Martinsville Speedway to allow limited fans for spring NASCAR weekend
(AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)MARTINVILLE, Va. โ Now that COVID-19 restrictions have loosened in Virginia, NASCAR fans can finally see a race in person. Thatโs what we wanted to do,โ said Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell. NASCAR is making a comeback to Martinsville Speedway with a limited, reduced number of fans throughout the first-ever three-race weekend on April 8-10. Martinsville Speedway is set to host Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race on April 8, the Cook Out 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash race on April 9 at 8:00 p.m. and the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 NASCAR Cup Series race on Saturday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m. โWeโre working our way back to normal and I think itโs going to be great to have fans here to enjoy what theyโve always enjoyed at Martinsville,โ said Campbell.
Martinsville Speedway, surrounding businesses anticipate eased COVID-19 restrictions
RIDGEWAY, Va โ When NASCAR drivers start their engines at the Martinsville Speedway this year, a small number of fans will be there to cheer them on thanks to relaxed COVID-19 restrictions. The rules take effect before a tripleheader of Martinsville races from April 8-10. In a statement to 10 News, Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell said:โWe are encouraged by todayโs announcement on the increase in limited fan capacity for entertainment venues across the Commonwealth of Virginia. We are grateful for Governor Ralph Northam and his administrationโs leadership as we follow the stateโs pathway to welcome limited fans back to Martinsville Speedway. When a lot of people lose, the economy gets worse and worse.โIn addition to the races in April, Martinsville Speedway also has races scheduled during Halloween weekend.
Martinsville Speedway Track President Clay Campbell recognized as 2020 Comcast Community Champion of the Year finalist
Comcast announced Martinsville President Clay Campbell as a finalist for the 2020 Comcast Community Champion of the Year, an annual award created to recognize philanthropic efforts of individuals within the NASCAR industry. Campbell is recognized for his efforts to support Henry County and Martinsville, Va., as President of Martinsville Speedway and the Campbell Family Foundation. To learn more about the 2020 Comcast Community Champion of the Year finalists as well as past and present finalists, visit ComcastCommunityChampion.com. Stay connected to Martinsville Speedway on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and by downloading the Martinsville mobile app for Apple or Android. NASCAR consists of three national series (NASCAR Cup Seriesโข, NASCAR Xfinity Seriesโข, and NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Seriesโข), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour), one local grassroots series and three international series.
Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell excited about 2021 NASCAR schedule
MARTINSVILLE, Va. โ On Wednesday, NASCAR released its 2021 Cup Series schedule with three new tracks and two new layouts. The two annual races at Martinsville didnโt change too much, but President Clay Campbell was fine with the small tweak to its spring race. โItโs still a Saturday night race, I think itโs the only Saturday night race all year under the lights. Should be a great year.โThe schedule also includes back-to-back races in Virginia. Itโs a huge month for racing in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Martinsville ready to race on June 10th
MARTINSVILLE, Va. โ Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell has been anticipating June 10th for awhile now. โEverybody here is excited that Wednesday night the Blue EMU Maximum Pain Relief 500 is finally here," Campbell said. "Our first full race here under the lights as part of the Cup Series.โThe race was originally scheduled for a month ago, but with the Coronavirus pandemic, it was unknown where or when NASCAR would race again. Even though next weekโs race will be run in front of an empty grand stand, Campbell says the location of the track makes racing unique for anyone in town. โThatโs pretty cool, I know thereโs some local establishments that will be doing some race viewing.
NASCAR postpones Martinsvilleโs May race
MARTINSVILLE, Va. โ NASCAR action at Martinsville Speedway is being pushed back. The Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 race weekend scheduled for May 8-9 has been postponed. The Friday announcement did not reveal a new weekend for the race. โWe want to thank all of our dedicated fans who were set to join us during our May race weekend and our first NASCAR Cup Series race under the lights,โ said Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell. โThe well-being and safety of our patrons, NASCAR stakeholders, employees and our community continues to be our number one priority.
Martinsville Speedway holds testing ahead of modified racingโs return in spring
RIDGEWAY, Va. โ Weโre still a few months away from racing at Martinsville Speedway, but excitement is already building. For the first time in 10 years, the Whelen Modified Tour will return to the paperclip. Weโd run them for years and years and guys would come down here from the North,โ said Martinsville Speedway track president Clay Campbell. He raced a Cup Series car full-time in 2019 and is the 2008 Whelen Series Martinsville winner. The MAXPRO Window Films 200 will kick off the weekend of full of activities on May 8th under the lights, with the Cup Series to follow on Saturday night, May 9.
NASCAR legend Junior Johnson dies at 88
Hall of Fame NASCAR racer Junior Johnson died Friday. He was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in its inaugural Class of 2010. Junior enjoyed so much success at Martinsville Speedway and Iโm saddened by this huge loss for everyone associated with NASCAR. He was an inaugural NASCAR Hall of Famer, a nod to an extraordinary career as both a driver and team owner. The entire NASCAR family is saddened by the loss of a true giant of our sport, and we offer our deepest condolences to Juniorโs family and friends during this difficult time.โ
Martinsville Speedway goes pink for breast cancer awareness month
HENRY COUNTY, Va. - Paint brushes, cups of pink paint and NASCAR drivers side by side with breast cancer survivors giving the half mile of mayhem a pink paint job. It's the Speedway and Chevrolet's way of honoring local breast cancer survivors, like Kim Gillen, during breast cancer awareness month. For Jessica Riggs, who is currently battling breast cancer, painting the speedway helps her stay positive. "Teaming up with Chevrolet and the American Cancer Society for breast cancer awareness is something we've been doing for a number of years. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 270,000 men and women are expected to get breast cancer in 2019 and over 42,000 people are expected to die from breast cancer.
Thousands celebrate Independence Day at Martinsville Speedway
RIDGEWAY, Va. - Martinsville Speedway replaced its cars with a carnival for the Fourth of July. The speedway hosted an Independence Day celebration, which attracted thousands of people from around Southside Virginia. The celebration featured free carnival rides, two musical performances and fireworks when the sun went down. "It's an honor to celebrate our nation's independence and have this celebration with everyone in Henry County coming out to the speedway," Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell said. The celebration has been a Fourth of July tradition for the speedway for more than 20 years, and Campbell says he is not going to stop the tradition any time soon.
Martinsville Speedway to add lights
MARTINSVILLE (WSLS-10 SPORTS)- They have been racing at Martinsville Speedway for nearly 70 years. The International Speedway Corporation will spend 5 million dollar to equip the track with LED lighting. The construction and implementation of the new lights will start after the completion of the Martinsville chase race, scheduled for October 30. "To be able to light this track up when the sun goes down, that's going to be something truly special," said Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell. We're pleased to provide them with another amenity which will ensure Martinsville continues to be one of the premier destinations in motorsports."