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Track Timeline
September 7, 1947
H. Clay Earles opens Martinsville Speedway as a dirt track with 750 seats and a paid crowd of 6,013. Red Byron wins the 50-lap feature for "Modified Stock Cars" and earns $500 out of a $2,000 purse.
July 4, 1948
Martinsville runs its first race under a NASCAR sanction, with Fonty Flock winning the feature followed by Pee Wee Martin of Bassett. Va., Buck Baker, Bill Blair, and Tim Flock as 4,000 watched. Bill France finishes eighth while one of those sidelined with mechanical problems is a 19-year-old Fireball Roberts.
September 25, 1949
NASCAR's "Strictly Stock" division makes its first appearance at the speedway and Byron wins again in an Oldsmobile 88 with Lee Petty second in a 1949 Plymouth. Seating increased to 10,000.
1950
The speedway starts running two NASCAR Grand National events races a year on the dirt track. The Strictly Stock Series was renamed the Grand National Series that year. The winners of Grand National race from 1950 to 1954 were Curtis Turner (Oldsmobile) in a 150-lap 75-mile event on May 21, 1950 and Herb Thomas (Plymouth) for his first Grand National victory in a 200-lap, 100-mile event on October 15, 1950; Turner (Oldsmobile) in a 200- lap, 100-mile event on May 6, 1951 and Frank Mundy (Oldsmobile) 200-lap, 100-mile event on October 14, 1951; Dick Rathman (Hudson) for his first Grand National triumph in a 200-lap, 100-mile event on April 6, 1952; and Thomas (Hudson) in a 200-lap, 100-mile event on October 19, 1952; Lee Petty (Dodge) in a 200-lap, 100-mile event on May 17, 1953; and Jim Paschal (Dodge) in a 200-lap, 100-mile event on October 18, 1953; and Paschal (Oldsmobile) in a 200-lap, 100-mile event on May 16, 1954; and Lee Petty (Chrysler) in 200-lap, 100-mile event on October 17,1954.
1952
First race broadcast from the speedway on October 19, 1952 and almost was the first stock car event to be aired. "I think Darlington beat us by about five weeks," said Hal Hamrick, who talked Earles and Bill France into letting him try the innovation despite the fact they feared it might decrease the attendance. "But we had a bigger network. They had five stations and we had seven." Hamrick broadcast while sitting atop a concession stand on Pepsi-Cola crates.
October 3, 1955
Martinsville paves its track and Billy Myers wins the first race on the smooth pavement. It was a 100-lap sportsman event.
October 16, 1955
Speedy Thompson drives a Chrysler to victory in a 200-lap, 100-mile Grand National event. It was the first Grand National run on Martinsville Speedway's newly paved track.
1956
Martinsville runs its first 500-lap Grand National race on May 20, 1956, billed as the "Martinsville Annual 500," which actually was the First Virginia 500, won by Buck Baker in a Dodge.
1960
Martinsville builds the first enclosed, air-conditioned press box on the circuit, first used at the Virginia 500 won by Richard Petty in a Plymouth on April 10, 1960.
1973
Speedway joins Motor Racing Network of Daytona Beach, Fl., which now broadcasts its Winston cup events as MRN radio. MRN's first broadcast was the Virginia 500 on April 29. 1973, won by David Pearson in a Mercury.
1973
Hollywood comes to the track, filming the climactic race of a film at the speedway, using live action scenes from the Old Dominion 500 on September 30, 1973, won by Richard Petty in a Dodge. The movie also included staged action during the month of October. The movie was called "The Last American Hero," and was based on the life of Junior Johnson.
1976
In the fall, Earles installs several lanes of concrete in the turns on both ends of the track to prevent pavement problems. The concrete lanes are still in use today. First used in the Old Dominion 500 on September 26, 1976 with Darrell Waltrip setting a track qualifying record in a Chevrolet. Earles stuns the racing world with posted awards of $100,000 the richest of any short track and above some of the longer tracks.
March 1978
NBC tapes 1978 Dogwood 500 Modified and Grand National race for showing on its "Sports World," series. It was the first race televised nationally from Virginia, on March 12. 1978. Richie Evans won the Modified race and Sonny Hutchins the Grand National.
1978
Martinsville builds a new press box and turns old press box into first enclosed, air-conditioned scorer's stand on the tour. First used for a Winston Cup event at the Virginia 500 on April 23, 1978. The race was won by Darrell Waltrip in a Chevrolet.
1982
Virginia National Bank becomes the track's first Winston Cup race sponsor, turning the Virginia 500 into the Virginia National Bank 500 on April 25, 1982. In that race, Harry Gant scoring his first Winston cup victory in a Buick.
1983
Goody's Manufacturing Corporation sponsors the September Winston Cup race, the Goody's 500 on September 25, 1983, and Goody's remains as a sponsor at the track today. The race was won by Ricky Rudd in a Chevrolet.
1988
First live telecast from the speedway. The 1988 Goody's 500, on September 25, 1988, was on ESPN and won by Darrell Waltrip in a Chevrolet.
June 1, 1988
W. Clay Campbell named president of Martinsville Speedway with H. Clay Earles becoming chairman of the board and chief executive officer. Added 2,000 seats.
1989
Added 1,000 seats
1990
Added 1,000 seats
1991
Added 2,000 seats
1992
Added 5,000 seats
1993
Added 5,000 seats
1994
Added 3,000 seats
1995
Built access road to U.S. 220/58 bypass, acceleration lanes from pits and concession stands.
1996
Added 7,500 new seats in turns three and four, two rest rooms facilities, one concession stand, and completed 50 additional acres of parking, concession stand and restrooms.
September 28, 1997
Martinsville speedway celebrates its 50th anniversary with the Hanes 500 won by Jeff Burton. Added 5,500 seats to the Bill France tower in turns three and four.
1998
Added 7,500 seats to the front straightaway and 13 corporate suites, new scoring stand, radio and TV booths. Added 43rd pit stall, concession stands and restrooms.
1999
Added four additional suites and created one pit road. 50 acres of parking added.
2000
Added 5,000 additional seats, eight new suites, a press box and new concession stands, restrooms.
2001
Added 20-bay infield garage area that can house 42 Winston Cup cars. Also installed pedestrian tunnel in the fourth turn.
2003
Constructed new infield care center in first-and-second turn area of infield; built new public relations work room in infield and built new entrance to track.
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