Henry County.
The DEI-owned Kraft Chevrolet that John Andretti piloted to a 13th-place finish in last February's Daytona 500 will be on hand for fans to inspect. This is not a show car, but the actual NASCAR NEXTEL Cup car Andretti drove at Daytona. Also, there will be a DEI representative on hand to answer questions about the car.
Fans will also get a chance to ride in the Advance Auto Parts race car simulator, an experience that comes pretty close to duplicating a ride in a real race car.
Martinsville Speedway's Victory Lane will be on display, giving fans a chance to have their pictures taken in the same spot where drivers like Jeff Gordon and Rusty Wallace have collected the winner's trophy. Also, Martinsville Speedway's 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo pace car will be on exhibit. Santa Claus will make an appearance in Victory Lane at 11 a.m. There is no charge for any of the activities, but the contribution of one new, unwrapped toy would be appreciated. Speedway staff and other volunteers will man the display. Anyone donating toys on Saturday or at the Martinsville Speedway office will be entered in a drawing for tickets for next spring's Advance Auto Parts 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup event at Martinsville Speedway. Other collection sites for the toy drive include all area Advance Auto Parts Stores, all area Kroger stores and Meadowgreen Market in Oak Level. All donated toys will go to local Toys For Tots, handled by the Edward W. Richardson Detachment of the United States Marine Corps League. All toys will stay in the immediate area. For more information, call Karen Parker at (276) 956-8460, Hope Perry at (276) 956-1148, Mike Smith at (276) 956-1543 or Leigh Carter at (276) 956-3919.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(12-7-2004)
Martinsville Speedway Toy Drive To Spend Two Days At Wal-Mart: Martinsville Speedway's 11th Annual Toy Drive took a giant step toward success this week. The Martinsville Wal-Mart will host two days of the speedway's two-week long toy drive. Speedway staff and other volunteers will man a display outside of the Martinsville Wal-Mart on Saturday, Dec. 4 and Saturday, Dec. 11, collecting toys for needy youngsters in the Martinsville and Henry County area. Because of construction work at the track, speedway officials were forced to come up with an alternate plan to the normal day-long event in the speedway's infield. The result is a longer, two-week toy drive with several collection sites, including Martinsville Speedway's main office, all area Advance Auto Parts Stores, all area Kroger stores and Meadowgreen Market in Oak Level. Anyone donating toys at the speedway office will be entered into a drawing for tickets for next spring's Advance Auto Parts 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup event at Martinsville Speedway. The two days of toy collection at Wal-Mart will have a race-track flavor, with Martinsville Speedway's portable Victory Lane serving as the centerpiece. There will be race cars on display each day along with the 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Martinsville Speedway pace car. There will also be autograph sessions featuring NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series drivers. All donated toys will go to local Toys For Tots, handled by the Edward W. Richardson Detachment of the United States Marine Corps League. All toys will stay in the immediate area. For more information, call Karen Parker at (276) 956-8460, Hope Perry at (276) 956-1148, Mike Smith at (276) 956-1543 or Leigh Carter at (276) 956-3919.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(11-27-2004)
No Quaifying Changes at Martinsville: Martinsville Speedway will not be one of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup tracks switching to shortened race weekends in the spring of 2005. NASCAR recently announced a plan to move qualifying from Friday to
Saturday at some tracks to help cut team expenses for 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season. Cars will be impounded after time trials, with no major work allowed before the start of the race. The teams would still practice on Fridays. NASCAR is not mandating tracks to make the change. "We understand NASCAR's intent with this move, but at the same time from our standpoint, qualifying day is a big day for us," said Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell. "We put a lot of people in the grandstands. Spending Friday afternoon at qualifying has become a tradition in this part of the country." The Advance Auto Parts 500 is scheduled for Sunday, April 10, the day after the Kroger 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. Both series will qualify on Friday, April 8. Tickets for both the Advance Auto Parts 500 and the Kroger 250 are on sale and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(11-20-2004)
Construction Projects Continue At Martinsville Speedway: The roar of engines had barely faded into the background after the end of the SUBWAY 500 before construction crews were back working at Martinsville Speedway. By 8:00am on the day after the SUBWAY 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Martinsville last week, crews had begun tearing down the catch fence that separates race fans from action on the track. Two days later the entire fence was gone and work had started on the new, taller fence which will be in place for the Advance Auto Parts 500 on April 10, 2005. The fence will be 21 feet high and curve out over the track. Work continues on the project to relocate the railroad tracks that parallel the backstretch and should be completed before the Advance Auto Parts 500. A good portion of the project was finished before the SUBWAY 500, including all of the grading and earth moving and the construction of a new rail bed. Work should begin on laying new tracks on the rail bed in the next couple of weeks. Once the new section of track is completed, it will be tied into the existing rail line. The new section of tracks will be about 180 feet from the original tracks. Great seats are still available for the Advance Auto Parts 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race on April 10, 2005 for $40 to $72
each. To purchase tickets call the speedway ticket office toll free at 877-722-3849 or order online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com. NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series racing action returns to Martinsville Speedway on April 9, 2005. Tickets for are $35 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-12. All seats are unreserved.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(11-5-2004)
National Anthem at Martinsville: Josh Turner will bring his deep baritone voice to Martinsville Speedway Sunday to perform the National Anthem prior to the SUBWAY 500 Cup race. Turner burst onto the scene earlier this year with his signature song, "Long Black Train," and rode it to stardom. The album has almost sold one million copies. Turner will have a large presence at Martinsville Speedway both Saturday and Sunday, even though he won't be at the track in person until early Sunday morning, prior to the SUBWAY 500. His likeness will be on the hood of the Chevrolet Silverado driven by Bobby Labonte in the Kroger 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on Saturday. It's only the second time that NEXTEL Cup star Labonte has driven in a Truck Series event. It's part of the Chevy Silverado All Star drivers program. Turner will be one of seven stars showcased in the program this season.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(10-21-2004)
National Anthem and other Martinsville Info for the Subway 500: National Anthem: Josh Turner (Country Music performer, Long Black Train) Grand Marshalls: Jared Fogle (Subway) and Subway Franchisee Gary Davis from Statesboro, GA Honorary Starter: Mike Zwally of Subway Color Guard: Virginia National Guard Flyover: Three UH-60ls (Blackhawks) out of the Virginia Army National Guard 2-224th AVN Battalion out of Richmond, Va.(10-20-2004)
Martinsville Cup race sold out: Martinsville Speedway officials announced Monday morning that with the exception of a few seats in the family section, Sunday's SUBWAY 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race is a sellout. Tickets for the Family Section are $40 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. There will be a maximum of two adults with each child's ticket, but there is no limit to the number of children an adult can bring. On race morning, adults cannot enter the gates to the Family Section without a child accompanying them. Everyone sitting in the Family Section must enter through Gate 5. Tickets do remain for Saturday's Kroger 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. Tickets for Saturday's event, which include two NEXTEL Cup practice sessions, are $35 for adults; $5 for children 6-12; and children under six get in free. In addition to the truck race, fans will get to see two NASCAR NEXTEL Cup practice sessions, including happy hour. Action gets underway at Martinsville Speedway Friday with practice and qualifying for both the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased at the ticket window on the day of the event.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(10-18-2004)
Race Fans Can Tour Speedway, Arrington Manufacturing for Charity: Fans arriving early for the SUBWAY 500 at Martinsville Speedway can spend part of Thursday exploring the rich racing tradition of the Martinsville and Henry County area. On Thursday, students in the Patrick Henry Community College Motorsports Program will offer 90-minute race tours, beginning at
Martinsville Speedway, moving to Arrington Manufacturing, manufacturer of Dodge race engines, and concluding at the Patrick
Henry Community College Motorsports site. Traveling in PHCC vans, the tours will begin in front of the Martinsville Speedway ticket office every 30 minutes, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and running until 4:30 p.m.
The tour of Martinsville Speedway will include a stop in the Speedway Suite, a drive around the track, with a photo opportunity at the start-finish line and a ride through the infield and garage area. Each tour guide will offer historical and topical information on the track and will field questions. The tour will leave the speedway and travel to Arrington Manufacturing, a large, state-of-the-art engine manufacturing center founded by Joey Arrington. Fans will get to tour the facility and watch Dodge racing engines being constructed. The tour will wind down at the Patrick Henry Community College Motorsports Program fabrication and setup shops where tour members will watch PHCC students work on race cars under construction. The tour will conclude back at the Martinsville Speedway ticket office. The tour cost is $10 per person or an entire van can be reserved for a group (10 or less) for $100. Those who don't want to take the entire tour may visit just one site for $7.50. The tour is a fundraiser for the Patrick Henry Community College Motorsports Program, but $5 of each ticket sold will go to the Victory Junction Gang Camp. Reservations for the tour may be made by visiting the PHCC website at www.ph.vccs.edu or by calling the college at 276-656-0222. The tour is sponsored by the PHCC Student Motorsports Association, Martinsville Speedway and Arrington Manufacturing.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(10-18-2004)
Sadler gets to feel the new Martinsville Suface: #38-Elliott Sadler drove his way into Martinsville Speedway's "unofficial" record book Wednesday afternoon. Slowly circling the track in the passenger side of track president Clay Campbell's street car, Sadler became the first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series driver to take a lap on Martinsville's recently repaved racing surface. "I got to ride on the race track earlier and it is smooth," Sadler said during a media gathering for the October 24th running of the SUBWAY 500. "In talking to Clay, I know there were a lot of headaches involved in getting the repaving done, but it is unbelievably smooth. It's a big difference from the way the track was. From the concrete to the asphalt, wow, the transition is unbelievable. I'm glad they added another 100 feet of concrete. That will be a lot easier on the motor guys and on the driver. That was always the biggest obstacle here at Martinsville, getting the car hooked up from the concrete to the asphalt." It wasn't the new asphalt and concrete that caught Sadler's eye first, though. "When Clay took me around the track, the first thing I noticed were the SAFER walls. As a driver, we love to see track owners do that," said Sadler. "And not only did he do the corners, he did the inside of the straightaway walls, which is going the extra step." Sadler helped Martinsville Speedway unveil a myriad of changes and additions to the historic facility since the NEXTEL Cup Series last visited in April. The on-track work - the resurfacing and SAFER barriers - were the most evident, but there were more. Stage one of the projects to relocate the railroad tracks which parallel the backstretch is just about finished. Excavation and grading work, which involved the moving of over 100,000 yards of earth, is complete and the new rail bed is ready. Reseeding has begun so campers will have grassy camping spots for the SUBWAY 500 weekend. After the October events, work will begin on laying new tracks on the new rail bed, about 100 yards from the location of the present tracks. The souvenir area outside of the fourth turn has also been enlarged. The old souvenir and display area will be used solely for corporate displays. Souvenir trailers will be located on four tiers built on the slope directly adjacent to the display area. Tickets for both the SUBWAY 500 on Sunday, October 24, and the Kroger 200 NASACAR Craftsman Truck Series race, on Saturday, October 23, are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX. SUBWAY 500 tickets may also be purchased online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(9-23-2004)
SAFER Barriers Up And Ready For Action at Martinsville: Construction work wrapped up early this week on SAFER Barriers at Martinsville Speedway. They will be in use first for the Bailey's 300 Late Model Stock Car race on October 10, followed by the SUBWAY 500 weekend October 22-24. SAFER is an acronym for "steal and foam energy reduction." "We always want our competitors to be as safe as they possibly can be and the SAFER barriers were the next logical step in that direction," said Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell. "I know firsthand from my Late Model Stock experience that hitting the wall is never fun, but at least with the SAFER barriers we have lessened the impact of the hit." The SAFER barriers at Martinsville Speedway cover just over a half mile. They extend 832 feet on the outside wall of the first and second turns; 640 feet on the outside of the third and fourth turns; 706 feet along the inside front stretch wall; and 569 feet along the inside of the back stretch wall. There were a total of 3.02 miles of tube steel used in the project and a total of 364,000 pounds or 182 tons of steel. Almost 9,000 pieces of hardware and fasteners were used. The Elrod Corporation of Mooresville, IN, was the primary contractor on the project. The installation of the SAFER barriers was one of several off season projects at Martinsville Speedway, including repaving of the racing surface, expansion of souvenir area and the first stage of work on the relocation of the railroad track which parallels the backstretch.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(9-23-2004)
Martinsville Speedway Unveils New Ticket Office Hours: With the Chase For The NEXTEL Cup and the Subway 500 looming large, the Martinsville Speedway ticket office has expanded its hours. Beginning Monday, August 30, Martinsville Speedway's ticket office will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The expanded hours will be in effect until the Subway 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Martinsville Speedway on October 24. Tickets for both the Subway 500 on Sunday, October 24, and the Kroger 200 NASACAR Craftsman Truck Series race, on Saturday, Saturday, October 23, are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX. Subway 500 tickets may also be purchased online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(9-1-2004)
Railroad Track Relocation started at Martinsville: Work began this week on the long-awaited relocation of the Norfolk and Southern railroad line that parallels the backstretch at Martinsville Speedway. Crews are working on the excavation portion of the project, preparing a site about 100 yards behind the present location of the tracks for the move. The entire relocation project is expected to be finished by the first week of September.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(7-22-2004)
image courtesy of Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Concrete Done: As afternoon temperatures soared into the high 90s, leaders of the resurfacing project at Martinsville Speedway decided it would be much easier and much more tolerable to pour and spread the concrete in the turns during the cool, early morning hours. With portable light towers ablaze, concrete trucks rumbled into the half-mile track at 2 a.m. both Wednesday and Thursday. By 9 a.m. each day, work was finished, first the third and fourth turns on Wednesday and then the first and second turns on Thursday. Almost 800 yards of concrete 'roughly 80 truck loads' were used for the job. It took about 50 workers from APAC/Ballenger, the project's general contractor, and Boxley Concrete of Martinsville, to complete the task. Work on the asphalt portion of the project should begin within the next week and the entire resurfacing should be finished the first week in August. Tickets for the SUBWAY 500 [Oct 23rd] are available and may be purchased online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com or by calling 877.RACE.TIX. Tickets for the Kroger 200 and the Bailey's 300 may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(7-20-2004)
Martinsville Speedway Image
Winner of Martinsville Sweepstakes: Tampa resident Dave Ogden is the grand prize winner of a prize package valued at $28,400 in the national "Advance to Martinsville Speedway Sweepstakes," sponsored by Advance Auto Parts and FOX Sports Net. Ogden was selected in a random drawing. He received a new 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo - a replica of the pace car used at all NASCAR Nextel Cup Races - a trip for two to the 2005 Advance Auto Parts 500 race at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va., roundtrip coach airfare, hotel accommodations for two nights, a ride in the pace car on the track, a pit tour and $500 spending money. Ogden accepted the keys to the 2004 Monte Carlo at an awards ceremony at the Advance Discount Auto Parts store at 901 East Hillsborough Ave., in Tampa. Advance Auto Parts, Inc. is based in Roanoke, Va., and is the second largest auto parts chain in the nation. With more than 2,500 stores in 39 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, the Company serves both the do-it-yourself and professional installer markets. Additional information about the Company, employment opportunities, services, as well as on-line purchase of parts and accessories can be found on the Company's web site at www.advanceautoparts.com.(PR)(7-31-2004)
Martinsville Sale Completed: International Speedway Corporation completed its acquisition of the half-mile, 63,000-seat Martinsville Speedway in southern Virginia on Tuesday, thus concluding its deal with rival racetrack owner Speedway Motorsports Inc. The purchase price of $192m was financed by the $100m sale of North Carolina Speedway at Rockingham to SMI and $92m in cash. Martinsville hosts two NASCAR Nextel Cup events annually, and two NASCAR Craftsman Truck races. "Today we add a storied facility to the ISC portfolio and increase our roster of premium Nextel Cup events," commented ISC president Lesa France Kennedy. "Martinsville offers several growth opportunities over the long term.”(Speed Channel)(7-15-2004)
Martinsville Work continues: Construction crews continue work on Martinsville Speedway's track. The concrete corners and asphalt straightaways are being replaced. Clay Campbell, president of Martinsville Speedway, said nothing has been determined about whether to ground the corners and how much. When that work was done a couple of years ago, cars could go two-wide in the corners. Campbell said engineers are studying what to do and are using computer simulations in an effort to ensure Martinsville is a two-groove track.(Roanoke Times)(7-3-2004)
Total Resurfacing Of Martinsville Speedway Underway: After a couple of months of thought, research and planning, Martinsville Speedway's racing surface is set for a total facelift. Construction crews began demolition of the concrete in the turns this morning in preparation for a total resurfacing of the .526-mile oval. The project, which includes new concrete in the turns and asphalt on the straights, should be finished by mid-July. Drivers and fans alike will notice a slight change at the exits of the second and fourth turns. The two grooves of concrete will be extended about 100 feet past the exit point of the turns. "Drivers have expressed concern for years about the transition between the concrete and asphalt," said Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell. "In the past they were still trying to accelerate off the corner while they were changing surfaces. Now the concrete will extend out further. It will be less upsetting to the car." The transition point from asphalt to concrete entering the first and third turns will remain the same. "Entering the turn isn't really an issue," said Campbell. Surveying crews spent several weeks carefully charting the racing surface to make sure the finished product was as smooth as possible. "The resurfacing will be done with computer precision," said Campbell. "The track is going to be very smooth; the transition points will be near-perfect." The new surface will get its first test in the Bailey's 300 Late Model Stock race on October 10. The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series drivers will get their first look at the track during the SUBWAY 500 weekend October 22-24. MW Windows Pole Day is scheduled for Friday, October 22, with the Kroger 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race scheduled for Saturday, October 23. The SUBWAY 500 will be run on Sunday, October 24. Tickets for the SUBWAY 500 are available and may be purchased online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com or by calling 877.RACE.TIX. Tickets for the Kroger 200 and the Bailey's 300 may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(6-9-2004)
Update on the new concrete at Martinsville - wider is better?:New track owner of Martinsville Speedway, International Speedway Corp., has decided that Martinsville’s concrete corners would be redone at the same time that the front and back straights are [were] repaved. A question about the worthiness of Martinsville’s concrete came into question during the last Cup event when a large chunk of the track surface tore up, ending up in the nose of Jeff Gordon’s Chevy. Track president Clay Campbell says that track surveys are being done to very accurate tolerances so that the repair can be mapped out very specifically. But most of the track that had asphalt would get a fresh coat and the concrete would be removed and replaced. The big materials exception will come at the exits of Turns 2 and 4; and the current 50-foot concrete footprint will be extended by 100 feet to 150 feet. This change, according to Campbell, is being well received by the competitors because trying to get 850 horsepower hooked up on a concrete to asphalt transition can be problematic. Interesting, concrete was put in the corners of Martinsville’s speedways after many years of losing the battle to keep asphalt in the corners because the cars would tear the pavement loose during a 500-lap event.(Team Ford Racing)(5-30-2004)
Martinsville Tix On Sale - Family Section on May 17th: Tickets for Martinsville Speedway's popular Family Section will be sold in advance for the October 24th running of the SUBWAY 500. For many years, Martinsville Speedway has reserved a section of reduced-price seats in the third-turn area for families, but tickets went on sale the morning of the event. And adults purchasing tickets had to have their children present at the time of purchase. "Last spring was the first time we sold the Family Section in advance and it was a big hit," said Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell. "It's much more convenient for fans to make these purchases over the phone. All the old rules still exist for that section. The only change is fans can now buy in advance." Tickets for the Family Section are $40 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. The tickets will go on sale May 17. There will be a maximum of two adults with each child's ticket, but there is no limit to the number of children an adult can bring. On race morning, adults cannot enter the gates to the Family Section without a child accompanying them. Everyone sitting in the Family Section must enter through Gate 5. When the Family Section tickets go on sale on May 17, they may be purchased by phone (877-RACE-TIX) or by visiting Martinsville Speedway's ticket office.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(5-16-2004)
So...how many seats does Martinsville have? Just how many seats are there at Martinsville Speedway? That's a good question that arises out of Friday's news that the track has been sold to International Speedway Corp. Here are the numbers reported in various sources that all at least seem to be official:
91,000? Capacity listed in the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Media Guide.
