MARTINSVILLE, Va. (October 12, 2010) – Reading pays big rewards in many different ways. Just ask any of the more than 2,000 elementary school students who participated in Martinsville Speedway’s Fifth Annual Read Your Way to the Race program
Two of the more than 400 classes that participated in the program will get to appear on national television as they recite the Pledge of Allegiance prior to the Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on October 23 and the TUMS Fast Relief 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race on October 24. A third class will have the opportunity to get their picture taken with the winner of the Kroger 200.
One student will get to stand on-stage for the Kroger 200 pre-race activities, another will ride along in the pace car for the start of the Kroger 200, and another will participate in Kroger 200 victory lane celebrations.
Three more classes won the opportunity to have pizza parties at Martinsville Speedway after race weekend.
“Anything we can do to get more youngsters interested in reading is important,” said Martinsville Speedway President W. Clay Campbell. “We are really proud of this program. The kids get excited, the teachers and school systems get excited and in the end, it pays dividends for the students.”
This fall 405 classrooms in three school systems – Martinsville City Schools, Henry County Schools and Pittsylvania County Schools – participated.
The goal was for each participating student to read either 15 chapters or 15 books, depending on individual reading levels. In the end, 2,022 students successfully completed the assignment.
All students who reached their goal will be admitted to either the Kroger 200 or the TUMS Fast Relief 500 free. Their parents can purchase discounted tickets to either event.
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.
