Events

 Celebration 2010 gave everyone in attendance reason to celebrate.      

There was Grammy-award-winning talent on hand, a carnival full of rides, low-priced concessions and an amazing fireworks display. Mother Nature even agreed, with temperatures in the mid 80s.          

And best of all, it was all free.            

For the 12^th consecutive year, people packed Martinsville Speedway’s front-stretch grandstands and display area for the Independence Day celebration last Friday. Backed by over 40 sponsors from the area who picked up the tab, everyone was admitted free. Most concessions items in the Martinsville Speedway concession stands were reduced to just $1.

“Thank you everyone. As you can probably tell, I couldn’t make it to Celebration 2010 tonight. It’s the first one I’ve ever missed and I’m really sorry I can’t be there with you, but I have to be in Daytona Beach for the Coke Zero 400 tomorrow  on speedway business,” said Martinsville Speedway President W. Clay Campbell via a taped welcome shown on the speedway’s big screen scoreboard.

“Thanks to modern technology, though, I can let everyone of you know how much I appreciate you being here tonight and helping make Celebration 2010 another amazing success.

“And a very special thanks to all the sponsors of Celebration. Without these many businesses and local governments and organizations, this would have never happened. With Jeb Bassett leading the way, they all pitched in and saved Celebration 2010.”

The headline act of the evening was Grammy Award-winning performer Delbert McClinton who had the crowd on its feet with his trademark mixture of blues and country..

Those seated well away from the stage could enjoy the show by watching close-ups of the band playing on the 30- by 18-foot video board that looms above the track.

Martinsville Speedway’s display area was packed with 18 carnival rides and games that kept young and old alike busy from 5 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. The sound of the rides was often drowned out by the shrieks of excited youngsters.

Sponsors for the event included: Applied Felts; Bassett Furniture; Bassett Office Supply; BB&T; Blue Ridge Aquaculture; Boxley Material Co.; Brad Parker Insurance; Carter Bank and Trust; City of Martinsville; Collinsville Printing; Commonwealth Laminating; orthodontist Dr. David Jones; Dillon Insurance; Frith Construction; Gardner, Barrow, Sharpe and Reynolds; Henry County; Henry County Baptist Association; Henry County Sheriff’s Office; Hooker Furniture; Cool Knobs and Pulls; Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce; Martinsville Speedway; Martinsville Speedway Children’s Foundation; Masterbrand Cabinets; Memorial Hospital; Millards Machinery; Nelson Automotive; River Community Bank; Shenandoah Furniture; Solutia; Southwestern VA Gas; Stanley Furniture; Steve Martin Trenching, Stone Dynamics, Taco Bell, Tarheel Paper and Supply Co., The Lester Group, TR Properties, Virginia Mirror, West Window, Zenith Logistics, CPEG, Ameristaff, Suntrust Bank and Tri State Foam.