86,000? Number of grandstand seats listed on the track's Web site, not including seats in 25 corporate suites.
70,000? Number of seats given by Clay Campbell, the track's president, when he was asked the track's capacity on Friday.
63,000? Number of grandstand seats listed in a news release issued Friday reporting ISC's purchase. That number also did not include seats in the corporate suites.(ThatsRacin.com)(5-15-2004)
Martinsville bought by ISC, Rockingham sold to SMI by ISC: International Speedway Corporation [ISC] announced the following: The Company will acquire the assets of Martinsville Speedway, which hosts two NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series events annually, for $192 million. The acquisition will be funded by $100.4 million in proceeds from the sale of the assets of North Carolina Speedway, which currently hosts one NASCAR NEXTEL Cup event annually, and $91.6 million in cash. Speedway Motorsports, Inc. [SMI] will purchase North Carolina for $100.4 million, as per the terms of a settlement agreement in the Ferko/Vaughn litigation filed with the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division. The Settlement Agreement releases ISC and NASCAR from all claims related to the litigation. The released claims include, but are not limited to, allegations or assertions with respect to the awarding and/or sanctioning of races, the effect of the common control of NASCAR and ISC residing in the France Family Group, and the market power either individually or jointly of NASCAR and ISC. Separately, the Company received NASCAR's approval for the realignment of several NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races within its portfolio beginning in 2005. The net result is the addition of a second Cup event for Phoenix International Raceway and the reduction of Darlington Raceway's event schedule by one Cup date. ISC also intends for Nazareth Speedway's NASCAR Busch and IRL IndyCar events to be realigned to other facilities within its portfolio and will cease major motorsport event operations at the facility after completion of the track's 2004 events. Martinsville Acquisition and Ferko/Vaughn Settlement The acquisition of Martinsville and the sale of North Carolina will happen in a series of transactions that will essentially occur simultaneously. Martinsville is privately owned, and the France family, which controls in excess of 60% of the combined voting interest of ISC, indirectly owns 50% of Martinsville. The addition of an incremental NASCAR NEXTEL Cup date resulting from the Transactions was integral to the Company's decision to settle the Ferko/Vaughn litigation through the sale of North Carolina. Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, SMI will purchase North Carolina for $100.4 million in cash. The sale of North Carolina is expected to close following the satisfaction of conditions as provided in the North Carolina Asset Purchase Agreement and the Settlement Agreement. The Settlement Agreement is subject to Court approval, which the Company anticipates receiving within the next 30 to 45 days. The purchase prices for the assets of both facilities are subject to certain non-material adjustments and prorations at closing, and both are expected to close within the next 30 to 45 days in ISC's third quarter. ISC expects to record an approximate $36 million after-tax gain, or $0.68 per diluted share, from the sale of North Carolina and will reflect the facility's operations as discontinued in the Company's financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles Significant Realignment Initiatives Announced for 2005 NASCAR has approved ISC's proposal for the realignment of several NEXTEL Cup dates, including races at Phoenix, Darlington and California Speedway. Commented John R. Saunders, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of ISC. "In addition, race fans in the Southwest will have another opportunity to experience the excitement of live NASCAR NEXTEL Cup racing. We will install lighting at Phoenix in order for the facility's 2005 spring race to finish under the lights during east coast prime time, typically a time of day with larger television audiences. Also, by realigning Nazareth's Busch and IRL events to other facilities in our portfolio, we believe we can successfully grow these events over the long term at a quicker rate than in their current venue. As such, we are presently working with the various sanctioning bodies involved." ISC will record a non-cash pre-tax charge of approximately $13 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, to reflect the impairment of Nazareth's long-lived assets.(ISC PR)(5-14-2004)
Martinsville now 100% ISC's? UPDATE 2 To be sold to ISC: hearing that Martinsville Speedway, partially owned by ISC, has purchased purchased the remaining 51% they of the track they didn't own. Supposedly Clay Campbell will still run the track.(3-19-2004) UPDATE Denied: been told by folks with Martinsville Speedway that this rumor is no true and is incorrect. Also, the France family owns part of the track, not publicly-owned ISC.(3-20-2004) UPDATE 2: International Speedway Corp.[ISC] will announce today that it has purchased Martinsville Speedway, an industry source said, in what will be a day of several major announcements regarding NASCAR's future. International Speedway Corp., which owns 11 tracks that host Nextel Cup races, will purchase Martinsville Speedway from the Earles and France families, said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity. Clay Campbell, president of Martinsville Speedway, did not return calls. Campbell, who will remain as the track's president, is expected to attend an 11:00am/et ISC news conference at Richmond International Raceway announcing the sale. He'll return to Martinsville Speedway for a 2:00pm/et news conference there. An official with International Speedway Corp. would not confirm the transaction. If ISC purchases Martinsville Speedway, it would mark the first time in five years the company has bought a track that hosts Cup races. ISC bought Richmond International Raceway from Paul Sawyer and his sons in 1999 for about $215 million. Eighteen of the 36 Cup races this season will be held at ISC-owned tracks, including Daytona, Talladega and Darlington. Now a 92,000-seat track that has had 21 consecutive sellouts, Martinsville Speedway will retain its two dates next season, but the future is murky. "I wouldn't be surprised at some point if Martinsville totally goes away," said Tim Conder, a leisure analyst who specializes in the racing industry for A.G. Edwards, one of the nation's largest and oldest investment firms. "I'd put that somewhere on the long-term endangered list." Conder defined "long term" as three to five years. "Who knows what tomorrow is going to bring, but in the foreseeable future I think they're solid on the schedule," NASCAR Vice President Jim Hunter said of Martinsville's future. Hunter would not say whether that meant for one or two races a year.(in part from the Roanoke Times)(5-14-2004)
More on Martinsville Resurfacing: Martinsville Speedway is expected to have new concrete installed in each of its four corners, track president Clay Campbell said Thursday. Campbell says he expects board approval early next week and work on the corners to begin in about two weeks. The NASCAR Nextel Cup Series returns to Martinsville on Oct.24 and is a part of the season-ending 10-race chase for the championship. The repaving is a result of three potholes that developed during the Cup race there last month, delaying the race 77 minutes. The largest pothole measured one foot wide, one foot long and 4 inches deep. Jeff Gordon's car ran over a portion of the broken concrete and suffered right front damage while running second. He finished sixth to winner Rusty Wallace. "Had that problem not cropped up race day we probably wouldn't do it," Campbell said of pouring new concrete. "There's nothing to say that wouldn't happen again. Now is the time to do it." The lower groove of concrete was poured in the corners in 1976. The middle groove of concrete was poured in 1981. The company that will pour the concrete this time also did the work at Nashville Superspeedway. Once the new concrete settles, Campbell must decide which groove to grind. Track officials ground the lower groove a couple of years ago. While drivers could run there, they began to move to a higher groove that wasn't as bumpy and the track had two lanes for cars to run. The concrete work is part of a track resurfacing. The asphalt straightaways will be repaved in a project that was planned before the April race. Campbell says his goal is to have both projects completed July1. The track hosts a July2 fireworks show and concert. Campbell says that event won't be affected if there are construction delays.(Roanoke Times)(5-7-2004)
Martinsville Re-paving underway...concrete next? Martinsville Speedway expects to have a completely new racing surface ready in time for October's NASCAR Subway 500, according to Clay Campbell, track president. After a foot-long hole in the concrete on turn 3 damaged Jeff Gordon's car and delayed last month's Advance Auto Parts 500 for 77 minutes, Campbell began considering whether to replace all of the track's concrete. There's a "98 percent chance the concrete will be redone," Campbell said on Wednesday morning. Campbell said he traveled to Nashville, Tenn., last week to examine the concrete surface of its track in anticipation of redoing the speedway. He "looked at the smoothness and what kind of texture and finish" the concrete had to help decide whether replacing Martinsville's corners would prevent further damage in the long run. The hole that delayed last month's race "happened in an expansion joint," Campbell said, "so who knows if it will happen again." Even if the concrete is not replaced, the speedway will have new asphalt straightaways. Crews began tearing up the track's asphalt on Monday, Campbell said, adding that the work is a scheduled project and has nothing to do with the incident last month. The concrete replacement would be completed before new asphalt is laid, Campbell said, to ensure the asphalt work is not damaged by the heavy equipment needed to pour the concrete turns. Campbell met with Apac Construction, which is doing the asphalt work, on Wednesday afternoon to discuss moving forward with the concrete replacement. No final decision was made, however, according to speedway Director of Public Relations Mike Smith. If a decision on the project is made soon, Campbell said, the entire new surface will be ready by the middle of June. After the October race, Smith said the speedway will install SAFER (Steel and Foam Energy Reduction) barriers in the corners to reduce the risk of injury to drivers when a car hits the wall. Because of the crossover gate in turn 4, Campbell said, the speedway needs a special design. The University of Nebraska is studying how to implement the barriers, Campbell added, which should take 3-4 months. The speedway also is set to begin expanding along its backstretch after Norfolk Southern Railroad agreed to move its tracks back about 200 feet, Campbell said. The project should begin in about two weeks, he added, and the extra space will allow the speedway to add seats starting as early as Jan. 2005. No more than 3,000 seats will be put in at a time, Campbell said, adding that the final result could be a 35,000 seat grandstand with suites on top to match the front stretch. The expansion will be gradual, Campbell explained, to monitor the demand for more seats. Campbell added that he is not actively looking to sell the speedway, but is always open to offers. "As long as we're here there's always the possibility of someone coming here and buying us," he said.(Martinsville Bulletin (one day article))(5-6-2004)
Martinsville to redo - whole surface? Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell says he might replace all the concrete in the track's corners but won't decide what to do for another week. Martinsville has concrete corners and asphalt straightaways. The straightaways will be repaved starting in early May. Campbell spent part of Tuesday examining Nashville Superspeedway, a concrete track, and talking to track officials and concrete experts. Portions of Martinsville's concrete corners broke apart during the Advance Auto Parts 500 there earlier this month. That created potholes, including one that was a foot long, a foot wide and 4 inches deep. Part of the concrete that came apart damaged Jeff Gordon's car as he ran in second place, ruining his chances to win a third consecutive race there. Track repairs delayed the race 77 minutes. Campbell's dilemma is if he repairs only the potholes how likely will other potholes emerge? If he pours new concrete what does he do to keep Martinsville a two-groove track? "I'm leaning toward doing it all so we know we won't have that problem at all," Campbell said pouring new concrete in the corners. "Our biggest problem is how do we do it and still have two grooves." Campbell had the lower groove grounded a couple of years ago. While drivers could run on that, they began to move to a higher groove that wasn't as bumpy and the track had two lanes for cars to run. So why not just ground the track the same way? "I wouldn't want to go back in with new concrete and grind it to that extent," he said, adding he could ground the higher groove and leave the lower groove alone. "It was actually more than what we anticipated being done to it. It worked out OK. I think there are ways to accomplish it without going to that extreme, whether that be variable banking." So more banking at Martinsville? "A few degrees, make that bottom lane a little bit flatter," Campbell said. "I don't know that if it's really the way to go with the turns being what they are here. I'm not sure it would accomplish what we want."(Roanoke Times)(4-28-2004)
Campbell to examine Nashville: Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell said he plans to go to Nashville Superspeedway on Tuesday and examine that concrete track. Portions of the concrete corners came apart during last weekend's Cup race at Martinsville, and Campbell is looking into whether a small section needs to be repaired or the entire concrete sections redone. The concrete for the lower groove was poured in 1976. The second groove was poured in 1981 at Martinsville. Nashville's concrete was poured in the fall of 2000. The Busch series raced there earlier this month. "Nashville seems really smooth, nice with a lots of grip," said Robby Gordon, who finished fifth in the Busch race there. Any new work done might require a Goodyear test, but a Goodyear official said he didn't anticipate the company needing to make a new tire for Martinsville.(Roanoke Times)(4-25-2004)
Martinsville Repaving but NOT re-concreting UPDATE: Martinsville Speedway's aged asphalt, which has been in place since the mid-1980s, is set to be replaced, track officials revealed Sunday However, the concrete portion of the .526-mile oval, which developed three holes during Sunday's race, will not be touched, save for re-assessing and repairing what caused the problem.(more at NASCAR.com)(4-19-2004) UPDATE: A resurfacing job scheduled to begin next week at Martinsville Speedway may get a lot more extensive if inspection crews find more evidence of failing spots in the concrete turns. A large chunk of cement came loose in the lower groove of the third turn during Sunday's NASCAR Nextel Cup race, leaving a pothole about a foot wide by a foot long and a depression as deep as 3 inches. The race was red-flagged after Jeff Gordon ran over the chunk and damaged his car, and repairs to the track took over an hour. Track president W. Clay Campbell said Monday he still doesn't know what caused the cement to come loose. He said the track had been inspected after a truck race Saturday night and nothing appeared wrong.(ThatsRacin.com/AP)(4-20-2004)
