by: PattyKay Lilley
(Author’s note: This article, written with love, first appeared in print in October of 2003 and is presented in that time frame as living proof that the good times weren’t all that long ago. A lot has changed in nine short years. See addendum below…)
Just a bit north of Greensboro, North Carolina and nestled at the foot of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, one can find Martinsville Virginia, home of the sweetest little short track on the Winston Cup circuit. Martinsville Speedway is rich in racing history, being one of the original hosts of the first NASCAR racing series, “Modifieds” and “Strictly Stock” which later became the “Grand National” series and finally the “Winston Cup” series as we know it today. (Soon to be Nextel)
Courtesy of Martinsville Speedway
The track was built by H. Clay Earles in 1947, and debuted as a dirt track, which was all there was back then. “Dirt’s for racin’; asphalt’s for gettin’ you there.” Building Martinsville wasn’t the easy task that Mr. Earles had envisioned, since the $10 thousand he anticipated spending turned out to be $60 thousand before it was ready to race on, but he persisted and on September 7, 1947, the first cars rolled onto the brand new track. Red Byron won the race and pocketed the winner’s share of the $2000.00 purse, $500.00. I wonder what Red would say about the purses being handed out today?
Originally, the track had a seating capacity of 5000 fans, though at that first race only 750 seats were even in place. By 1949, when NASCAR was a full-fledged racing entity, Martinsville was up and running and hosted the sixth race of what would later become known as Winston Cup racing, September 25, 1949. (Byron won that one too) On July 4 of the previous year, NASCAR sanctioned Modified stock cars raced there, and it was Fonty Flock taking home the honors that day.
In 1955, Mr. Earles modernized his little Jewel by adding pavement to her. Some folks might tell you that the same stuff is still there, but that’s not true. (At least I don’t think it is.) We’ll talk more about her pavement in a minute.
Photo Courtesy of Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville has a unique shape, especially for a short track. It’s a long narrow oval, described by many as being the shape of a paperclip. It has some banking in the corners (12º), but the straightaways are pancake flat, creating a situation where a driver must accelerate hard on the front and back stretches then brake equally hard before going into the hairpin turns at either end. Brakes are at a premium and even with all the technological advances of today, Martinsville is the equal of the best and always manages to park a few hapless drivers who have overused or burned out those brakes.
Passing on this track is a trick of its own, since it is notoriously a one-groove racetrack and that groove is tight to the bottom. A pass on the outside is a rarity and a pass on the inside is difficult if the car ahead can hold the bottom. The secret of course is to move the car away from the bottom, which can sometimes be accomplished by getting him a little “aero-loose”, but more often than not it’s done by applying the “chrome horn” to the rear bumper. That usually works, though it may not garner many friends.
Another interesting facet is that pavement I mentioned a while ago. It seems the transition areas between the flat straights and the banked turns didn’t hold pavement very well. Mr. Earles devised a way of making it stay put that like so many things is unique to Martinsville. The flats are asphalt but the turns are concrete, a combination sure to upset the handling of the best of cars.
Over the years, some drivers seemed to develop a knack for handling this tricky little half-mile (.526 mile to be exact), while others continue to struggle. The overall champ would be Richard Petty with 15 wins, followed by Darrell Waltrip (11), Dale Earnhardt (6), Rusty Wallace (6) and Cale Yarborough (6). Of those, only Wallace remains an active driver. Seems the good ol’ boys might have known something the youngsters don’t. Whatever the trick is to winning there, one thing is certain. It involves good brakes, a lot of patience and at least a mildly aggressive nature, though none of those drivers I just mentioned could be described as “mild.” Saying, “Excuse me” doesn’t get it done.
Courtesy of Jim Wilmore
I first discovered this little jewel sometime in the 1980′s and I fell in love with it immediately. It had grown considerably from its 5000 original seats, and housed over 20,000 fans at that time. I understand that number has now swelled to about 90,000 and still increasing yearly. Back then, the first thing that greeted you as you entered the grounds was a huge free-roaming flock of ducks and geese that made their home around a pretty lake situated just outside the track. They were friendly as can be and would follow you anywhere with the slightest encouragement, like a piece of popcorn or a potato chip. Unfortunately, they are gone now, sacrificed in the name of progress. No one ever said exactly why the birds were removed, but I’ve always suspected that some NASCAR higher-up or an influential sponsor stepped in something and fell in it. I hope it stained his suit.
