Frank Beamer will go from the sidelines to the pits on March 30.

Everything is coming up orange in 2008 for Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer.

First up for Beamer was the Orange Bowl in Miami where Virginia Tech fell to Kansas on January 3. He’ll follow that up with a trip to Martinsville Speedway and the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on March 30.

Beamer, whose Hokies were ranked fifth in the nation headed into the Orange Bowl showdown, has accepted an invitation from Martinsville Speedway to be the Grand Marshal for the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race on March 30.

“It is real privilege for Coach Beamer to agree to be our Grand Marshal,” said Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell. “He is truly one of the premier college football coaches in America. What he has done at Virginia Tech is legendary. And on top of that he’s a good guy that really enjoys NASCAR racing. We’re looking forward to a great day with Coach Beamer.”

Beamer is the most successful football coach in the history of Virginia Tech with a 167-84-2 mark since taking over the program in 1987. His overall coaching record is 209-107-4. He was the national coach of the year in 1999 and is ranked third in wins among all active Division I coaches. 

His teams have won three Big East championships and a pair of ACC championships and lost to Florida State in the national championship game after the 1999 season. The Hokies have been to bowl games for 15 consecutive years.

While football is the sport of his passion and livelihood, racing is a sport of relaxation for the Hillsville, VA, native. Twice he has been honorary starter for NASCAR Sprint Cup races, but this will be his first stint as Grand Marshal.

 “I’m very honored to be the Grand Marshal of the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 Sprint Cup race at Martinsville Speedway,” said Beamer. “I think most people know how much I love racing, and I’m delighted by the honor.”

With team colors of maroon and orange, and having a date in the Orange Bowl, Beamer is the perfect fit for the Goody’s Cool Orange 500, a race named after the newest flavor of Goody’s headache powder.

 “Coming off one of the most successful seasons of his illustrious career, Coach Beamer will be a huge hit as grand marshal of the 2008 Goody’s Cool Orange 500,” said Darren Singer, Vice President Marketing, Goody’s Headache Powders.  “With Virginia Tech going to the Orange Bowl this year, it is only fitting to have the Coach kick off the action at the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 with the most famous words in racing – ‘Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!'.”

Tickets are on sale for both the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race on March 30 and the Kroger 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on Saturday, March 29, and may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com. Ticket prices for the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 range from $42 to $77.