Martinsville Work to Begin Soon: As soon as the checkered flag drops at Sunday’s Advance Auto Parts 500, work will begin on Martinsville Speedway’s $3 million capital improvements plan. The plan includes relocating the railroad trucks that run parallel to the backstretch of the speedway, repaving the race track and installing “soft walls.” After several years of negotiations with Norfolk Southern, the railroad company agreed to allow the speedway to move the tracks about 100 yards away from the backstretch. While there are no immediate plans to add more seating, moving the railroad tracks could make room for about 30,000 additional seats. The relocation of the tracks will begin in May and is scheduled to be completed before NASCAR returns to the speedway in October. Crews will begin repaving the race track this summer. Following the October races, crews will begin installing SAFER barriers, commonly known as soft walls, in the turns of the track. SAFER barriers will be the final addition of Martinsville Speedway’s $3 million capital improvements plan. The plan will complement the $17 million in improvements that have taken place at the speedway since 1988. The speedway has expanded from 750 seats in 1947 to nearly 90,000 seats.(Danville Reister and Bee)(4-16-2004)
Cup Race sold out at Martinsville: Sunday's Advance Auto Parts 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race was announced a sellout yesterday by Martinsville Speedway. Tickets remain for Friday qualifying and Saturday's Kroger 250 Craftsman Truck race. Tickets for Saturday's event, which include two NEXTEL Cup practice sessions, are $35 for adults; $5 for children 6-12; and children under six get in free.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(4-13-2004)
Tickets Remain For Races at Martisnville: Don’t let anyone try to tell you there aren’t tickets remaining for the Advance Auto Parts 500 at Martinsville Speedway because good seats do remain. Every spring about this time the Speedway ticket office gets calls questioning if the event is sold out. Although the Advance Auto Parts 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race is normally sold out before the green flag flies, there are good seats remaining for the event. In addition to available tickets for the Advance Auto Parts 500 on April 18, there are plenty of prime seats available for the Kroger 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race, scheduled for April 17. Ticket prices for the Advance Auto Parts 500 range from $40 to $72. Tickets for the Kroger 250 are $35 and 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. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competitors will time trial for the Kroger 250 at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, April 16 while qualifying for the Advance Auto Parts 500 is set for 3 p.m. Tickets for qualifying are $15 for adults and children under 12 get in free. The Craftsman Truck Series racing action begins at 1 p.m. on April 17 when the green flag waves on the Kroger 250. Tickets for the Kroger 250 are $35 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-12. All seats are unreserved. Great seats are still available for the Advance Auto Parts 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race for $40 to $72 each. To purchase tickets call the speedway ticket office toll free at 877-722-3849 or order online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com. Martinsville Speedway’s ticket office is open seven days a week, from 9 to 7 Monday through Friday; from 9 to 3 on Saturday; and from 1 to 4 on Sunday.(Martinsville Speedway PR) also check out Jayski's Ticket Links page sponsor, Premiere Sports Travel.(4-6-2004)
Martinsville to lose a date? Kansas to get it? International Speedway Corp. is considering adding a second tour date at Kansas City next spring, possibly in May, and that could come at the expense of a Martinsville race.(Winston Salem Journal)(3-22-2004)
SAFER News - Martinsville coming too: There's been some discussion to the pace of the rollout of the SAFER barriers, and the order in which tracks are having the barriers installed. Hunter told TFR today that the pace at which SAFER barriers are being installed has nothing to do with venue, but rather logistics. Debate came to the SAFER barrier project when the two fastest venues of the tour, Speedway Motorsports Inc.s' Atlanta Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway, noted they'd not have the energy absorbing walls installed in time for their 2004 NASCAR events. "There was absolutely nothing to any of the stories on the timeline," Hunter said. "We set up a schedule for [Dr. Dean] Sicking [of the University of Nebraska] and his folks to visit the different tracks. [NASCAR's] Gary Nelson, Dean Sicking and his group met with a representative of SMI, Wes Harris. I guess he's sort of their construction manager and in the process I think the communication got lost and then with Humpy saying that he wanted his engineers to look at it and all those kinds of things, everybody is on board with the SAFER walls." Martinsville Speedway, a half-mile track located in Southern Virginia, will also not have SAFER installed for their spring event, but hopes to have them installed for their October event. Martinsville poses a problem for the engineers due to its single point of entry (a cross-over gate located in Turn 4) to the infield area. Sicking's engineers have got to devise a solution where the SAFER can be installed to the moveable gate. "I think you'll see them at most of the tracks this year and certainly in 2005," said Hunter. "I don't think there's anybody out there that doesn't agree that the SAFER walls are the way to go."(Ford Racing)(3-22-2004)
Martinsville now 100% ISC's? UPDATE Denied and SAFER: hearing that Martinsville Speedway, partially owned by ISC, has purchased purchased the remaining 51% they of the track they didn't own. Supposedly Clay Campbell will still run the track.(3-19-2004) UPDATE: been told by folks with Martinsville Speedway that this rumor is no true and is incorrect. Also, the France family owns part of the track, not publicly-owned ISC.(3-20-2004) AND - No Sale and SAFER: Clay Campbell, president and general manger of Martinsville Speedway, says he is not selling the track. Campbell owns 50 percent of the track with the France family owning the other half. "It's been in my family from Day1," Campbell said. "We have never had any desire to get out of the business. I like what I do. The rest of the family that is involved in it, they like it. Really we have no reason at this point to do it. I'm not saying it will never be done because I can't look that far down the road. Going forward, if something came along that was worth looking at it, yeah, we'd look at it. Right now, I'm not going to do it. I want to preserve the history of Martinsville Speedway and continue with the great racing we have there now and carry it on down the road." Also, Campbell says he expects to have the SAFER energy-absorbing barriers installed after the October race. TIX for SALE: Tickets remain for Martinsville's Truck race April 17 and Cup race April 18. Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-877-722-3849.(Roanoke Times)(3-20-2004)
Trace Adkins To Headline Celebration 2004 at Martinsville: Speedway officials announced recently that Trace Adkins, one of the hottest artists in country music over the past two years, will be the headlining act for Celebration 2004, the annual free event scheduled for July 2. It is the sixth year for the celebration, which is staged as a way for local industry and government to say “thank you” to the citizens of Martinsville and Henry County. For the past two years, the Louisiana-born Adkins has carved out an almost permanent spot at the top of the country music charts. His latest album, “Comin’ On Strong,” was released to critical acclaim earlier this month. In two weeks it has sold over 100,000 copies and is in the top 10 of Billboard’s country album’s chart.
Celebration 2004, a free-to-the-public event, has always drawn the financial support of local government and industry. Already signed on to back this year’s event are the City of Martinsville, Henry County, Hooker Furniture, Stanley Furniture, American of Martinsville, Martinsville Speedway Children’s Foundation and Martinsville Speedway.
Last year Tracy Byrd played to an estimated crowd of 40,000 for Celebration 2003. Previous entertainers for the event include Montgomery Gentry, Charlie Daniels, Aaron Tippin and Confederate Railroad. Last’s year’s opening act, Domino, will return for a second appearance, warming up the crowd for Trace Adkins. The Independence Day Celebration will begin at 3:00pm on July 2, with an all new and improved lineup of carnival-type rides for youngsters. There will be no charge for the rides, which continue until 8:00pm. Domino will take the stage at 7:00pm followed by Adkins at 8:30pm. The grand finale of the day will be a fireworks display, set to begin around 10:00pm/et on July 2.(Martinsville Speedway PR)
(12-23-2003)
Are you still looking for that perfect Christmas gift? Are you tired of fighting mall traffic and crowds? Give a call to Martinsville Speedway, 877.RACE.TIX, or visit their website, www.martinsvillespeedway.com, and order tickets for that race fan in your life. The ticket office will be open until noon on December 23 and will be glad to help you out with that late gift.(12-18-2003)
Martinsville Speedway President Receives Award: Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell was awarded the Jack Dalton Community Service Award Monday night by the Henry County Board of Supervisors. The award is based on community service and dedication to Henry County and its residents and is considered the most prestigious award presented annually in the county. The 43-year-old Campbell was chosen by the Board from nominees presented by Henry County residents. Campbell has served as president of Martinsville Speedway since 1988, but he has been a part of the track virtually from his birth. Campbell’s grandfather, the late H. Clay Earles, founded the track in 1947 and the family has operated the facility ever since. Campbell began his full-time career at the track as a member of the maintenance staff while he was a teenager. During his tenure as president, Campbell has been the driving force behind multiple upgrades and expansions that have kept the facility at the forefront of all NASCAR tracks. Campbell also is a community leader. He and his staff play host to and help underwrite the costs of the community’s annual July 4 celebration, which is a free event that includes children’s rides, a free concert and a fireworks display. The facility also plays host to an annual Toy Drive and Souvenir Day at which toys are collected for area children. This year’s event, held last Saturday, collected more than 3,200 toys for needy children in Martinsville and Henry County. Campbell also has established the Martinsville Speedway Children’s Foundation, which assists area young people through many avenues. He is a past president of the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce and serves on many local boards and commissions. The award is named for the late Jack Dalton, who served on the Board of Supervisors for more than 24 years. Dalton, who represented the Collinsville District on the Board, was serving as the Board’s chairman at his death on May 24, 2000. Campbell is the third recipient of the Jack Dalton Award. Bill Adkins won the award in 2002 and Dr. Calvin Rains in 2001.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(12-17-2003)
Despite Cold Weather, Martinsville Speedway Toy Drive Has Record Day: Race car rides were a hot ticket on a cold day at Martinsville Speedway Saturday, but even they couldn’t match the heart-warming generosity of the hundreds of race fans who turned out for the 10th Annual Toy Drive and Souvenir Day. More than 2,700 toys were collected for the local Toys For Tots drive and over $7,500 raised for the Martinsville Speedway Children’s Foundation. Both totals are record numbers for the event. Fans also had the opportunity to visit the Winston Cup souvenir trailers onsite, picking up last-minute Christmas presents. There were also several show cars on hand to view, along with the opportunity to get autographs from weekly racing drivers Mullins, Jason Merriman, Timothy Peters and John Smith. The Advance Auto Parts Race Car Simulator gave fans a chance to experience a real Winston Cup race at Martinsville Speedway. More than $1,700 was raised in a silent auction of racing-related items, including an autographed Jeff Gordon jacket and a hat autographed by Matt Kenseth, the 2003 Winston Cup champion.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(12-15-2003)
Toy Drive: Truck Series driver, Jon Wood will have the holiday spirit when he donates his time to help the kids near his hometown. Wood will sign autographs at Martinsville Speedway’s 10th Annual Toy Drive on Saturday, December 13 from 2:00-3:00pm/et.
Martinsville is located only 30 miles from Wood’s hometown of Stuart, Va., and Wood has always considered it his home track. The
price of admission to the event is the donation of a toy to help less fortunate children in the area.
“It’s a great cause to help a bunch of kids in the area that might not find a lot of gifts under their Christmas trees. The more people that attend this event, the more toys we can collect. When the speedway asked me if I would participate I figured it was the least I could do to help the people in the community who have supported me for the years I’ve been racing.” Wood won the NASCAR Craftsman Truck race at Martinsville Speedway in October. It was a special win for Wood since many of his family members and friends were in the grandstands cheering for him.
“This area will always be home to me, and a lot of people are going through some tough times right now with layoffs. They might not e able to afford to buy much for their kids. I’ve been lucky enough to have a great season this year and I am very blessed in many ways.
I’m looking forward to helping make the holiday season a little better for some deserving kids.”(11-20-2003)
Martinsville Speedway Family Section Tickets can be bought in advance: In an effort to make race morning a little easier for fans, Martinsville Speedway will offer advance ticket sales for its Family Section beginning with the Advance Auto Parts 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race on April 18. For many years, Martinsville Speedway has reserved a section of reduced-price seats in the third-turn area for families, but tickets went on sale the morning of the event. And adults purchasing tickets had to have their children present at the time of purchase. Tickets for the Family Section are $40 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. The tickets will go on sale December 15. There will be a maximum of two adults with each child’s ticket, but there is no limit to the number of children an adult can bring. On race morning, adults cannot enter the gates to the Family Section without a child accompanying them. Everyone sitting in the Family Section must enter through Gate 5. When the Family Section tickets go on sale on December 15, they may be purchased by phone (877-RACE-TIX) or by visiting Martinsville Speedway’s ticket office.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(11-26-2003)
Get The Broom Out:
1) The Martinsville sweep by #24-Jeff Gordon was the first by a driver since Rusty Wallace won both races there in 1994 and first Chevy driver since Darrell Waltrip did it in 1989.
2) The Martinsville sweep from the POLE by Jeff Gordon has only happened once before, in 1964 by Fred Lorenzen.
