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)

Expanded ticket hours at Martinsville: Martinsville Speedway's ticket office is expanding its hours so fans will have plenty of time to purchase tickets for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 weekend, which is just six weeks away. The ticket office will extend its hours to Saturdays, beginning on Sept. 17 and to Sundays starting on Oct. 16. Saturday hours will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sept. 17, 24 and Oct. 1. Saturday hours will expand to 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 15 and 22. Sunday hours will be from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 16 and 23. Tickets for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 on Sunday, October 30, the Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Saturday, October 29 and the NASCAR practice day on Friday, October 28 are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.racetickets.com.(Martinsville Speedway)(9-17-2011)

Martinsville Speedway's Campbell honored: Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell was presented with the Heck Ford Award by the Martinsville and Henry County Chamber of Commerce Thursday night. The Heck Ford Award is the most prestigious award given by the M-HC Chamber and it is not given on an annual basis, but only when it is deemed deserving. The award is given in memory of Ford, who was in the real estate business in Martinsville from 1908 until 1955 and who was a "one-man chamber" long before the business group was organized. The crowd of more than 250 people attending the dinner gave Campbell a standing ovation. In its decision to present Campbell with the award, the Chamber considered his body-of-work in supporting the area’s economic growth, including his long-time partnership with and support of the Chamber and CPEG (Chamber Partnership for Economic Growth), his financial support of CPEG during the formation of the Economic Development Corporation, the economic impact of Martinsville Speedway on the area and the entire Commonwealth. His life-long community service in the area, including the annual Fourth of July Celebration, Martinsville Speedway’s annual toy drive, the Martinsville Speedway Children’s Foundation, and many other community events the Speedway has hosted over the years. Campbell has been president of Martinsville Speedway since 1988, assuming the role held by his grandfather, H. Clay Earles, the founder of Martinsville Speedway. He began working at the track fresh out of high school in 1978 and for a decade compiled work experience in every department. He is a member of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership board of directors, a board member of CPEG, a board member of the W.E. Skelton 4-H Conference Center, a member of the Blue Ridge Airport Authority Board of Directors and a member of the National Stock Car Racing Commission. He is a past president of the Martinsville YMCA board of directors and has served on the Patrick Henry Community College Foundation board of directors and the New College Institute board of directors. He has been a licensed pilot for more than 25 years and is certified multi-engine and jet, instrument rated. Not only does he oversee a racing facility, he races stock cars. He is running the entire NASCAR K&N Pro Series East tour this season and has been racing stock cars at weekly tracks for two decades.(Martinsville Speedway)(9-13-2011)

Martinsville Speedway Tire Test Just Another Day At The Track: Five drivers – #2-Brad Keselowski, #6-David Ragan, #47-Bobby Labonte, #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. and #31-Jeff Burton – were strapped back in their racers by 10:00am/et Tuesday at Martinsville Speedway, less than 24 hours after finishing up a grueling race at Watkins Glen International in upstate New York. They were in town for a two-day Goodyear tire test, helping Goodyear improve its racing tires, and just as importantly to the drivers, perhaps gaining a little knowledge for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville on October 30. “It’s not often you get to do any testing in this sport on tracks that mean anything and obviously Martinsville means a lot to our team,” said Keselowski, who is still nursing a broken ankle from a crash a couple weeks ago. “It looks like there’s a great potential for our team to be in the Chase, so anything we can bring back here in October is important.” Early mornings are nothing new to these guys, even on the day after a long weekend at the track.
“A day like today is kind of normal for us. I’m up by 7:30 every Monday morning,” said Ragan, who was involved in a brutal crash at Watkins Glen in Monday’s rain-delayed race. “We have meetings every Monday morning at our race shop. The guys on the team are back at work at 6:30 every Monday morning. It’s what we enjoy doing. I’m glad to be at the race track.”
And the extra work this week could pay big dividends in October. “To get an opportunity to come to a race track where you have some data is a huge advantage,” said Ragan. “We ran well here in the spring. We finished seventh. This fall is an important race for us and anything we can get out of this test will be big”.
“You’re lucky if you can hit on five or 10 percent of what you’re trying to hit on and come back with it,” said Keselowski. “It’s hard to say how much it will help. We may do this whole test and not find a thing, but you got to try. I’ve had the good fortune to run three races here at the Cup level and feel like if I could grow just a little more could win one of these. Hopefully the extra seat time will help.” The Goodyear tire test will continue Wednesday at Martinsville Speedway with the same drivers. The session is open to the public at no charge. Testing will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with an hour break at noon. Tickets for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 on Sunday, October 30, the Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Saturday, October 29 and the NASCAR practice day on Friday, October 28 are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway)(8-17-2011)

Martinsville Tire Test Open To Fans At No Charge: Martinsville Speedway's grandstands will be open to fans free-of-charge for an August 16 and 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup Goodyear tire test at the historic half-mile oval. Drivers expected to be taking part in the tire test include Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Burton, David Ragan, Brad Keselowski and Bobby Labonte. The test session will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, with an hour break at noon. During that break each day, Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell will conduct an informal question and answer session in the stands with fans. Restrooms will be open both days, but concession stands will not be operating. Fans may bring refreshments into the grandstands. Gates will open at 8 a.m. each of the two days and will remain open until 5 p.m.(Martinsville Speedway)(8-12-2011)

Sprint Cup Qualifying Will Move To Saturday at Martinsville: A schedule tweak in the spring Sprint Cup schedule at Martinsville Speedway will also be used for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 weekend Oct. 28-30. Qualifying for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 will be held on Saturday, October 29 along with time trials for the Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. Until last spring Sprint Cup qualifying had been held on Friday. Friday will still be a vital part of race weekend with practice session for both the Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck series set for Friday, October 28. There will be almost six hours of track time between the two divisions on Friday. “We weren’t sure what to expect when we made the switch for our spring events, but we got a really positive response from fans,” said Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell. “From the feedback we got, it seems like most fans enjoy being able to see Cup and Truck qualifying and the Truck race on Saturday. It gives so many more people the opportunity to see qualifying that hadn’t been able to attend in the past because they couldn’t get Friday off from work.” Tickets for all three days of the TUMS Fast Relief 500 weekend are on sale and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com. Tickets for Friday’s practice session are $10. Tickets for Saturday’s Kroger 200 are $30 in advance and $35 the day of while tickets for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 start at just $25.(Martinsville Speedway)(4-28-2011)

Lt. Gov. Bolling Helps Martinsville Speedway Unveil Fan Improvements: With the images of two of NASCAR’S pioneers towering above him, Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell unveiled one of the most fan-friendly complexes in the 64 year history of the track. With a 20-foot mural of Martinsville Speedway founder H. Clay Earles and NASCAR founder Bill France in the background, Campbell and those who had helped with the building project cut a checkered flag ribbon to allow local supporters and media to get this first look at the new buildings and all their trimmings. And what a first look it was, replete with neon signs, larger than life banners portraying scenes from the speedway’s past and a much wider concourse. The centerpiece of the grand unveil was the huge new building which houses two sparkling concession stands and two restrooms that rival any in major league sports. The official opening of the facilities will be when the fan gates open at 9:00am Friday for the first day of the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 weekend. The keynote speaker for the ribbon cutting was Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, who was instrumental in helping secure funding for the project from the Virginia Tobacco Commission. The Tobacco Commission provided $1.5 million for the project, which was matched by Martinsville Speedway. Also participating in Thursday’s event were Mark Heath, president and chief executive officer of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp., Deborah Buchanan, Chairman of the Henry County Board of Supervisors and Danny Marshall, member of the Virginia Tobacco Commission. Local dignitaries and media got a tour of the two, large state-of-the-art concession stands, massive restrooms and got the first look at flashy neon signs advertising the Famous Martinsville Speedway Hot Dog. The restrooms are family-friendly, with baby-changing stations. There are also smaller, family restrooms. Frith Construction Co. of Martinsville was lead contractor on the project, which employed about 50 fulltime workers for the past six months. Ninety-four percent of the subcontractors on the job were from the immediate area.(Martinsville Speedway)(4-1-2011)

