MARTINSVILLE, Va. (September 28, 2012) – Fans will be able to take a step back in time before the TUMS Fast Relief 500 as some of the biggest stars in NASCAR’s history will gather on the start-finish line for a question-and-answer session.
Six members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, Junior Johnson, Ned Jarrett, Dale Inman and Leonard Wood, will re-live some of their most memorable times at historic Martinsville Speedway as they help celebrate the track’s 65th anniversary.
“These six Hall-of-Famers have so much history here at Martinsville; they helped this track grow and become a favorite with fans,” said Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell. “We’re so fortunate to have them on race day and are thankful that the NASCAR Hall of Fame helped make it happen for the fans.
“Sixty-five years of racing at Martinsville has created countless historic moments for the record books, many of which are represented throughout the NASCAR Hall of Fame. It will be inspiring to be in the presence of these inductees at Martinsville, especially as the excitement builds for our upcoming Class of 2013 Induction Ceremony on February 8,” said NASCAR Hall of Fame Executive Director Winston Kelley. ”We look forward to adding to our one-of-kind memorabilia and tributes to the sport’s legends and history in cooperation with Martinsville and its competitors for years to come.”
The drivers will appear on the pre-race stage on the start-finish line at noon on October 28 for an informal conversation recounting their many Martinsville Speedway stories. Iconic Motor Racing Network announcer Barney Hall and MRN pit reporter and NASCAR Hall of Fame Executive Director Winston Kelley will moderate the event, which will be live over the track’s public address system. It will also be shown live on the track’s video scoreboard.
The six hall-of-famers share long and successful histories at Martinsville Speedway. Petty is the track’s most prolific winner, with 15 Sprint Cup victories. Inman had a hand in most of those as his crew chief.
Allison, amazingly, never won a Cup race at Martinsville, but did win in lower divisions. He also staged some amazing battles with the likes of Petty, Cale Yarborough and Darrell Waltrip on the tough half-mile oval.
Johnson won at Martinsville twice as a driver and picked up numerous other victories as a car owner with Waltrip and Yarborough behind the wheel.
Wood never got behind the wheel in a race at Martinsville, but was in the pits for all of the Wood Brothers’ wins at Martinsville, including his brother Glen’s victories in 1952 and 1960.
Jarrett raced at Martinsville, watched his son Dale win at Martinsville and worked countless Cup races as an announcer on both radio and television broadcast from the track.
Tickets for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 on Sunday, October 28, the Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Saturday, October 27 and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Qualifying on Friday, October 26 are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.