3) Jeff Gordon became the fourth driver to sweep two races at one track this season. He joins Kurt Busch (Bristol), Johnson (New Hampshire) and Newman (Dover).(10-20-2003)
There have been eleven winners in the last eleven races at Martinsville from the fall of 1997: Jeff Burton, Bobby Hamilton, Ricky Rudd, John Andretti, Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Tony Stewart, Dale Jarrett, Ricky Craven, Bobby Labonte and Kurt Busch.(4-12-2003)
Jeff Gordon ended the streak at 11, it now stands at seven.(4-13-2003)
New Fall Martinsville sponsor in 2004: In 2004 the two Craftsman Truck Series races at Martinsville Speedway will carry Kroger sponsorship. They will be called the Kroger 200 and the Kroger 250. Advance Auto Parts, who had been the primary sponsor of the truck races, will step up and take on the fall Winston Cup race. It will be called the Advance Auto Parts 500.(Insider Racing News)(10-18-2003)
Jared at Martinsville; National Anthem: the Co-Grand Marshals of the Subway 500 at Martinsville will be Jared Fogle (the guy in the Subway commercials who lost all the weight eating Subway) and David Lambo (of Subway). The National Anthem will be sung buy Lori Beth Hogan. Other pre-race dignitaries include: Virginia Governor Mark Warner, Miss Virginia Nancy Redd, Mark McFarland Dodge Weekly
Racing National Champion.(10-16-2003)
Martinsville offers FREE Tickets: Martinsville Speedway officials announced that all workers who lost their jobs when the Pillowtex plant in Fieldale, VA closed earlier this year will have the opportunity to attend two events free of charge this fall at Martinsville Speedway. Displaced Pillowtex workers will have the chance to receive two tickets each to the SUBWAY 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race on October 19 and the Taco Bell 300 Late Model Stock Car race on October 5. The Fieldale [VA] Pillowtex workers will have two chances to pick up their tickets at Martinsville Speedway’s ticket office. The first pick-up date is Tuesday, September 30, and the second is Thursday, October 2. These are the only two times the tickets will be available. The ticket office is open from 8:00am to 5:00pm/et. Proof of Fieldale [VA] Pillowtex employment must be shown when tickets are picked up. A company ID is preferred, but other methods will be accepted along with a picture ID. Three of Martinsville Speedway’s sponsor partners, Advance Auto Parts, Pepsi and SUBWAY, have also stepped forward to help with the project. Each set of tickets will be accompanied with a voucher good for two Pepsi soft drink products at Martinsville Speedway concession stands during the events. Advance Auto Parts is supplying discount Coupons for items purchased at any Advance Auto Parts stores. And Chip Brunner, who owns the four local SUBWAY franchises, has supplied discount SUBWAY coupons.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(9-28-2003)
Martinsville Tix Still Available: Good seats remain for the October 19th Subway 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race at Martinsville Speedway. For tickets call toll free at 1-877-RACE-TIX or 1-276-956-3151 or visit www.martinsvillespeedway.com for more information.(9-12-2003)
Martinsville Extends Tix Office Hours: Martinsville Speedway’s ticket office will be expanding its ticket hours on September 6 to make it easier for fans to purchase tickets heading into the SUBWAY 500 October 19. Beginning on Saturday, September 6, the ticket office will be open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through October 18. And beginning Monday, September 22, the speedway’s ticket office will be open an hour earlier each day, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets are always available 24 hours a day on the speedway’s web site, www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(9-10-2003)
Campground Stuff: Campers headed to Martinsville Speedway for the SUBWAY 500 on October 18 will notice a few changes in campground policies. The campground will open on Monday, October 13 at 8 a.m. When campers check into the campground, they will not be allowed to reserve any camping spots except the one they will be utilizing. The staging area for the campground has been moved to the bus parking lot. Signage will direct campers to the new staging area, about ¼ mile from the campground.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(9-10-2003)
The Virginia Motorsports Initiative: Gov. Mark R. Warner announced Wenesday, a program to transform the state's NASCAR venues and other motor sport centers into engines for job creation and tourism, especially in economically depressed Southside and southwest Virginia. Standing in the pit of the 88,000-seat Martinsville Speedway, Warner (D) announced the launch of the Virginia Motorsports Initiative, a public-private partnership that he said will help "grow" jobs from the state's far southwestern tip to its midsection, a region where recent unemployment rates have climbed as high as 14 percent. Warner said several state agencies will help promote popular racing locales such as Bristol, Martinsville and Richmond as magnets for engine builders, component makers, race car teams and other sectors of an industry that has grown dramatically as a spectator sport -- and even boosted the Democrat's own 2001 campaign for governor. (see full story at the Washington Post)(8-14-2003)
Advance Auto Parts To Sponsor Martinsville Speedway’s Spring NASCAR Nextel Cup Event: Martinsville Speedway and Advance Auto Parts announced this morning that Advance Auto Parts will be the title sponsor for the spring NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Martinsville Speedway. The Advance Auto Parts 500 is scheduled for April 18, 2004. The companies have agreed to a two-year contract with an option for a third year. Financial details were not released. While it is the first NASCAR Nextel Cup endeavor for Advance Auto Parts, the Roanoke-based company and Martinsville Speedway have enjoyed a long history together. Most recently, Advance Auto Parts has been the title sponsor for the two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races at Martinsville. Additional information about the company, employment opportunities, services, as well as on-line purchase of parts and accessories can be found on the company’s web site at www.advanceautoparts.com. In a 2002 poll of race fans by a major publication, Martinsville Speedway was voted as the top bargain in all of Winston Cup racing as well as the track having the best view of the action.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(8-8-2003)
Martinsville Speedway’s New Seats Go On Sale July 29: Workmen are putting the finishing touches on the new South Terrace grandstand at Martinsville Speedway, with a completion date set for July 28. And that means tickets for those new seats will go on sale July 29, in time for the SUBWAY 500 October 19 SUBWAY 500, tickets will be available to purchase at 9:00am/et on July 29, both by phone, 877.RACE.TIX, and via the track’s website, www.martinsvillespeedway.com. The new South Terrace overlooks the first and second turns at Martinsville Speedway, offering a spectacular view of the track from above the suites and press box. The seats not only overlook the first and second turn action, but also are directly above the first dozen or so pit stalls, giving fans a birds-eye view of the frontrunners’ pit action. For fans’ convenience, restrooms and concession facilities have been added directly under the new stands. Tickets for the new South Terrace are $75. Under Martinsville Speedway’s preferred seating plan, anyone purchasing a seat for the 2003 SUBWAY 500 will have the option of purchasing that seat again for the 2004 SUBWAY 500.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(7-18-2003)
Martinsville Confirms 2004 dates: Martinsville Speedway officials on Friday confirmed the dates of the short track's two Winston Cup dates for the 2004 season. The tracks two dates will be April 18 and Oct. 24. The April date is a week later than this season due to the Easter holiday. The October date is also about a week later than this season's fall date. Martinsville also continues to expand grandstands in the center of Turns 1 and 2 above the current press box and suites area.(Thatsracin.com). Added Martinsville to my Unofficial 2004 Nextel Cup Race Schedule page.(7-5-2003)
Martinsville Speedway Construction Projects Right On Target Despite a near-record rainfall of over 11 inches in the past 30 days, work on two construction projects at Martinsville Speedway is right on schedule. Both the new entrance into the speedway and a new section of high-rise seats in the first and second turn area of track will be completed in plenty of time for the Subway 500 Winston Cup race on October 19. Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell said the new section of seats should be finished by mid-July. The new entrance should be finished by September, Campbell said. The new entrance will enter speedway property from U.S. 220 at about the same spot as the present entrance, but will immediately veer to the left and cut through the track’s main public parking area. There will be four lanes for vehicular traffic and two lanes for pedestrian traffic. The construction is also giving the entrance to the track a facelift. Gone is the large “Martinsville Speedway” sign that sported a marquee and the time and temperature. It will be replaced with a new, state-of-the-art sign marking the entrance. Work on the new seats, which rise above the suites in the first and second turns, is about at the halfway mark. The new seats will not go on sale until they are completed. Tickets for the Subway 500 are on sale and may be purchased by calling 877-RACE-TIX, or by visiting the Martinsville Speedway website.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(6-13-2003)
Martinsville and Subway: Martinsville Speedway and Subway Restaurants [a Jayski favorite] announced that Subway would be the title sponsor for the October 19 Winston Cup race at Martinsville Speedway and the race will be known as the Subway 500. Subway Restaurants is the largest submarine sandwich franchise, with more than 18,000 restaurants in 72 countries and is the largest fast-food chain in the world. Subway was named the number one franchise opportunity in all categories by Entrepreneur magazine in its Annual Franchise 500 ranking for 2003 – for the 11th time in 15 years, more info at www.subway.com. Tickets for the Subway 500 are on sale and may be purchased by calling 877-RACE-TIX, or by visiting the Martinsville Speedway website, www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(5-6-2003)
Martinsville Grand Marshall: In his two years as Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Jerry Kilgore has made a lasting impression in his fight to make Virginia a safer, better place to live. But he has still managed to find a little time to keep up with one of his passions – NASCAR racing. And he’ll get closer than ever to the sport this weekend when he will serve as Grand Marshal for the Virginia 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race at Martinsville Speedway. Kilgore also understands the importance of auto racing to the state of Virginia. “As a lifelong NASCAR fan and a frequent visitor to Martinsville Speedway, it is a tremendous honor to serve as grand marshal for the Virginia 500,” said Kilgore. “We have a proud racing tradition in the Commonwealth, with outstanding drivers and teams who have fans around the world. Since this region of Virginia is where the sports has its roots, Martinsville really could be called the birthplace of NASCAR.” Kilgore said he is looking forward to a few hours away from his Richmond job and performing his grand marshal duties. Kilgore is married to a former public school teacher, Marty Kilgore. She served as Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth under Governor Gilmore, and is currently Executive Director of the Tobacco Settlement Foundation. They have two children Klarke W., age nine, and Kelsey E., age six. MW Pole Day, which will feature Winston Cup qualifying for the Virginia 500, is scheduled for Friday, along with qualifying for the Advance Auto Parts 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. The Advance Auto Parts 250 is set for Saturday, while the Virginia 500 is scheduled for Sunday, April 13. Good seats remain for both the Virginia 500 and Advance Auto Parts 250. Virginia 500 tickets may be purchased by calling 1-877-RACE-TIX or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com. Advance Auto Parts 250 tickets may be purchased by calling 1-877-RACE-TIX.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(4-8-2003)
Traction Control to be watched at Martinsville: NASCAR will employ “special help” to monitor teams for traction control this weekend at Martinsville, where spinning the tires coming off the corners is a big concern.(Sporting News)(4-7-2003)
Martinsville Speedway Unveils New Infield Care Center: A state-of-the-art building that Martinsville Speedway officials hope to use on a very infrequent basis was unveiled Tuesday afternoon. With help from NASCAR Winston Cup driver Ricky Craven and officials of
Memorial Hospital, Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell officially opened the doors to the track's new Infield Care Center. The new 2,000-square-foot Infield Care Center, located in the first-and-second turn end of the infield, features a four-bed examination room; a two-bed trauma room; a waiting room; a family waiting room; a reception area; and a break room. The care center will be staffed and equipped by Memorial Hospital of Martinsville. Owned and operated by Province Healthcare, Memorial Hospital is a 237-licensed bed, acute care facility which received full accreditation by Joint Commission in 2002. With over 330,000 square feet, Memorial Hospital is a progressive facility that boasts various centers of excellence, including its Ambulatory Surgery, Women's Center, state-of-the-art Critical Care Unit, Sleep Lab, Hyperbaric/Wound Care Clinic, Julius Hermes Breast Care Center, and our Ravenel Oncology Center which is affiliated with both Duke University and Wake Forest.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(4-2-2003)
Martinsville Tix: Good seats remain for the Virginia 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Every Spring about this time the Speedway ticket office gets calls questioning if the event is sold out. Although the Virginia 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 Virginia 500 on April 13, there are plenty of prime seats available for the Advance Auto Parts 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race, scheduled for April 12. Ticket prices for the Virginia 500 range from $40 to $72. Tickets for the Advance Auto Parts 250 are $30 and 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. To purchase tickets call the speedway ticket office toll free at 877-722-3849 or order online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com. Martinsville Speedway's ticket office is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday's from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(3-31-2003)
Rick Mast to be Grand Marshal at Martinsville's Truck Race: Martinsville Speedway has always been one of Rick Mast's favorite tracks, a home track of sorts for the Virginia native. On Saturday, April 12, Mast will make a special trip to Martinsville Speedway, the first visit to any race track in almost a year for the former Winston Cup driver. Mast won't be in a driver's suit though. Instead he will be the Grand Marshal for the Advance Auto Parts 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. Mast officially retired from racing during the winter after being diagnosed with chronic carbon monoxide poisoning, but he stopped racing late last spring after symptoms of the ailment became severe. "I think it's fitting that Martinsville is the first place I show back up," said the 45-year-old Mast. "That's the track where I had a lot of my early success in the sport. It's the track that I always thought of as my home track." Mast said he didn't return to a track last year because he was still involved in medical testing that eventually led to the diagnosis. "I wasn't diagnosed until the end of the year and I didn't want to go to the track and answer questions over and over without knowing what was wrong with me," said Mast. Mast made 364 starts over a 15-year Winston Cup career. His career highlights included a pole in the inaugural Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and a sixth in the 1989 Daytona 500 while driving an unsponsored car. He won over $9 million in his Winston Cup career. Mast had several top-10 Winston Cup runs at Martinsville Speedway, with his best finish a fourth in the 1996 Old Dominion 500. He also has a Busch Grand National victory at Martinsville, winning a 150-lap Busch race in 1987. Mast says he has missed the camaraderie of racing, but "has kept in touch with a lot of the drivers on the phone and in letters." Mast probably won't ever fully recover from the carbon monoxide poisoning, but he understands the ailment better these days and says the trip to Martinsville shouldn't be a problem. "I'm still working on figuring exactly what exposure I can be around. I'm starting to get a handle on it and I can pretty much tell," said Mast. "Martinsville garage is not a closed-in area, but you still won't find me in there involved in a half-hour conversation with all 40 cars going." Action picks up at Martinsville on Friday, April 11 when both the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the Craftsman Truck Series qualifying during MW Windows Pole Day. The Advance Auto Parts 250 is set for Saturday, April 12, at 3 p.m. while the Virginia 500 is scheduled for Sunday, April 13, at 1 p.m. Good seats remain for both the Virginia 500 and Advance Auto Parts 250. Virginia 500 tickets may be purchased by calling 1-877-RACE-TIX or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com. Advance Auto Parts 250 tickets may be purchased by calling 1-877-RACE-TIX.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(3-20-2003)
Martinsville Tix on Sale: Tickets for the Old Dominion 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race at Martinsville Speedway went on sale
Wednesday, March 5th. The Old Dominion 500 is scheduled for Sunday, October 19. Tickets for the 2003 fall race are $40-$72 each and can be purchased by calling the ticket office toll free at (877) 722-3849 or by visiting the Martinsville Speedway website: www.martinsvillespeedway.com. Good seats
also remain for the Virginia 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, April 13 and the Advance Auto Parts
250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on Saturday, April 12.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(3-6-2003)
Martinsville to increase hours: Beginning this week, you’ll be able to purchase your tickets to the Virginia 500 at Martinsville Speedway as effective this Saturday, March 1, Martinsville Speedway’s ticket office will be open on Saturdays from 9:00am to 3:00pm/et through the Virginia 500 race weekend on April 11-13. And beginning Monday, March 17, the ticket office will extend its daily hours to 8:00am to 5:00pm. And tickets are always available 24 hours a day via “tickets.com” on the speedway’s web site, www.martinsvillespeedway.com or by calling 1-877-RACE-TIX.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(2-26-2003)
