By Dwight Malone
Martinsville Speedway is located in Ridgeway, Virginia, and is the shortest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series track at only 0.526 of a mile. It was built in 1947 by H. Clay Earles and became the first paved NASCAR oval track in 1955. The track has an asphalt/concrete surface. In addition to running the Sprint Cup Series, the Craftsman Truck Series also is run at Martinsville.
Capacity
Martinsville Speedway can accommodate 65,000 fans.
Track Records
Richard Petty owns many of the track records, including most wins (15) and most starts (67).
The Track
The turns are only banked 12 degrees. That, combined with long, flat straightaways, means the drivers need to execute well-timed braking into the turns and strong acceleration out of the turns.
First Race
Martinsville's inaugural race was held Sept. 7, 1947, and had a total purse of $2,000, with $500 going to the winner, Robert "Red" Byron.
Pit Row
Pit row contains 43 pit stalls, with each one measuring 14 feet by 28 feet.
About the Author:
Dwight Malone is a journalist who has worked for various Chicago-area newspapers, including the "Chicago Tribune" and "Naperville Sun." He has been a writer, editor and graphic designer since 2000. Malone studied journalism at Eastern Illinois University.