Martinsville Honorary Starter, Grand Marshal Named: For the 62nd running of the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 on April 3 at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia, Goody’s Headache Powder, title sponsor of the race since 1983, has designated Wounded Warrior Project heroes Joe Brazzle, Rashe Hall and Sue Downs as the grand marshals, and Victory Junction camper Garon Parris as the honorary starter for the 500-lap event.
Through the Goody’s and BC Powder Pick A Powder campaign rivals and spokesmen – country music superstar Trace Adkins and racing legend Richard Petty – have formed a closer partnership with Adkins chosen charity, Wounded Warrior Project on behalf of BC and Petty’s chosen charity Victory Junction on behalf of Goody’s, making both service-oriented charities a pivotal aspect of the Goody’s Fast Relief 500. Pick A Powder, the friendly rivalry to see which brand –BC or Goody’s– is most effective on pain and has the most loyal users, will take a back seat on April 3 as Wounded Warrior Project and Victory Junction take center stage.
“Throughout the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 weekend, Goody’s will be focusing on both worthy charities, and these honorary positions are just one way we honor them during race weekend,” said Traci Plate, brand manager at GlaxoSmithKline, the marketers of Goody’s and BC. “We want fans to enjoy the fast pain relief of Goody’s, but more importantly, this weekend is about celebrating Wounded Warrior Project and Victory Junction and bringing meaningful attention to the worthy causes the charities serve – wounded service members and children with chronic medical conditions and serious illnesses.”
Both charitable organizations will play a key role in pre-race ceremonies serving as grand marshals and honorary starter. In addition, Goody’s and BC will make a financial donation to each organization based on a portion of the sales from specially-marked packs featuring Victory Junction and Wounded Warrior Project that fans purchased between January and March.
Wounded Warrior Project – Grand Marshals Wounded Warrior Project heroes Joe Brazzle, Rashe Hall and Sue Downs will give the command for the most famous words in racing - “Gentlemen, Start Your Engines”. Wounded Warrior Project is dedicated to honoring and empowering more than 40,000 armed forces that have been physically wounded during recent military conflicts.
John “Joe” Brazzle, a Pennsylvania native, currently lives in Fayetteville, N.C., at Fort Bragg. From a military family, Brazzle served in Afghanistan three times all without incident. On August 17, 2007, during a training event at Fort Bragg, Brazzle was involved in an explosion that burned his body and blinded him in his left eye and partially in the right.
Also living in Fayetteville, N.C., Rashe Hall is originally from Ventura, Calif. A former college football player, Hall joined the military in 2000 as a combat engineer. Six months into his tour in Afghanistan he was involved in an ambush. The first rocket-propelled grenade bounced off his chest plate and imploded inside the vehicle. The explosion lodged metal in his neck and burned Hall. He was medically evacuated from Afghanistan to a base in Houston, Texas, where he was introduced to Wounded Warrior Project.
From Tazewell, Tenn., Downs and her husband, Gabriel, have both served in the military. After her husband was medically discharged in December 2004, she decided to join the military and serve as a military police officer. Ten months after arriving in Afghanistan, Downs and her unit were on a mission and hit a land mine, killing two fellow soldiers and leaving her legs amputated from both knees down. It was at that time that she went to Walter Reed and was introduced to Wounded Warrior Project.
Victory Junction – Honorary Starter: Garon Parris, a Victory Junction camper from Trinity, N.C., will wave the green flag to start the 43-car field on the 0.526 Virginia short track. An eight-year-old who attends Archdale Elementary School, Parris was diagnosed at 17 months old with diabetes. He has been on an insulin pump since he was three years old which also is the age he began pricking his finger. Parris receives four shots a day to properly maintain his sugar levels. He first attended Victory Junction in September 2009 and again in April 2010 for a family weekend. He enjoys all of the activities camp has to offer including fishing, bowling, horseback riding and making new friends.
Located less than 70 miles from Martinsville Speedway in Randleman, N.C., Victory Junction is a year-round facility that provides life-changing camping experiences for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses.
Tickets for the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 weekend are on sale and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com. Tickets for the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 on April 3 start at just $25.(Martinsville Speedway)(3-31-2011)

Some track activities at Martinsville: The Virginia Military Institute Glee club will perform a prerace show of patriotic songs from the front stretch Sunday afternoon and then sing “God Bless America” before Trace Adkins sings the National Anthem. The VMI Glee Club, which has been in existence since 1858, has entertained groups from coast-to-coast, singing for everything from gubernatorial inaugurations to the National Shrine in Washington, DC, to PGA Tournaments. Their version of the anthem is authentic and traditional. The VMI Glee Club is made up of 30 cadets from all classes, academic majors and ROTC affiliations at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA. It is the oldest performing group at VMI. VMI is the nation’s oldest state supported military college, founded in 1839.
The VFA-31 Tomcatters out of the Naval Air Station in Oceana, VA, are back for their second turn opening the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 with a flyover. Lieutenant Commander Kevin Robb and Lieutenant Dustin Packer put on quite the show from the pilot seats for their F/A-18E Super Hornets. The Tomcatters will have a set of experienced eyes watching them Sunday afternoon. Lieutenant General Jeffrey A. Remington, a three-star Air Force general, will be taking in a day at the race on Sunday. Remington knows a thing or two about piloting a jet. He is a command general with over 4,100 hours flying mostly F-15s and F-16s. Tickets for the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 weekend are on sale and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway)(3-31-2011)

Trace Adkins to perform National Anthem at Martinsville: Multi-platinum and multi-talented recording artist Trace Adkins will perform the national anthem prior to the Goody's Fast Relief 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway on April 3. Adkins is a fervent race fan, who not only is a regular at tracks, but has sponsored cars and actually sponsored a 300-lap Nationwide Series race at Nashville Superspeedway in 2003.(Martinsville Speedway)(3-26-2011)

Good Seats At Great Prices For Martinsville Speedway: The Goody's Fast Relief 500 is less than a month away, but plenty of good tickets remain for the greatest short-track show on earth. A ticket to the Goody's Fast Relief 500 on April 3 is a ticket to NASCAR Sprint Cup racing at its best, with beating, banging, pushing, shoving and door-to-door racing all day long. Check out some of Martinsville Speedway’s great ticket prices for the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 and check on tickets for the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 and the Kroger 250 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)(3-16-2011)

Biffle walks & talks with 2,000 kids: Greg Biffle made about 2,000 new fans Tuesday morning at Martinsville Speedway and it only took two laps around the historic half-mile oval. Biffle stopped by the speedway to talk physical fitness to elementary school students from Martinsville and Henry County and to lead them in a brisk two-lap walk around the track. Biffle spent much of the two laps chatting with youngsters, high-fiving and giving hugs to his new fans. When the laps were finished, he hung out with youngsters and teachers, posed for pictures and signed autographs until the last bus pulled out. Biffle will be making his 300th career Sprint Cup Series start in the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on April 3.(Martinsville Speedway)(3-9-2011)

Grub-N-Rub at Martinsville: Fans can get the best racing and best food Martinsville Speedway has to offer with SPEED TV’s Grub-N-Rub package for the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 weekend. The bargain-priced offer from SPEED includes a ticket for the Kroger 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on April 2, a ticket for the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 on April 3 and admission to a breakfast that will include appearances by NASCAR Camping World Truck series drivers along with SPEED personalities. NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers set to appear at Grub-N-Rub include Brendan Gaughan, Max Papis, Austin Dillon and Joey Coulter. The $85 price tag, $30 for children 18 and under, includes a reserved ticket in the Bill France Tower for the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 and general admission seating for the Kroger 250. It also includes a breakfast in Martinsville Speedway’s hospitality area at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Gaughan, Papis, Dillon and Coulter will all make appearances during the breakfast for a question and answer session. They will be joined by SPEED personalities. Tickets for the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 on Sunday, April 3, the Kroger 250 on Saturday, April 2 and the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Truck Series Practice Day on Friday, April 1 are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway)(3-9-2011)

New Sound System For Martinsville Speedway: Fans will have amazing sound to go with the always amazing racing when they return to Martinsville Speedway for the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 on April 3. A new, state-of-the-art sound system will be in place by the April event, giving fans unparalleled audio during the weekend. Approximately 50 new speakers are being installed around the track and atop the video boards in the infield. In the past the speakers have been on the catch-fence circling the track, but now they will be mounted on poles closer to the grandstand area. Other improvements at Martinsville Speedway for the 2011 season include wider seats, new restrooms and new concession stands and wider concourse under the front-stretch grandstands. Tickets for the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 weekend are on sale and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or by visiting martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway)(2-5-2011)

Martinsville Construction Project On Target: Despite two winter storms and day after day of frigid temperatures, construction efforts at Martinsville Speedway are on target to be completed well before the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 on April 3. The project, including new concession stands and restrooms, should be under roof by the end of this week, and totally finished by the first week of March. The new, large concession stands and restrooms, are located on the first-turn end of the front stretch and includes men and women’s restrooms, which double the size of the ones they replace. Every effort was made to include amenities and improvements requested by fans, like more sinks in the ladies restrooms and larger stalls. All of the new buildings meet ADA requirements. The concession stands not only will serve the fans in a much more efficient and timely manner, but will also have a very distinct new look to them. The construction project is being funded by a Virginia Tobacco Commission grant of $1.5 million, which is being matched by Martinsville Speedway. There are about 15 subcontractors involved in the project, according to Magee. All but one of those subcontractors is from the Martinsville and Henry County area, Magee said. About 50 jobs were created by the project with about 25 workers onsite at any given time, according to Magee. Tickets for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 weekend are on sale and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway)(1-20-2011)

