MARTINSVILLE, Va. (August 26, 2010) – 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.
“Martinsville Speedway contributes greatly to the economy of the Commonwealth as a whole, and especially to the economy of Southern Virginia. That’s why it was so important for us to make certain that we retained two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville every year,” said Bolling. “I am delighted that we were able to accomplish this goal, and I thank Clay Campbell and our friends at International Speedway Corporation for working with Governor McDonnell and our Commonwealth of Virginia partners to make this possible. We look forward to their continuing presence in Martinsville for many years to come.”
Commenting on today’s announcement in Martinsville, ISC President John Saunders said, “In consideration of this partnership, we’ve pledged to not petition NASCAR for the realignment of a Martinsville Sprint Cup Series date for at least the next five years. We realize that NASCAR awards sanctions on a yearly basis and that a race date is never guaranteed. But, we work hard to ensure our facilities meet NASCAR’s standards for safety, promotion and other factors taken into consideration for awarding sanctions. We are confident in our ability to continue meeting their thresholds for hosting outstanding Sprint Cup Series races for our fans and guests.”
“Martinsville is a tremendously popular track with both fans and drivers and we recognize its importance to the traditions of the sport. We’re especially proud of the partnership with the Commonwealth of Virginia to help further enhance the fan experience at Martinsville through capital investments both in and outside the facility.
“Today’s announcement is the result of so much hard work by so many people over the past six months. I’ve never seen so many come together and work together so hard, so well, for such a long period,” said Martinsville Speedway President W. Clay Campbell. “The result is that our fans are going to have a much better experience and the economy of this area is going to benefit in a big way.
“The steps we are taking with help from many partners will ensure we keep fans coming back to Martinsville Speedway, Martinsville and Henry County and the Commonwealth of Virginia for many years to come.”
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 percent 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.
Hooray For Martinsville is a post from: Awesome Race Fans
MARTINSVILLE, Va. (July 28, 2010) – Martinsville Speedway’s all-you-can-eat special was so popular last spring, that not only is it being brought back for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 this fall, it is being expanded.
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 12 and under is $20.For just $35, fans can get a backstretch ticket and an all you can eat wristband.
The Clay Earles Tower overlooks the second turn at Martinsville Speedway, with a panoramic view of the track. The seats are also right above the top dozen or so pit stalls, so fans will have a great view of the top teams’ pit stops. Items included on the all-you-can eat menu are: The Famous Martinsville Speedway Hot Dog®, hamburgers, potato chips and canned Pepsi products.
The all-you-can-eat items will be served from a concession tent close to the Clay Earles Tower and the backstretch, just above the second turn. Both all-you-can-eat specials can be ordered by calling 877.RACE.TIX.
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 www.martinsvillespeedway.com online.
Martinsville Speedway All-You-Can-Eat Program For TUMS Fast Relief 500 is a post from: Awesome Race Fans
It seems that when there is a big race on the line the go to driver is Jamie McMurray. He won the Daytona 500 and now the Brickyard 400, both in the same year. It is a very hard thing to do. With this win it gives car owner Chip Ganassi a trifecta of sorts winning the Daytona 500, the Indy 500 and the Brickyard 400.
Jamie held off Kevin Harvick and Greg Biffle for the win. I was surprised that Greg Biffle didn’t catch him as he has 4 fresher tires, I guess only taking two was the way to go today. The race was lead by a strong car in Juan Pablo Montoya but he blew a tire late and took out Dale Earnhardt Jr in the process. The race started off strange with team making early pit stops due to debris getting caught in the radiators and over heating.
Jimmie Johnson had a bad car most of the day, Jimmie and his teammate Jeff Gordon finished in the back of the lead lap.
Jamie Mac Wins at Indy is a post from: Awesome Race Fans
Martinsville Speedway Truck Series Winners Will Now Take Home Grandfather Clock Trophy
MARTINSVILLE, Va. (July 23, 2010) – What do 18 different NASCAR Camping World Truck Series winners at Martinsville Speedway have in common?