1975 Courtesy of Andy Towler
For the race fan, Martinsville is an amazing place. There is scarcely a seat around the entire track from which you can’t see every inch of the action. A few at track level on the backstretch have a limited sight range, but are also very cheap. The fans that buy those usually go and stand up on the hill by the railroad track to watch the race. Heck, folks never sit down at a race anyway, do they? The railroad track that I mentioned is situated up the hill, just behind the backstretch and just in front of the campgrounds. At least once or more during every race, a train will come through and usually blow its whistle just to say “Hi.” There is talk now of moving the track back behind the campground to provide room for more seating. I guess that if it keeps little Martinsville on the Winston Cup schedule, then I can live with that.
Beyond that, there is the subject most dear to the hearts of race fans with ever-shrinking wallets, the cost of attending a race. I figured this out many years ago, but someone actually made it official last year. “The best all-around bargain in the sport, hands down, is Martinsville Speedway,” says Art Weinstein, staff writer for Winston Cup Scene, in a 2002 issue of that august publication. WCS did a price survey of all 23 tracks currently on the Winston Cup circuit, and came up with some very interesting observations.
Tickets at Martinsville range from $40 to $75, and parking is free. Soft drinks are $1 and hotdogs $2. Camping costs only $40 for the entire stay, no matter if it’s one night or the entire weekend. Would anyone care to weigh those numbers against any of the other tracks, like the new cookie-cutters? For the price of a hot dog and a Pepsi at Martinsville, you’d be extremely lucky to get a bottle of water elsewhere. Oh yes, and you don’t have to buy a “package” that includes 4 to 6 races you have no interest in either.
Clay Campbell
Courtesy of Andy Towler
Current president of Martinsville, Clay Campbell, says,” This is something we have always worked hard to do. My grandfather (H. Clay Earles) always believed that the fans came first and we have kept that legacy alive. People say this is a sponsor-driven sport or a TV driven sport, but it’s still fans who make the sport go around, and we want to keep the sport affordable for fans.” Campbell continued, “We will always strive to keep prices as low as possible. We want our fans to be happy and that’s the best way we know to do it.”
Denny Hamlin
Something else unique about Martinsville is the winner’s trophy they hand out twice a year. Instead of awarding the race winners another pretty shelf decoration, Martinsville gives them full-sized Grandfather clocks. I have no idea what started that tradition, but it is singular to this track every bit as much as her shape and her pavement. The drivers all seem to think it’s a “Grand” idea. Note to self: Find out where King Richard keeps fifteen of those.
Well, let’s see! We have here one of the oldest tracks on the circuit, which has managed to survive where others failed. It’s located in one of the most beautiful parts of this great country. It offers spectacular racing with no obstacles to viewing, and it does all this cheaper than anyone else does, by far. I’m not sure what the fans of today are looking for, but for this writer’s money, Martinsville has it all. She’s been my absolute favorite from the first day I set foot on her grounds and continues to be so today.
Addendum 2012:
Since this article was written, R.J. Reynolds’ Winston brand is gone as Series sponsor, having given way to Nextel which soon became Sprint and is apparently about to change another time within the coming year, possibly to “New Sprint.”
During those intervening years, the cars themselves have changed radically, no longer bearing the slightest resemblance to anything “stock”, and almost an entire new generation of drivers pilot the new “cars of tomorrow.”
Today, the railroad that used to be right behind the Martinsville track has been moved far back and can no longer be seen from the grandstand. The astoundingly beautiful azaleas that used to decorate the turns outside the track are all gone, supposedly victims of the SAFER barriers. It was my understanding that they were to have been replaced, but that hasn’t happened. The pretty lake where the ducks and geese once swam is now gone as well, and in its stead is one of the TV stages.
The beautiful little lady finally did get a new dress a few years back, after she puked a chunk of concrete through the grille and radiator of the #24 rainbow car, but even NASCAR knew that they couldn’t better the best, so the corners remain concrete, connecting the two asphalt drag strips.
The three-way tie for third-most wins @ 6 has given way to a tie @ 7 between now retired Rusty Wallace and Jeff Gordon, with Jimmie Johnson joining those with 6 wins and Denny Hamlin making noises with 4 wins and counting.
Controlling interest in my little jewel is now held by ISC (International Speedway Corporation), which is lawyer speak for the Family France. I’m quite sure that the prices quoted in this article from 2003 no longer bear any resemblance to the truth. Remember, it’s all in the name of progress.
But no matter the owner or the year, with or without the lovely lake or the birds that called it home, even with no beautiful azaleas to be seen or no train to be heard, may she live long and prosper, for she truly remains to this day the crown jewel of stock car racing…Pretty Little Martinsville.
Be well gentle readers, and remember to keep smiling. It looks so good on you!
