April 2011 Race Winner: #29-Kevin Harvick, 74.195mph, started 9th

October 2011 Race Winner: #14-Tony Stewart, 68.648mph, started 4th

Track Race Record: Jeff Gordon, Sept 1996, 82.223mph

Oldest Race Winner: Harry Gant, 51 years, 8 months, 12 days, 9/22/1991

Youngest Race Winner: Richard Petty, 22 years, 9 months, 8 days, 4/10/1960

April 2011 Pole Sitter: #1-Jamie McMurray, 96.509mph, finished 7th

October 2011 Pole Sitter: none, rained out, field set by rules book

Track Qualifying Record: Tony Stewart, October 2005, 98.083mph

Oldest Pole Winner: Morgan Shepherd, 45 years, 6 months, 14 days, 4/26/1987

Youngest Pole Winner: Ricky Rudd, 24 years, 7 months, 14 days, 04/26/1981

Most Wins - Active Driver: Jeff Gordon, 7; Jimmie Johnson, 6

Most Wins - All Time: Richard Petty, 15

Most Poles - Active Driver: Jeff Gordon, 7

Most Poles - All Time: Darrell Waltrip, 8

Most Top 5s: 30 - Richard Petty; Active leader - 25 - Jeff Gordon

Most Top 10s: 37 - Richard Petty; Active leader- 31 - Jeff Gordon

Lead Lap Finishes (all time): Rusty Wallace 29 in 44 races

Lead Lap Finishes (active): Jeff Gordon 30 in 37 races

Laps Led (all time): Cale Yarborough - 3,851 laps

Laps Led (active): Jeff Gordon - 3,094 laps

Most Cautions: 19 - 10/23/2005

Fewest Cautions: 1 - 3 times, most recently 4/25/1971

Most Caution Laps: 125, 10/24/2004

Fewest Caution Laps: 3, 4/25/1971

Most Running at the Finish: 42 - 4/18/1999 and 4/1/2007

Fewest Running at the Finish: 4 - 5/6/1951

Worst Starting Spot to Win: Kurt Busch, Oct 2002, started 36th

Most Lead Changes: 31 - 4/3/2011

Fewest Lead Changes: 1 - 3 times, most recently 4/9/1961

Most Leaders: 14 - 10/15/2001

Fewest Leaders: 2 - 11 times last on 9/26/1976

Most Wins by Manufacturer: 48 - Chevy; 26 - Ford; 10 - Dodge; 5 - Toyota; 40 - Others

Fewest Laps Led by a Race Winner: 4 - John Andretti 4/18/1999

Most Laps Led by a Race Winner: 493 - Fred Lorenzen, 9/27/1964

Sinise To Help Martinsville Area Soldier Build House: Award-winning actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise is going to make sure Cpl. J.B. Kerns’ dream of a log cabin on the Ararat River becomes a reality. Sinise announced that the Gary Sinise Foundation and The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation (named after the NY firefighter who perished on 9/11), are partnering as part of their Building For America’s Bravest program to build a “smart home” for Kerns that will allow him to live independently.
Kerns lost both legs and his right arm last April as a result of a blast from an improvised explosive device (IED) while on his third tour of duty in Afghanistan. The heroic Marine, who’s had to undergo dozens of surgeries, is from Ararat—a small, rural town in Patrick County, about 30 miles from Martinsville Speedway.
The fundraising centerpiece for the project will be a concert performed by Sinise and his Lt. Dan Band at Martinsville High School on Saturday, March 31, at 7 p.m, and 100% of the ticket sales will go toward funding the specially-equipped smart home for Kerns. The next day, at the running of the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway, Sinise and Kerns will play a special role in the Speedway’s pre-race program. General admission to the Martinsville concert will be $25. There will also be a limited number of VIP passes available, which include a ticket to the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 and a Sunday morning meet-and-greet with Sinise at Martinsville Speedway.(more info at Martinsville Speedway)(2-10-2012)

