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Work Begins On Martinsville Speedway’s Pit Road Surface
MARTINSVILLE, VA (May 23, 2008) – Martinsville Speedway’s pit road roared to
life Thursday morning, but not with the usual equipment.
Instead of race cars, air guns and pit crews, it was heavy equipment and dump
trucks as work began on a resurfacing project that will see a concrete pit road
in place by the October 19th running of the TUMS QuikPak 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup
race.
A layer of asphalt about six inches deep is being removed from pit road and will
be replaced by concrete.
“In the long run, the concrete is going to be better,” said Martinsville
Speedway president Clay Campbell. “We know from the concrete that we have in the
turns (of the racing surface) that it can withstand a lot of wear and tear. We
won’t have some of the issues with concrete that we have with asphalt. It should
stay smooth and shouldn’t develop cracks.”
It is the first time in recent history that pit road has been resurfaced.
The refurbishing of pit road is one of several capital improvement projects set
to be finished before the TUMS QuikPak 500.
A new, 120-foot tall scoreboard with three 30-foot video display screens will be
in place by the fall. The video screens will be utilized for everything from
scoring rundowns to instant replays. It will be visible to all seats.
Plans also call for about 100 feet of SAFER barrier to be installed on the
fourth-turn pit gate and the exit of the fourth turn. It is the most challenging
of the summer projects. Presently the gate opens inward, but with the addition
of the SAFER barrier, it must open outward. And that means the roadway outside
of the gate will have to be cut down, leveled and resurfaced.
Tickets for the TUMS QuikPak 500, the sixth race in the Chase For The Sprint
Cup, are on sale and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or online at
www.martinsvillespeedway.com.
Tickets for the Kroger 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on October 18 are
also on sale and also may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or online at
www.martinsvillespeedway.com.
Mike Smith
Director, Public Relations
Martinsville Speedway
276.956.7232 (w)
276.226.0495 (c)
Martinsville Speedway A Stop On Historic Garden Week Tour
MARTINSVILLE, VA (April 15, 2008) – The bright colors of race cars will give way
to the softer shades of spring flowers when Martinsville Speedway hosts a stop
on the Historic Garden Week tour on April 23.
The 75th Virginia Historic Garden Week is the oldest and largest statewide house
and garden tour event in the nation.
Sponsored by The Garden Study Club and the Martinsville Garden Club, this year’s
tour for Martinsville and Henry County is titled “From Ridgeway to Raceway,” and
includes sites around Ridgeway in the Southern end of Henry County. Although
named “Martinsville Speedway,” the track is actually in Ridgeway.
“We are honored that we were chosen to be on this years Historic Garden Week
tour,” said Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell. “I know it’s not a
traditional Garden Tour stop, but I think everyone will appreciate and enjoy
their visit here. The tours are always tied to historic places and we certainly
have a lot of history here at Martinsville Speedway.”
Earlier this year, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources deemed
Martinsville Speedway a site of historical significance and placed a historic
marker at the entrance to the track.
Visitors taking the Garden Club Tour of the track will be treated to a guided
tour of the race track by members of the Patrick Henry Community College
Motorsports Association. Campbell will have his eloquently, but comfortably
outfitted motor coach open for visitors to tour.
Those with advance lunch reservations will dine in the track’s Presidential
Suite, located 14 stories above the race track.
Martinsville Speedway is one of several stops on the Historic Garden Week tour
in Martinsville and Henry County on April 23. Other tour locations include the
Greenhouse and Horticulture Program at Magna Vista High School; 199 Beckford
Way, located in the Farmingdale neighborhood; 75 Derbyshire Lane, located in the
Farmingdale neighborhood; and 480 Owsley Drive, located in the Farmingdale
neighborhood.
Full ticket price for the Martinsville and Henry County tour is $15. Single-site
ticket for the Speedway is $10. All other single-site tickets are $5. Tickets
may be purchased on tour day at any of the sites open for the tour.
Tickets for the luncheon in the President’s Suite at Martinsville Speedway are
$12 and are available by advance reservation only. Reservations may be made by
calling 276.638.6006 or 276.638.1030.
Mike Smith
Director, Public Relations
Martinsville Speedway
276.956.7232 (w)
276.226.0495 (c)
Statistics Prove Martinsville Speedway Center Of Racing Excitement
MARTINSVILLE, VA (April 3 2008) – Fans know Martinsville Speedway is an exciting
place to watch a race. Now they have statistics to back them up.