Improvements Should Mean Better Fan Experience At Martinsville: When fans return to Martinsville Speedway in April for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 they will find plenty of changes, all aimed at an improved fan experience. All seats have been widened to give fans more room … when they aren’t standing up cheering. Fans will find new and improved restrooms and concession stands on the first-turn end of the front stretch. In that same area, the concourse under the grandstands has been widened by almost 30 feet, making the flow of pedestrian traffic much easier. A new, state-of-the-art speaker system has been installed which will provide much better sound quality than in the past. Carry-in and cooler policies have also been relaxed to allow fans to carry in larger coolers and bags for souvenirs and race gear.
Here is a look at some of the improvements for the 2011 season:
· Every grandstand seat has been widened giving each fan more seat room.
· New and much larger restrooms and concession stands at the first-turn end of the front stretch will be completed in time for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 on April 3.
· The concourse area has more than doubled in the area of the new restrooms and concession stands allowing much more room for pedestrian traffic.
· Martinsville Speedway’s carry-in policy has changed to allow one soft side bag or cooler, no larger than 14 x 14 x14. Also one lightweight backpack, similar to a daypack carried by school students, roughly 17 inches in length is now allowed.
· The new sound system will feature 50 hi-tech speakers which will improve the quality of sound. All of the speakers have been positioned closer to the grandstands than in the past.
Tickets for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 weekend are on sale and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway)(1-15-2011)

Martinsville Moves Goody’s 500 Qualifying To Saturday: Qualifying for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway will be held on Saturday, April 2. Traditionally Sprint Cup qualifying has been on Friday at Martinsville Speedway. Time trials for the Kroger 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will also be on Saturday, April 2. Friday will remain a key part of race weekends at Martinsville Speedway, with practice sessions for both the Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series set for April 1. Between the two divisions, there will be almost six hours of practice on Friday.
Qualifying for the Kroger 250 on April 2 will be at 10:35 in the morning with Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 qualifying scheduled for 12:10 pm. The Kroger 250 will take the green flag at 2 pm. On track action at Martinsville Speedway will kick off on Friday, April 1 with a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice at 11 am followed by a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice session at noon. The final Truck Series practice is scheduled for 2 pm with the Sprint Cup final practice at 3:30 pm. Tickets for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 weekend are on sale and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway)(1-13-2011)

Martinsville Speedway and the Grace Network will try to fill a void with this year’s Martinsville Speedway Toy Drive, scheduled for Saturday, December 11 at the Speedway. The goal, according to Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell and Grace Network Executive Director Jenniffer Jamison, is to make sure those families that may have been missed by other agencies are helped.
“We all know how bad things have been in our area for so long,” said Campbell, noting the unemployment rate in the City of Martinsville remains above 18 percent and is at 13 percent in Henry County. “We know there are some families who are missed by the normal agencies that help families in crisis. The Grace Network, with almost 100 churches involved, has the ability to find these people so we can lend a hand and help them have an enjoyable Christmas.”
Jamison concurred. “The goal of the partnership between the Speedway and the Grace Network is to reach the families who would not qualify for assistance with other agencies,” said Jamison. “These are the folks that fall through the cracks of other assistance. Either they missed the deadline to be helped or they have children between the ages of 11-15 that cannot be helped by other agencies.”
Jamison also said the Grace Network is working with those other agencies to make sure there are no duplication of efforts. The Martinsville Speedway Toy Drive will be December 11 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. in the Martinsville Speedway infield.
Anyone donating a new, unwrapped toy or making a $10 donation will get to drive their personal car around the historic half-mile oval. For a $25 donation, Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell will give five hot laps around the track in one of Martinsville Speedway’s pace cars. Participants will receive a certificate of completion from Campbell.
As has become a tradition, the Martinsville Speedway staff will be manning the infield concession stand on Saturday, making and serving the Famous Martinsville Speedway Hot Dog. Hot dogs and Pepsi products are $1 each, with proceeds going toward purchasing toys. Santa Claus will be making his annual appearance at the track at noon and will listen to the wishes of boys and girls. A day earlier, December 10, Campbell will climb atop the Martinsville Speedway entrance sign at 8 a.m. and remain there until $20,000 in donations for the Toy Drive are received. The Grace Network is in charge of indentifying those in need, purchasing toys with funds raised and then distributing them.
Anyone who would like to donate a toy, but cannot make it to the Toy Drive, can drop them off at the Martinsville Speedway ticket office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. More info at martinsvillespeedway.com

Martinsville Speedway Construction Project On Target: It didn’t take long for the construction crews to invade Martinsville Speedway after the completion of the TUMS Fast Relief 500 and less than a month later, work on new restrooms and concession stands at the first-turn end of the front stretch is in high gear. Old restrooms and concession stands have been demolished, debris cleared and excavation begun to pour the concrete foundation. The target finish date for the project is March 1, well before the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 on April 3. “I think fans are going to be really pleased what they see when they come back in April,” said Martinsville Speedway President W. Clay Campbell. “The restrooms and concession stands in that area are going to be larger, modern and much more efficient than what we had in the past.”
The new restrooms and concession stands have been moved back about 25 feet and are actually being built in the superstructure of the grandstands at the end of the frontstretch to help expand the concourse area under the grandstands. “We’ve just about doubled the space under the grandstands in that area, which will make it much easier for fans to move about,” said Campbell.
The current project is part of a multi-phase effort that will result in most of the restrooms and concession stands along the frontstretch being replaced. It is being funded by a Virginia Tobacco Commission grant of $1.5 million, which is being matched by Martinsville Speedway. The present project includes men and women’s restrooms, which double the size of the ones they replace. Every effort was made to include amenities and improvements requested by fans, like more sinks in the ladies restrooms and larger stalls. All of the new buildings meet ADA requirements.
There are about 15 subcontractors involved in the project, according to Rick Magee, Executive Vice-President of Frith Construction, the general contractor for the construction. All but one of those subcontractors is from the Martinsville and Henry County area, Magee said. About 50 jobs were created by the project with about 25 workers onsite at any given time, according to Frith.(Martinsville Speedway)(11-22-2010)

WSSU Marching Band Set For Martinsville National Anthem: The Winston-Salem State University marching band will entertain race fans with its precision marching and music prior to the TUMS Fast Relief 500 next Sunday and then perform a stirring traditional version of the National Anthem. Dubbed the “Red Sea Of Sound,” the Winston-Salem State marching band has received national recognition for its performances around the country. The WSSU band has over 150 members and is led by five high-energy drum majors. “We are very excited about having the Winston-Salem State band here. I’ve seen them perform and they put on an amazing show,” said Martinsville Speedway President W. Clay Campbell. “Their half-mile march around Martinsville Speedway is going to be pretty exciting. And I think everyone will enjoy and appreciate their traditional version of the National Anthem.” The band will perform at noon, entering the track through the fourth-turn cross-over gate and marching clockwise around the track to the start-finish line. Winston-Salem State University, located in Winston-Salem, NC, is a historically black university offering baccalaureate and graduate programs to a diverse student population. The flyover for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 will be provided by two F-18s, VFA 83 Rampagers from the U.S. Navy Air Station in Oceana. The planes will be flying in a north-south direction, from the third and fourth turns to the first and second turns. Tickets for all events may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com online.(Martinsville Speedway)(10-20-2010)