Martinsville Speedway Unveils Plans To Add Seats, Move Railroad Tracks And Construct New Entrance: Martinsville Speedway officials announced Friday the largest one-year capital expenditures project in the 56-year history of the track. Speedway president Clay Campbell unveiled plans that included construction of a new, six-lane entrance to the facility, moving the railroad tracks that parallel the speedway’s back stretch to allow for future expansion, and the addition of 2,000 high-rise seats. Work on the new entrance and seats will begin immediately after the running of the Virginia 500 on April 13. Those two projects should be completed in time for the Old Dominion 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race on October 19. A start-up date on the railroad shift has not been set, but the venture should be completed within a year. The new entrance will be six lanes wide with four lanes for vehicular traffic and two for pedestrian traffic. It will begin at the site of the present entrance, then veer to the left and proceed through the middle of the large parking area on the left side of Speedway Road. The new road will intersect with Speedway Road near the souvenir and display area. The 2,000 new seats will be added in the first-and-second turn end of the track, and will be positioned above the suites in that area. When that section of suites was built in 2000, they were constructed with features to allow for seating expansion. The 2,000 new seats will increase the track’s seating capacity to 88,000. The Norfolk Southern railroad line along the backstretch has prevented growth in that direction, but the speedway and Norfolk Southern completed an engineering study of the project three years ago. Norfolk Southern gave the OK to move the tracks 350 feet back from their present location at the completion of the study. The project will move ahead as soon as the cost estimates included in that study are brought up to date. Martinsville Speedway will fund the cost of relocation project. Two projects are already underway at the Speedway, including the construction of a new state-of-the-art, 2,000-square foot infield care center. The old care center is being converted into a public relations workroom.(Martinewsville Speedway Newsletter)(1-31-2003)
Construction Underway On New Infield Care Center At Martinsville Speedway: The infield area at Martinsville Speedway will have a new look when the NASCAR Winston Cup tour makes its spring visit for the Virginia 500. A new Infield Care Center and Victory Lane are being constructed in the first-and-second turn end of the infield. The area that formerly housed the Infield Care Center is being converted into a work area for team public relations representatives. That area will also have two radio production and transmission booths. The project will be completed in time for the running of the Virginia 500 on Sunday, April 13. The interior of the new Infield Care Center will be approximately 2,000 square feet and will include a four-bed examination area, a two-bed trauma area, a waiting room, a family waiting room, a lounge and a reception area. The new Victory Lane will be constructed adjacent to the Infield Care Center and will face the front stretch. The old Infield Care Center, located in the complex of buildings in the middle of the infield, is undergoing a total facelift to accommodate team public relations reps and radio broadcasters. A countertop will circle more than half of the 450 square foot room, giving the public relations representatives a work area to set up. Each workspace will include electrical outlets and phone jacks. There will also be two, soundproof radio booths in the area to provide the many radio outlets covering Martinsville Speedway events an area to produce and file stories. These rooms will also include a countertop workstation, electrical outlets and phone jacks.(Martinsville Speedway)(1-8-2003)
Lots of Toys: Over 1,000 toys were collected Saturday in the Ninth Annual Toy Drive and Souvenir Day at Martinsville Speedway. Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell presented the 1,026 toys to Toys For Tots at the end of the day. Another $4,000 was raised for the Martinsville Speedway Childrens Foundation through the souvenir vendors on hand for the day. People meandered in and out of the pits all day, most bringing a new, unwrapped toy to donate to the toy drive. About a dozen Winston Cup souvenir trailers were lined up along pit road when the gates opened at 9:00am offering an opportunity for last-minute shopping for race fans. Early in the afternoon pace-car rides began, and at 1:00pm the first of two Allison Legacy Series races took the green flag. The Allison Legacy Series is a touring series for scaled-down cars. At 2:00pm Santa Claus arrived at the start-finish line via the pace car and a little later, pace-car rides started again. For most of the day the souvenir vendors did a brisk business, as did the hot-dog stand, operated by the Henry County Baptist Association. The Baptist Association raised more than $400 for the toy drive at the hot-dog stand. The Baptist Association also gave away coffee and hot chocolate all day.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(12-15-2002)
Ninth Annual Souvenir Day And Toy Drive at Martinsville: the Ninth Annual Souvenir Day and Toy Drive is scheduled for Saturday, December 14 at Martinsville Speedway. The Souvenir Day and Toy Drive offers gifts galore and a chance to help out the less fortunate on Christmas morning. A dozen or so NASCAR Winston Cup souvenir trailers will be set up in the infield of Martinsville Speedway when the gates swing open at 9:00am on December 14 and they all will offer great year-ending bargains on race souvenirs. At 1:00pm there will be a 25-lap Legacy Allison Series race, and at 2:00pm Santa will arrive in victory lane. Also at 2:00pm there will be pace car rides around the track for a monetary donation. Admission to the event is free, but everyone is urged to bring at least one new, unwrapped toy. All toys go to Toys For Tots and will be distributed in the Martinsville and Henry County area. Winston Cup champion Tony Stewart’s souvenir trailer will be on hand along with the trailers of Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Dale Jarrett, Rusty Wallace and others. Also, Martinsville Speedway’s souvenir trailers will be open for business.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(12-10-2002)
Toy Drive at Martinsville: the Ninth Annual Souvenir Day/Toy Drive at Martinsville Speedway is set for Saturday, December 14 in the infield area of Martinsville Speedway. The Souvenir Day/Toy Drive offers race fans a chance to help make sure needy children in our area have a special Christmas while browsing for a racing souvenir. The event will run from 9:00am to 5:00pm on December 14. Souvenir trailers for a dozen or so of the top Winston Cup drivers will be on hand, offering end-of-year sales on most all of their merchandise. Admission is free, but shoppers can help the area’s needy youngsters by bringing a new, unwrapped toy. All of the donated toys will go to Toys For Tots to be distributed in the Martinsville-Henry County area. Monetary donations will go to the Martinsville Speedway Children’s Foundation. Santa Claus will arrive at the track at 2:00pm and will be set up in Victory Lane to listen to the wishes of youngsters. Also at 2:00pm, pace-car rides around the track will be available for a donation. The Allison Legacy cars will run a 30-lap race at 1 p.m. The Allison cars are approximately three-quarter scale and look similar to Winston Cup cars.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(11-24-2002)
Martinsville 2nd CTS race gets sponsor: Advance Auto Parts, which has sponsored the spring CTS race at Martinsville Speedway for the past two seasons, has stepped up to sponsor the new fall race. The fall event, scheduled for October 18 in 2003, will be the Advance Auto Parts 200. The spring truck race at Martinsville, set for April 12 in 2003, will remain the Advance Auto Parts 250.. Action returns to Martinsville Speedway the weekend of April 11-13, 2003. MW Windows Pole Day is scheduled for Friday, April 11, while the Advance Auto Parts 250 is set for Saturday, April 12. The weekend culminates with the Virginia 500 NASCAR Winston Cup Series race on Sunday, April 13. Tickets for the Virginia 500 are on sale, and may be purchased by calling 1-877-RACE-TIX or visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(11-19-2002)
2nd CTS Race at Martinsville? A NASCAR official confirmed there have been talks with Martinsville Speedway officials about running a second Craftsman Truck Series race here next season but would not say if those talks have been completed. A report in Winston Cup Scene stated that truck series teams had received a partial schedule from NASCAR and that the series would race twice at Martinsville next season. Both races, the report stated, would be run on the same weekend as the Cup events. Next season's truck schedule has not been released.(Roanoke Times)(10-20-2002)
Sold Out: Martinsville Speedway officials announced Wednesday afternoon that Sunday’s Old Dominion 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race is a sellout. “We are accustomed to sellouts here at Martinsville. Most every Winston Cup event is a sellout,” said Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell. “But this is the first time since we expanded to our present seating capacity (86,000) that we have sold out before race weekend. We just want to thank all of the Winston Cup fans who have been so loyal to Martinsville Speedway for so many years.” The only tickets remaining for Sunday’s race are in the Family Section. The Family Section tickets go on sale at 7:30 a.m. Sunday. Tickets in this area are $40 for adults; children 6-12 are $5; and children under six are free. Each child may have no more than two adults purchasing tickets in this section which a fairly small section of stands in the third-turn area. Tickets do remain for Saturday’s NASCAR Featherlite Modified Tour race, the Advance Auto Parts 200. Tickets for Saturday’s events, which include two Winston Cup practice session, are $30 for adults; $5 for children 6-12; and children under six get in free. Also, tickets are on sale for the Virginia 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race, set for April 13, 2003. They can be purchased by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com or by call 877-RACE-TIX.(10-16-2002)
Martinsville Corner's Ground Down: The Martinsville Speedway owners have ground the cement corners of the 0.526-mile track that will host next week’s Winston Cup event. The change has resulted in a tire chewing mess that has clipped lap times by more than a second. #28-Ricky Rudd went to the track on Monday to test for the upcoming event but got only 15 laps in before loading the car up and heading for home. It was readily apparent that something had changed when the hauler pulled in and the team saw the cemented corners appearing as though a machine that grinds the highways prior to the application of asphalt had prepared them. The cement was described as being deeply grooved with a wavy pattern that ran parallel with the racing groove. Making matters worse for the #28 car was the fact that the track hadn’t been cleaned prior to the practice session. The team tried a few work-arounds but soon decided to give up on the session. The tires on Rudd’s Ford looked in worse shape after just 12 laps than a pair of left tires that the team used in a race several years ago did after 225 laps. Rudd wasn’t able to get within three seconds of a normal lap time in the 15 laps run. Several other teams tested Tuesday and Wednesday, but had similar problems. The best effort during those tests could only close to within a second of a normal lap time at the Virginia track.(Ford Racing)(10-12-2002)
Martinsville and MW Windows Reup: MW Windows and Martinsville Speedway have partnered for just one race, but that was enough for all parties concerned to know it was a winning combination. Less than a year ago the two companies announced that MW Windows would sponsor pole day for the track’s two Winston Cup races in 2002. MW Windows and Martinsville Speedway announced they have agreed to continue that relationship through the 2004 season. MW Windows, a manufacturer of windows and door products for the residential construction industry, sponsored pole day for the first time last spring in the Virginia 500. The Old Dominion 500 MW Windows Pole Day is scheduled for Friday, October 18.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(10-10-2002)
Martinsville Extends Hours: Martinsville Speedway will be expanding its ticket office hours leading up to the Old Dominion
500 beginning this Saturday, September 14. Beginning this Saturday, the ticket office will be open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
leading up to the October 20th Old Dominion 500 And beginning Monday, September 23, the speedway’s ticket office will be open an hour earlier each day, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets are always available 24 hours a day on the speedway’s web site, www.martinsvillespeedway.com. To purchase tickets call the speedway ticket office toll free at 877-722-3849 or visit online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(9-11-2002)
Martinsville Announces Two 2003 Cup dates: Martinsville Speedway officials announced Friday morning that the track would again host two Cup races in 2003. The Virginia 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race will be held on Sunday, April 13. The date for the 2003 Old Dominion 500 will be released later this summer. The 2003 fall Winston Cup date would be announced as soon as
NASCAR completed all of its sanctioning agreements for next year. Martinsville Speedway has been hosting Winston Cup races since 1949, the year of the division’s inception. Tickets for the 2003 Virginia 500 are already on sale while tickets for the 2003 Old Dominion 500 will go on sale March 5, 2003. The 47th annual Old Dominion 500 Cup race is scheduled for Sunday, October 20. There still are excellent reserved seats available for the Old Dominion 500 in the towers from $40-$70. Tickets may be ordered by calling toll free at 1-877-722-3849 or (276) 956-3151. Tickets for the Old Dominion 500 also may be ordered online at the (Martinsville Speedway Site)(8-16-2002)
Martinsville helps out police: Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell helped the Henry County Sheriff’s Office take a giant step toward fulfilling a major goal Thursday morning. Campbell presented Henry County Sheriff Frank Cassell a check for $17,000, which will cover the cost of four in-car video systems for the sheriff’s office. Cassell said his office has set a goal of 40 in-car video systems, or one for each of the department’s patrol cars. The speedway’s donation will fund the first four systems. The video system features a small, color camera mounted on the windshield, which is used to video officers and others during traffic stops. The system also uses highly sensitive microphones to record conversations in and out of the car. Perhaps the most important plus of the in-car cameras, though, is officer safety. The fund-raising campaign will kick off in earnest next week, and Campbell and Cassell both said they were hopeful other local companies and private citizens will contribute to the effort.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(7-25-2002)
Sad News: Clarence Preston, a fixture at Martinsville Speedway for more than 40 years, died early Monday morning. He was 85 years old. Preston began working for Martinsville Speedway founder H. Clay Earles in the late 1950s on a part-time basis. The two forged a friendship that lasted for five decades until Earles passed away in 1999. Preston’s most visible role was in the Martinsville Speedway press box, which he maintained on race weekends. And while no one is exactly sure when he worked his first race at Martinsville Speedway, he was on hand for the last April’s Virginia 500, working as hard as ever. Several generations of racing writers were befriended by Preston during his decades of work in the press box. Although few outside of the press box knew of his involvement with Martinsville Speedway, journalists from all corners of the country were on a first-name basis with him. Preston’s funeral is scheduled for noon Friday at Hairston Funeral Home in Martinsville. Visitation will be at 11 a.m. Friday, also at Hairston Funeral Home.(Martinsville Speedway Newsletter)(6-24-2002)
Virginia 500 Grand Marshall: Kerrie Keeler, Sales Branch Manager for the Atlanta Branch of the John Deere Company, will be the Grand Marshal for the Virginia 500 Winston Cup race at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, April 14. “I’ve been to about 10 races, but I’m not like an avid fan,” said Keeler. “But I’m really excited about coming to Martinsville and having a chance to be in the pits and see what goes on behind the scenes. I think racing is interesting. To the lay person, those drivers just make it look so easy and then when you hear the commentators talk about the complexities, it makes it really interesting.” John Deere is the official tractor of Martinsville Speedway.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(4-13-2002)
Gordon wins MW Windows Pole Award and Windows: MW Windows will be the first pole day award winners to give a house full of doors and windows. Shortly after MW Windows announced its sponsorship of Pole Day for the Virginia 500 at Martinsville Speedway, officials with the company decided they wanted to do more than that, though. So in addition to presenting a trophy to the Virginia 500 pole winner, MW will give a house full of windows and doors in the pole-winner’s name to a local Habitat for Humanity chapter during pre-race ceremonies for the Virginia 500 on April 14. And it’s not a one-race effort either. The manufacturer of windows and door products for the residential construction industry will donate doors and windows to Habitat for Humanity chapters twice a year. One donation will come after MW Pole Day for the Virginia 500 and the other after MW Pole Day for the Old Dominion 500. The Martinsville-Henry County and Franklin County chapters of Habitat for Humanity will be the recipients each year.(Martinsville Speedway PR), Jeff Gordon won the pole and got the award.(4-13-2002)
Tix still available for Martinsville: Plenty of good seats remain available for the Virginia 500 Cup race at Martinsville Speedway because good seats do remain although the Virginia 500 is normally sold out before the green flag flies. In addition to available tickets for the Virginia 500 on April 14, there are plenty of prime seats available for the Advance Auto Parts 250 CTS race, scheduled for April 13. Ticket prices for the Virginia 500 range from $40 to $70. Martinsville Speedway is also offering a limited amount of family unreserved seating that allows parents to bring children ages six to 12 to the Virginia 500 for $5 per child. Adult tickets in the family
unreserved area will be $40. Children under age six get in free to the Family Section. Tickets for the Family Section go on sale race morning at 7:30. Parents must have their children with them when purchasing these tickets. To purchase tickets call the speedway ticket
office toll free at 877-722-3849 or order online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(3-24-2002)
Martinsville Tix - TODAY: Tickets for the Old Dominion 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race at Martinsville Speedway will go on sale Wednesday, March 6 at 9:00am/et. The Old Dominion 500 is scheduled for Sunday, October 20. Tickets for the 2002 fall race are $40-$70 each and can be purchased by calling the ticket office toll free at (877) 722-3849 or by calling (276) 956-3151. Tickets may also be purchased online by visiting the speedway’s website. “Buyer beware” is one of the most popular phrases used by consumer protection groups. “Race fans beware” should be added to that list. Winston Cup racing has perhaps the most fervent and loyal fan base of all sports. But that loyalty has created a new industry among the greedy – ticket gouging. Ticket prices for the April 14th Virginia 500 at Martinsville Speedway range from $40 to $70 and plenty good seats are still available. But independent ticket agencies across the country are selling those tickets for up to $175 apiece. 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.(Martinsville Speedway site/PR)(3-3-2002)
Martinsville pole day sponsor: Martinsville Speedway and MW Windows & Doors recently announced that the manufacturer of window and door products for the residential construction industry will sponsor pole day for both the Virginia 500 and the Old Dominion 500 Winston Cup races in 2002. The first MW Windows Pole Day will be Friday, April 12 when Winston Cup drivers will attempt to qualify for the Virginia 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race, set for Sunday, April 14 at Martinsville Speedway. The second MW Windows Pole Day of 2002 will be Friday, October 18 to set the field for the Old Dominion 500, scheduled for Sunday, October 20.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(1-31-2002)