Martinsville Speedway Will Mark 65th Anniversary: When Martinsville Speedway opened in 1947, bread was 13 cents a loaf and a gallon of gas was just 15 cents. A postage stamp was three cents, The Diary of Anne Frank had just been published, the Miracle on 34th Street was the big draw at the movies and Harry Truman lived in the White House. As it celebrates its 65th anniversary, the world is vastly different from when Martinsville Speedway founder H. Clay Earles first opened the doors on September 7, 1947. But even with all the change that 65 years brings, some of Earles’ basic philosophies remain, in fact are the reason the historic oval has not only survived, but thrived. “My grandfather often said a working man or woman deserved to get what they paid for and that’s always been our philosophy here,” said W. Clay Campbell, president of Martinsville Speedway and Earles’ grandson. “I think that has been the key to our success over the years. We have always worked hard to take care of the fans.” Fans will be the focus of Martinsville Speedway’s year-long 65th anniversary celebration which will include special ticket offers, interactive social media campaigns and web promotions, special commemorative merchandise and collectible items. The anniversary year will culminate with a grand pre-race celebration before the TUMS Fast Relief 500 on October 28 when the speedway will host many of the old time drivers who raced here for interaction with fans. Martinsville is a year older than NASCAR and is the only track that remains on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule from its inaugural season in 1949. The historic half-mile has grown and progressed with the sport, offering up fan amenities that rival any sporting venue in the country. It kicks of its 65th year of racing action with the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 weekend March 30-April 1. Other than its fan philosophy, the only thing that hasn’t changed at Martinsville Speedway is the shape of the track itself. The unique paperclip shape with long straights and tight turns consistently produces exciting, action-packed racing. Racing returns to Martinsville Speedway March 30-April 1 with the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 weekend. Tickets for both events are on sale and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway)(2-7-2012)

Campbell Headed To MIS To Serve Hot Dogs: Tuesday night’s down-to-the-wire Sugar Bowl victory for the University of Michigan was quite sweet for Michigan International Speedway president Roger Curtis, but a bit sour for Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell. Michigan’s 23-20 overtime victory over Virginia Tech on Tuesday means Campbell will have to make a trip west in June to serve up MIS’ signature Coney Dogs to the press prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race June 17. Campbell will wear a maize and blue University of Michigan shirt while serving the media. “Hail to the victors!” Curtis said. “We are so excited Clay will be in Michigan to greet our guests and serve up the famous Coney Dog to the press. The game was a nail-biter to the very end, and while I’m obviously pleased Michigan won, it was a thrilling game for fans of both teams.” Campbell’s concessionaire duties are the result of a Sugar Bowl wager he made with Curtis. Each backed his state’s top football team in the Sugar Bowl. Campbell was behind Virginia Tech while Curtis supported Michigan. The bet was simple: if the Hokies won, Curtis would have travelled to Martinsville to serve the Famous Martinsville Speedway Hotdog to media. If Michigan won, Campbell would visit MIS to serve the Coney Dogs to the press.(Martinsville Speedway)(1-7-2012)

Martinsville Speedway president to race in K&N East Series: Jeff Spraker of Spraker Racing Enterprises and Clay Campbell, President of Martinsville Speedway, announced that they will join forces again for selected events in the 2012 K&N East Series. "Clay is a very good race car driver" stated team owner Jeff Spraker. "We both share a love for NASCAR and he totally appreciates the dedication and effort we put forth in our race program. He is a class guy and one of my best friends." In 2011 Campbell finished among the top 20 drivers in the K&N East Point Standings despite being able to compete in selected events due to his commitments at the speedway. "Jeff and I enjoy racing together" stated Campbell. "We are looking forward to 2012. The K&N Series is a great series and with some new race tracks coming into the fold it is sure to be a very exciting season." The 14 race K&N Series schedule kicks off 2012 at Bristol Motor Speedway in March.(Spraker Racing Enterprises)(1-7-2012)

Latest Martinsville Speedway Construction Project Progressing Smoothly: With the help of mild and dry winter weather, work on the latest major construction project at Martinsville Speedway is well ahead of schedule and should be completed well before the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 on April 1. The project includes demolition of all the restrooms under the Richard Petty Tower on the fourth-turn end of the front stretch and construction of larger, modern restrooms. The new restrooms are being built about 30 feet further back, allowing for a much wider concourse area to help improve pedestrian traffic. In fact, the width of the concourse in that area will be almost doubled. The new restrooms will be almost twice as large as the present ones and contain amenities comparable with any large entertainment venue. Fans will also notice a refurbished ticket office when they return for the Goody’s Fast Relief weekend this spring, which includes a new façade and redesigned and refurbished interior. Racing returns to Martinsville Speedway March 30-April 1 with the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 weekend. Tickets for both events are on sale and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway)(1-4-2012)

