Few tracks in the NASCAR world are as iconic as Martinsville Speedway. Known for its rich NASCAR history dating back to 1949, intense racing action, and paperclip-shaped layout, it’s a venue that challenges drivers to the limit. The 0.526-mile track has seen plenty of heated rivalries in the past, and its grandfather clock trophy has a feeling of prestige like no other. The ‘Half Mile of Mayhem’ has featured some iconic moments, such as Ross Chastain’s controversial ‘Hail-Melon’ in 2022, which will be remembered for years to come.

Where is Martinsville Speedway located, and when did it become a part of the NASCAR schedule?

Widely considered to be one of the most iconic short tracks in NASCAR, Martinsville Speedway, as the name suggests, is located in Martinsville, Virginia. Located in the middle of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the venue, which first opened in 1947, is one of the oldest in the stock car racing circuit. It became a part of NASCAR in 1949, in the first year of the Cup Series, and has been an important fixture ever since.

The History of Martinsville Speedway and being called a Paperclip-shaped track

Martinsville Speedway is nicknamed, ‘The Paperclip’ because of its unique shape. The track features two straights with sharp, narrow turns, which is why it has the name. Measuring 0.526 miles in length, it’s one of the shortest tracks on the calendar. But despite being compact, the track is known for its intense, high-speed action in close quarters. Not only is overtaking hard to come by at the venue, but drivers are also forced to brake hard to navigate its tight corners and create space against rivals by putting the pedal to the metal on the straightaways.

Why are Martinsville winners awarded grandfather’s clocks?

It’s a tradition that dates back to 1964. Winners of the race at Martinsville Speedway are awarded a Grandfather Clock trophy because of the area’s history of clockmaking. The nearby town of Ridgeway, Virginia, is commonly known as the ‘Clock Capital of the World. ’ It all started with track owner H. Clay Earles, who wanted a trophy that would stand out. Considering that Ridgeway Clocks was located just three miles away, Earles reached out to them, and the trophy was carved out of hardwood and stood 7 feet tall.

The first trophy was presented to Fred Lorenzen in September 1964, and it was made at the Ridgeway factory until 2004, when the company was purchased by Howard Miller Co. of Michigan. Over the years, the clock trophy has become one of the most prestigious awards given in NASCAR, with drivers saying, “Where’s my clock?”. The trophy not only showcases the rich heritage of the region but also highlights that a driver managed to secure a win on one of the most challenging tracks in the calendar.

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The iconic moments that Martinsville Speedway bore witness to

Martinsville Speedway has seen some of the most iconic moments in the sport. Do you remember the historic moment in 2015, when Jeff Gordon secured his ninth win at Martinsville in his final, full-time season? And who can forget Ross Chastain’s infamous ‘banned’ move in 2022, where he used the wall to gain track positions? At the time, the move was deemed legal, even though drivers and fans went on to criticize the Trackhouse Racing driver.

Before he attempted to ‘wall ride’, Chastain was languishing in 10th place at ‘The Paperclip’, but his bold move of driving the car into the outside wall from Turn 3 and 4 saw him pick up speeds of 130 miles-per-hour, resulting in the No. 1 Chevy overtaking Hamlin, along with other races to end up fifth when the checkered flag was waved.

Reflecting on the controversial move, Chastain said, “Seeing the fans’ cell phone video from the grandstands from different angles, and then hearing the crowd, it was wild. You can hear people asking each other what happened. Some are saying, ‘I missed it. What happened?’ Seeing just those grainy, shaky videos was probably the coolest part. And then hearing my family, my friends and where they were. My Uncle Richie had walked out of the room when we took the white flag because he thought we were done. And he came running back in when my cousins went to screaming. It’s cool to hear those stories.”

What is NASCAR’s schedule at Martinsville Speedway?

Martinsville Speedway plays host to two Cup Series races every year. One is usually held in the spring and another in the fall, during the playoffs. This time around, the penultimate race of the Truck, Xfinity, and Cup campaigns will be held at ‘The Paperclip, ’ apart from the triple-header that will be held at the end of March.

For many drivers and fans, competing at Martinsville Speedway is a trip down memory lane. The venue is one of the most iconic on the calendar, and short-track racing continues to be the heartbeat of the sport. The venue has also seen its fair share of drama and controversy, with the headlines from last year’s fall race centered around ‘race manipulation.’