Martinsville Toy Drive: Martinsville Speedway’s Eighth Annual Souvenir Day and Toy Drive is scheduled for Saturday, December 8 at the Martinsville Speedway and all donated toys will be contributed to the Salvation Army. The Souvenir Day and Toy Drive begins at 9:00am on December 8 and will run until 5:00pm. Souvenir trailers for a dozen or so of the top Winston Cup drivers will be on hand, offering end-of-year sales on most all of their merchandise. Admission is free, but shoppers can help the area’s needy youngsters by bringing a new, unwrapped toy, which will be turned over to the Salvation Army. There will also be a special guest: Santa Claus. Santa will arrive at the track at 2:00pm and will set up shop in Victory Lane(Martinsville PR)(11-27-2001)
Campbell wins again: Clay Campbell, the president of Martinsville Speedway, proved again Saturday his track championship isn’t a fluke. Campbell started on the pole and led every lap of the Limited Late Model feature at Caraway Speedway Saturday evening. His fifth win of the season came two weeks after he had clinched the Limited Late Model championship at the Asheboro, NC, track.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(11-1-2001)
Tix Remain for Martinsville: Tickets Remain For Old Dominion 500 At Martinsville Speedway scheduled for Sunday, October 14 at the .526-mile oval. Martinsville Speedway is also offering family unreserved seating that allows parents to bring children ages six to 12 to the Old Dominion 500 for $5 per child. Adult tickets in the family unreserved area will be $40. Children under age six get in free to the Family Section. Tickets for the Family Section go on sale race morning at 7:30am/et. For more info, see the Martinsville Speedway site(10-8-2001)
Coolers at Martinsville? UPDATE yes: hearing Martinsville Speedway has decided to allow coolers and other items in the track as normal but every item will be searched(9-25-2001) UPDATE: Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell announced late Monday afternoon that coolers and other carry-in items would be allowed at events the speedway hosts this fall. But all coolers will be searched and all other items, including backpacks
and camera bags, will be subject to search. The decision was made after speedway officials met with local, state and federal law enforcement officials Monday afternoon. Campbell said the security force at Martinsville Speedway will be increased by 25 percent for the Taco Bell 300 Late Model Stock Car race this weekend and the Old Dominion 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race weekend October 12-14. Campbell said security personnel would work back through the lines at entrances, checking items before fans get to the ticket takers, to
help speed up the process. Other, new safety regulations have also been put into place. Once items are searched, they will be tagged with a sticker. Anyone leaving with a stickered item before the end of the race will not be allowed to re-enter. No vehicular traffic will be allowed under the grandstands during race weekend. If canned beverages are brought into the track in the case they were purchased, they will be taken out of the case during inspection at the gate(Martinsville Speedway PR)(9-25-2001)
Martinsville Tix Hours: Beginning Saturday, September 8, the ticket office at Martinsville Speedway will be open every
Saturday from 9:00am to 3:00pm/et leading up to the October 14th Old Dominion 500 And then, starting Monday, September 17, the speedway’s ticket office will be open an hour earlier each day, from 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday. And tickets are always available 24 hours a day via “tickets.com” on the speedway’s web site, www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway)(9-9-2001)
Martinsville Tunnel: Martinsville Speedway officials unveiled plans this morning for a 160-foot pedestrian tunnel under the racing surface in the fourth turn of the .526-mile oval. Work has already begun on the project, which is expected to be completed in
two weeks. The addition of the tunnel will allow pedestrian traffic in and out of the infield regardless of what is happening on the racing surface. The tunnel will consist of 26 precast reinforced concrete boxes that are eight feet wide and eight feet high. The 160-foot long tunnel will be 15 feet underground in its lowest point. The addition of the tunnel will make life easier for anyone who needs to enter or leave the infield any time cars are on the track. No longer will members of the media or crew members or even drivers have to wait for a break in practice to get in or out of the infield. It will be especially beneficial during the hectic Friday of Winston Cup week when the track can remain open instead of periodically closing for the crossover gate to open. Campbell said he expects the tunnel will save at least a half-hour of track time on those busy Fridays. The general contractor for the project is Steve Martin Trenching, Inc. of Bassett, Va., while Hanson Pipe and Products of Salem, Va., is providing the precast concrete sections(Martinsville Speedway)(7-24-2001)
Martinsville 2002 Dates: Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell Friday morning announced the historic track’s two NASCAR Winston Cup dates for 2002. The .526-mile track will host the NASCAR Winston Cup Series on Sunday, April 14 for the Virginia 500 and Sunday, October 20 for the Old Dominion 500. Next year – 2002 – will be the 54th season the Winston Cup Series has visited Martinsville Speedway. The track has been hosting Winston Cup races longer than any other track on the circuit. Next year’s dates, April 14 and October 20, are each a week later than in 2001. Tickets for the 2002 Virginia 500 go on sale on August 8 while tickets for the 2002 Old Dominion 500 will go on sale March 6, 2002. There still are excellent reserved seats available for the Old Dominion 500 in the towers and concrete bleacher sections from $40-$70(Martinsville Speedway PR)(7-21-2001)
Martinsville Dates: Martinsville Speedway is expected to announce the dates of its two 2002 Winston Cup events next week. The .526-mile oval is expected to play host to races on April 14 and Oct. 20.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(7-8-2001)
Gant to Return for a Race? UPDATE 2: hearing Andy Petree Racing is preparing a car for retired Cup driver Harry Gant to possibly run at Martinsville. Not sure if it to run in the race or as a tribute of some sort. Gant retired from Cup after the 1994 season. That is all I have heard(7-13-2001) UPDATE: hearing Gant will not run the race but it is about restoring his old car and giving it to him at Martinsville on Ict 14th(7-14-2001) UPDATE 2: There’s been a rumor about APR possibly having a car for a “Harry Gant Day” at Martinsville, Va., in October. The rumor is somewhat true. “The X1 car that Harry drove to four wins in a row has recently been rebuilt by our shop guys. It’s sitting out in our showroom in the front of the shop. We are thinking about having the car at Martinsville for Harry, but not for him to race. It would just be a nice tribute, but nothing’s final on that yet,” Barkdoll said.(Henderson Times)(7-17-2001)
Martinsville Helps Out: Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell announced today the formation of the Martinsville Speedway Children’s Foundation, a non-profit organization with the goal of “improving the lives of children in Martinsville and Henry County, Virginia.” Martinsville Speedway Children’s Foundation is a non-profit organization operating separately and independent of Martinsville Speedway. The speedway’ s only involvement with the organization will be in a fund-raising capacity. There are already two fund-raisers underway to help fund the foundation. A three-member, independent board of directors will oversee the Martinsville Speedway Children’s Foundation. The foundation's fund-raising goal for this year is between $50,000-60,000. Campbell said he hopes to raise about $20,000 from the golf tournament, plus additional money from donations, a John Deere utility vehicle raffle and the annual souvenir days in December.(Martinsville Speedway PR/Roanoke Times), see info on the Golf Tournament and Raffle at my Racing Charities page, both on Oct 2001(6-29-2001)
Martinsville Prez Wins:Clay Campbell, president and general manager of Martinsville Speedway, scored his first career Limited Late Model victory Saturday at Caraway Speedway. The victory moved him into the points lead(Martinsville Speedway PR)(5-2-2001)
Real Nice, huh? Most motels in the Martinsville area doubled (if not tripled) their rates and required a three-night minimum. Including gas, meals and tickets between $40 and $75, a family of four likely would have spent almost $1,000 for the Saturday-Sunday doubleheader(Daily Press)(4-9-2001)
Martinsville Hotel Fire UPDATE 2: A massive fire gutted a portion of the Dutch Inn hotel in Collinsville, VA (near Martinsville) late Monday. Flames engulfed the portion of the building adjacent to an automotive parts store and the Dutch Inn Plaza shopping center. Thick smoke rose into the sky from flames that shot from the top of the structure. Firefighters were still battling hot spots in the hotel's windmill tower early this morning. A portion of the building's roof caved in about 12:20 a.m. as firefighters extinguished the blaze. A firefighter atop a ladder truck sprayed water onto the fire from high above it(Martinsville Bulletin). So with the Martinsville races coming up in a little over two weeks, folks who were planning on staying there may wish to check out the situation in a few days when things calm down at the hotel(3-20-2001) UPDATE: Except for the two suites in the tower, none of the guest rooms was damaged, so the hotel will be able to accommodate almost everyone booked there for the April 8 race at the Martinsville Speedway. Electricity and cable television were restored Tuesday. The hotel should reopen next week(Roanoke Times) UPDATE 2: The good news is all of the rooms are inhabitable and will be ready for the Virginia 500 weekend. The bad news is all of the paperwork concerning room reservations for the Virginia 500 were burned. Martinsville Speedway is trying to help the management of the Dutch Inn get in contact with anyone who might have had reservations for that weekend so the paperwook can be recreated. If you have made reservations with the Dutch Inn for the Virginia 500, and have not already spoken with Amanda at the Dutch Inn, please fax her a copy of your contract or any other paper work. Her fax number is (540) 647-4119. The folks at the Dutch Inn have assured Martinsville Speedway they will honor all reservations for race week(Martinsville Speedway PR)(3-21-2001)
Martinsville Tix TODAY: Tickets for the October 14 Old Dominion 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race at Martinsville Speedway will go on sale Wednesday, March 7 at 9:00am/et. Tony Stewart is the defending champion for the Old Dominion 500. The next action at Martinsville Speedway is on Saturday, April 7 and Sunday, April 8 when the track will host the Advance Auto Parts 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the NASCAR Winston Cup series. Tickets still available for both races. In addition to buying tickets via phone at (877) 722-3849 or (540) 956-3151, they can also be purchased online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(3-4/7-2001)
Garages at Martinsville: Martinsville Speedway officials unveiled plans Monday morning for a large garage building in the track’s infield area. Work actually began on the project before Christmas. Excavation and grading work has been completed and construction of the building should begin within the next two weeks. The 600-foot long metal building will be located on the backstretch side of the infield(where the back stretch pits used to be). The building will be divided into 20 two-car bays and will sit atop a concrete pad. The building’s roof will slope upward from 6 feet at the entrance to 11 feet, 6 inches at the rear, which will give teams plenty of overhead clearance to work with car hoods open or to pull engines. The height of the building will not hamper fans’ view of the track, though. The team’s big rigs will park in front of the garage, allowing crew members close access to tools and materials they may need. There will be an 18-foot wide access road behind the garage that runs the length of the backstretch. There will also be a concrete wall at both ends of the garage to protect the building from spinning race cars. Each garage stall will have six electrical outlets and plenty of overhead lighting. There will also be water hookups located throughout the garage building. Construction of the new garage is one of several off-season projects at Martinsville Speedway. The work on the widening of pit road is almost complete. The new inside pit road wall, which makes pit road 10 feet wider, has been poured and is ready for a coat of paint. Also work is underway to finish covering the remaining concrete bleachers with aluminum, chair-back seats. That project should be finished in February. The next racing action at Martinsville Speedway is the Virginia 500 NASCAR Winston Cup Series race on Sunday, April 8.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(1-22-2001)
Martinsville News: One of the most recognizable and talented entertainers in the country will headline The Third Annual Henry County and Martinsville Area July 4th Celebration at Martinsville Speedway. Charlie Daniels will be the centerpiece of The Third Annual Henry County and Martinsville Area July 4th Celebration at Martinsville Speedway. This year’s Henry County and Martinsville Area July 4th Celebration is scheduled for July 3, and like the two previous events, admission will be free. In addition to Charlie Daniels and the Charlie Daniels Band, the beach music group, the Chairman of the Board, will perform. In addition to an evening filled with music, the Third Annual Henry County and Martinsville Area July 4th Celebration will offer games for kids, food and drink vendors and a spectacular fireworks display to end the day.(Martinsville PR)(12-24-2000)
Martinsville Pitroad - Wider is better: A tight pit road is being turned into a super highway. Work has begun on a project to widen pit road at Martinsville Speedway by 10 feet, an undertaking that will make life much more comfortable for drivers and crew members when the NASCAR Winston Cup Series rolls into town for the Virginia 500 on April 8. The project should be completed by mid-March, before teams begin testing for the Virginia 500. Two years ago Martinsville Speedway’s pit area was reconfigured to eliminate the backstretch pits and create one long pit road. The move took away the advantage teams pitting on the front stretch had enjoyed, but the new configuration created close quarters during pit stops. The next racing action at Martinsville Speedway is the Virginia 500 NASCAR Winston Cup Series race on Sunday, April 8. Tickets are $40-$70 and are available by calling toll free at (877) 722-3849 or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com(Martinsville PR)(12-15-2000)
What ever happened to? UPDATE: been asked many times but never knew: What happened to the track worker injured at Martinsville in Oct 1999? See the story and a way to help at TachZone: Meet Randy Hall.(12-2-2000) UPDATE: Ryan got a letter from Randy's Mom: A Letter From Mom at TachZone(12-7-2000)
Martinsville and Toys REPOST: The weeks leading up to Christmas are never an easy time for the Salvation Army, but last Christmas was perhaps the worst on record for the Salvation Army workers in Martinsville and Henry County. The area was hit with massive textile layoffs in mid-December of 1999 and the Salvation Army wound up helping 1,429 families at Christmas. While unemployment in the area has steadily dropped from a high of near 20 percent a year ago, this Christmas still looks to be bleak for many in the area, and the strain will be heavy on the Salvation Army again this year. That’s where Martinsville Speedway’s Souvenir Day Toy Drive helps out. A year ago more than 2,000 toys were raised at the event, with all of them going to the Salvation Army. And on Saturday, December 2, the Seventh Annual Martinsville Speedway Souvenir Day Toy Drive will collect toys again. The event is scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on December 2 in the Speedway’s infield. Many of the top Winston Cup drivers’ souvenir trailers will be on hand selling end-of-the-year items at much-reduced prices and there will also be a 30-lap Allison Legacy Series race.(more info at: Martinsville Speedway)(11-22/30-2000)
Earles Honored: Martinsville Speedway founder H.Clay Earles was honored with a 2000 Memorial Award, presented posthumously at the Old Timers Racing Club 10th Annual Banquet in High Point, N.C. Earles, who died in November of 1999, received one of the six Memorial Awards presented by the Old Timers Racing Club. Others receiving the award included drivers John Sears, Carl Burris, Lee Petty, Herb Thomas and Jack Etheridge. The Old Timers Racing Club presented Earles’ family with a plaque that honored him, citing his “many years of dedicated work and leadership.” Earles was the only non-driver to be honored this year(Martinsville PR)(11-30-2000)
Martinsville and Toys: The weeks leading up to Christmas are never an easy time for the Salvation Army, but last Christmas was perhaps the worst on record for the Salvation Army workers in Martinsville and Henry County. The area was hit with massive textile layoffs in mid-December of 1999 and the Salvation Army wound up helping 1,429 families at Christmas. While unemployment in the area has steadily dropped from a high of near 20
percent a year ago, this Christmas still looks to be bleak for many in the area, and the strain will be heavy on the Salvation Army again this year. That’s where Martinsville Speedway’s Souvenir Day Toy Drive helps out. A
year ago more than 2,000 toys were raised at the event, with all of them going to the Salvation Army. And on Saturday, December 2, the Seventh Annual Martinsville Speedway Souvenir Day Toy Drive will collect toys again. The event is scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on December 2 in the Speedway’s infield. Many of the top Winston Cup drivers’ souvenir trailers will be on hand selling end-of-the-year items at much-reduced prices and there will
also be a 30-lap Allison Legacy Series race.(more info at: Martinsville Speedway)(11-22-2000)
Martinsville Seventh Annual Souvenir Day: Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Bobby Labonte … the list of Winston Cup drivers who will be represented by souvenir vendors at Martinsville Speedway’s Seventh Annual Souvenir Day goes on and on. The souvenir trailers for both Earnhardts, Labonte, Jeff Gordon, Dale Jarrett, Rusty Wallace and Tony Stewart will all be in place in the infield at Martinsville Speedway at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2 to begin selling their wares at greatly reduced prices. Also the NASCAR 2000 and Martinsville Speedway’s souvenir trailers will be on hand. The total number of souvenir trailers will likely top a dozen as more are expected to commit in the next week.(Martinsville PR)(11-15-2000)
Earles Honored: A year after his death, Martinsville Speedway founder H. Clay Earles is still receiving
accolades for his life-long contributions to auto racing and his community. Earles was honored Thursday(11-2) by the General Assembly of Virginia with a Memorial Resolution. He died November 16, 1999 at the age of 86. Earles’ family received the resolution from delegates Ward L. Armstrong and Barnie K. Day along with Senator W. Roscoe Reynolds. The three lawmakers were co-patrons of the Memorial Resolution(Martinsville Speedway PR)(11-10-2000)
Martinsville News: Martinsville Speedway has hired Mike Smith of Martinsville, VA as its Director of Public Relations. Smith will leave his post as sports editor at the Martinsville Bulletin and join the staff of Martinsville Speedway in mid-October. His duties at Martinsville Speedway will include writing, working on the speedway’s web site www.martinsvillespeedway.com, and promoting Martinsville Speedway events. Smith will be working with Steve Sheppard, senior director of corporate communications, and Dick Thompson, vice president of corporate communications in the promotion of Martinsville Speedway(Martinsville Speedway PR)(10-1-2000)
Martinsville Grand Marshal/Honorary Starter: NAPA store owners Dale Richardson and Bob Everett, Jr.
