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.
Tickets for all events may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com online.
– Martinsville Speedway Press Release