43 Crew Members to be grand marshals at Martinsville: To honor the dedicated road warriors and pit crew members, TUMS will designate all crew members as the Grand Marshals for the 2010 TUMS Fast Relief 500 on Oct. 24. For the first time in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history, 43 crew members, one from each team, will represent all crew members and collectively give the command “Gentlemen, Start Your Engines.” Each team pre-selected the crew member that best represents and embodies the team spirit to give the command. Prior to the TUMS Fast Relief 500, a complete line up of the 43 team-designated grand marshals will be announced often before the race weekend. The grand marshals already announced:
• STEVE CHANNING – #00 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
Channing drove Mini Modifieds in his teenage years on tracks around his Seekonk, Mass., home, but like so many racers, struggled to keep his fledgling race team afloat. A move to North Carolina in the mid-1990s and a recommendation from a friend helped land him jobs with drivers Rick Mast and Bill Elliott at the controls. Today, Channing’s role as car chief for driver David Reutimann keeps him busy with every detail pertaining to the team’s racing machines. “I make changes to the car that crew chief Rodney Childers may want during the race weekend,” Channing says. “I go with the car during inspection to make sure everything is good there. I’d say the most nerve-wracking time is between practice and qualifying.”
• LEE DODSON – #09 Phoenix Racing Chevy
Dodson began going to short-track races around his Courtland, Va. home when he was only three years old. His dad and uncles raced, and a decade later, Dodson helped turn wrenches on Mini-stocks, Late Models and Hooters Pro Cup cars. After completing high school, he graduated from the Bobby Isaac Motorsports program at Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory, N.C., and began his Sprint Cup career as a general mechanic with Wood Brothers Racing in 2005. He joined his present team, Phoenix Racing, in March of 2010. "It's very cool to be working in Sprint Cup," Dodson says. "With our team, we don't have a designated driver, so I get to work with several and I enjoy that. Since we are so short staffed, I get to learn more which is a good thing. I love setting up cars and working with suspensions. That's what I like the most."
• BENJY GRUBBS - #1 Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing Chevy
After a trip with his parents to the old Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway to see a Sprint Cup (then Winston Cup) race in 1983, Grubbs fell in love with NASCAR. When his own plans to drive race cars fell through due to lack of finances, he used his skills as a welder taught to him by his dad to build race cars for his hero, Darrell Waltrip, when the three-time champion drove for Tyler Jet Motorsports in 1998. From there, he moved to Roush-Fenway Racing and driver Matt Kenseth from 1999 to 2005 and on to his present role as chassis fabricator and gas man for Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing. “It’s really something to see raw tubing on a shop floor and the next thing you know, there’s a race car sitting there,” Grubbs says. “I really love the competition on Sundays, especially when you win the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 like we have this season.”
• CINDY LEWIS - #2 Penske Racing Dodge
A native of Secretary, Md., Lewis is a co-driver of the #2 Penske racing transporter along with husband Bill “Stump” Lewis. While at the track, she helps maintain what’s known as the team’s rolling shop while preparing meals for the crew. Having had grandparents in the restaurant business and a mom who cooked for the school system, it’s easy to see why she enjoys making special dishes for the crew. “Cooking basically runs in my blood,” Lewis says. “To me, it’s like family working with the guys. We are all really close and close to their wives and children. It’s great to be able to enjoy your job and work with such a great group of people.”
• KYLE TURNER - #5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy
As a gift for his 18th birthday, Turner and some friends attended a NASCAR event at Richmond International Raceway in 2002. The next year, he attended a vocational school provided through his high school which led to graduation from the NASCAR Institute in Mooresville, N.C., in 2004. Today, the 26-year old from Yorktown, Va., works as an assembly mechanic for Hendrick Motorsports and driver Mark Martin during the week and front tire changer during pit stops on race day. “I sat up in the Dogwood section of the grandstands that day and wondered how to get down there, and here I am,” Turner says. “It’s very exciting. It’s cool to be able to see something you dreamed of doing when you were younger and to accomplish it is really special. Most people get cold chills at the start of the Daytona 500, but I have that happen to me when I go to Richmond.”
• RYAN McCRAY - #6 Roush Racing Ford
Having grown up around race cars owned and driven by father, NASCAR Winston West Champion Rick McCray, Ryan completed an award-winning high school baseball career as a catcher before moving east from San Bernardino, Calif. To follow his own racing career. The former catcher now works as a fabricator for the #6 team and driver David Ragan in the shop during the week and carries 85-pound tires during pit stops on race day. “I’m competitive and love being part of a team,” McCray says. “I love being able to help make the team better through what I do.”
• KEVIN DUNCAN - #9 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford
A native of New Zealand, Duncan raced dirt bikes and built suspensions and shocks for his two-wheel machines before moving to race cars in the early 1990s. His work with an Indy Car team in California led to a chance to move to North Carolina in 2000 to work with the former PPI Motorsports team owned by Cal Wells. Duncan was familiar with NASCAR, having followed heroes Cale Yarborough and Bobby Allison through TV broadcasts of races shown in his native country. Over the past decade, he has worked with both the #9 and #19 teams with former team owner Ray Evernham and now with Richard Petty Motorsports. He also carries rear tires during pit stops for the #9 team on race day. “I really didn’t come to the states to work with a NASCAR team. It just kind of worked out that way,” Duncan says. “I’m pretty thankful to be doing this. I’m lucky to have this opportunity. I just love racing, the pit stops and competing.
• TIM SPARKMAN - #11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
When Sparkman’s grandparents owned and operated St. Mary’s Speedway in St. Genevieve. Mo., the teenager had plenty of access to race cars and the tools needed to make them go fast. While there, he had access to Late Model and ASA machines that offered a perfect place to learn. A move to North Carolina in 1998 paid off when he met NASCAR driver Ken Schrader and went to work. More opportunities followed over the years, and today, he serves as a shock specialist at Joe Gibbs Racing. “I love the competition, that’s for sure,” Sparkman says. “This will be my last year on the road so I can be a little more of a dad at home. But I’ll be doing something at the shop for team owners Joe and J.D. Gibbs.”
• DAVID DOYLE - #12 Penske Racing Dodge
Decades past his childhood, Doyle remembers sitting behind the wheel of his dad’s race car playing with the steering wheel, pedals and shifter. He would often pretend he was on the track fighting for position just like the champion driver, mentor and hero he admired. Doyle eventually followed in his father’s footsteps as a racer, but the high costs of fielding a team sent his career in a different direction. Today, Doyle helps prepare each of the #12 machines Penske Racing brings to the track to make sure they are race ready. “Being competitive is what it’s all about for me,” Doyle says. “You have to have competition in your blood to be able to do this seven days a week.”
• GREG OSBORNE - #13 Germain Racing Toyota
Stock car racing came into Osborne’s life as a result of his parents spending their Saturday nights at short tracks around his hometown of Hampton, N.H. Osborne started helping friends on race cars at age 12 and raced go-karts at age 17. Realizing it was too expensive to race, the next best thing was to return to working on people’s cars. After working in the Camping World Touring Series 1992, 1993 and 1994, he moved to North Carolina to work in Sprint Cup racing. Osborne, an avid golfer and mountain biker when time permits, works as the team’s car chief during the week and handles catch can duties on race day. “Going over the wall is a lot of fun and a good adrenalin rush,” Osborne says. “I changed tires for 14 years and just started catching gas this year. It’s a blast to step up on that wall and do a stop to help your driver win the race. That’s one of the biggest rushes I’ve ever had. When you pull off that stop that helps you win the race, you feel like you’re a big part of that.”
• ADAM GRAVITT - #14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevy
Instead of being involved in neighborhood football games as a child, Gravitt spent his time working at nearby South Boston Speedway and Orange County Speedway just to be around the cars. He kept watching and learning the tricks of the trade before completing a degree in mechanical engineering from Virginia Tech. Today, Gravitti works as a shock specialist for the team. “I love what I do,” Gravitt says. “There’s a lot of travel, but as far as the competition goes, that’s what makes it all worth while.”
• TODD ZEIGLER - #16 Roush-Fenway Racing Ford
While living in northern Indiana, Zeigler began his racing career after his mother-in-law, a beautician, got word through a client that a local race team needed help. He volunteered his time for American Speed Association (ASA) driver and team owner Bob Senneker, of Grand Rapids, Mich., with duties as a water boy, catch can man, tire carrier and tire changer. After obtaining a degree in Automotive Service Management in 1992 from Lincoln Technical College in Indianapolis, Zeigler began a career in NASCAR. “I’ve never driven race cars other than just being involved in some go-kart leagues,” Zeigler says. “I’ve always had a knack for mechanics and tinkering with chassis and engines and things. Now I do it full time and love it."
• JUSTIN NOTTESTAD - #17 Roush-Fenway Racing Ford
With his dad and uncle heavily involved in short track racing around the state of Wisconsin, Nottestad began racing his own cars in the four-cylinder class at Jefferson Speedway, Columbus Speedway and Madison International in Wisconsin at the age of 16. When Sprint Cup driver Matt Kenseth moved south to pursue a career in NASCAR, Nottestad followed suit and began his career as well. Presently, Nottestad works as shop foreman for the #17 Roush-Fenway operation during the week and is a front tire changer during Sprint Cup events. “This is something everyone dreams about if you’re a racer and it’s a dream come true for me,” Nottestad says. “They’ve usually not seen anything like Sprint Cup racing and this is where they want to be.”
• KIRK BUTTERFIELD - #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
One could say Butterfield’s path to Sprint Cup first began as a straight line. The Carrolton, Ohio native began his career as an engine tuner for Funny Car drag racing champion John Force in 1987. Sprint Cup team owner Joe Gibbs formed a drag racing team in 1994, but when he closed it to concentrate solely on NASCAR racing in 2000, Butterfield moved to the oval-track team based in Huntersville, N.C. Today, he works as an engine tuner for Kyle Busch and the #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. “The biggest challenge you have as an engine tuner is finding fuel mileage while trying to get the car to go as fast as possible,” said Butterfield. “But when I’m not doing that, I spend time working on a Rat Rod and also enjoy hunting.”
• RAMON ZAMBRANO - #19 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford
A shock specialist for the #19 Richard Petty Motorsports team and driver Elliott Sadler, Zambrano, an El Salvador-born crewman, grew up in Arlington, Texas. Upon completing high school, he graduated from Universal Technical Institute in 2001 in Houston. On race day, he serves on the over-the-wall crew when NASCAR allows an eighth man. “I like the fact everyone works as a team and contributes to the results of the weekend,” Zambrano says. “I like to give it 100 percent every week and I know everyone on the team does, too. I just like that feeling. We’re a team in the good times as well as the bad.”
• ERIC GROEN – #20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
A native of Sioux Center, Iowa, Groen raced go-karts as a child while following NASCAR through newspapers, radio and TV. After high school, he chose a college that would allow him to be closer to NASCAR in hopes of working for a team. Groen graduated from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., with a degree in business and in 2004 found an opportunity to work as a general mechanic and tire carrier with the former Petty Enterprises. Groen did the same for Red Bull Racing before his present role as sponsor manager with Joey Logano and the Joe Gibbs Racing's #20 Home Depot team. He is a liaison between team and sponsor during the week and works as a rear tire carrier for Kyle Busch during Nationwide races and does the same for Logano on Sprint Cup race day. "My background is on the mechanical side of things, so that's a little more natural for me, but when I went to Gibbs, they had a position open on the office side," Groen says. "My roles with the team are diverse. I enjoy doing both very much. Joe and J.D. Gibbs are upstanding guys and the leadership at Joe Gibbs Racing is the best I've seen in my career."
• JASON BURDETT - #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy
With a father and cousins deep into dirt track racing around his Arkport, N.Y. home, Jason Burdett grew up with a dream of someday making a career for himself at the NASCAR Sprint Cup level. When his parents began scoring NASCAR events in the mid 1990s, he immediately sought to make his own mark in the sport upon graduation in 1995. Burdett spent several seasons changing tires and handling catch-can duties for Dale Jarrett and the former Robert Yates Racing and Jeff Gordon and the #24 Hendrick Motorsports operation before becoming car chief for the team. Today, he assists crew chief Steve Letarte with making sure the car is race ready. “I just really enjoy the competition,” Burdett says. “We’re all friends in the garage area so it’s fun to go out and compete and outrun each other.”
• MARK WILLIAMS - #29 Richard Childress Racing Chevy
After working on dirt Late Models and spending a decade operating his own trucking business, Williams began driving transporters for Richard Childress Racing when an extra driver was needed for trips to the West Coast for Sprint Cup events. The assignments increased for the native of Martinsville, Va., to the point that he is now a full-time driver for the team. While at the track, his duties include unloading tool boxes, getting the car unloaded and ready for initial service by the crew, setting up the garage stalls and taking care of all the mechanical components on the transporter. “Driving the truck is a very small part of it,” Williams says. “But I drive all over the country and meet a lot of people who would love to do what I do.”
• JONATHAN WALLACE - #31 Richard Childress Racing Chevy
A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., Wallace grew up in a family of racers that included himself, his dad, cousins and uncles. They competed on the dirt tracks around Elizabeth City, N.C., and Asheboro, N.C. In 1998, Wallace graduated from Forsyth (County) Technical College’s automotive program that included one year of motorsports and building late-model race cars before joining the former Petty Enterprises in 2000. In 2003, he joined Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and currently builds front clips for all of the RCR teams. On Sundays, he works as front tire carrier for Jeff Burton and the #31 team. “The most exciting part of being a tire carrier is the adrenalin you feel while trying to perform accurately and quickly in the midst of a chaotic situation,” said Wallace. “I want to be the very best crewman I can be, whether at the shop or going over the wall each week.”
• SCOTT BREWER - #33 Richard Childress Racing Chevy
The son of well-known former crew chief and present-day television broadcaster Tim Brewer, Brewer grew up in the sport and spent several years driving Legend cars and Late Models before turning his attention to obtaining a degree in mechanical engineering. Brewer grew up going to races almost every weekend and decided to build a career in the sport like his famous father. He now maintains cars for the teams, handles water duties and windshield tear-offs during pit stops. “Racing was always a part of my life,” Brewer says. “My dad realized I was going to get into racing. I’ve been with RCR since 2005, and I’m very happy to be a part of this team.”
• JONATHAN SALMONS - #34 Front Row Racing Ford
A native of Bassett, Va., Salmons moved from working as a mechanic at a local car dealership in 2004 to turning wrenches on Late Model stock cars with some hometown friends. A year later, he joined Craftsman Truck Series driver and team owner Bobby Dotter and moved on to Roush-Yates Engines in 2006. His first Sprint Cup opportunity came in 2010 with Front Row Racing and driver David Gilliland. The graduate of Patrick Henry Community College in Martinsville, Va., presently tunes engines for the team and loves every minute of it. "In Sprint Cup, you're at the top level as far as NASCAR goes," Salmons says. "You're the best of the best and that means a lot. I started at the very bottom you might say, working on race cars and engines and have been able to work my way to the top. It's an honor to be a part of NASCAR and a crew member in Sprint Cup."
• JIM BYRNE - #37 Front Row Motorsports Ford
An avid racer of Late Models on the famed, local short tracks around his Long Island, N.Y., home, Byrne moved to North Carolina 20 years ago and got his break in NASCAR in 1995 when former team owner Butch Mock needed help with his Sprint Cup team. Byrne has been working on a variety of chassis components ever since. In addition to working on fuel cells during the week at Front Row Racing’s shop, he also works with shocks, springs and rear-end gears at the track. When it comes time to get the car through inspection, Byrne is right there watching the process to help answer any questions NASCAR officials may have. “This is a good bunch of guys and we have David Gilliland behind the wheel and he’s a good driver,” said Byrne. “I’m also the eighth man over the wall on Sundays. I’m the old guy now. I do driver comfort during the race, such as ice packs, drinks and such. And I do body repairs on pit road if we have any accidents on the track.”
• ALAN HOWARD - #38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
A native of Covington, Va., Howard didn’t set out to become a crew member for a Sprint Cup team. His career with a major US airline was going well when he and NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield became friends in the late 1990s. More and more visits to Mayfield’s Michael Kranefuss Racing shop set the foundation for becoming a full-time crew member. When Howard’s job with the air carrier was eliminated, he found his new calling in NASCAR. Today, Howard works as shock specialist and mentor for many of the younger members of the team. “I guess the way I came into NASCAR was a different way to get into racing,” Howard says. “I enjoy the travel and meeting people and doing different things.”
• KEVIN PENNELL - #39 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevy
Earlier in his life, Pennell thought of stock car racing as a hobby, but followed it closely, having grown up around the heart of stock car racing in Kannapolis, N.C. For three years, he raced Limited Late Models and Super Stocks at Concord (N.C.) Speedway and worked part-time in 1994 helping Dale Earnhardt Sr. at Dale Earnhardt Inc. The following year, Pennell joined the organization fulltime and later helped build Nationwide Series cars for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Today, when he isn’t providing bulls for local rodeos, Pennell works as car chief for Ryan Newman and Stewart-Haas Racing. “My job with the team is to make sure the car gets through technical inspection and handle everything pertaining to the car prior to the race,” Pennell says. “That includes chassis set-ups and anything the crew chief, Tony Gibson, feels we need to do to the car.”
• RYAN QUANN - #42 Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing Chevy With parents having connections to NASCAR and serving the sport in various roles, Quann has been around stock car racing his entire life. The graduate of the Bobby Isaac Motorsports program at Catawba County Community College in Hickory, N.C., took his chassis-building skills to the Sprint Cup team owned by Chip Ganassi and Felix Sabates. Through a friend, the avid golfer and snowboarder received an invitation to work for the organization and presently helps the team in various capacities. “I’m in the composite-component shop building carbon-fiber parts for the cars,” Quann says. “On Sundays, I work in a pit support role. I was in the right place at the right time when I started with this team, and I love being here.”
• BRIAN DANTINNE - #43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford
Born in Wallace, Mich., in 1967, Dantinne began his career by turning wrenches on race cars at the local short tracks at the age of 12. He spent time in the American Speed Association ranks before moving to NASCAR. For the past three seasons, he has worked as car chief for the #43 Fords made famous by team owner and seven-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty. “My job both on race day and back at the shop is to oversee the guys working on the car and making sure everything is performing the way it’s supposed to,” Dantinne says. “My favorite part of the job is meeting new people and traveling. It’s a people sport. We get to see new parts of the country and enjoy new venues. I never dreamed I could make a career of racing but I’ve been involved now for 30 years. It’s been a fun ride.”
• BOB BECHSTEIN - #47 JTG Daughtery Racing Toyota
Since the 1970s, Bechstein has been involved with several different forms of racing. In addition to stock cars and super modified, the early part of his career was spent around open-wheel racing – IndyCar. By the late 1980s, the Sandusky, Ohio-native built an engine business that opened the door to opportunities the Nationwide Series. In the late 1990s, he joined former Sprint Cup team owner Travis Carter and has been in Sprint Cup since. He currently serves as the front-suspension specialist with the #47 team and driver Marcos Ambrose. “I’ve been racing my whole life and I guess I’ve never had a real job,” Bechstein says. “What I enjoy most is taking a bunch of mechanical pieces and doing the best you can with them. Seeing the end result at the end of the night is what it’s all about.”
• RON MALEC - #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy
A native of Franklin, Wis., Malec began racing go-karts as an eight-year-old competitor. Like so many fellow crew members, he began his career on the short tracks, working on and driving race cars. Malec aspired to become a Sprint Cup driver, but when finances ran low, fate placed him with driver Jimmie Johnson during his days of racing off-road trucks and later American Speed Association cars. Malec has been at Johnson’s side throughout and has enjoyed the spoils of four consecutive Sprint Cup championships. He has changed tires during his Sprint Cup career and presently holds the position of car chief. “I help direct the pit crew as far as changes to the car during the race and if there’s a crash, I have to handle that also,” Malec says. “I really enjoyed working with cars as far as racing goes. That’s what I’ve done my whole life. To do something you love for a living is pretty easy. When I’m not racing, I enjoy restoring old cars.”
• BRIAN CHASE - #56 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
While in high school shop class working with cars, Chase discovered his friend’s Dad owned a gas station. As pay for pumping gas after school, they were allowed to use the shop to work on street stocks and hobby stocks raced on local short tracks. An invitation to work for free on a Busch North (now Camping World North) car led to a trip south in 1997 to apply for a job in NASCAR‘s Sprint Cup arena. Chase and his friend landed a job with Diamond Ridge Motorsports. Today, Chase, an avid bike racer and marathon runner, builds and installs rear-ends, trailing arms and all the rear suspension on David Reutimann’s #00 Toyota and handles the jack on race day for the #56 car driven by Martin Truex Jr. “The decision to go racing meant turning down a scholarship to play hockey for Sacred Heart University (in Fairfield, CT.),” Chase says, “But racing is all I’ve ever done and I love what I do.”
• NICK HENSLEY - #77 Penske Racing Dodge
While growing up in a family of racers in Asheville, N.C., his Friday nights were all about turning wrenches on race cars at the famed Asheville-Weaverville Speedway. In 2005, the avid former baseball star graduated King College in Bristol, Tenn. with a B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology. Having suffered injuries on the field, Hensley had his sights on pre-med and aspirations of becoming a hand surgeon. His passion to race was too strong to ignore. The present-day front-end mechanic and race-day gas man is much happier pursuing his duties with the #77 Sprint Cup team. “The crew chief may make a change to the front of the car and I’m responsible for making sure that change gets made in a timely manner,” Hensley says. “My job is to make sure nothing falls off the front end of the car.”
• ODIE HUGHES - #78 Furniture Row Racing Chevy
Hughes began his racing career with driver Larry Thomas, brother of NASCAR driver Herb Thomas, in 1962. He swept Thomas' garage floors, performed odd jobs around the shop and began traveling to races to help pit the car for Thomas. Over a period of several decades, Hughes has worked with many NASCAR legends including Richard Petty, Darrell Waltrip and Bill Elliott and was a member of Terry Labonte’s championship team in 1984. “I’ve done a little bit of everything,” Hughes says. “I’ve been a jack man, cleaned the windshield (before tear-offs) and worked as a catch can man which is what I do today. But working with Terry in 1984 and winning it all that year was probably the best time of my career.”
• PETE WRIGHT - #82 Red Bull Racing Toyota
Over the past three decades, Wright has contributed to numerous victories among a variety of NASCAR champions. The Thomasville, N.C.-native works as a consultant of sorts with the #82 Red Bull Racing team, offering a great deal of experience in virtually every area of race car construction and race strategy. Presently a builder of fuel cells for the team, Wright has spent years of his career working as crew chief with many prominent Sprint Cup teams. “I’m a road mechanic with the 82 team, but I’m kind of like the granddaddy for the younger guys,” said Wright. “If someone has a problem with something, they rely on me. I’d say I’m probably the most experienced road mechanic in NASCAR other than maybe Dale Inman (crew chief for seven-time champion Richard Petty). I still enjoy it. As long as I’m able to do it, I’ll be here.”
• ADAM WRIGHT - #83 Red Bull Racing Toyota
Thomasville, N.C.-native Adam Wright is following in the footsteps of his father Pete Wright, a former well-known crew chief who has worked with such drivers as Terry Labonte, Darrell Waltrip and Hut Stricklin, to name a few. Wright works alongside his father at Red Bull Racing on the #83 team as road mechanic contributing to the team in various capacities. Some of his responsibilities include making sure the team transporter is fully equipped for each of the 36 Sprint Cup races on the schedule. “My dad has done some cool things,” Wright says. “Now I have more of an understanding of what he knows and how much he can offer. To be with Red Bull is really great because they are a great company. I will always remember 2009 with Brian Vickers making the Chase and enjoying my first win.”
• DAVID BRYANT - #88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy
Go-kart racing and Grand Stock competition at South Boston Speedway led Bryant on a path to one of the premier teams in NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports. The Farmville, Va., native began his career with former Nationwide Series driver Hank Parker Jr. before moving to Melling Racing and driver Stacy Compton. At Hendrick Motorsports, he worked on the #48 team driven by Jimmie Johnson before becoming car chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr., making sure his Chevrolets are well prepared for each event on the 36-race schedule. “Racing is all I’ve ever done,” Bryant says. “This is a family here in NASCAR and going down this road is cool. Doing something like this is awesome.”
• PAUL BALMER - #98 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford
A native of Elmira, N.Y., Balmer began his racing career right out of high school and raced Late Models and Street Stocks locally at such tracks as Owego Shangra-La Speedway and Black Rock Speedway. Balmer moved to North Carolina in 1995 to pursue a career in NASCAR. He serves in various roles as a team mechanic at the shop and works as a road mechanic when at the race track. “What I enjoy most is seeing the car run up front on race day and just working on it,” Balmer says. “It’s not really a job. It’s just something fun to do. I‘m happy doing what I‘m doing.”
• JEREMY DYER - #99 Roush-Fenway Racing Ford
Saturday nights for Dyer always meant going to watch his family race around local short tracks in his native state of California. Throughout his life, he watched his grandfather, father and uncle, Camping World Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday, work on and race the cars that sat in the family race shop. Over the years, Dyer followed the racing path and like his famous uncle, moved to the east coast to follow his passion as a NASCAR crewman. He steadily progressed through each of NASCAR’s premier divisions and now sets up race car chassis during the week and carries front tires for Carl Edwards’ #99 Roush-Fenway Racing Fords.
In addition to the grand marshal program, TUMS once again has designated all fans attending the TUMS Fast Relief 500 as the “Official Starter” for the event. Each fan will receive a commemorative flag. Following the lead of the NASCAR flagman, fans will participate in the official start of the race. Tickets to the TUMS Fast Relief 500 now are on sale. For more information, call 877.722.3849 or visit www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Tums)(10-20-2010)

