September 22, 2023 • 9 mins
Scott Stevens catches up one more time with Clay Campbell, long time track President at Martinsville Speedway about Saturday's Valley Star Credit Union 300, Late Model Stock Car race. Drivers from all over the region come to try and win the big purse and that legendary grandfather clock! (Listen)
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
From my Heart Radio. I'm ScottStevenson. We're talking race and appreciate you
listening to us on the podcast.Be sure to share it, you know,
share this podcast because I talked toa lot of racing folks and one
of my favorites is the track presidentat Martinsville Speedway, mister Clay Campbell.
How are you, sir? I'mgood, Scott. How about yourself?
Doing good? Very excited about whatis referred to as the biggest and most
(00:24):
prestigious late model stock car race comingup this weekend at Martinsville Speedway. It's
exciting, there isn't it. Itreally is, and you hit it.
It is the biggest and most prestigiousNASCAR Late model stock car race. I
refer to it as the biggest battistlate model stock car race on a planet,
which is that too? And youknow what makes this thing so special
(00:44):
and what makes it so big isall the competitors. Yeah. I was
in the driver's meeting this morning.They were going over the logistics and all
that stuff. So I spoke tothe drivers and I said, Hey,
it's not what we do, it'swhat you guys do by showing up.
You know, this race would beif we just had forty teams running it,
but we've got right at ninety.Wow, you got that shows the
(01:06):
prestige and the importance of the ValleyStar Credit Union three hundred and it just
keeps growing in statue every year andwe love it. It's it's a true,
no holds barred race that everyone loves. The fans love it, the
competitors. And I told him thismorning, Saturday evening and Saturday late night,
somebody's gonna go out that gate ahappy person and thirty nine others not
(01:33):
so sure how they're going to feel. But that's what makes it special.
Well, you know, in myexperience is working as track announcer at some
other at some other race tracks,I've gotten to know some of these drivers,
the late model drivers, and theyall look to this race as a
goal, something that they want toget to. Now you said there'll be
people disappointed. I've talked to driverswho are not going to be the ones
(01:53):
who win, but they are soexcited to make the final feel that really
is their goal is make the finalfield and finish well, finish the race.
And that's just how exciting it isand what a big deal it is.
For all of these guys driving latemodel stock cars. No, you're
exactly right, Sky. There aresome that know they don't have a shot
at winning, but hey, ifyou make this race, I mean top
(02:15):
forty. Uh, they're more thatthey're more that will not make it than
will make it. Think of itthat way, you're you're out running.
If you start dead last, ye'restill out running forty five other cars.
No, that's a pretty good feat. So yeah, there's some that,
hey, I made that race.But then there are others that you know,
they know they have a potential tobe and say the top ten,
(02:39):
and they're drivers that have run latemodels for years and that's that's home for
them, that's where they want tobe. There are others that use this
as a stepping stone to hopefully gointo truck, to Exfinity and then ultimately
Cup. Look at Josh Barry whowon this thing a few years ago,
right, and then he came rightback the next year and won the Affinity
(03:00):
Race here. So there are guysthat this regardless of what you do,
this is a really big notch inyour built if you win this event.
And a lot of young drivers too. When we talk about the future of
NASCAR. Sometimes when these guys getout of these cars, I'm like,
is that is that kid in highschool? Is he old enough to drive?
You know, we've seen drivers inthe late model division at some of
(03:22):
these tracks that don't yet, they'renot old enough to drive on the interstate,
but they're driving a racecar. Yeah. Yeah, it's amazing. I
think they're getting younger and younger everyyear. Or maybe I'm getting older and
older. Not that probably I'm withyou there, but it is amazing,
and you're you're seeing the future starsof NASCAR, no doubt about it.
Well, you know something that wewant to touch on a lot of folks
(03:45):
talking about the weather. I knowa lot of events in the East,
in particular, I've had to rescheduletheir plans for this weekend. How's it
looking there at Martinsville. Well,obviously we're keeping our eye on it.
