When Martinsville Speedway first opened, NASCAR was just an idea. When NASCAR was formed, Martinsville Speedway was a charter member, a membership that endures after more than 60 years.
Without a great deal of capital, but a passion for stock car racing, H. Clay Earles carved Martinsville Speedway out of the Henry County clay in 1947. He opened for business on July 4 of that year with just 750 seats but a crowd of over 6,000 fans. A year later NASCAR was formed and in 1949 Martinsville hosted the sixth race in the series that eventually became the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
At just over a half-mile in length, Martinsville Speedway is the shortest track on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track has two 800-foot straightaways hooked together by short, tight and almost flat turns with just 11 degrees of banking. The speedway today seats 55,000 and sells out almost every NASCAR race.
Our Travel Map: www.tinyurl.com/SnSTravels (Green 43)
Guarding the Christmas Tree fields.
A favorite café.
Views along the way...
Yes, you too may order your private porta-potty to be delivered to your site at the track!
Made it!
That's the track as seen from the main road through Martinsville.
Stopping for credentials.
That's our spot - #589
View from the dining table.
View out the back window.
No comments:
Post a Comment