More Martinsville Speedway News

Here’s Why Denny Hamlin Isn’t Interested in Beating HMS at Their Own Fortress

As NASCAR heads to Virginia, Denny Hamlin reveals the key reasons behind Hendrick Motorsports' unparalleled success at Martinsville Speedway.
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Food City 500 – Practice

Joe Gibbs’ Grandson Will Win His First Race in 2024 and Here Is Why!

NASCAR reporters and analysts discuss if Joe Gibbs Racing young sensation Ty Gibbs is going to secure his first victory in 2024.
CHARLOTTE, NC – MAY 28: Ty Gibbs ( 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Reser s Fine Foods Toyota) talks to his car owner and grandfather

Dale Jr’s Xfinity Star Claims No Internal Friction at JR Motorsports, Despite Admitting Boiling Frustrations

Dale Jr's JR Motorsports drivers for Xfinity series had some tensions between them during the race. What made them frustrated?
Dirty Mo Media

Dejected Xfinity Star Dissects COTA Heartbreak After Mechanical Malfunction Robbed “Top 10” Run With the “Big Guys”

The former DGM Racing's road course ringer driver failed to qualify at the Circuit of America after an axle broke as he exited the pit road.
Preston Pardus

Kyle Larson Spills Beans on Rick Hendrick’s Grand Plans for HMS Fortress

Hendrick Motorsports driver, Kyle Larson shared his thoughts about the special 40th anniversary race at Martinsville in a recent interview.
Kyle Larson and Rick Hendrick

HMS Insider Confesses Kyle Larson’s Dark Thoughts Before Unexpectedly Conquering His Worst Nemesis

Less than a year ago, Kyle Larson dreaded a particular speedway, and recently his crew chief recalled how he spectacularly conquered it.
NASCAR: Cup Practice and Qualifying

NASCAR Senior VP Names Bristol’s Dividing Display a ‘Blessing in Disguise’

It's going to be tough to recreate the excitement from the Bristol race in the next short track race but NASCAR will leave no stone unturned.
NASCAR: Bass Pro Shops Night Race

“I Don’t Really Give a F**k”: Alex Bowman Spills Beans on ‘Selfish’ Intentions Amid a High-Stakes Situation at Hendrick Motorsports

Alex Bowman is fed up with his winless streak since 2022 and is intent on personal victory at Martinsville and not just for the team.
NASCAR: Cup Practice

Denny Hamlin Acquits Bristol as He Lets Slip Alternate Theory Behind Goodyear’s Tire Disaster

Denny Hamlin shares his thoughts on the Bristol race track mayhem, initially blaming the tire compound, only to be proven wrong later.
NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Media Day

With Short-Track Package Making a Debut in Phoenix, SHR Unveils the Modifications in the Next-Gen to Suit the Changes

SHR is the first NASCAR team to declare their preparedness for Phoenix, ready with the short track racing package in their cars.
NASCAR

Rick Hendrick Gets Back on Track in NASCAR at Martinsville Along With Jeff Gordon and Other Legends

NASCAR Hall of Famer, Rick Hendrick will driver the honorary pace car at the Martinsville Speedway celebrating team 40th Anniversary.
NASCAR HAall of Fame Class of 2017 Induction Ceremony

EXCLUSIVE: With His New NASCAR Deal, Akinori Ogata Sets the Right Example for Aspiring International Drivers

In an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, Akinori Ogata opened up about his struggles in NASCAR, especially being a foreign driver.
Akinori Ogata2

About Martinsville Speedway

USA Today via Reuters

Martinsville Speedway- 2021 Latest News, Winners, Qualifying, Track

Martinsville Speedway is a NASCAR stock vehicle racing short track in Henry County, Ridgeway, Virginia. It is owned by the International Speedway Corporation. At 0.526 miles (847 m) long, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Cup Series.

The track was additionally one of the previously cleared oval tracks in NASCAR, being inherited in 1947 by accomplices H. Earth Earles, Henry Lawrence, and Sam Rice per Virginia House Joint Resolution No. 76 on the passing of H. Mud Earles.

It is additionally the lone race track that has been on the NASCAR circuit from its start in 1948. Alongside this, Martinsville is the solitary NASCAR oval track on the NASCAR track circuit to have asphalt surfaces on the straightaways, and concrete to cover the turns.

History

The track is frequently alluded to as a paper clip formed and is banked just 12° in the turns. The blend of long straightaways and level, slender transforms makes it hard to slow down going into turns and smooth increasing speed leaving turns an absolute necessity.

The track was cleared in 1955 and in 1956 it facilitated its initial 500-lap race. In 1976, the turns were repaved with concrete. By 2004, the then 28-year-old cement had shown critical wear. On April 18, 2004, an enormous lump of cement got removed from the track's surface and made extreme harm to the assemblage of Jeff Gordon's vehicle.

In response to this, the track was completely repaved with new concrete and black-top.

Until 1999, Martinsville was infamous for having two pit streets. The backstretch pit street was by and large kept away because if a group needed to pit there during an alert, any vehicle pitting on the front stretch had the benefit of pitting first and not holding fast to pace vehicle speed after leaving their pit street.

This was corrected when pit street was reconfigured to stretch out from the passageway of turn 3 to the exit of turn 2.

The main NASCAR event held on July 4, 1948. In 1951, just four vehicles were running toward the completion, the least of any race held at the speedway. In 1960, Richard Petty turned into the youngest victor at Martinsville, at 22 years, 283 days. Petty has the most successes (15).

Quick Facts

Location340 Speedway Road Ridgeway, Virginia, U.S. 24148
OperatorInternational Speedway Corporation
Major EventsNASCAR Cup Series

Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500

Xfinity 500

NASCAR Xfinity Series

TBA

Draft Top 250

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

NASCAR Hall of Fame 200

NASCAR Whelen All-American Series

ValleyStar Credit Union 300

Length0.526 mi (0.847 km)
Most WinsRichard Petty (15)
Most StartsRichard Petty (67)
PolesDarrell Waltrip (8)