Sweet wager: Martinsville squares off against Michigan in Sugar Bowl bet: Next Tuesday’s Sugar Bowl will pit two legendary programs against one another – Martinsville Speedway and Michigan International Speedway. The top dogs for the two NASCAR racetracks will square off head-to-head, each backing his state’s marquee football team. MIS boss Roger Curtis will cheer for the legendary University of Michigan, while Martinsville boss Clay Campbell has picked Virginia Tech to win. Here’s the bet: If the No. 11 Hokies win, Curtis will travel to Martinsville, Va., in April for that track’s NASCAR event and serve the half-mile track’s Famous Martinsville Speedway Hotdog to media. Curtis will wear something in Chicago maroon and burnt orange, likely emblazoned with the Hokie Bird or the famous “VT.” If the No. 13 Wolverines win, Campbell will visit MIS in June during MIS’ NASCAR event and serve MIS’ signature Coney Dogs to the press. Coney dogs were invented in Jackson., Mich., just 15 miles north of MIS. Oh, and Campbell will also be outfitted in something special should the University of Michigan win. This is the first time the two track presidents – and the schools – will face off. Virginia Tech, 11-2 on the season, is the only team in the country to win 10 games for eight straight seasons. The Hokies have also been to 19 consecutive bowl games. This will be Michigan’s 41st trip to a bowl game. The school has an 18-3 all-time record against ACC schools. The Sugar Bowl is one of the most successful college football bowl games of its kind, played annually in New Orleans since 1935. The Sugar Bowl will be broadcast live on ESPN.(Martinsville Speedway / Michigan International Speedway)(12-28-2011)

Harvicks Lend Helping Hand To Martinsville Speedway Toy Drive: The Kevin Harvick Foundation donated about 125 toys to the Martinsville Speedway Toy Drive on Tuesday, Dec 21st. Those toys will be distributed to needy youngsters by Christmas Cheer of Martinsville and Henry County (VA). The Harvicks live about 35 miles south of Martinsville Speedway and often refer to Martinsville Speedway as their "home track." They have partnered with Martinsville Speedway on several events, but the toy donation is their way of giving back to the Martinsville and Henry County area. The Kevin Harvick Foundation and radio station 93.1 The Wolf sponsored a month long toy-drive and fundraising concert last week at Johnny and June's in Winston-Salem, NC, featuring country music stars Jake Owen and the Eli Young Band. The main beneficiaries of the successful event were foster children in Guilford and Forsyth counties, but the Harvicks made sure some of the toys made their way to Martinsville and Henry County.(Martinsville Speedway)(12-25-2011)

Martinsville Speedway’s Campbell Named Promoter Of The Year: Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell was recently named the promoter of the year by the Old Timers Racing Club. The award was presented to Campbell for his tireless effort to treat drivers in every division at Martinsville Speedway fairly and equally. Campbell, who is a driver himself, was selected from a large group of promoters, past and present, which included his late grandfather and founder of Martinsville Speedway, H. Clay Earles. The group of nominees also included Bruton Smith, CEO of Speedway Motorsports, Humpy Wheeler, former promoter of Charlotte Motor Speedway, the late Enoch Staley, founder of North Wilkesboro Speedway and the late Paul Sawyer, founder of Richmond International Raceway. “It is an incredible honor to be picked from this group. Just to be mentioned in the same breath with my grandfather and all of these other gentlemen,” said Campbell. “I thank the Old Timers Racing Club for this award and for what they do to help our sport.” The Old Timers Racing Club was formed in 1991 to offer aid to former drivers with its Medical Hardship Fund. The club has more than 400 members and has helped dozens of retired drivers over the past two decades.(Martinsville Speedway)(12-16-2011)

Martinsville Speedway Toy Drives Brings Christmas Cheer To 200 Children: Hundreds of people turned out Saturday for hot laps around Martinsville Speedway, really hot laps in the pace car with Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell, and most importantly to donate hundreds of toys and money to the 15th Annual Martinsville Speedway Toy Drive. Almost 1,000 toys were donated along with an additional $2,500. The toys will be distributed to needy families in the Martinsville and Henry County area by the Grace Network, an organization of almost 100 area churches. Those toys will go to help about 200 children in the Martinsville and Henry County area have a brighter Christmas morning. People donated $10 to drive their cars around the historic half-mile oval while the more adventuresome donated $25 to take hot laps in the Martinsville Speedway pace car with Campbell behind the wheel. The Grace Network will use all money collected in the toy drive and from concession sales to purchase additional toys. The staff of Martinsville Speedway donated their time Saturday to man the infield concession stand to cook and sell hot dogs, coordinated the hot laps and pace car laps with Campbell.(Martinsville Speedway)(12-14-2011)