Youngsters Read Way to TV appearance at Martinsville Speedway: Reading pays big rewards in many different ways. Just ask any of the more than 2,000 elementary school students who participated in Martinsville Speedway’s Fifth Annual Read Your Way to the Race program. Two of the more than 400 classes that participated in the program will get to appear on national television as they recite the Pledge of Allegiance prior to the Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on October 23 and the TUMS Fast Relief 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race on October 24. A third class will have the opportunity to get their picture taken with the winner of the Kroger 200. One student will get to stand on-stage for the Kroger 200 pre-race activities, another will ride along in the pace car for the start of the Kroger 200, and another will participate in Kroger 200 victory lane celebrations. Three more classes won the opportunity to have pizza parties at Martinsville Speedway after race weekend. This fall 405 classrooms in three school systems – Martinsville City Schools, Henry County Schools and Pittsylvania County Schools – participated. The goal was for each participating student to read either 15 chapters or 15 books, depending on individual reading levels. In the end, 2,022 students successfully completed the assignment. All students who reached their goal will be admitted to either the Kroger 200 or the TUMS Fast Relief 500 free. Their parents can purchase discounted tickets to either event. Tickets for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 begin at $25 and range to $77. Tickets to the Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on October 23 are $30 in advance, with children 12 and under admitted free. Tickets for Farm Bureau Pole Day, which features practice and qualifying for both the Kroger 200 and the TUMS Fast Relief 500, are $15, children 12 and under admitted free. Tickets for all events may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com online.(10-15-2010)

