UNOH, Whelen Revive Martinsville Doubleheader

The wild Modifieds will be back at Martinsville in June.

MARTINSVILLE, VA (January 28, 2010) – The University of Northwestern Ohio and Whelen Engineering are combining to bring a NASCAR touring series doubleheader back to Martinsville Speedway.

The pair is joining forces to present the Made In America Whelen 200/UNOH Performance 200 at Martinsville Speedway on June 6.

The Made In America Whelen 200 will be a 200-lap race for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour while the UNOH Performance 200 will be a 200-lap race for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series (formerly Camping World East Series).

“This is going to be a throwback to our old Dogwood and Cardinal 500 doubleheaders when we had the Modified and Late Model Sportsman cars in here together,” said Martinsville Speedway President W. Clay Campbell. “It’s awesome that Whelen and the University of Northwestern Ohio worked together to give the fans such an exciting day of racing. It’s going to be an amazing day of racing, that’s for sure.”

The Made In America Whelen 200/UNOH Performance 200 will be a two-day event with practice and qualifying on Saturday, June 5 and the main events on Sunday, June 6.

The Made In America Whelen 200 had been run in the fall the past several years, but was moved to early summer in 2010 to combine with the UNOH Performance 200 to offer race fans an action-filled doubleheader.

"Whelen Engineering Company is looking forward to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour returning once again to the Martinsville Speedway in 2010. The Made In America Whelen 200 on June 6th is one of the highlights of the season,” said Phil Kurze, Vice President of Motorsports for Whelen Engineering Company. “Race fans are sure to get an action packed day of racing when the Modified Tour is joined with the K&N Pro Series. The tradition and excitement of Martinsville is like no other race track, especially when the ground pounding Modifieds hit the historic pavement. "

While it will be UNOH’s first involvement with Martinsville Speedway, the Ohio university is not a newcomer to NASCAR or motorsports. In 1991, UNOH developed and offered the first High Performance/Motorsports Degree in the world and is the only university that owns and operates its own race track facility, “Limaland Motorsports Park.” Last year UNOH sponsored a NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

“On behalf of the faculty, staff and students at the University of Northwestern Ohio, we are extremely proud and honored to be the entitlement sponsor of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, UNOH Performance 200 inaugural event at Martinsville Speedway,” said Dr. Jeff Jarvis, President of the University of Northwestern Ohio. “Being the very first university in the country to offer a complete High-Performance Motorsports Degree, it is fitting that we should partner with Martinsville Speedway on this special event.”

The K&N Pro Series is a developmental series running full-bodied stock cars that has produced some big time racers like Martin Truex, Ricky Craven, and most recently, Joey Logano. Last year’s champion was Ryan Truex, younger brother to Martin.

Tickets for the Whelen 200/UNOH Performance 200 will go on sale March 6.

 UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN OHIO: Founded in 1920, the University of Northwestern Ohio is a private, not-for-profit institution. Within the University are three colleges:  College of Business, College of Technologies and College of Distance Learning. UNOH offers over 60 programs in High Performance, Alternate Fuels, Diesel, Automotive, HVAC, Agricultural, Business, Medical, Legal, Travel, IT Computer, and Marketing with Associate degrees, Baccalaureate degrees, and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.

 For more detailed information about the University of Northwestern Ohio go to www.unoh.edu.

WHELEN ENGINEERING COMPANY: located in Chester, Connecticut and Charlestown, New Hampshire, has been designing and manufacturing emergency warning lights and sirens for over 50 years.  Whelen products are used all over the world to provide safety and warning to the public.  From the flashing L.E.D. beacon on a fire truck to the loud tornado or hurricane warning siren in your community, Whelen products are there to provide safety to the public.  Whelen is the “Officially Licensed Warning Lights of NASCAR” and all Whelen products are made in America.  To learn more about Whelen products, visit them at www.whelen.com