~PattyKay
Email: nas3car@etcmail.com
Twitter: @MamaPKL
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PattyKay, this a nice article about a nice place.
I ran a lot of promotions with Clay Earles back in the day. H. Clay’s PR man, Dick Thompson, couldn’t be beat and was wonderful to work with. You never had to look to see where you were once you heard Lewis Compton, “The Mouth of the South” on the P.A. system. Now, sadly, all three of those gentlemen have passed.
I still have a “Martinsville Mafia” key chain given to me by Mr. Earles – it has a miniature 45 caliber pear handled revolver on it. For those who didn’t know him, Mr. Earles ALWAYS packed heat. We had a lot of good times at Martinsville, especially after Goody’s started sponsoring races and Tom Chambers would bring Ralph Emery over from Nashville for the Grand Marshal parties at the Dutch Inn up north of the Speedway on U.S. 220.
As for those concrete corners, actually only the two bottom grooves are concrete. The rest of the turn is still asphalt for any driver who would want to run up where angels still fear to tread. Martinsville started having severe problems with the asphalt coming up in the corners and Mr. Earles tried a sealer. The modifieds stripped that sealer right off the asphalt after a few laps with those big ole wide tires.
I remember Mr. Earles taking me from his office down to turn 1-2 and making me get down on my hands and knees to feel the concrete surface. “Not like a sidewalk, smooth as a baby’s butt,” he told me – and he was right.
One year, 750 turn 1-2 Martinsville Cup tickets disappeared in Certified mail between the Speedway and my office in Greensboro. Mr. Earles gave me replacements and we stationed Henry County Sheriff’s deputies and U.S. Postal Inspectors at the top of the grandstands where my guests were being seated. The plan was to arrest anyone coming in with one of the missing tickets. Not a single missing ticket ever surfaced and we remained convinced that the Postal Service lost the shipment. There’s probably 750 Martinsville tickets to the Fall 1981 race down in your Atlanta dead letter office still!
You mention in your update the train track being moved. We used to take bets on what time the first train would pass on race day. At one time, the Virginia Transportation Museum in Roanoke actually ran a special race day train that unloaded behind the backstretch on race day morning.
Of course, no trip to Martinsville would be complete without prime rib at the Dutch Inn and a visit to longtime modified sponsor Clarence’s Steak House. We’ll forgive you if you decide on takeout from Clarence’s while the rest of us are chowing down on those famed Martinsville Jesse Jones Hot Dogs!
Leave it to Dave to wind up talking about food. Been to the Dutch Inn and loved it. However, we found a place I loved even more. I “think” it was called “Captain Tom’s.” Strictly seafood, and a never-ending plate of crab legs. Honey, in those days, I had a never-ending appetite to match. Just bring the tools and the bib ’cause Mama’s chowin’ down!
Just for the record, it is NOT my Atlanta PO. I don’t go inside the perimeter, and the farther I am from it, the happier I shall stay. Not all of GA should be judged by that sprawling slum surrounded by a race track.
Of everything in racing, I miss Martinsville the most. It was always my favorite track and my favorite style of racing. We always had seats just under the press booth… before they built that fancy thing that sits atop the front stretch today. I fought hard for those seats because you had to re-up every year. No reserves back then. Best thing about those seats was getting to know Benny. I suspect that has something to do with it being my favorite too.
You knew Benny, and you know me well enough to know that I am always quick with the one-liners. You think he and I couldn’t break up the surrounding crowd? Don used to walk away, thinking we were both nuts. Damn, it was fun!
Thanks for the kind words Dave. Always appreciated.
Bristol is, by far, my favorite track. However, even I will admit that Martinsville is a better place to watch a race. I love the short track with its tight flat turns. Like Darlington, it’s a throwback place. Even the restrooms, well, let’s just say, historical authenticity has been preserved. I just wish they sold hotdogs by the dozen.
Don, I don’t know what they’ve done to her since ISC took over, but I’m here to tell you that Martinsville “used to” have the cleanest, best kept rest rooms anywhere, at least for the gals. Never been in yours. LOL They even had an attendant on duty throughout race weekend. Maybe Brian decided he couldn’t afford to be that nice to the fans.
Darlington, on the other hand, should have been condemned long ago. That one makes a pig sty look immaculate. Tell ya what! You can have my share of Jesse Jones’ product. I can’t tell you on how many levels I detest those dyed red hot dogs! I’ll be down the road eating crab legs thanks.
I DO like the crab leg idea!
Well PK you know how I feel about Martinsville. I have said many times it is my favorite track on the circuit. I like Bristol, but I love the “Paper Clip”. I haven’t gone in a few years now after going to the Fall race for over a decade but, I remember the trains. I have read this article before and enjoy it every time. Always a big fan of your writing!