Martinsville Speedway tickets deals: The $99 Family 4 Pack for this fall’s TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway is a pretty sweet deal and now it’s even sweeter. In addition to great racing and food for one pretty amazing price, two Martinsville Speedway hats have been added to the package. The Family 4 Pack includes two adult tickets and two children’s tickets (18 and under) to the TUMS Fast Relief 500 along with vouchers for The Famous Martinsville Speedway Hot Dog (four), four Pepsi products and two khaki-colored Martinsville Speedway hats. The $99 Family 4 Pack seats are located in rows 6 through 14 of the Clay Earles Tower overlooking the second turn. Tickets for the entire TUMS Relief 500 weekend are now on sale. Tickets for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 begin at $25 and range to $77. Tickets to the Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on October 23 are $30 in advance, with children 12 and under admitted free. Tickets for Farm Bureau Pole Day, which features practice and qualifying for both the Kroger 200 and the TUMS Fast Relief 500, are $15, children 12 and under admitted free. Tickets for all events may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or by visiting martinsvillespeedway.com online.(10-12-2010)

Martinsville Speedway Offering Lots Of Bargains: The TUMS Fast Relief 500, the only short-track stop in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, is just over a month away, but plenty of affordable ticket options remain for race fans. In fact, there is a ticket package or price to suit most every race fan’s needs. Check out some of Martinsville Speedway’s great ticket offers for the TUMS Fast Relief 500:
All-you-can-eat specials will be offered in two grandstands, the Clay Earles Tower and the backstretch seating, for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 on October 24. For $65, fans can get a seat in the Clay Earles Tower, rows 15-52, and an all-you-can-eat wristband that is good from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on race day. The price for a child 18 and under is $20.For just $35, fans can get a backstretch ticket and an all you can eat wristband. Both all-you-can-eat specials can be ordered by calling 877.RACE.TIX.
The $99 Family 4 Pack includes two adult tickets and two children’s tickets (18 and under) to the TUMS Fast Relief 500 along with vouchers for The Famous Martinsville Speedway Hot Dog™ (four), four Pepsi products and two khaki-colored Martinsville Speedway hats. The $99 Family 4 Pack seats are located in rows 6 through 14 of the Clay Earles Tower overlooking the second turn.
Backstretch seats are $25 along with the first five rows of seats in the Sprint Tower, the Clay Earles Tower and the South Annex. Seats in the Clay Earles Tower overlooking the second turn are $55. Children’s tickets in the Clay Earles Tower are only $10 when purchased with an adult ticket. All seats in Bill France Tower are $40. Seats in the Sprint Tower are $65.
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)(9-30-2010)

