Vassar Brings Fireworks To Celebration 2009
Phil Vassar kept the crowd on its feet at Celebration 2009.
Phil Vassar rocked the house … make that rocked the track … at Celebration 2009, keeping thousands on their feet for almost two hours.
Vassar was the featured performer for the annual Fourth of July week celebration at Martinsville Speedway, held this year on July 3. The front stretch grandstands were packed and thousands more filled the carnival area, which was filled with children’s rides. As always, the event was free to the public.
“It’s good to be home,” shouted Vassar, who grew up in Lynchburg, about 75 miles from Martinsville.
With many family members and friends in the crowd, Vassar shined with many of his hits including “Carlene,” “Six-Pack Summer” and “Just Another Day in Paradise,” as well as hit songs he wrote for other recording artists, including “Bye Bye” and “I’m Alright,” both of which were made popular by country singer Jo Dee Messina.
Vassar frequently left the stage and performed from atop the pit road wall, creating bedlam among the young female fans at the front of the stage.
Martinsville Speedway hosts the free celebration each year with help from many businesses and the Henry County and Martinsville governments.
Speedway President Clay Campbell noted that the event had 41 sponsors this year, the most in its history.
“To have that many sponsors come forth considering economic conditions is remarkable,” Campbell said before introducing a representative of each of the 41 sponsors.
Celebration 2009 kicked off at 5 p.m. and it wasn’t long before thousands of people were at the speedway, enjoying concessions and carnival-type rides.
Martinsville Speedway made the most of its video scoreboard, with the show broadcast live on the 18-by-30-foot screens.
Sponsors for Celebration 2009 included Allstate Insurance, American of Martinsville, Bassett Furniture, Bassett Office Supply, BB&T, Blue Ridge Aquaculture, Boxley Material Company, Carter Bank and Trust, City of Martinsville, Collinsville Printing, Commonwealth Laminating, Cool Knobs and Pulls, Frith Construction, Henry County, Henry County Baptist Association, Hooker Furniture, Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, Martinsville Speedway, Martinsville Speedway Children’s Foundation, Masterbrand Cabinets, Memorial Hospital, Millard’s Machinery, Nelson Automotive, Oak Level Finishing, Ridgeway Concrete, River Bank, Schleuter Electric, Shenandoah Furniture, Southwest Virginia Gas, Stanley Furniture, Star Tek, Steve Martin Trenching, Stone Dynamics,Tacoma, Inc., The Dutch Inn, The Lester Group, Tarheel Paper and Supply Company, TR Properties, Virginia Mirror, West Windows and Zenith Logistics.