Clay Campbell Spends Day On Sign, Nets Children’s Foundation Over $25,000: Clay Campbell could have made an early descent from atop the Martinsville Speedway entrance sign Friday afternoon, but he knew the longer he stayed up in the air meant more money to help needy children in the Martinsville and Henry County area. Campbell, the president of Martinsville Speedway, had vowed to stay perched some 38 feet in the air until he raised $20,000 for the Martinsville Speedway Children’s Foundation. That total was hit by mid-afternoon, but Campbell made the easy decision to stay put, even as temperatures dropped later in the afternoon. By the time Campbell descended at 4 p.m. contributions had topped $25,000.(Martinsville Speedway)(12-14-2011)

Construction Set To Begin On New Restrooms, Wider Concourse At Martinsville: Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell announced a project that will result in new and larger restrooms and a wider concourse under the Richard Petty Tower. The new restrooms will be almost twice as large as the present ones and contain amenities comparable with any large entertainment venue. The width of the concourse will be doubled which should greatly improve the flow of pedestrian traffic under the Richard Petty Tower, which is on the fourth-turn end of the front stretch. “We constantly work on making sure our fans have the best experience possible here on race weekends and this was the next logical step for us,” said Campbell. “We’ve gotten great fan feedback from the project we completed last winter and this one is very similar. We think it’s going to be a big hit with the fans.” The work will begin immediately with demolition of the existing buildings under the Richard Petty Tower. Construction will be completed in time for the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 on April 1. This comes on the heels of a similar project completed last winter when all of the restrooms and concession stands on the first-turn end of the front stretch were demolished and replaced, also created a larger concourse area. According to Rick Magee of Frith Construction Co., the project’s general contractor, all of the work will be done by “local contractors, subcontractors and suppliers.” He said the project will employ about 35 workers for 2 ½ months. Racing returns to Martinsville Speedway March 30-April 1 with the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 weekend. Tickets for both events are on sale and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway)(11-30-2011)

North Carolina A&T Marching Band To Perform National Anthem at Martinsville: The nationally-acclaimed North Carolina A&T marching band will perform in prerace prior to Sunday’s TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway and perform a traditional version of the National Anthem. The Blue & Gold Marching Machine, with more than 350 members, consistently receives national recognition and are among those to garner a coveted spot in the 2012 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. Fans at Martinsville Speedway will witness the unique “chair step” high-step marching style the Blue & Gold Marching Machine utilizes when the band performs at noon, entering the track through the fourth-turn cross-over gate and marching clockwise around the track to the start-finish line. North Carolina A&T is a land-grant university located in Greensboro, NC and is the largest publicly funded historically black college in the state of North Carolina. Tickets for all Martinsville Speedway events may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or by visiting martinsvillespeedway.com online.(Martinsville Speedway)(10-25-2011)

No Tricks, Just Treats For Kids Saturday At Martinsville: Halloween is a kids’ holiday and Saturday youngsters will get to celebrate it in a big way at Martinsville Speedway. From 4 pm to 6 pm Saturday, the Martinsville Speedway midway will be transformed into the largest trick or treat zone around. And for the record, it will be all treat and no trick. The dozens of souvenir rigs gathered around the midway will be open handing out goodies for youngsters trick or treating. And under the bright red Martinsville Speedway tent, several NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers along with Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell, will be treating the kids to candy and other goodies. Martinsville’s midway and souvenir area is located across from the fourth-turn area of the track, adjacent to the Bill France Tower.
One section of Martinsville Speedway’s display area has again been declared a “Kids Zone” for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 weekend with games, souvenirs and food aimed at the younger crowd. The concession items in the Kids Zone will not only be kid favorites, but kid priced. There will be chicken nuggets, hot dogs, cotton candy, chips, fruit cups and Capri Sun juice boxes. Nothing will be over $2. There will be an inflatable bouncy house for the youngsters to play in and there will also be plenty of youth oriented souvenirs. And on Sunday, there will be a second inflatable bouncy house, this one inside the track, above the second-turn, next to the Clay Earles Tower. Tickets for all Martinsville Speedway events may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or by visiting martinsvillespeedway.com online.(Martinsville Speedway)(10-25-2011)

