Martinsville Speedway Notes & Facts – Thursday – history:

‚· Opened in September 1947 by H. Clay Earles, Martinsville, originally a dirt track, is one of the oldest continuously-operating race tracks in the United States.
‚· The first NASCAR-sanctioned race at Martinsville was on July 4, 1948.
‚· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was Sept. 25, 1949.
‚· The track was paved in 1955.
‚· The first 500-lap event at Martinsville was in 1956.
‚· Concrete corners were added atop asphalt in 1976.
(NASCAR)(3-26-2015)