You know, who knows. Idon't think anybody has really nailed it down
as the trajectory of this storm goingup. But luckily we're on more of
(04:05):
the southwest side of the state.Yeah, you're right, the eastern part
of the state's going to get hitmuch harder than we are. But I've
been watching it all morning, monitoredthat I think it's looking pretty good to
you know. We're going to getwet sometime overnight and in the morning,
but hopefully it will move out regardless. We're going to do everything we can
(04:27):
to run this thing as scheduled.We've got four jets, we've got one
air tight, and we've got ablower. We've got all the equipment that
we have for a cup event toget the track dry and in a vast
manner so we'll be able to goback to racing as quick as possible.
But I think it's it's looking betternow than it did yesterday. And I
(04:48):
think that's what the weather forecasters theyhave to depend on, you know,
time. All right, let's seewhat it's doing now, and it's it's
looking more favorable now than it did. But as I said, we will
do everything possible to get it in. All right, very good, I
guess qualifying about to get started today. Yeah, they're going through inspection now.
(05:09):
We got we started at six o'clocktaking the haulers in, so in
an hour, in about twenty minutes, they had all of the haulers parked,
which is a feat. In aboutan hour and a half to two
hours we had all the competitors signedin, so yeah, they're going through
the inspection process. Now we'll startpractice around three o'clock I believe, and
(05:33):
then qualifying tonight at eight. Allright, and so for folks listening,
you can actually come to see thatqualifying, right, absolutely, come on,
buy five bucks and going out andwatch a very intense qualifying session because
this, as you know, thisdoesn't determine where you start in the big
race. This determines where you startin the heat race. So you need
(05:55):
to be up front as close tothe front as possible to have a good
shot at it, because it's onlytwenty five laps and you've got to finish
well to advance to the two hundredlap the Valley Start Credit Union three hundred
ye is less than half of thecars that are there will actually start in
the main race. Yeah, exactly. Like I said earlier, it'll be
more going home than staying. Soit's it's critical to start upfront and have
(06:18):
a good run in the twenty fivelap heat race, which, as I've
said before, we're not counting cautionlaps this time. In the past we
did. You can eat a lotof laps under caution, so we're not
doing that now. Every lap thatcounts has to be green. I've said
it numerous times this weekend. We'vegot a really good looking pace car,
(06:38):
but the fans don't pay to watchthat pace car. So we want to
We want to get the pace carout there, get to track cleaned up,
whatever the case may be, sowe can go back to green flag
racing, which that's the only thingthat's going to count now if there's an
accident at the end, do wehave the same green, white checker scenario
that we're used to with the Cup? Yes, unlimited? Okay, all
right, Well there you go.Folks. You want to see this late
(07:00):
a race. If you think you'rea fan of NASCAR, but you'll only
watch the Cup or Exfinity and Cup, you're missing out because these are our
local drivers, regional drivers, andeven a lot of late model stock car
drivers coming from neighboring states. Theyall want to win this race, win
the prize money, and take homethat coveted Grandfather clock that every winner gets
at Martinsville Speedway. Well, man, I know that we're going to talk
(07:23):
again between now and then, butI'm also setting my sights on October.
I can see it. It's almosthere. And October is a tremendously exciting
month in NASCAR, in particular atMartinsville Speedway, it really is. We
look forward to that one because that'sthe penultimate race in the playoffs. You
know, you come in here witheight guys buying for the a spot in
(07:45):
the championship race at SEENIX the nextweek, and you leave with four.
So it is so critical, whichmakes this race a really, really good
race to come watch. It's nothinglike it. You know, We've got
at on Sunday, back up aday to Saturday, the Accinity Series are
running, and go back to Thursdayof that week it's the championship race for
(08:09):
the Wheeland Modified Tour in a NASCARin the world. So we've got three
great races that weekend, and youknow, that's the one you don't want
to miss because it's so critical.If if you don't make that top four
when you leave here, your championshiphopes are done, no doubt about it.