'Big' Announcement by Martinsville Speedway UPDATE: Speedway officials say it might be the track's biggest announcement in 10 years. The Martinsville Speedway plans to make a major announcement Thursday afternoon about facility upgrades and additions. They aren't releasing any more specific details about the announcement, but supposedly several state and local officials plan to attend.(WSET.com)(8-26-2010)
UPDATE: Virginia Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling and state and local officials announced today a Tobacco Commission grant and other initiatives that will help provide an enhanced fan experience at Martinsville Speedway. The Tobacco Commission awarded Martinsville Speedway a grant of $1.5 million dollars, which will be matched by Martinsville Speedway for a $3 million project to upgrade facility infrastructure. As part of the agreement with the Tobacco Commission, International Speedway Corporation (ISC) has committed to two Sprint Cup races annually at Martinsville Speedway for at least the next five years. Bolling, the Chief Jobs Creation Officer for the Commonwealth, also announced that the Virginia Department of Transportation had already begun work on the construction of a new on/off ramp on US 58 adjacent to the speedway, which will improve traffic flow on race weekends.
The Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) has also committed to help promote Martinsville Speedway’s Sprint Cup events in its nation-wide marketing campaigns. Earlier this summer the VTC announced it would also sponsor Martinsville Speedway’s annual Late Model Stock Car event, which is now The Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300. According to Frith Construction Company, general contractor for the improvement project, the equivalent of 50 fulltime jobs will be created for the duration of that project. Also, 94% of all subcontractors and vendors will come from the immediate area. Work will begin on the first phase of the infrastructure upgrades immediately after the TUMS Fast Relief 500 on October 24 and will be finished before Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 on April 3. Campbell said because of time constraints between events, the construction would be done in several phases between events.(Martinsville Speedway)(8-26-2010)

Martinsville Cup Races Both Week Later In 2011: Martinsville Speedway will again host two NASCAR Sprint Cup races in 2011, but both races will be a week later than in recent years. NASCAR announced that the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 is scheduled for Sunday, April 3 while the TUMS Fast Relief 500 will be held on Sunday, October 30. “There was quite a bit of shuffling in the schedule for next year and we are really pleased with the new dates NASCAR has for us,” said Martinsville Speedway President W. Clay Campbell. “Our spring date is a little further into spring and our second date still falls at a very comfortable time in this part of Virginia. We think that both of our 2011 dates are great for our fans and should provide two great weekends.”(Martinsville PR)(8-13-2010)

Martinsville would like new spring date: Clay Campbell, track president of Martinsville Speedway and he said he would like to have a new date for this spring race (the track had a mid-April date for a number of years until moving up earlier in the schedule in 2007). Here's what he said: "March, it's a tough time period here, so yes, I'm talking to see if there's any chance of something being done (spring date moved). I don't know if there is. Years ago we were the last week of April. That's a good time of the year around here. I know NASCAR has a tough time juggling the schedule around because if they move one (date), it takes two to move. I understand that, and I understand that NASCAR has issues, too. It's not an easy thing to do, and I'd say the chances are slim of any movement happening, but I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't try to improve what we've got here.'' Of course, there could be a good bit of movement to the schedule next year if the legal issues around Kentucky Motor Speedway get resolved and Bruton Smith moves a Cup date there. Also, International Speedway Corp., wants a second date for Kansas Speedway but has not said from what track it will take it from. ISC owns Martinsville Speedway. Certainly, there could be a good bit of changes to the schedule next year and this is about the time of the year that NASCAR officials begin working on the next year's schedule.(Virginian Pilot)(3-29-2010)

F-18s To Provide Flyover for Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500: One of the Navy’s oldest and most decorated squadrons will provide the flyover for Sunday’s Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Strike Fighter Squadron Three One will supply the flyover support with F-18 Super Hornets after the Virginia Military Institute’s Glee Club performs the national anthem prior to the start of the race. Based at Oceana Naval Air Station near Norfolk, the VFA-31 recently spent an eight-month deployment aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt. The Tomcatters dominated the skies above Afghanistan during the deployment, flying over 6,000 hours and 2,000 sorties in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Strike Fighter Squadron Three One has a long and distinguished history. The squadron has served in every major conflict since its inception. The squadron was aboard the USS Enterprise during the bombing of Pearl Harbor as well as the Battles of Wake Island, Marcus Island, Coral Sea, Midway, Guadalcanal and the Eastern Solomons. The squadron has seen aerial combat over the Philippines, Formosa, Okinawa and China. Tickets for the races are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or going to martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway)(3-23-2010)

Kids Zone Returns at Martinsville: One section of Martinsville Speedway’s display area has again been declared a “Kids Zone” for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 weekend with games, souvenirs and food aimed at the younger crowd. There will be two inflatable games for the youngsters to play on, The Moon Walk and The Slide. 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 also be plenty of youth oriented souvenirs … three trailers full. Digger, FOX TV’s racing cartoon star, will have a trailer, along with the Kid’s Stop trailer and the Kidz Rock trailer. There are some great ticket prices for kids during the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 weekend. Children’s tickets in the Clay Earles Tower are only $10 when purchased with an adult ticket. Children 12 and under will be admitted free to the Kroger 250 on Saturday, March 27 and Duracell Battery Kroger Pole Day on Friday, March 26. Tickets for the races are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or going to martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway)(3-23-2010)

Harry Gant, Bobby Allison Fill Field For Goody's FAN-Tastic Forum At Martinsville: The field has been filled and the starting time set for the Goody’s FAN-Tastic Forum: Story-telling by NASCAR’s Greats at Martinsville Speedway on March 27. In a journey back in time, seven of the sport’s most legendary drivers will be spinning tales for fans in Martinsville Speedway’s display area on Saturday, March 27, beginning at 6 p.m. Harry Gant and Bobby Allison have been added to the previously announced cast of Junior Johnson, Donnie Allison, Buddy Baker and Ned Jarrett. Veteran Motor Racing Network announcer Barney Hall, another icon of the sport, will emcee the event. “When we started putting this together, we never envisioned we’d get such a group of our sport’s heroes,” said Martinsville Speedway President W. Clay Campbell. “The group we have wound up with is like a ‘Who’s Who’ of racing history. It’s going to be a rare opportunity for all of us to see such racing royalty all together in one spot.” Prior to the beginning of the Goody’s FAN-Tastic Forum on Saturday, March 27, most of the drivers will be participating in a one-hour autograph session in the display area outside of the fourth turn area of the track. As a part of the old-school racing weekend, renown motorsports Sam Bass has produced a one-of-a-kind print, title “Time Travelers,” which will serve as the cover for the weekend’s souvenir program. Several thousand posters will be made from the print and distributed to fans during the weekend. Also, Baker, who won the Old Dominion 500 at Martinsville in 1979, has been named the Grand Marshal for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500. Tickets for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 on Sunday, March 28, the Kroger 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Saturday, March 27 and the Duracell Battery Kroger Pole Day on Friday, March 26 are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or going to martinsvillespeedway.com.(3-22-2010)

Virginia Military Institute Glee Club to perform Martinsville National anthem: The Virginia Military Institute Glee Club will perform the National Anthem for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 on March 28, guaranteeing racing fans a traditional version of the Star Spangled Banner. The VMI Glee Club, which has been in existence since 1858, has entertained groups from coast-to-coast, singing for everything from gubernatorial inaugurations to the National Shrine in Washington, DC, to PGA Tournaments. Their version of the anthem is authentic and traditional. The VMI Glee Club is made up of 30 cadets from all classes, academic majors and ROTC affiliations at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA. It is the oldest performing group at VMI. VMI is the nation’s oldest state supported military college, founded in 1839. Martinsville Speedway tickets may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(3-22-2010)

SPEED's Rub-N-Grub Perfect Deal For Martinsville Fans: Martinsville Speedway has a reputation for great racing and great food. SPEEDtv is featuring both in their Grub-N-Rub offer for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 weekend. The bargain package from SPEED includes a ticket for the Kroger 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on March 27, a ticket for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 on March 28 and admission to a breakfast that will include appearances by NASCAR Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck series drivers along with SPEED personalities. The $99 price tag, $69 for children 12 and under, includes a two-day reserved ticket in the Blue Ridge Tower on the front stretch for the Kroger 250 and the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500. It also includes breakfast at 9 a.m. on Saturday with question and answer sessions with Sprint Cup driver Kevin Harvick, truck series drivers Timothy Peters and Ricky Carmichael, track president Campbell and personalities from SPEED. Tickets for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 on Sunday, March 28, the Kroger 250 on Saturday, March 27 and the Duracell Battery Kroger Pole Day on Friday, March 26 are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com. Tickets for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 start at just $25.(Martinsville Speedway)(3-13-2010)