They don’t have a grandfather clock to show for their victories. For almost 50 years the signature Martinsville Speedway winner’s trophy has gone exclusively to winners of Sunday races. Saturday winners, truck series winners, well they’ve all gotten nice, normal trophies.
That will all change with the Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on October 23. Whoever rolls into victory lane that afternoon will roll out with a grandfather clock.
“When we started giving clocks back in the early sixties, we gave them to Cup winners only because that was the premier event, but the truck series races here are always so good, so exciting, we decided those guys deserved a shot at the most unique trophy in racing,” said Martinsville Speedway President W. Clay Campbell.
“A win at Martinsville Speedway has always been big to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers. They appreciate the history here and they appreciate how difficult it is to win here, but now they have even more reason to want a Martinsville win.”
“This is a huge deal. I wish it had started last fall,” said Timothy Peters, who captured the Kroger 200 at Martinsville last fall. “I would have it sitting in my trophy room right now.”
Four- time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday has amazingly never won on Martinsville’s difficult half-mile oval. Now would be the perfect time to get that first win and the first clock given to a truck series winner.
“I think it’s so cool that Martinsville has decided to give the truck series winners a grandfather clock,” said Hornaday. “I’ve been trying to win at Martinsville for quite some time now. It is definitely one of those race tracks that I would like to mark off my list and I could find a special place in my trophy room for one of those clocks.”
Peters has actually won a Martinsville clock. He captured the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 Late Model Stock car race a few years ago and was awarded a clock … which he immediately gave to his mother.
“When I was fortunate enough to win the Late Model race at Martinsville, the money ($25,000) was important, but the clock was the big deal,” said Peters. “You would have to be kinda foolish not to know all the history behind the clock and what it means to the sport. I’m excited about this. It should give everybody a little more incentive. I know I want that clock.”
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.
Truck Series Winners Get a Grandfather Clock is a post from: Awesome Race Fans
For the past few weeks I have been doing some guest blogging over on the Racing in America blog. It is a lot of fun to write articles on NASCAR and sharing them with a new audience. I have done three articles so far and I want to share them over here for you fans to see them.
Since their blog is only a few months old they could really use some comment love and get them rolling. The first post I did was on the Legends of Stock car racing. It was all about a cool event put on at Martinsville Speedway.
The second article was all about you guys the Dedicated race fans that go to all lengths to watch a race.
The latest one I wrote is all about the Unsung heroes of racing and how hard the teams work behind the scenes to make sure we watch a race.
I hope you enjoy the articles and be sure to save the blog as a favorite for there is some really good writers giving up some great content.
Guest Blogging NASCAR is a post from: Awesome Race Fans
Tony Stewart and Office Depot have teamed up for a cool paint scheme this week. With kids going back to school before you know it Office Depot came out with this cool design.
Two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™ champion Tony Stewart will sport a colorful “Back-To-School” paint scheme on his No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevy Impala during Saturday night’s LifeLock.com 400 race at Chicagoland Speedway (Saturday, July 10, 7:30 p.m. EDT, TNT). The paint scheme features a fun rendition of every parent’s back-to-school shopping list, complete with pens, pencils, crayons, a laptop and even a backpack on the hood.
“It’s always fun to switch up the look on our No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevy,” Stewart said. “The back-to-school paint scheme is a fun way to remind parents that they can pick up all of their children’s school supplies at any Office Depot store.”
Stewart, who is currently ranked 9th in the Sprint Cup Series point standings, is a two-time Cup Series race winner at Chicagoland Speedway and has recorded seven top-5 finishes in nine career Cup Series starts at the 1.5-mile track near Joliet, Illinois.
Tony Stewarts Car For Chicago Race is a post from: Awesome Race Fans
You guys and gals know I love bringing you contest where you can win something. Here is a cool contest that should be a lot of fun.