will be honored at the 45th annual NAPA AutoCare 500 NASCAR Winston Cup Series race on Sunday, October 1 at Martinsville Speedway. Richardson, owner of High Point Tire in High Point, NC, will take part in the event as Grand Marshal while Everett, who owns a NAPA AutoCare Center, will be the Honorary Starter. The exciting command, “Gentlemen Start Your Engines!” will be given by Richardson while Everett will wave the green flag to get the race
under way(Martinsville Speedway PR)(9-24-2000)
Martinsville Sponsors: Clay Campbell, president and general manager of Martinsville Speedway, says the speedway has not signed a sponsor for either race next year. Sponsor contracts with Goody's and NAPA AutoCare end this year. Campbell says negotiations continue with both companies and that he has not talked to any other companies yet. A stumbling block is NASCAR's new TV contract, which begins next season. Among the many questions are if the networks will require race sponsors to buy advertising time to get the sponsor's name mentioned on the air(Roanoke Times)(9-2-2000)
Martinsville Improved: Martinsville Speedway will look different again this fall when NASCAR Winston Cup race fans arrive for the NAPA AutoCare 500. The speedway has completed installation of metal seats with backs on the concrete bleachers on the track’s front straightaway along with a new walkway at the bottom of the grandstand. Handrails also have been installed in the aisles in all sections of the track. Since April, Martinsville also has constructed new concrete retaining walls, separating the track from the pits on the front and back straightaways(Martinsville Speedway PR)(8-26-2000)
Martinsville Tix: Tickets for Martinsville Speedway’s spring 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series race will go on sale Wednesday, August 9 at 9:00am/et. The spring 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup race at Martinsville will be April 8, 2001 and Martinsville’s fall event will be on October 14, 2001. Tickets for the fall 2001 race will not go on sale until March 2001. There still are excellent reserved seats available for this fall's Winston Cup NAPA AutoCare 500 in the towers and concrete bleacher sections. For more info see the Martinsville Speedway site(8-9-2000)
Martinsville Seating: Construction has started again in the grandstands at Martinsville Speedway and has begun installing metal seats with backs on the concrete bleachers on the track’s front straightaway. Handrails also are being installed in the aisles of the Richard Petty, Goody's and NAPA Towers. The project will be completed for the NAPA AutoCare 500 NASCAR Winston Cup Series race on Sunday, October 1 and the Taco Bell 300 on Sunday, September 24. The metal seats will provide greater comfort to fans because the seats will include backs. Concrete seating has been a staple of the track since it opened on September 7, 1947 with 750 concrete seats. The
construction will not change the number of seats on the front straightaway. Metal seats will be added to the concrete in turns one and two after the NAPA AutoCare 500. Since April, Martinsville also has constructed new concrete retaining walls, separating the track from the pits on the front and back straightaways.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(7-15-2000)
Martinsville Contruction: Construction of Martinsville Speedway’s suites is nearly completed and the speedway has built new retaining walls on the inside of the track. Only three of the eight new suites in turns one and two were finished for the Goody’s Body Pain 500 in April and the remaining five suites are scheduled to be completed for the NAPA AutoCare 500 on Sunday, October 1. Frith Construction is putting the finishing touches on the suites now and the new elevator for the suites and press box has been completed. The new suites have 48 seats each and give an outstanding view of the action. Two of the suites are still available for the NAPA AutoCare
500. Since April, Martinsville also has constructed new concrete retaining walls, separating the track from the pits, on the inside of the front and back straightaways(Martinsville Speedway)(6-23-2000)
Martinsville Seats: Tickets for Martinsville Speedway’s 5,000 seat Old Dominion Tower, in turns one and two, will go on sale Wednesday, June 14 for the NAPA AutoCare 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race on Sunday, October 1. For more info see the Martinsville Speedway Site(6-9-2000)
Campbell wins: Clay Campbell took the lead in the final turn Saturday night at Franklin County Speedway to pick up his first win in the Mini Stock Division. Campbell, who is President of Martinsville Speedway, started last in the 13-car field and passed Vann Savage for the lead in the fourth turn on the final lap. It was Campbell’s first win in a stock car. He owns his Ford Thunderbird Mini Stock sponsored by Hayes Jewelers of Lexington, NC and Anderson Lawn and Garden of Rocky Mount, NC(Martinsville Speedway PR)(6-14-2000)
Martinsville Changes: Martinsville Speedway is making a few changes before this fall's Cup race. The outside pit wall on the frontstretch and backstretch has been torn down and will be rebuilt. It will be about 3 feet high. It used to be less than 2 feet high. Also, the concrete seats around the track will be upgraded with aluminum seats(Times-Dispatch)(5-6-2000)
Records: After 500 laps on Martinsville's 1/2 mile paperclip-shaped oval the Goody's Body Pain 500 records show there were 14 lead changes among 8 different drivers and 14 cars finished on the lead lap. There were also a record 17 caution flags totaling a whopping 111 laps run under yellow due to the short time even caution laps require to complete. After all this Mark Martin's margin of victory was still only 1.5 seconds over teammate Jeff Burton(Speedway Illustrated) check out their first issue cover at the site(4-10-2000)
Cautions at Martinsville: The 17 cautions broke the event record and tied the track record for yellow flags(Total Sports)(4-10-2000)
Attendance: The estimated attendance of 84,000 was a track record at Martinsville on Apr 9th(Total Sports)(4-10-2000)
Helping Out: Martinsville Speedway is making several improvements for handicapped race fans. A new handicapped section has been added in turns one and two, and golf carts will be dedicated to carrying handicapped individuals from the handicapped parking lots to the grandstands. The new handicapped section will be at the top of the concrete bleacher sections in turns one and two just in front of the new Old Dominion
Tower. The speedway will sell tickets for wheelchairs patrons and a chair seat beside the wheelchair for anyone accompanying a handicapped fan. Tickets in the new handicapped section will be $50 each and are now on sale for the Goody’s Body Pain 500 on Sunday, April 9. In the past, the Henry County Baptist Association has provided golf cart rides if requested. Now the speedway will have golf carts dedicated to rides for the handicapped(Martinsville Speedway)(3-24-2000)
Martinsville Purse: the Cup drivers will shoot for the biggest purse in the 54-year history of Martinsville Speedway in the Goody’s Body Pain 500. The purse of $2,168,867 for the Goody’s Body Pain 500 on Sunday, April 9 is
$260,881 more than the purse paid one year ago and is well over twice as much as the purse for the 1995 race(Martinsville Speedway Newsletter)(3-17-2000)
Martinsville Grand Marshal: Stewart Smith will be the Grand Marshal for the Goody's Body Pain NASCAR Winston Cup race on Sunday, April 9. He is Vice President of Merchandising for Thomas & Howard of Columbia, S.C. Thomas & Howard was founded in 1897 and serves over 850 customers in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. For privately held companies in South Carolina, Thomas and Howard ranked ninth in business sales last year. And some lucky fan will be the Honorary Starter for the Goody's Body Pain 500. The 2000 winner of the Goody's Body Pain/Martinsville Speedway Official Starter Sweepstakes will be waving the green flag to start the Goody's Body Pain 500. The annual contest gathers over 50,000 entries from locations across the country where Goody's Powders are sold. The Goody's Official Starter receives an all-expense paid trip to Martinsville, hotel accommodations and an Official Starter's dinner in their honor. The winner will participate in pre-race ceremonies, start the race from the flagstand, enjoy a front row seat in the Goody's suite during the race and take part in post-race Victory Lane ceremonies. Last year's winner was North Carolina resident Teresa Keen(Martinsville Speedway PR)(3-14-2000)
Martinsville and New Zealand: It only took one look at Bobby Labonte’s Martinsville Speedway Goodyear tire test session to make race fans out of five New Zealand visitors. The five were part of an exchange program, with the Martinsville Rotary Club, that visited Martinsville for three days including a trip to Martinsville Speedway. Labonte was testing and the group was impressed with what they saw. Martinsville Speedway Senior Director of Corporate Communications Steve Sheppard spoke to the group in the speedway’s suite and took them down to the track to stand near the frontstretch wall as Labonte turned laps. Labonte was at Martinsville helping Goodyear test tires for the Goody’s
Body Pain 500 NASCAR Winston Cup Series race(Martinsville Speedway PR)(3-13-2000)
Martinsville: Martinsville Speedway’s 5,000 new seats in turns one and two will go on sale Wednesday, March 15 for the Goody’s Body Pain 500 on April 9. The addition, which has been named the Old Dominion Tower, will be an outstanding place to watch Winston Cup action, according to Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell. The track named the tower Old Dominion because that was the name of Martinsville’s fall Winston Cup race from 1956 until 1982. See News Release and Need to know when your NAPA AutoCare 500 tickets will be shipped or the date 2001 tickets go on sale? Check out the list of important dates at Martinsville Dates(PRs)(3-7-2000)
Martinsville Tix: Tickets for Martinsville Speedway’s NAPA AutoCare 500 NASCAR Winston Cup Series race on Sunday, October 1 go on sale Wednesday, March 1. Martinsville Speedway changed its ticket policy for the 2000 season by putting tickets for April’s Goody’s Body Pain 500 on sale last August and tickets for the NAPA AutoCare 500 on sale March 1. In the past, tickets for both races would go on sale at the same time. The new system is better for fans by allowing payment for the two races at different times of the year, according to track President Clay Campbell. For more information about Martinsville Speedway visit the Martinsville Speedway Site(3-1-2000)
Testing: Martinsville Speedway will have various CUP drivers testing there in March: the 14th: #17-Matt Kenseth and #16-Kevin Lepage; 15th: #17-Matt Kenseth; 20th: #24-Jeff Gordon, #25-Jerry Nadeau and #21-Elliott Sadler; 21st: Gordon, Nadeau, Salder and #2-Rusty Wallace; 22nd: Wallace; 28th and 29th: #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr(Martinsville Speedway)(2-24-2000)
Martinsville: Although W. Clay Campbell has the final say around Martinsville Speedway now, he does not plan on messing with success. See full story at Roanoke Times: New man, old ways(2-13-2000)
Martinsville News: Martinsville Speedway will hold several sections of backstretch tickets to be sold on Winston Cup race morning as unreserved seats to families with children. The new family unreserved seating will allow parents to bring children ages six to 12 to the Goody’s Body Pain 500 on Sunday, April 9 and the NAPA AutoCare 500 on Sunday, October 1 for $5 per child. Adult tickets in the family unreserved area will be $40. Children under age six get in free to the family section(Martinsville Speedway Newsletter)(2-11-2000)
Martinsville: For the first time, Martinsville Speedway’s backstretch tickets no longer will be unreserved. Previously, the unreserved East Grandstand tickets did not go on sale until race morning. Like the other reserved seat tickets for Martinsville’s CUP races, fans can order tickets for this area in advance and they are $40 and $45. Backstretch tickets go on sale Wednesday, February 23 for the Goody’s Body Pain 500 on Sunday, April 9. Backstretch tickets can be ordered by calling the speedway ticket office toll free at 1-877-RACE-TIX(Martinsville Speedway PR)(2-8-2000)
Honors: Martinsville Speedway's Dick Thompson won the Joe Littlejohn Award and the track's founder, the late H. Clay Earles, claimed the 1999 Spirit Award at the annual National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) Banquet in Winston-Salem, NC Sunday night. The Joe Littlejohn Award is given for service to the NMPA. Thompson also won the NMPA third quarter Spirit Award in 1999 after having cancer surgery in August. The late H. Clay Earles, who was CEO of Martinsville Speedway, was awarded the fourth quarter NMPA Spirit Award and the 1999 Spirit Award(Martinsville Speedway Newsletter)(1-18-2000)
Martinsville Seats: Construction on Martinsville Speedway’s new 5,000 seats is going well and will be ready for the Goody’s Body Pain 500 on April 9, 2000. The project, which began after the NAPA AutoCare 500 in October, also
includes eight new suites and a press box. The seats, press box and three suites will be completed for the Goody’s Body Pain 500 and the remaining five suites will be available for the NAPA AutoCare 500 on October 1, 2000. The addition is between the speedway’s turn one and two. No date has yet been set for the tickets to go on sale(Martinsville Speedway Newsletter)(1-14-2000)
Martinsville Tickets: Tickets for Martinsville Speedway’s Goody’s Body Pain 500 Cup race on Sunday, April 9, 2000 can order tickets by calling toll free at 1-877-RACE-TIX (1-877-722-3849)(Martinsville Speedway Newsletter)(12-23-1999)
Martinsville: Race fans donated more than 1,200 toys and $2,400 on Saturday at Martinsville Speedway to be distributed to Martinsville and Henry County children. The toy drive was part of Martinsville Speedway’s Souvenir Day that included 15 Winston Cup Souvenir trailers selling items, two Allison Legacy Series races and the toy drive(Martinsville Speedway Newsletter)(12-15-1999)
Sad News: A NASCAR racing pioneer and legend has passed away. H. Clay Earles died this morning after a yearlong illness. Earles spent 53 years making Martinsville Speedway one of the nicest facilities in racing. Earles and friends Sam Race and Henry Lawrence opened the speedway in 1947 on a 30-acre site just south of Martinsville, VA. Racing, at that time, was done mostly on fairgrounds and a facility specifically for racing was unusual. The H. Clay Earles family will receive guests at Collins McKee-Stone Funeral Home at 109 Broad St. in Martinsville on Wednesday, November 17 from 7-9 p.m. The funeral, also at Collins McKee-Stone Funeral Home, will be Thursday, November 18 at 11:00am. The Martinsville Speedway Site has a nice photo gallery about Mr Earle at: H. Clay Earles Photo Gallery(11-16-1999)
Martinsville Track Worker Update: The racing community raised about $2,500 to present to track worker Randy Hall, who suffered head and shoulder injuries after falling off a safety vehicle during the Martinsville race on Oct. 3. Hall was released last week after a lengthy hospital stay. Doctors project a full recovery, but it might take six more months. "The guys over at Goodyear came up with the idea, and I just helped spread the word," Dale Jarrett said. "It was an unfortunate injury, and, hopefully, the money will help (Hall) while he is out of work." Brett Bodine was one of several drivers who either sent get-well cards or called to check on Hall. "(The safety workers) are out there for us," Bodine said. "They try to make sure the race track is clean and safe and ready for us to go racing. Most of them are volunteers, and it is just a shame what happened at Martinsville. Our hearts go out to (Hall)(Tennessean/Cox)(11-5-1999)
Martinsville Track Worker News: Randy Hall, who was injured at Martinsville two weeks ago when he fell off a safety truck is doing much better, but he is still in the Paul Sticht Rehabilitation Center in the Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem where he was moved last week. Hall is expected to remain there two more weeks and Doctors believe he will eventually fully recover(Martinsville Speedway Newsletter)(10-19-1999)
Track Worker better: Randy Hall, the safety crew member injured at Martinsville Speedway, has been upgraded to satisfactory condition. He remains at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem. Hall fell off the back of a safety truck as it responded to a crash during the NAPA AutoCare 500. He suffered about a six-inch cut on the back of his head and abrasions on his left shoulder and arm(the Depot)(10-14-1999)