Martinsville Family 4 Pack Gives Fans Chance at good and food at low price: Martinsville Speedway is famous for three things: great racing, great hot dogs and great prices. The track has combined all three for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 on March 28. The new $99 Family 4 Pack is the most inexpensive way for a family of four to spend the day at Martinsville Speedway and enjoy the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500. The Family 4 Pack includes two adult tickets two children’s tickets (12 and under) to the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 along with vouchers for The Famous Martinsville Speedway Hot Dog (four) and four Pepsi products. The Family 4 Pack seats are located in rows 6 through 14 of the Clay Earles Tower. Order your Family 4 Pack by calling 877-RACE-TIX (877-722-3849) and mentioning the Family Four Pack offer or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com online.(Martinsville Speedway)(3-8-2010)

Martinsville expands ticket Office hours: Martinsville Speedway has expanded its ticket office hours to give fans plenty of time to purchase tickets for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 on March 28. The ticket office hours have been broadened to include Saturdays from now until the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500. The speedway ticket office will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays in addition to its normal daily hours of 9 to 5. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com online.(Martinsville Speedway)(3-8-2010)

NASCAR Honors Martinsville Speedway for Recognition of Race Fans: Martinsville Speedway and Darnell Communications were honored by NASCAR Friday with the first-ever “Fan Recognition Award” for making the fans the grand marshal and honorary starter for last fall’s TUMS Fast Relief 500. It was the first time in the history of NASCAR Sprint Cup racing that the fans had been given the duties of grand marshal and honorary starter. To make sure it was an authentic experience, every fan was given a replica green flag to signal the start of the race. And when the race began, the grandstands were a sea of green. “It was a moving moment for me to see all of those green flags waving. I’ve been around this sport all my life and I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like it before,” said Martinsville Speedway President W. Clay Campbell. “We’ve always said that fans come first at Martinsville Speedway and this was just a way we could take that another step. We are honored to be recognized by NASCAR, but this award is for the fans. They are the ones who keep this sport rolling.” Darnell Communications, which provides public relations and media strategies and services in motorsports for the TUMS brand, produced the concept to feature the fans and TUMS management quickly gave approval. Darnell Communications, the staff of Martinsville Speedway and TUMS officials spent almost a year working on the fan initiative. The final result was so popular it will be repeated at the TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 24.(Martinsville Speedway)(1-25-2010)

Goody's, TUMS Sign Two-Year Renewal with Martinsville: One of the most enduring relationships in NASCAR grew a little stronger today with the announcement that Goody’s Headache Powders and TUMS® are renewing their sponsorship of the spring and fall Sprint Cup races at Martinsville Speedway through the 2012 season. Goody’s sponsorship of the spring race will continue with the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 while TUMS will extend its sponsorship of the fall race with the TUMS Fast Relief 500. The sponsorship extensions are another chapter in a decades-long history between GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Consumer Healthcare (makers of Goody’s and TUMS) and the historic half-mile oval. The two joined forces in 1983 when Goody’s Headache Powder first sponsored the Goody’s 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Since then Goody’s and TUMS have sponsored a total of 23 races in several different divisions at Martinsville Speedway. TUMS has been the sponsor of the fall event at Martinsville since 2008. This year’s Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 is scheduled for Sunday, March 28 and the TUMS Fast Relief 500 is set for Sunday, October 24. 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 the next two Goody’s Fast Relief 500 races at Martinsville. Also recently, Martinsville Speedway president W. Clay Campbell announced today that Karen Parker has been promoted to Vice President of Marketing.(Martinsville Speedway)(1-18-2010)

Fans will again wave green flag at Martinsville: In response to the overwhelming feedback from the fans, NASCAR community and motorsports industry, TUMS and Martinsville Speedway announced that all fans attending the 2010 TUMS Fast Relief 500 on Oct. 24 will serve as the "Official Starter" for the event. In 2009 and for the first time in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history, TUMS designated all fans attending the event as the "Official Starter". More than 64,000 fans participated in the unique event, waving their commemorative green flag to start the 500-lap event at the storied racing facility. All fans attending the Oct. 24, 2010, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event will receive a commemorative green flag when they arrive at their seats. Following the lead of the NASCAR flagman, fans will participate in the official start of the race. Many other special activities are being planned to make the 2010 TUMS Fast Relief 500 a memorable event for the fans.(Martinsville PR)(12-21-2009)

65,000-Plus Fans Will Give Starting Command at Martinsville: For the first time in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history, all fans attending the TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway Sunday will serve as the ‘Grand Marshals’ and ‘Official Starters’ for the event. Tums, Martinsville Speedway, NASCAR and the Sprint Cup Series drivers and crews will salute the fans during pre-race activities leading up to the final honors of giving the command ‘Gentlemen, Start Your Engines’ and the waving of the green flag for the start of the 500-lap event. During pre-race ceremonies, the 43 drivers and crews will thank the fans for their support with a special salute. The drivers and more than 400 crew members will take part in the tribute to say thank you to all race fans. On a few occasions, fans have been invited to join the designated Grand Marshal in giving the command ‘Gentlemen, Start Your Engines’. At the Tums Fast Relief 500, fans will not only give the command to start the engines, but also participate in starting the race. All fans attending Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event will receive a 12” x 15” commemorative green flag when they arrive at their seats. Following the lead of the NASCAR flagman, all 65,000 fans will participate in the start of the 500-lap race, waving their own green flag. Sprint Vision will present congratulatory messages from several drivers and the NASCAR community throughout the morning leading up to the start of pre-race ceremonies. Fans also will see the VIP introductions at the opening of the driver’s meeting on Sprint Vision. Tums returns as the title sponsor for the fall NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at the .526-mile track for the second consecutive year. The Tums Fast Relief 500 is the sixth of 10 races that make up the Chase for the Sprint Cup and the final short-track race of the season.(Martinsville Speedway)(10-21-2009)

Kids' Zone To Make Debut at Martinsville Speedway: Martinsville Speedway has been considered a family track for all if its 62 years, but for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 on October 25, it will be just a little more child friendly than in the past. One section of the display area has been declared a “Kids' Zone” for the Tums Fast Relief 500 weekend with games, souvenirs and food aimed at the younger crowd. There will be two inflatable games for the youngsters to play on, The Moon Walk and The Slide. 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 also be plenty of youth oriented souvenirs … three trailers full. Digger, FOX TV’s racing cartoon star, will have a trailer, along with the Kid’s Stop trailer and the Kidz Rock trailer. There are some great ticket prices for kids during the TUMS Fast Relief 500 weekend. Children’s tickets in the Clay Earles Tower are only $10 when purchased with an adult ticket. Children 12 and under will be admitted free to the Kroger 200 on Saturday, October 24 and Farm Bureau Pole Day on Friday, October 23. Tickets for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 on Sunday, October 25, the Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Saturday, October 24 and the Farm Bureau Insurance Pole Day on Friday, October 23 are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com. Ticket prices range from $25 to $77 for the TUMS Fast Relief 500.(Martinsville Speedway)(10-20-2009)

Mountain Heart to sing National Anthem at Martinsville: Mountain Heart, the band that figured a way to combine bluegrass, rock, blues and jazz, will bring its amazing vocals to Martinsville Speedway to perform the National Anthem before the running of the TUMS Fast Relief 500 on October 25. Mountain Heart is accustomed to large stages; the group has appeared on the Grand Ole Opry over 100 times and performed with acts ranging from Brad Paisley to Lynyrd Sknyrd to Montgomery Gentry to Alison Kraus. 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)(10-19-2009)

Great Tickets at Great Prices remain for Martinsville: Fans still have the opportunity to get great seats for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway at the best prices in a decade. Tickets start at just $25 for the TUMS Fast Relief 500, the sixth race in the Chase For The Sprint Cup, on Sunday, October 25.
• All Backstretch seats are $25 along with the first five rows of seats in the Sprint Tower, the Clay Earles Tower and the South Annex.
• Seats in the Clay Earles Tower overlooking the second turn are $55.
• Children’s tickets in the Clay Earles Tower are only $10 when purchased with an adult ticket.
• All seats in Bill France Tower are $40
• Seats in the Sprint Tower are $65
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)(10-18-2009)

Improvements Will Greet Fans at Martinsville: New and improved ticket gates and renovated campsites will greet fans who visit Martinsville Speedway for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 on October 25. Martinsville Speedway’s main ticket gate has been reconfigured to help make entering and exiting smoother. Also two ticket gates have been added in the first-turn area of the track, which should reduce traffic at other gates at that end of the track. Also during the offseason, the speedway revamped a group of campsites directly behind the backstretch, leveling the ground in the area, making the sites much more functional for campers. Also four sections on the backstretch have been renamed. Section M is now Section UU; Section N is now Section TT; Section O is now Section SS; and Section P is now Section RR. Tickets are on sale for the TUMS Fast Relief 500, the Kroger 200 and the Virginia Farm Bureau Pole Day and may be purchased by calling 877.722.3849 (877.RACE.TIX) or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com online. Ticket prices range from $25 to $77.(10-12-2009)