MARTINSVILLE, Va. (January 19, 2011) – Despite two winter storms and day after day of frigid temperatures, construction efforts at Martinsville Speedway are on target to be completed well before the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 on April 3.
The project, including new concession stands and restrooms, should be under roof by the end of this week, and totally finished by the first week of March.
“We’re really pleased with the way the project has moved along,” said Martinsville Speedway President W. Clay Campbell. “We’ve had several days of difficult weather conditions, but the crews from Frith Construction have worked some hard and long hours to keep this all on schedule. They’ve had to work some weekends, but they are going to make sure it is finished well before the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 weekend.”
According to Rick Magee, Executive Vice-President of Frith Construction, a Martinsville-based construction firm, the entire project will be under roof by Friday, which basically eliminates weather as a factor.
The new, large concession stands and restrooms, are located on the first-turn end of the front stretch and includes men and women’s restrooms, which double the size of the ones they replace. Every effort was made to include amenities and improvements requested by fans, like more sinks in the ladies restrooms and larger stalls. All of the new buildings meet ADA requirements.
“When fans come back in April they will find the new restrooms to be on par with any in the industry,” said Campbell. The concession stands not only will serve the fans in a much more efficient and timely manner, but will also have a very distinct new look to them.
“Of course fans are going to like the Famous Martinsville Speedway Hot Dog and other items the stands serve up, but I think they are going to like the looks of the new concession stands,” said Campbell. The construction project is being funded by a Virginia Tobacco Commission grant of $1.5 million, which is being matched by Martinsville Speedway.
There are about 15 subcontractors involved in the project, according to Magee. All but one of those subcontractors is from the Martinsville and Henry County area, Magee said. About 50 jobs were created by the project with about 25 workers onsite at any given time, according to Magee.
Tickets for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 weekend are on sale and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com.
Tickets for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 on April 3 start at just $25.
No change to the worst parking situation of any track I have gone to????? Guess I will pass on ever attending some of the best racing in Nascar to sit on the couch and watch it. Spending 21/2 hours watching the wrecker drag cars out of the “parking lot” after my first Martinsville race made it my last one.