Update on Randy Hall: The Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem(NC) still has Randy Hall listed in Satisfactory Condition as of this morning(10-11). Hall was the safety worker who was injured during a caution at Martinsville on Oct 3rd. For more into and address see my Oct 4th Past News Page, dated 10-7-1999. His family says Randy seems to get a little better every day, but it will take time(Martinsville Speedway)(10-11-1999)
Safety Worker Hurt UPDATE 5 upgraded again: Safety worker Randy B. Hall of Spencer suffered head injuries during a caution period that began on lap 291. As the safety vehicle headed to the third and fourth turns to tend to a crash involving Bobby Hamilton, Rich Bickle and John Andretti, Hall fell off the truck and hit his head on the pavement, rendering him unconscious. He was taken from the scene on a stretcher to the infield care hospital at Martinsville Speedway. Two attempts were made to transport Hall to Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina by AirCare helicopter. NASCAR officials waved the yellow flag on lap 374 to open the gate in the fourth turn to release the rescue vehicle, but Hall's vital signs deteriorated and he had to remain in the care center until he was stabilized. A second caution was called on lap 404 to allow the ambulance to take Hall out of the track to the AirCare helicopter. According to reports, Hall suffered a four- to six-inch laceration on the back of his head and abrasions on his left shoulder and arm. His vital signs were good and Hall was conscious(thanks to NOL for the update)(10-3-1999) -- UPDATE: He was taken to Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, N.C., and is listed in critical condition with head injuries(That's Racin')(10-4-1999) -- UPDATE 2: Randy Hall remains in critical condition(RPM2Nite) -- UPDATE 3: Randy Hall of Spencer, VA. is still in critical condition at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC as of this afternoon. His condition has not been upgraded since he arrived at the hospital on Sunday. Matinsville Speedway Officials have been and are in contact with Randy's family and as soon as they hear any further information I will post it. Hall suffered a 4-6 inch cut on the back of his head. The emergency room staff of the Memorial Hospital of Martinsville & Henry County, which works our Infield Care Center, stabilized him and AirCare took Randy to Baptist Hospital(Martinsville Speedway Newsletter)(10-5-1999) -- UPDATE 4: Hall has been upgraded to serious condition. He is in the intensive care unit at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem(The Depot) ADDRESS: The hospital address is North Carolina Baptist Hospital, Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC 27157(10-6-1999) -- UPDATE 5: Randy Hall of Spencer, VA. has been upgraded from Serious Condition to Satisfactory Condition at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC. According to a family member, Randy got out of bed last night and stood up. Hall is listed in room 561(see above for address)(Martinsville Speedway Newsletter)(10-7-1999)
Short Track Wins UPDATE: Nine different drivers win the last nine short-track races: Dale Jarrett, John Andretti, Rusty Wallace, Ricky Rudd, Jeff Burton, Mark Martin, Terry Labonte, Bobby Hamilton and Jeff Gordon(8-25-1999) -- UPDATE Make it Ten drivers, add Dale Earnhardt to the mix(8-29-1999)
Martinsville Auction TODAY: Martinsville Speedway will hold a Demolition/Salvage Auction beginning at 10am/et on Friday, July 23. The auction is being held due to the demolition of suites between the track's first and second turns and many of the items stored in those buildings will be sold. The auction will include a 1998 Pontiac Bonneville, addressograph machines, chairs, file cabinets, air conditioners, used doors, chain link fencing, toilets, sinks, tractor tires, street sweeper, mowers, and many other pieces of machinery and construction items. There also will be racing collectibles including 31 cases of Richard Petty collectible cars. The suites between turns one and two will be torn down in August in preparation for a 5,000-seat high-rise grandstand that will be constructed between turns one and two as well as a new press box and suites(Martinsville Speedway)(7-14-1999)
Martinsville: Martinsville Speedway will host the Goody’s Body Pain 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race on Sunday, April 9, 2000 and the NAPA AutoCare 500 on Sunday, October 1, 2000. It will be the 52nd year the series has raced at Martinsville. Prior to the fall season, the track will have 50 acres of new parking completed as well as redesigning the main office and entrance, which will provide new ticket windows and a landscaped area for display of the Pontiac pace car. The suites between turns one and two will be torn down in preparation for improvements while a new maintenance shop will be constructed. Once the fall season is completed, a 5,000-seat high-rise grandstand will be constructed between turns one and two as well as a new press box and suites. Plans for moving the railroad, which currently runs behind the backstretch of the speedway, to enable the track to build more seats continue to be studied and such a move tentatively will take place within two years(Martinsville Speedway Site)(6-26-1999)
Martinsville Expansion: Martinsville Speedway has concluded negotiations with Norfolk & Western Railroad to move a section of main line which currently runs behind its back-stretch grandstand and has limited expansion of grandstands. Expansion will start after the September races, starting in the south turn(Racer Mag/Ben Blake)(5-14-1999)
Martinsville Tickets: Tickets for the 2000 Martinsville Speedway Winston Cup season will go on sale Wednesday, August 11 at 9am/et. Tickets can be ordered online or by calling the speedway ticket office. Tickets for the NAPA AutoCare 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race on October 3 are still are available.(www.martinsvillespeedway.com)(5-7-1999)
Martinsville Expansion: Clay Campbell, president of Martinsville Speedway, says track and railroad officials have discussed moving the train tracks away from the backstretch to allow the track to expand seating. Campbell called last week's talks positive. An engineering study is scheduled for next month. Martinsville Speedway holds 81,000 spectators and will add 5,000 seats for its October race this year(The Depot)(4-21-1999)
Martinsville Qualifying: because the exit of pit road is now at the end of turn two, NASCAR changed their qualifying procedure. Drivers exited the pits, got that half lap and one additional lap to warm up the tires, then ran their two qualifying laps. The drivers were concerned about only having a half lap to get heat in the tires(ESPN2 Qualifying)(4-17-1999)
Testing at Martinsville: Test Schedule For Goody's Body Pain 500/NAPA 250. The following teams have rented the track for testing: March 22,23: Wood Brothers Racing; March 29,30: Penske Racing; March 31-April 1: Petty Enterprises; April 2: Buckshot Jones; April 6,7,8: Joe Gibbs; April 14: Open Test For NAPA 250 (www.martinsvillespeedway.com)(2-20-1999)
Martinsville Pit Road: Pitting on Martinsville Speedway’s backstretch has made it difficult to win over the years, but it will not be a problem beginning in 1999. All of Martinsville’s 43 pits will be moved to the frontstretch.(Martinsville Speedway Newsletter)(2-4-1999)
Martinsville Speedway: Martinsville Speedway has acquired approximately 50 additional acres of land that is now being prepared for fan parking. "As we continue to build additional seating we must continue to provide the amenities that go along with that," said Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell. "Our seating capacity has grown every year, but one, since 1988. We completed an additional 50 acres of parking and camping in 1998, and this addition of free parking for seats we plan to build in the future. All of the parking on speedway property is provided free of charge." The new parking area also will have its own access road that will lessen traffic on Speedway Road. There will now be four exits off of U.S. 220 and the U.S. 58 Bypass into the speedway parking areas. The work is scheduled to be completed by the NAPA AutoCare 500 weekend on October 3.(StockCarRacing Magazine)(1-28-1999)
Martinsville New Name: The Goody’s Headache Powder 500 will now be the Goody’s Body Pain 500 as part of Block Drug Company’s kickoff of their new product Goody’s Body Pain Formula for the April 18th Cup race(www.martinsvillespeedway.com)(1-20-1999)
Souvenir Day: Martinsville Speedway’s Souvenir Day is Saturday (Dec. 12) from 9am to 5pm/et and there is no admission charge, but Martinsville Speedway is asking everyone to bring a new unwrapped toy to be given to area children through the Henry County Baptist Association. Souvenir vendors scheduled to sell items on Saturday represent Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Rusty Wallace, Dale Jarrett, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Bill Elliott, Realtree, Martinsville Speedway and others. A 30-lap Allison Legacy Series race also will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The Allison Legacy Series and the Allison Legacy cars were developed by retired Winston Cup driver Donnie Allison’s sons Kenny, Ronald and Donald Allison. The Allison Legacy car is a three-quarter scale version stock car resembling the Winston Cup Series car. www.martinsvillespeedway.com/sd(Martinsville Newsletter)(12-9-98)
Hot Laps at Martinsville: David Pearson’s Performance Racing School will offer a Hot Laps session on Thursday (Dec. 10) with one-third of the proceeds going for toys for Martinsville area children. Fans can drive an Allison Legacy Series race car at Martinsville Speedway on Thursday from 9am to 5pm/et for $15 per lap and Pearson will donate $5 per lap to Saturday’s Toy Drive at the track. The only prerequisite for driving during Hot Laps is a valid driver’s license. For more information on Hot Laps or Souvenir Day contact Martinsville Speedway at (540)956-1600 or visit the speedway’s web site at www.martinsvillespeedway.com(Martinsville Newsletter)(12-9-98)
Martinsville news: Racing souvenirs, an Allison Legacy Series race, and a toy collection will all be part of the free fifth annual Souvenir Day at Martinsville Speedway Dec. 12. Winston Cup souvenir trailers, including the vendors for Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace, Dale Jarrett and Bill Elliott, will sell their wares in the pit area of the speedway. Jackets, T-shirts, caps and collectibles will all be available. The Allison Legacy Series -- which runs three-quarter-scale stock cars resembling those of Winston Cup cars -- will run a 30-lap race. The series was begun in 1996 by Kenny, Ronald and Donald Allison, sons of retired NASCAR driver Donnie Allison. The Thunderbirds and Monte Carlos are powered by Mazda 2200cc engines that produce 120 horsepower. Shoppers also can help needy children by bringing a new unwrapped toy to be collected by the speedway in the infield media center. Martinsville Speedway will give the toys to the Henry County Baptist Association to be distributed to less fortunate children in Martinsville and Henry County.(SpeedNet)(11-13-98)
Martinsville Info: I hear Martinsville Speedway will make one pit road for next year, unknown if it'll be in for the spring race or the summer race. The present two pit-road configuration has 22 pit stall on the front stretch and 21 on the back stretch. No plans to add lights yet.(11-12-98)
Due to your requests, tickets for Martinsville Speedway's 1999 season can
now be purchased online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com with the order form at http://www.martinsvillespeedway.com/buy99.htm Tickets can be ordered by using Visa, MasterCard and Discover.(Martinsville Speedway Newsletter)(10-14-98)
Martinsville Speedway is considering changing their pitroad setup. They would remove the back stretch pits, and extend the front stretch pit road around the 1st and 4th turns, similar to the way North Wilkesboro was set up.(Raceday)(9-27-98)
Martinsville Speedway is also looking to expand the back stretch grandstands, which would require the railroad tracks behind the track to be moved over.(NASCAR2Day)(9-27-98)
There have been 89 NASCAR Winston Cup races at the Martinsville Speedway, and Bobby Hamilton was the 14th pole-sitter to win there. Seventy-three of the 89 races have been won by a top-10 qualifier. No winner has ever started deeper than 24th (Lee Petty, 1959). Since the modern era began in 1972, the deepest any race winner started was 20th -- Darrell Waltrip in 1988.(Bill Webber's Columm - ESPN SprtsZone)(9-25-98)
Martinsville Speedway's new 13 corporate suites atop the NAPA and Goody's towers are "truly a community project" with as many as 17 local companies working on construction. Clay Campbell, president of Martinsville Speedway, makes an effort to work with local companies as the track has expanded. His efforts are most evident with the number of companies working on the current project which will be ready in time for the Taco Bell 300 on Sunday, September 20 and the NAPA AutoCare 500 on Sunday, September 27. See the rest of the story at RaceComm.(8-5-98)
"This Martinsville race next spring may be run under the lights on a Saturday night, according to NASCAR sources. However, Steve Sheppard, the track's public relations manager, insisted yesterday that there are no plans to install lights. Track owner Clay Earles last spring raised the possibility of night racing, though he has been a staunch advocate of Sunday afternoon racing. Rain has been a long-standing problem here, forcing costly postponements."(JournalNow)(4-20-98)
In 88 Winston Cup races at Martinsville, 72 times the winner has started 10th or better, 24th is the furthest starting position to win. Lee Petty in 1959.(Bill Weber/ESPN)(4-15-98)
"Martinsville Speedway is offering fans with disabilities a little assistance for the Goody's Headache Powder 500 weekend for the events for the Cup and Featherlite Modified Series races, April 17-19." see the story at NASCAR Online: Martinsville offers assistance.(NASCAR Online)(4-10-98)
Martinsville Speedway will give away two tickets to the Goody's Headache Powder 500 and Goody's Headache 200 in trivia games to be played on Thursday and Friday, April 9 & 10 and Monday and Tuesday, April 13 & 14. Each game will be a two-day trivia contest. The winner of each game will receive two tickets to the Goody's Headache Powder 500 and the runner-up will win two tickets to the Goody's Headache Powder 200. Be sure to play each day for the best chance to win. To play visit the Martinsville Speedway web site at http://www.martinsvillespeedway.com. Please do not email me asking for the answers.(4-9-98)
Martinsville (Va.) Speedway is offering those who need handicapped seating a little assistance for the Goody's Headache Powder 200/500 weekend for the NASCAR Winston Cup and Featherlite Modified cars on April 17-19. Martinsville has great handicapped seating in the Bill France Tower, parking adjacent to the tower, and through the help of Raceway Ministries a golf cart ride is available from handicapped parking to the tower's entrance. Seats in the handicapped sections are $55 and available by calling the Martinsville Speedway ticket office at (540) 956-3151. Tickets for qualifying are $10.(iRACE), Also the speedway announced 7,500 new front straight tickets go on sale March 23rd. These seats are in the newly added 22
rows. See martinsvillespeedway.com for confirmation.(3-12-98)
Martinsville Speedway has added another pit stall on the front-stretch to accommodate the 43 car fields. There'll now be 22 on the front and 21 on the backstretch.(NASCAR Fans/WC Scene)(2-20-98)
Goody's Pharmaceuticals, a division of Block Drug Company Inc. of Jersey City, NJ, will continue its 15-year-old sponsorship of Martinsville Speedway's spring NASCAR Winston Cup race into the next century with its Goody's Headache Powder and Tablets brand with a new three-year deal. The announcement of the April 19 Goody's Headache Powder 500 was made by David D. Porter, executive product manager for Goody's Headache Powder and Tablets, and Clay Campbell, president of Martinsville Speedway.(NASCAR Online)(12-26-97)
Martinsville Speedway is supposed to be adding 23 more rows of seating to the front stretch grand stands for the spring race 1998. This will add eight to ten thousand seats and track officials trying to work out a way to move the railroad tracks to add more seating to the back stretch also(9-29-97)
