SR 56 — Commending Martinsville Speedway.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 22107328D I SENATE RESOLUTION NO.

56 OfferedE March 8, 2022 N Commending Martinsville Speedway.

TN Patrons––Stanley,R Barker,Agreed Boysko,to Deeds,by Ebbin,the Edwards,Senate, Hackworth,March Hanger,9, Obenshain,2022 Spruill Rnd Stuart –––––––––– O WHEREAS, in 2022, Martinsville Speedway celebrates its 75th anniversary of providing one of Dhethe most competitive and traditional stock car racing experiences for both fans and drivers;

and L WHEREAS, Martinsville Speedway was founded by Virginia native H.

Clay Earles in 1947 as a UL half-mile dirt track built near the Norfolk Southern Railway in Martinsville in Henry County, aCd the first race at the racetrack hosted 9,013 fans with 750 seats ready on September 7, 1947;

and, and the E WHEREAS, Martinsville Speedway hosted the first National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) Strictly Stock Series race, which was the precursor to the NASCAR Grand National SeriesgSeries D and present day NASCAR Cup Series, in Virginia on September 25, 1949, when future NASCAR Hall D of Famer Red Byron led 97 of 200 laps to win the race;

and WHEREAS, today, Martinsville Speedway is the only NASCAR racetrack to host NASCAR Cup Series races every year since its inception in 1949;

andandCAR racetrack to host NASCAR Cup WHEREAS, Bill France, Sr., NASCAR founder and inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame class member, joined H.

and WHEREAS, racing fans have attended Martinsville Speedway for its twice-yearly NASCAR race R remains the shortest racetrack on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule at 0.526 miles and a width of 55 6 feet, with 800-feet asphalt straights and tight 588-foot concrete turns, banked at 12 degrees;

and R WHEREAS, in 1964, H.

the grandfather clock has become a historic tradition in motorsports and one of the most famous trophies in allallWHEREAS, ofin professional2017, sports;Martinsville Speedway became the first major motorsports facility in the nation to install LED lights;

andthe WHEREAS,fall in2017 2017,NASCAR MartinsvilleCup SpeedwaySeries becamerace was the first majorin motorsportsthe facility70-year inhistory of the nationracetrack to installfinish LEDunder lights;the lights, and the first full NASCAR Cup Series race was held under the lights on June 20, 2020;

and Cup Series and either the fallNASCAR 2017Xfinity Series or NASCAR CupCamping World Truck Series raceandCAR wasannually hosts the firstnation's inbiggest, therichest, 70-yearand historymost ofprestigious theNASCAR onLate JuneModel 20,Stock 2020;Car race;

andnder the lights, and the first full NASCAR Cup Series race was held under the lights WHEREAS, thein semiannual2022, NASCAR race weekends at Martinsville Speedway featurewelcomes theback NASCAR Cup Series and either the NASCAR XfinityWhelen SeriesModified orTour NASCARseason Campingfinale Worldfor Truck Series and annually hosts the nation'sfirst biggest,time richest,since and1991; most prestigious NASCAR Late Model Stock Car race;

34 and 35chief WHEREAS,executive inofficer 2022,until Martinsvillehis Speedwaydeath welcomeson backNovember the16, NASCAR1999, Whelenand Modifiedhe Tourwas 36recognized seasonwith finalethe forNASCAR theHall firstof timeFame sinceLandmark 1991;Award;

andhis 37grandson, WHEREAS,William Clay Campbell of Martinsville, was named the Martinsville Speedway founderpresident H.in 1988 and remains the longest serving track president in NASCAR to this day;

Clayand Earlessharing remainedhistoric chairmanartifacts ofand thememorabilia boardat andthe NASCAR Hall of Fame Landmarkin Award;Charlotte, North Carolina, throughout 2022;

hisand grandson,WHEREAS, WilliamMartinsville ClaySpeedway Campbellevents attract millions of Martinsville,fans wasviewing namedon theSCARbroadcast television and thousands of spectators to the Commonwealth year after year, many of whom stay on-site or in hotels throughout Southwest Virginia to be part of the excitement, camaraderie, and world-class racing expWHEREAS, stock car racing enthusiasts eagerly anticipate NASCAR racing at Martinsville Speedway presidentsince inthe 1988historic track is one of the most popular and remainscompetitive racing venues for racing fanatics and competitors, featuring the longestfamous servingMartinsville hot dog and the challenge of intense short track presidentracing with the authentic, traditional race experience, all of which have resulted in NASCARmemorable toexpRESOLVED thisby day;the Senate of Virginia, That Martinsville Speedway hereby be commended on the occasion of its 75th anniversary;

andand, WHEREAS,be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the 75thClerk anniversaryof the Senate prepare a copy of Martinsvillethis Speedwayresolution willfor bepresentation recognizedto withJim anFrance, exhibitchairman sharingand historicchief artifactsexecutive officer of NASCAR, Lesa Kennedy, executive vice chair of NASCAR, and memorabiliaClay atCampbell, president of Martinsville Speedway, as an expression of the NASCARSenate Hallof Virginia's congratulations for its many years of Fameoffering world-class stock car racing in Charlotte,the Northof Carolina,2 throughoutCommonwealth 2022;and providing lasting memories for thousands of fans.

and WHEREAS, Martinsville Speedway events attract millions of fans viewing on broadcast television and thousands of spectators to the Commonwealth year after year, many of whom stay on-site or in experience;

andut Southwest Virginia to be part of the excitement, camaraderie, and world-class racing WHEREAS, stock car racing enthusiasts eagerly anticipate NASCAR racing at Martinsville Speedway since the historic track is one of the most popular and competitive racing venues for racing fanatics and competitors, featuring the famous Martinsville hot dog and the challenge of intense short track racing with the authentic, traditional race experience, all of which have resulted in memorable experiences for the many devotees of the sport;

now, therefore, be it RESOLVED by the Senate of Virginia, That Martinsville Speedway hereby be commended on the occasion of its 75th anniversary;

and, be it presentation to Jim France, chairman and chief executive officer of NASCAR, Lesa Kennedy, executive SR56 2 of 2 vice chair of NASCAR, and Clay Campbell, president of Martinsville Speedway, as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's congratulations for its many years of offering world-class stock car racing in the Commonwealth and providing lasting memories for thousands of fans.