Happy 70th anniversary: Legends, tradition leave mark on Martinsville
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series stops at Martinsville Speedway, NASCAR’s oldest track, for the sixth race of the season Sunday.
The tiny track has been a stock car racing staple since the post-World War II years. Opened in 1947 by legendary track owner Clay Earles, the .526-mile speedway was part of the first Cup schedule in 1949 and is the smallest active track on the Cup Series.
Some fun track facts about Martinsville Speedway, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year:
1. Richard Petty, who owns a bundle of NASCAR records, not surprisingly was a top gun at Martinsville. He owns the track record for wins with 15, and the active drivers behind him aren’t even close — Jimmie Johnson with nine and Denny Hamlin with five.
2. The first Cup winner at Martinsville also was the first Cup series champion. World War II veteran Red Byron won the first race in an Oldsmobile car owned by Raymond Parks, a NASCAR Hall of Fame member. Curtis Turner won the pole for the 105-mile race.
3. Let there be lights. In a move generally endorsed by drivers, the speedway detoured around tradition this year and erected a lighting system. The first scheduled event under the lights will be a Late Model Stock race Sept. 23, although the presence of the lights will allow Cup and other racing after dark if weather is an issue.
4. Hot dogs for everyone. Martinsville’s famous hot dog is easily the most popular food item across the NASCAR circuit. Crew members have been known to throw down a half-dozen or so of the arguably delectable items, and informal dog-eating contests are not unusual.
5. Hall of Fame car owner Rick Hendrick scored his first Cup victory in the Cup Series at Martinsville, courtesy of driver Geoff Bodine. That win came in April 1984, and Hendrick credits Bodine’s run with saving his young race team. Hendrick leads all car owners at Martinsville with 24 victories.
PHOTOS: 2017 NASCAR Cup Series race winners