There were 1,992 passes in Sunday’s Goody’s Cool Orange 500 at Martinsville
Speedway. That’s a 57 percent increase from last year when there were 1,148
passes on the tight half-mile oval.
There were 23 green flag passes for the lead Sunday, a statistic that accounts
for lead changes all round the track. That number ties the track record for
green flag passes for the lead, set in 2005, and almost doubles the 12 green
flag passes for a year ago.
There were also 20 official lead changes among eight drivers. All three, green
flag passes, green flag passes for the lead and official lead changes, are tops
among short-track events this season.
“This was a really good Martinsville race,” said seven-time Martinsville winner
Jeff Gordon, who finished second Sunday. “There were a lot of different passes
and action and lead changes and that’s why so many fans stuck around for so
long.”
There were also 18 caution periods, the result of the tight, exciting racing
fans have come to expect at Martinsville Speedway. Twenty different drivers were
involved in crashes, spins and such, and six were in more than one. But 41 of
the 43 cars that started the race were still running at the end.
“When you come to a race at Martinsville, you know there is always going to be
some action somewhere, if not for the lead than further back in the top 10 or
back a little further,” said Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell.
“There’s always a pass being made somewhere. And the great thing about it is you
are right on top of the action at Martinsville. You can look right into the car
and see what’s going on. You aren’t that close most places.”
“I think we saw today that you can pass on the inside, you can pass on the
outside, you can race on the outside,” said Tony Stewart. “Sometimes the groove
where you want to be is on the outside.”
The many restarts offered proof that both lanes could be used effectively.
“It was interesting to see the restarts,” said Campbell. “I noticed that for
many laps they remained side-by-side and in many cases the outside line was the
fastest. That’s something very few tracks can offer. It looked like a half-mile
version of Talladega.”
The NASCAR Sprint Cup stars will hit the historic Martinsville half-mile on
October 17-19 for the Tums QuikPak 500 and the Kroger 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck
Series race.
Tickets for both the Tums QuikPak 500 on Sunday, October 19 and the Kroger 200
on Saturday, October 18 are on sale and may be purchased by calling
1.877.RACE.TIX or online at
www.martinsvillespeedway.com.
Tickets prices for the Tums QuicPak 500 range from $42 to $80.
Tickets for the Kroger 200 are $37 in advance, $42 on race day. Children ages
6-12 are $5 and those under six are admitted free.
The Tums QuikPak 500 weekend kicks off on October 17 with Carilion clinic Pole
Day with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying.
Mike Smith
Director, Public Relations
Martinsville Speedway
276.956.7232 (w)
276.226.0495 (c)
Setzer Grabs Emotional Truck Series Victory In Kroger 250
MARTINSVILLE, VA (March 29, 2008) – Dennis Setzer made his fifth trip to victory
lane at Martinsville Speedway Saturday afternoon, but it was by far his most
special visit.
Setzer led the final 126 laps Saturday afternoon to capture the Kroger 250
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. It was his third Craftsman Truck Series win
at the historic Martinsville oval, but his first since joining BHR-VA, the team
founded by the late Bobby Hamilton.
“This win right here is for Bobby Hamilton – ONLY,” Setzer’s crew chief Marcus
Richmond shouted immediately after the race. “He is the man.”
Hamilton died early in 2007 after a year-long battle with cancer. His widow,
Lori, kept the team going, and early this year took on several partners, moved
the team to Virginia and renamed it BHR-VA.
“I have so much respect for Lori Hamilton. Nobody knows how hard she has worked
to keep this team going,” said Setzer. “She moved the team to Virginia, really
spent a lot of time with the new partners getting this thing up and going and
it’s starting to pay some dividends for us now.
“I’m so proud of the job Marcus Richmond did today, the job this whole team did.
They put a great truck under me.”
Setzer was able to move to the front, though, after starting 10th, and once he
got the lead, he was in control. The win was his fifth at Martinsville, three in
the Craftsman Truck Series and two in Late Model Stock cars.
“I love racing on short tracks where you get to use a lot of brakes,” said
Setzer, who picked up $55,025 for the win. “And I love racing here at
Martinsville Speedway.”
Setzer took the lead with 126 laps remaining and was never really challenged
again, despite a rash of caution flags down the stretch. It was Setzer’s 18th
Craftsman Truck Series victory and his first win of the 2008 season.