Alan, my sweet, it is always such a pleasure to hear from you. I do know that Martinsville is also your favorite, and I’m sorry to hear you no longer attend either. I’ve come to a very realistic conclusion. Thinking of the seats Don and I always had, which were in the sky, as it were, I could no longer make the climb to get up that high… at any of the tracks, and you can’t see nearly as well from down low. I miss it, but I know that my time is done. What’s your excuse?
Yes, you have read the front part before, but I’ve quietly kept this one a “living document”, updating the ending as the years pass. Please give Vicky and “J” both a hug for Mama. SO good to see you my friend!
I do need to point out that Richard Petty’s mark of 15 wins is only a Cup record at Martinsville. When he passed in 1990 at age 62, Richmond’s Ray Hendrick held the all-time Martinsville NASCAR victory total of 20, scored in both NASCAR Modified and NASCAR Late Model Sportsman competition – a record which still stands 22 years after the death of “Mr. Modified.”
Ray won the first 500-lap NASCAR Modified race ever staged – the Cardinal 500 at Martinsville and later would win both the Modified and Late Model Sportsman 250-lap races on the same day, climbing from one winning car into another. Back then, there were larges numbers of buses carrying Canadians to those Mod/LMS shows and the Canadian National Anthem was always sang at those races.
And, yes, I, too miss the azaleas (which were interspersed with boxwoods) in the turns. A few favored photographers used to get shooting access in the grass between the wall and fence in turns 1-2. Lying on their tummies beside an azalea, they got fantastic photos of the field coming head on at them down the front straight. Before full face helmets, you could see every grimace or smile on each driver’s face.
Thank you for the input Dave, but you know that living in Upstate NY was not conducive to frequenting the lesser series that far from home. We were blue-collar folks and had to plan around limited vacation time. Not everyone had your freedom to go racing at will.
Also, when one is writing, one tries to keep the readers’ interest. An overload of raw facts and numbers tends to have a numbing effect. To know that King Richard holds the Cup record at 15 wins is quite enough for most folks, many of whom have never seen a modified race.
As to the azaleas, a promise was made and that promise was broken. I hate when that happens…
PK, a ton of blue collar folks from upstate NY attended those races and they included many, many NY drivers. Over 20,000 fans packed the stands for those “lesser” series. They were the best races ever staged at Martinsville, better than any Cup race I ever saw there.
Facts is facts.
The greatest finish in Martinsville history in ANY race in any series and acknowledged to be so by H. Clay Earles was between three upstate New York boys in the Modified half of a Cardinal 500.
Geoff(rey) Bodine crashed Richie Evans at the finish line as they beat Jerry Cook – all New York upstaters.
If you’ve never seen the Evans car winning on two wheels, look at this link:
And here ya go… look at these Martinsville Modified crowds. Beautiful shots of the green grass and azaleas and boxwoods and huge crowds. Remember, our site is not named CUP RacersReunion.
I’d prefer a Martinsville more than A Daytona or Talladega because the natives know their NASCAR.
They do indeed Tony, and they treat you like a guest all the while. I’d take Martinsville over either of those monster tracks about eight days a week!
Just curious, but do you know when the train track was moved? I thought it was still there. Anyways, Martinsville is a great track, even if I haven’t ever been to a race there, and thus, no red hot dogs
. Probably the second best track on the circuit, behind what is, in my opinion, the most fan-friendly track on the circuit, Richmond.
Oh, so that is how you do the frowny face. Ha, I never knew that.
OH, was that a mistake? I thought you meant it for the hot dogs.
Yeah, it was a typo. But, now I have this “knowledge”, even if it applies to nowhere else.
In this computerized world, Smilies (emoticons) work in a lot of places one might not suspect. Now that you know how to frown, be sure you know how to smile. It’s just the other end of the parentheses.
Jason, the tracks were moved within the last maybe 4 or 5 years. They are still there, but now run behind the campground instead of right behind the track as they used to do. I would never argue for one short track above another, but the study was done, and as of 2003, Martinsville stood clearly above all the others in most all aspects of fan friendliness. Of course, it’s not 2003 anymore, and we all realize that.
Do yourself a favor. Skip the dyed hotdogs. They’ll hurt you! ~LOL
When you mention the pavement being added in 1955, I just look to my left and the trophy from the first asphalt race is sitting on a shelf in my office.
Randy, if I gave you a sweet memory or thought, then my day is complete.
For my readers that might not know, Randy is the son of Billy Myers of the famous Myers Brothers of early racing days… and my friend.