BC and Goody’s Online “Pick A Powder” Contest Kicks Off Starring Trace Adkins and Richard Petty Humorous Collection Of Short Videos Showing Them In Each Other’s World Is At The Heart Of The Campaign Along With A Charity Tie
Parsippany, NJ (June 30, 2010) – Known just as much for their talents as they are for wearing their signature cowboy hats, country music superstar Trace Adkins, and racing legend and NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty, have begun a humorous “rivalry” of one-upsmanship about who experiences the toughest pain.
BC Powder and Goody’s Headache Powders, the brands Adkins and Petty represent, are going head-to-head in an online contest with their respective spokespeople leading the charge. The BC and Goody’s “Pick A Powder” campaign plays off the fierce and generational loyalty users have to either Goody’s or BC. Both Adkins and Petty will try to get their fans around the country to pick their team to support: Team Richard for Goody’s and Team Trace for BC on www.pickapowder.com. The man who gets the most fans to join his team will get to see the other “perform” LIVE at the Goody’s 500 in Martinsville, Va. next spring. The campaign also features a charity component with a donation being made to the Wounded Warrior Project on behalf of Adkins and BC, and Victory Junction Camp for seriously ill children on behalf of Petty and Goody’s.
Through the series of spoofs, jabs, challenges and contests, Adkins and Petty boldly take on new experiences in each other’s profession that sometimes work and sometimes don’t. The funny moments have been captured on film and will be posted to www.pickapowder.com. For example, you’ll be able to watch 6-foot-6 Trace get in and try to get out of Richard’s Petty’s car, and you’ll be able to hear Richard sing Karaoke. Fans of either or both men will be brought into the fold to help decide which brand is the favorite among powders users and which one of the two men truly suffers from the toughest pain.
Starting June 30, fans will be able to go to www.pickapowder.com and choose Team Richard or Team Trace. After fans register with a team they can vote daily. Fans and supporters will be able to participate in various contests and win prizes, including an all expense paid VIP trip for four to The Goody’s 500 at Martinsville Speedway (race tickets, air and hotel) for the Team Richard winner, and an all-expense paid VIP trip for four to a Trace Adkins concert stop (concert tickets, air and hotel) in early 2011 (location TBD) for the Team Trace winner. Winners will be announced in early October.
Richard Petty Trace Adkins Contest is a post from: Awesome Race Fans
Four time champion Jimmie Johnson won at New Hampshire holding off Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch. Johnson and Busch traded the lead at the end of the race after a few bumps between gentleman. There was a green lap love fest as the caution only flew a few times. The only major incidents were Juan Pablo Montoya wrecking after he and Reed Sorenson traded paint for a few laps and Reed got loose and bumped Juan Pablo into the fence ending his day.
The second was caused by Jeff Burton getting loose and causing Kyle Busch to spin with only a few laps left. As usual Jeff Burton owned up for making a mistake. I love it when drivers do that. The win helped Jimmie close the gap a little on points leader Kevin Harvick.
Jimmie Johnson Wins at New Hampshire is a post from: Awesome Race Fans
Today I feel like doing something different. I am going to live blog the race as it happens. Hope you like it, let me know by leaving a comment.
Today’s race at Michigan started off in a new and exciting way as Kevin James and Adam Sandler gave a rousing command for the drivers to start their engines. I prefer the usual no nonsense approach to the command but they really made it exciting and somewhat funny. Who knew you could do that by only speaking four words. It was a lot of fun and got the fans excited for sure.
We had a few drivers starting from the back today, Clint Bowyer for going to a backup car and Kyle Busch for an engine change. Kurt Busch, Jamie McMurray had a good start to the day and swapped the lead back and forth. Jeff Gordon tagged the wall a little on lap 18 and then Marcos Ambrose went for a spin that brought out our first caution. Almost all the cars came to pit road for adjustments.
