Sad News: Clarence Preston, a fixture at Martinsville Speedway for more than 40 years, died early Monday morning. He was 85 years old. Preston began working for Martinsville Speedway founder H. Clay Earles in the late 1950s on a part-time basis. The two forged a friendship that lasted for five decades until Earles passed away in 1999. Preston’ most visible role was in the Martinsville Speedway press box, which he maintained on race weekends. And while no one is exactly sure when he worked his first race at Martinsville Speedway, he was on hand for the last April’ Virginia 500, working as hard as ever. Several generations of racing writers were befriended by Preston during his decades of work in the press box. Although few outside of the press box knew of his involvement with Martinsville Speedway, journalists from all corners of the country were on a first-name basis with him. Preston’ funeral is scheduled for noon Friday at Hairston Funeral Home in Martinsville. Visitation will be at 11 a.m. Friday, also at Hairston Funeral Home.(Martinsville Speedway Newsletter)(6-24-2002)