I guess we're at twelve coming intoTexas this weekend. Yeah, you're
right. So by the time youget to Martinsville, it's eight. After
(08:31):
that it is four so critical,and of course Martinsville has been known to
flare some tempers of drivers from timeto time, but they're gonna be racing
hard, especially those eight drivers,to try to finish well. And I
think it's going to be a spectacularweekend at Martinsville Speedway. Well, Clay,
always a pleasure to talk to you, and folks, you can find
out about everything we just talked aboutand even purchase your tickets at great prices
(08:56):
at Martinsville Speedway dot com. Iknow you guys have some great affordable packages
for folks to come out to theraces. We do thirty dollars for this
weekend children twelve and hundred three,and it's just going to be a great
race. If you've never seen agreat late Mossack carras, this is one
you need to be at. It'sa biggie thirty two thousand dollars to win
(09:18):
five thousand for the poll tonight andas you mentioned it, the Grandfather Clock,
all of that so much fun.All right, Well, Clay Campbell,
Track President Martinsville Speedway has always enjoyedour talk and we will talk again
soon before that end of October weekend. You got it. Thanks so much, Scott,
From my Heart Radio. I'm ScottStevenson. We're talking race and appreciate you
listening to us on the podcast.Be sure to share it, you know,
share this podcast because I talked toa lot of racing folks and one
of my favorites is the track presidentat Martinsville Speedway, mister Clay Campbell.
How are you, sir? I'mgood, Scott. How about yourself?
Doing good? Very excited about whatis referred to as the biggest and most
(00:24):
prestigious late model stock car race comingup this weekend at Martinsville Speedway. It's
exciting, there isn't it. Itreally is, and you hit it.
It is the biggest and most prestigiousNASCAR Late model stock car race. I
refer to it as the biggest battistlate model stock car race on a planet,
which is that too? And youknow what makes this thing so special
(00:44):
and what makes it so big isall the competitors. Yeah. I was
in the driver's meeting this morning.They were going over the logistics and all
that stuff. So I spoke tothe drivers and I said, Hey,
it's not what we do, it'swhat you guys do by showing up.
You know, this race would beif we just had forty teams running it,
but we've got right at ninety.Wow, you got that shows the
(01:06):
prestige and the importance of the ValleyStar Credit Union three hundred and it just
keeps growing in statue every year andwe love it. It's it's a true,
no holds barred race that everyone loves. The fans love it, the
competitors. And I told him thismorning, Saturday evening and Saturday late night,
somebody's gonna go out that gate ahappy person and thirty nine others not
(01:33):
so sure how they're going to feel. But that's what makes it special.
Well, you know, in myexperience is working as track announcer at some
other at some other race tracks,I've gotten to know some of these drivers,
the late model drivers, and theyall look to this race as a
goal, something that they want toget to. Now you said there'll be
people disappointed. I've talked to driverswho are not going to be the ones
(01:53):
who win, but they are soexcited to make the final feel that really
is their goal is make the finalfield and finish well, finish the race.
And that's just how exciting it isand what a big deal it is.
For all of these guys driving latemodel stock cars. No, you're
exactly right, Sky. There aresome that know they don't have a shot
at winning, but hey, ifyou make this race, I mean top
(02:15):
forty. Uh, they're more thatthey're more that will not make it than
will make it. Think of itthat way, you're you're out running.
If you start dead last, ye'restill out running forty five other cars.
No, that's a pretty good feat. So yeah, there's some that,
hey, I made that race.But then there are others that you know,
they know they have a potential tobe and say the top ten,
(02:39):
and they're drivers that have run latemodels for years and that's that's home for
them, that's where they want tobe. There are others that use this
as a stepping stone to hopefully gointo truck, to Exfinity and then ultimately
Cup. Look at Josh Barry whowon this thing a few years ago,
right, and then he came rightback the next year and won the Affinity
(03:00):
Race here. So there are guysthat this regardless of what you do,
this is a really big notch inyour built if you win this event.
And a lot of young drivers too. When we talk about the future of
NASCAR. Sometimes when these guys getout of these cars, I'm like,
is that is that kid in highschool? Is he old enough to drive?
You know, we've seen drivers inthe late model division at some of
(03:22):
these tracks that don't yet, they'renot old enough to drive on the interstate,
but they're driving a racecar. Yeah. Yeah, it's amazing. I
think they're getting younger and younger everyyear. Or maybe I'm getting older and
older. Not that probably I'm withyou there, but it is amazing,
and you're you're seeing the future starsof NASCAR, no doubt about it.