I am really enjoying TNT coverage today as Kyle Petty really adds to NASCAR coverage from the common man approach. He is also fun to follow on Twitter . Wally Dallenbach is great also in his race coverage, I enjoy them both. Anyway back to the race, looks like Tony Stewart only took two tires on the pit stop to get their cars up to the front. Robbie Gordon stayed out, Clint Bowyer and Kyle Busch wasted no time getting from the rear of the field, they are up near the top 20 after only 30 laps.
Many cars reporting a very loose condition especially Jeff Gordon. Jeff said over his radio that the car is way loose in both the front and the back. They are going to tighten it up on the next stop. It can’t be too loose as he is running 8th for a good while now. Cars are expected to come to pit road around lap 55-60 so it won’t be long.
Cancel that plan as caution has come out for debris on lap 48. I am expecting everyone will be in for pit stops since we are 3/4 of a way through a fuel run. Kurt Busch wins the race off pit road to take the lead again. Bobby Labonte is off track and out of the race for overheating issues. On the restart Denny Hamlin and Kurt Busch fight for the lead and Hamlin wins that battle. The restart was on lap 52 after only a few laps of caution.
Looks like only taking 2 tires worked well for Tony Stewart as he remained close to the top 10. It didn’t work out as well for Robby Gordon who ended up closer to the back after the pit stop. Denny Hamlin is driving away from the field as the adjustments on his car must be working really well.
The drivers are starting to get a feel for their cars. Kyle Busch is up to 15th on lap 84 after starting from the back. He is just behind Dale jr who is running 14th. Looks like a long green run is taking place. 7 drivers are out of the race.
Green flag stops are underway around lap 90, Dale jr in and out. Denny Hamlin came in on fumes and had problems leaving pit road as the fuel pickup must have sucked in some air. All other drivers come in and out ok. Small mishap for Joey Logano, nothing major.
Kasey Kahne takes the lead on lap 95 and Denny Hamlin is closing ground again as he picks up speed. He had dropped all the way back to around 10th. Caution flies as the two Red Bull cars run into each other on the track. Scott Speed spins and Casey Mears also has an incident with David Ragan on pit road. Casey Mears has to go to the garage with big damage to his drivers side front fender.
Restart was interesting as Sam Hornish Jr stayed out and took the lead and kind of got in the way on the restart. I am sure this is exactly what the leaders wanted to see. Jimmie Johnson fighting a loose race car. This race is becoming just a ride a long with green flag runs. Green flag stops have begun around lap 138 all the leaders expecting to pit. Kasey Kahne having some overheating issues. Matt Kenesth leads a few laps while they cycle through.
Kyle Busch car is really loose and he scraped the wall. He needs a caution to come to pit road and fix his car before he becomes the reason for the caution. Denny Hamlin back in the lead. He has a very good car today, would be a surprise to no one if he won. He has an advantage as he already knows how much fuel his car is actually using after running out earlier.
Denny Hamlin has a big lead with only 30 laps to go. Kasey Kahne is 9 seconds behind the leader. Pit cycles are starting again on lap 174. All the cars besides Hamlin coming in and trying to get fresh tires to try and catch up to the leader. Fans on Twitter are starting to call for a caution to make this race closer. No one wants to see a race won with a nine second lead. Denny Hamlin is in on lap 178. Kasey Kahne to the lead until he pits. Kasey Pits on the next lap. Denny Hamlin retakes the lead as pit stops cycle through in only 2 or 3 laps. The gap from 1st to 10th is 22 seconds.
Caution comes out for debris and the big lead goes away. Almost The front 10 cars stay out including the leader. Kyle Busch will not win today as they took a long time to fix the damage to the rear and the rear spoiler.
There will be less then 15 laps to go at the restart. Most of the cars that pitted just took on 4 tires and no fuel. Jeff Gordon is in the top 5 with a real quiet day. Tony Stewart is also having a good day. Denny Hamlin is starting to build up his lead again. Jeff Burton is moving up with 4 fresh tires as is Jimmie Johnson. Denny Hamlin is leading Kasey Kahne as they pull away from the pack. Looks like this is the way it will finish but there is still time for another caution. 4 laps to go and Denny is still leading and not much has changed. Looking like Denny is going to win this. Denny Hamlin wins, Kasey Kahne is second, Kurt Busch is third Jeff Gordon was fourth, Tony Stewart was fifth.