Matt Crafton finished second, his best career finish, followed by former
Martinsville winner Rick Crawford, Ken Schrader and Eric Darnell.
Action revs back up at Martinsville Speedway at 2 p.m. today with the running of
the Goody’s Cool Orange 500.
Tickets remain for the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 with prices ranging from $42 to
$80.
Mike Smith
Director, Public Relations
Martinsville Speedway
276.956.7232 (w)
276.226.0495 (c)
Gordon Records Seventh Pole Win At Martinsville Speedway
MARTINSVILLE, VA (March 28, 2008) – Jeff Gordon continued his mastery of
Martinsville Speedway Friday afternoon, winning the pole for Sunday’s Goody’s
Cool Orange 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race.
It was Gordon’s seventh pole win at Martinsville, matching his seven race
victories on the historic half-mile track. The pole win left him one short of
Darrell Waltrip’s record eight poles
Gordon turned in a near-perfect lap of 19.666 seconds (96.288 mph) around the
.526-mile track in a Chevrolet to win the pole. Denny Hamlin, driving a Toyota,
captured the outside pole with a lap of 19.775 seconds (95.757 mph).
“We’ve been close to poles, we’ve won poles here, but rarely have we put a whole
lap together at both ends of the race track the we way we did today,” said
Gordon after capturing his 65th career pole. “It impressed me, I’ll be honest,
to run that type of a lap. It tells you the great job the crew did today.”
Hamlin was obviously pleased with his qualifying effort, but felt it could have
been better.
“It was a good lap for us. I missed my marks on my first lap and that typically
was about one-tenth faster than what our second laps were,” said Hamlin. “I felt
like we were good. It was just a little driver error there and had to kind of
regroup in that second lap and kind of pull something at least salvageable
together and it was good enough for where we ended up. It just tells us we have
a car that is that versatile is going to be good for us on Sunday.”
Rookie Aric Almirola surprised the field by nailing down the third starting spot
in Sunday’s race, followed by David Ragan, and Jamie McMurray.
Rounding out the top 10 were Kasey Kahne in seventh, Ken Schrader in seventh,
Kyle Busch in eighth, Tony Stewart in ninth and Jimmie Johnson in 10th.
Tickets for both the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 on Sunday and the Kroger 250 on
Saturday can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX, online at
www.martinsvillespeedway.com
or at the Martinsville Speedway ticket office.
Ticket prices for the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 range from $42 to $80. Tickets for
the Kroger 250 are $37 in advance, $42 on race day. Kroger 250 tickets for
children ages 6 to 12 are $5.
Mike Smith
Director, Public Relations
Martinsville Speedway
276.956.7232 (w)
276.226.0495 (c)
March 27, 2008
GOODY’S COOL ORANGE 500 NEWS AND NOTES
COACH BEAMER TO GRAND MARSHAL
Virginia Tech Head Football Coach Frank Beamer, one of college football’s most
revered coaches, has accepted Grand Marshal duties for the upcoming Goody’s Cool
Orange 500 race at Martinsville Speedway, March 30. The Hillsville, Va native is
an avid NASCAR fan that has waved the green flag at racing events but has never
said the famous words “Gentleman start your engines”. Beamer’s Hokies won the
ACC championship and finished ninth in the country last year. He was the
national coach of the year in 1999 and is ranked third in wins among all active
Division I coaches. With team colors of maroon and orange, and having competed
in this past season’s Orange Bowl, Beamer is the perfect fit for the Goody’s
Cool Orange 500, a race named after the newest flavor of Goody’s headache
powder.
JEFF HAMMOND TO WAVE THE GREEN FLAG
To celebrate Jeff Hammond’s long history at Martinsville Speedway, it is only
fitting he gets to wave the green flag for the Goody’s Cool Orange 500. Hammond
has been named as Honorary Starter for the upcoming Goody’s Cool Orange 500 at
Martinsville Speedway. As a jackman, Hammond stood in Martinsville’s victory
lane four times with driver Cale Yarborough. Once promoted to crew chief for
Darrell Waltrip, Hammond found victory lane 10 more times at Martinsville, four
of which were Goody’s 500 events (1984, 1987, 1988, 1989). Hammond secured a
total of 43 wins as a crew chief. NASCAR fans now enjoy Hammond’s commentary
during FOX and SPEED television broadcasts.
