Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 Revs Up

Things can get wild in a hurry at Martinsville.

After back-to-back weeks of testing,  teams will get down to business Friday as the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 weekend kicks off at Martinsville Speedway.

Registration and inspection opens at 7 a.m. Friday with almost 100 cars expected to roll through the inspection line by 2 p.m.

By the end of the day Thursday, just over 70 teams had already loaded into the infield for Sunday’s Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300. There will be another long line waiting to get in when the pits open at 7 a.m. Friday.

Martinsville’s tight racing surface will get crowded around 2 or so Friday afternoon as cars take to the track for practice once technical inspection is finished.  All cars must be through tech before any cars are allowed on the track. Practice will conclude at 5 p.m.

Fan gates will open at 9 a.m. Friday with no admission charge.

Saturday is a busy day with two hours of practice beginning at 9 a.m. Time trials start at 2 p.m. with the top 22 spots determined. Admission to Saturday’s action is $5 with fan gates opening at 9 a.m.

Fan gates open at 9 a.m. on Sunday, with an autograph session on the track’s frontstrech set for 11:30 a.m.

The first of the four 25-lap heat races begins at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, followed by the 200-lap feature race. The top five finishers in each of the four heat races advance to the main event.

Tickets are $20 for adults with children 12 and under admitted free. Tickets may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com.

RACE WINNERS: Last year’s Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 winner Jake Crum isn’t entered to defend his title, but there are quite a few former race winners attempting to make the show.

Timothy Peters, Alex Yontz, Dennis Setzer and Jason York, who won this event from 2005 to 2008 are entered, along with 2003 winner Jamey Caudill and 2000 champ Philip Morris.

Several drivers who have won Late Model events at Martinsville, but not this race, are entered, including Eddie Johnson, Shayne Lockhart, Barry Beggarly and Bugs Hairfield.

RACE NOTES: Drivers from at least nine different states are entered in the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300. The longest drive?  Brennan Poole, from The Woodlands, TX… Several drivers from within a few miles of Martinsville Speedway are entered, including Kevin Parker of Bassett, Butch Hamlet of Bassett, Jimmy Mullins of Bassett and Matt Bowling of Ridgeway…The Martinsville High School Marching Band will perform in prerace Sunday and play the National Anthem.