Martinsville Speedway Curbs Go Pink For Breast Care Awareness Month: The unique four-inch high curbs guarding the inside of the turns at Martinsville Speedway have drawn the anger of almost every driver who has competed at this historic track. But for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 weekend, the curbs will show a softer side. They have been painted pink in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Four ladies involved with the ”Ladies First” Martinsville and Henry County Breast Health Initiative helped track crews paint the curbs pink Tuesday morning. Two of the guest painters are breast cancer survivors. “We hope this small effort on our part will help draw some attention to a cause that’s so important,” said Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell. “All of us know someone that has been touched by breast cancer. We all need to do anything we can do to help bring attention to the cause.” “Martinsville Speedway continues to demonstrate their concern, involvement and commitment to our local community,” said Rita Winbush, project director of the “Ladies First” MHC Community Breast Health Initiative. “By painting the curbs pink, they bring attention to not only a national program like the Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure but also to local programs like our “Ladies First” MHC Community Breast Health Initiative. We commend NASCAR and Martinsville Speedway for all they do to help raise breast cancer awareness throughout the year.” The newly-painted curbs will be unveiled to the public for the first time on NASCAR Sprint Cup and Truck Series Practice Day on Friday, October 28. They will get their first real test on Saturday, October 29 with Farm Bureau Pole Day and the Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. And they will be center stage of the racing world on Sunday, October 30 for the TUMS Fast Relief 500. Tickets for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 and the Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race may be purchased by calling 877.722.3849 (877.RACE.TIX) or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com online.(Martinsville Speedway)(10-19-2011)

Great Tickets At Great Prices For TUMS Fast Relief 500 At Martinsville: The TUMS Fast Relief 500 is just around the corner, but if you haven't gotten your tickets yet, don't worry. You've still got plenty of time left. Good seats for the TUMS Fast Relief 500, the seventh race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, remain in most areas of the grandstands. Any ticket to the TUMS Fast Relief 500 will be a ticket to excitement. In last fall's race there were 24 lead changes among 13 drivers and 15 caution periods. In this spring's Goody's Fast Relief 500 there were a record-setting 31 lead changes. Fans won't need a banker to help them to purchase tickets for the TUMS Fast Relief 500, either. Ticket prices are all very affordable.
Here are some of the amazing Martinsville ticket and package prices:
· Seats in the Clay Earles Tower overlooking the second turn are $55.
· Children's tickets, ages 18 and under, in the Clay Earles Tower are only $10 when purchased with an adult ticket, rows 15-52.
· All seats in Bill France Tower are $40.
· Seats in the Sprint Tower are $65.
· Family 4 Pack, includes 2 adult tickets, 2 children tickets, 18 and under, vouchers for 4 hot dogs and 4 Pepsi products, all for just $99.
Tickets for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 and the Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race may be purchased by calling 877.722.3849 (877.RACE.TIX) or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com online.(Martinsville Speedway)(10-18-2011)

Director Of Operations named at Martinsville: Matthew Brannock, a 12-year veteran of the Virginia State Police, has been named Director of Operations for Martinsville Speedway. Brannock, a Ridgeway native who grew up just a few miles from Martinsville Speedway, will begin his duties immediately. “We feel very fortunate to land someone of Matt’s caliber, someone with his experience and knowledge,” said Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell. “He has been involved with many big events in his duties with the State Police, so he understands what goes into putting on one of our races. And he is from our area, so he also knows our community and that is important for us.” Brannock, 36, is the speedway’s first full-time Director of Operations in its 65-year history. Brannock was on the scene during the April 16, 2007 shootings at Virginia Tech, and appeared in an iconic photograph helping three Blacksburg police officers carry a wounded Virginia Tech student from the scene. The photo was distributed to news outlets worldwide. More recently, Brannock was wounded in a shoot-out with a murder suspect after a high-speed chase on Interstate 81 near Roanoke this past Memorial Day weekend. Prior to his service with the Virginia State Police, Brannock spent four years as a Law-Enforcement Specialist with the United States Air Force. During his military service, Brannock was part of an Air Base Ground Defense team that was dispatched to Kuwait where he spent six months protecting the Kuwait City International Airport as part of a six-man fire team. Brannock, a 1993 graduate of Magna Vista High School in Ridgeway, is married and has two children.(Martinsville Speedway)(9-28-2011)

Martinsville race dates stay the same in 2012: Martinsville Speedway’s 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule will have a familiar look to it. Martinsville’s two 2012 Sprint Cup races will fall on the same weekends as they did in 2011. The Goody's Fast Relief 500 is scheduled for April 1 while the TUMS Fast Relief 500 will be on October 28. The Goody’s Fast Relief 500 will be the sixth race of the season while the TUMS Fast Relief 500 will be the seventh race in the NASCAR Chase for Sprint Cup.(Martinsville PR)(9-19-2011)