DOUG AGEE AWARDS
Doug Agee, a pioneer of racing promotions, will be on hand to present the Doug
Agee Award at the Goody’s Cool Orange 500. The Goody’s Headache Powders brand
created the award to be given to a person or persons who most embodies the value
and spirit of Doug Agee and is presented annually at Martinsville Speedway – a
track as deeply rooted in NASCAR as Goody’s 31-year tenure in racing. Agee
invented the fan favorite Goody’s Headache of the Race promotion with MRN Radio
and brought Goody’s to NASCAR. He also started what is now a lifetime
relationship with Richard Petty.
VIRGINIA TECH’S HIGHTY-TIGHTIES PREFORM
To celebrate Goody’s new flavor, Goody’s Cool Orange will have a Virginia Tech
flavor with both Head Football Coach Frank Beamer as grand marshal and the
Highty-Tighties performance. The world-renowned Regimental Band of the Virginia
Tech Corps of Cadets, better known as the Highty-Tighties, will perform at the
Goody’s Cool Orange 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Always a crowd favorite, the
Highty-Tighties will entertain the race fans during pre-race ceremonies and also
perform the national anthem. The military marching band carry traditions dating
back 125 years with performances at presidential inaugurals since President
Eisenhower.
FAN PARTICIPATION
Goody’s will be giving away Goody’s Cool Orange towels to race fans entering the
grandstands at Martinsville Speedway for Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race the
Goody’s Cool Orange 500. Fans will be encouraged to wave the orange-colored
towels during the start and end of the race. The stands will look like a sea of
orange celebrating Goody’s long time relationship with both the race fan and the
Martinsville Speedway. Goody’s has been a strong supporter of Martinsville
Speedway since the first Goody’s 500 in 1983.
-30-
Mike Smith
Director, Public Relations
Martinsville Speedway
276.956.7232 (w)
276.226.0495 (c)
Fans Still Have Chance To Buy Goody’s Cool Orange 500 Tickets
MARTINSVILLE, VA (March 27, 2008) – The Goody’s Cool Orange 500 weekend is just
about here, but fans still have time to purchase tickets for all three days of
action.
Hospitality packages with appearances on Sunday with appearances by Jeff Gordon,
Tony Stewart or Kasey Kahne also remain available to fans.
Tickets remain in many areas of the track’s grandstands for Sunday’s Goody’s
Cool Orange 500, ranging in ticket prices from $42 to $80.
Families can take advantage of the Spring Family Special for the Goody’s Cool
Orange 500 with adult backstretch tickets priced at $42 and $47 and tickets for
children 12 and under just $10.
Martinsville Speedway proudly offers special pricing for members of the United
States Armed Forces. Under the special Military Offer, military members can
purchase a seat in either the Clay Earles Tower or the South Annex for $50, with
children tickets in those areas just $10. The Military Offer is also in place
for the Kroger 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on March 29. The special
offers adult general admission tickets to the Kroger 250 for $30 while tickets
for children 6-12 are $5 and children under six are free.
Gordon, Stewart and Kahne will headline three separate fan zones prior to the
Goody’s Cool Orange 500. Gordon will be in the Pepsi Fan Zone, Stewart will be
in the Goody’s Cool Orange Fan Zone and Kahne in the Bud Fan Zone.
Each driver will make an appearance in his respective fan zone for an emceed
question and answer session.
The price for each fan zone is $99. The price includes a ticket to the fan zone,
continental breakfast and lunch buffet, Pepsi products and four beer coupons per
adult, track tram tour rides from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Martinsville Speedway
souvenirs and door prizes.
The $99 price does not include a ticket to the Goody’s Cool Orange 500.
Each of the three fan zones will open at 8 a.m.
Tickets for both the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 on Sunday, the Kroger 250, on
Saturday, and hospitality passes are on sale and can be purchased by calling
1.877.RACE.TIX or online at
www.martinsvillespeedway.com.
Ticket prices for the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 range from $42 to $80. Tickets for
the Kroger 250 are $37 in advance, $42 on race day. Kroger 250 tickets for
children ages 6 to 12 are $5.
The Goody’s Cool Orange 500 weekend kicks off on March 28 with Carilion Clinic
Pole Day with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying.
Mike Smith
Director, Public Relations
Martinsville Speedway
276.956.7232 (w)
276.226.0495 (c)
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