Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 5, 1995 TAG: 9503220001
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But this year, the big changes will be on the track.
In one of the more interesting moves by a NASCAR track, Martinsville Speedway recently gave up its Busch Grand National date in favor of Late Model Stock car racing.
Before you suggest track president Clay Campbell is trading the horse for the cow, hear his story.
``A lot of people think we're crazy for dropping the Busch series,'' he said. ``But for the years we've been running Late Models, we've had over 100 cars per race. So we decided if we could get those cars, with the fans they attract weekly, our chances of success are much greater just for that show than they are for the doubleheader.''
So the traditional Busch/Late Model doubleheaders in the spring and fall are, indeed, becoming the domain of the less glamorous. But that doesn't necessarily mean less action.
The ticket price drops to $15, and all the racing will be on Sundays. Both 200-lap feature races - one on March 19 and the other on Oct.15 - will be preceded by two 50-lap qualifying races.
``We're putting up $25,000 to win,'' Campbell said. ``That's unheard of for those guys. We're excited about the possibilities of that race.''
But the big talk among race fans in Henry County is truck racing. The NASCAR SuperTruck series is coming to Martinsville on Sept.23.
``We've had more talk locally about the truck race than anything we've ever done,'' Campbell said. ``If everybody comes that says they're going to come, we're going to have a whale of a crowd. We've had people tell us, `I've never come to see a race, but I'm coming to see the truck race.'
``That's one of the things we've been trying to center in on for the past few years - local enthusiasm,'' he said. ``And we've got it for the truck race.
``Due to the nature of racing at Martinsville, I can't wait to see them on a track like this,'' Campbell said wryly.
We can guess what will happen. The track is a .526-mile oval with long, fast straightaways and tight, mean little corners. Those trucks will dine on each other's quarter panels like they haven't eaten in days.
The race, known as the Goody's 150, will be the Saturday support event for the annual Goody's 500 Winston Cup race on Sept.24.
As usual, the track will have its annual Hanes 500 Winston Cup spring race, this year on April 23. And that event will be preceded by a NASCAR All Pro race on April 22.
As for physical improvements, the track has added another 50 acres of parking outside the third and fourth turns and has embarked on a $100,000 construction project to open a new entrance off the Route 58 bypass.
This entrance, which will come directly off the westbound lanes of a four-lane highway, will be open only on race weekends. It will allow cars to enter the speedway on a road that formerly came to a dead end at the freeway.
Tickets for all races are on sale, and those who buy $15 general admission tickets for the Late Model race in advance get a free T-shirt.
by CNB