Live Blogging The Michigan Race is a post from: Awesome Race Fans
Here is a fun contest that I thought our awesome race fans would like.
M&M’S® Most Colorful Fans™ of NASCAR® Contest Rewards Winning Fan with $10,000 and Ultimate Fan Recognition: a Display in the NASCAR Hall of FameTM
HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (May 27, 2010) –Mars Chocolate North America fired up the engines today for its third annual M&M’S® Most Colorful Fans™ of NASCAR® Contest, which is designed to celebrate and reward the sport’s most colorful fans. Building on Mars’ status as the official chocolate of NASCAR, the contest follows the release of M&M’S® new NASCAR.COM social community, which launched in February at www.NASCAR.com/mostcolorfulfans.
From May 31, 2010 through September 6, 2010, fans can enter M&M’S® Most Colorful Fans™ of NASCAR® Contest and showcase their unmatched love for the sport, favorite teams and drivers, by submitting their most colorful racing-themed photos to www.NASCAR.com/mostcolorfulfans. All entries receive fifteen percent off a one-time purchase at the NASCAR.COM Superstore, including free shipping. Fans will then cast their vote to help choose weekly winners, as well as three finalists who will vie for the title of The Most Colorful Fan™ of NASCAR.
“M&M’S® Most Colorful Fans™ of NASCAR® Contest is unique because it’s 100 percent ‘fan generated,’” said Suzanne Beaudoin, vice president, Sponsorships and Sports Marketing, Mars Chocolate North America. “Everything from the weekly winners to the lucky fan who gets to be featured in the new NASCAR Hall of Fame is decided by the boss of NASCAR – the fans!”
Each week of the contest, the votes submitted on NASCAR.COM will be tabulated and the photo with the highest average rating and the minimum number of votes will be selected as that week’s winner and receive a $500 gift card. Fans can also participate in the instant-win game with one hundred (100) fifty dollar ($50.00) gift card instant-win prizes available.
As the elite of NASCAR drivers head into The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™ the 14 weekly winners will compete head-to-head during the “Final Round.” At the end of the Final Round, three “Finalists” with the most fan votes will vie for the grand prize: a trip to the NASCAR Hall of Fame Museum, $10,000, and a featured display in the NASCAR Hall of FameTM for one year. The 2009 contest winner, Cynthia Peace of Havana, Ill., bested thousands of other colorful NASCAR fans who participated in the contest and became the first fan honored in the NASCAR Hall of FameTM earlier in May.
“NASCAR.COM has the ability to create, manage, and host, NASCAR initiatives that provide fan-friendly experiences while also delivering on client objectives,” said Walker Jacobs, senior vice president Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Ad Sales. “We’re pleased to extend our great partnership with M&M’S® on this fan-favorite contest and it’s a golden example of how a multi-year program can thrive and evolve naturally.”
Fans can also follow alongside Left Turn Lindsay and Right Turn Ryan, with at track behind-the-scene photos and videos starring fans at M&M’S® Most Colorful Fans Facebook page, www.facebook.com/colorfulfans and via Twitter at @mmscolorfulfans.
“The fans are a crucial component to what makes NASCAR successful,” said Jim O’Connell, vice president of Corporate Marketing for NASCAR. “M&M’S® ‘Most Colorful Fans™ of NASCAR®’ is a one-of-a-kind promotion which celebrates the creativity of our fans, and rewards them in a fun and memorable way.”
For more information about M&M’S® Most Colorful Fans™ of NASCAR® Contest, visit www.NASCAR.com/mostcolorfulfans.
Most Colorful Fan Contest is a post from: Awesome Race Fans