Well, you know something that wewant to touch on a lot of folks
(03:45):
talking about the weather. I knowa lot of events in the East,
in particular, I've had to rescheduletheir plans for this weekend. How's it
looking there at Martinsville. Well,obviously we're keeping our eye on it.
You know, who knows. Idon't think anybody has really nailed it down
as the trajectory of this storm goingup. But luckily we're on more of
(04:05):
the southwest side of the state.Yeah, you're right, the eastern part
of the state's going to get hitmuch harder than we are. But I've
been watching it all morning, monitoredthat I think it's looking pretty good to
you know. We're going to getwet sometime overnight and in the morning,
but hopefully it will move out regardless. We're going to do everything we can
(04:27):
to run this thing as scheduled.We've got four jets, we've got one
air tight, and we've got ablower. We've got all the equipment that
we have for a cup event toget the track dry and in a vast
manner so we'll be able to goback to racing as quick as possible.
But I think it's it's looking betternow than it did yesterday. And I
(04:48):
think that's what the weather forecasters theyhave to depend on, you know,
time. All right, let's seewhat it's doing now, and it's it's
looking more favorable now than it did. But as I said, we will
do everything possible to get it in. All right, very good, I
guess qualifying about to get started today. Yeah, they're going through inspection now.
(05:09):
We got we started at six o'clocktaking the haulers in, so in
an hour, in about twenty minutes, they had all of the haulers parked,
which is a feat. In aboutan hour and a half to two
hours we had all the competitors signedin, so yeah, they're going through
the inspection process. Now we'll startpractice around three o'clock I believe, and
(05:33):
then qualifying tonight at eight. Allright, and so for folks listening,
you can actually come to see thatqualifying, right, absolutely, come on,
buy five bucks and going out andwatch a very intense qualifying session because
this, as you know, thisdoesn't determine where you start in the big
race. This determines where you startin the heat race. So you need
(05:55):
to be up front as close tothe front as possible to have a good
shot at it, because it's onlytwenty five laps and you've got to finish
well to advance to the two hundredlap the Valley Start Credit Union three hundred
ye is less than half of thecars that are there will actually start in
the main race. Yeah, exactly. Like I said earlier, it'll be
more going home than staying. Soit's it's critical to start upfront and have
(06:18):
a good run in the twenty fivelap heat race, which, as I've
said before, we're not counting cautionlaps this time. In the past we
did. You can eat a lotof laps under caution, so we're not
doing that now. Every lap thatcounts has to be green. I've said
it numerous times this weekend. We'vegot a really good looking pace car,
(06:38):
but the fans don't pay to watchthat pace car. So we want to
We want to get the pace carout there, get to track cleaned up,
whatever the case may be, sowe can go back to green flag
racing, which that's the only thingthat's going to count now if there's an
accident at the end, do wehave the same green, white checker scenario
that we're used to with the Cup? Yes, unlimited? Okay, all
right, Well there you go.Folks. You want to see this late
(07:00):
a race. If you think you'rea fan of NASCAR, but you'll only
watch the Cup or Exfinity and Cup, you're missing out because these are our
local drivers, regional drivers, andeven a lot of late model stock car
drivers coming from neighboring states. Theyall want to win this race, win
the prize money, and take homethat coveted Grandfather clock that every winner gets
at Martinsville Speedway. Well, man, I know that we're going to talk
(07:23):
again between now and then, butI'm also setting my sights on October.
I can see it. It's almosthere. And October is a tremendously exciting
month in NASCAR, in particular atMartinsville Speedway, it really is. We
look forward to that one because that'sthe penultimate race in the playoffs. You
know, you come in here witheight guys buying for the a spot in
(07:45):
the championship race at SEENIX the nextweek, and you leave with four.
So it is so critical, whichmakes this race a really, really good
race to come watch. It's nothinglike it. You know, We've got
at on Sunday, back up aday to Saturday, the Accinity Series are
running, and go back to Thursdayof that week it's the championship race for
(08:09):
the Wheeland Modified Tour in a NASCARin the world. So we've got three
great races that weekend, and youknow, that's the one you don't want
to miss because it's so critical.If if you don't make that top four
when you leave here, your championshiphopes are done, no doubt about it.
I guess we're at twelve coming intoTexas this weekend. Yeah, you're
right. So by the time youget to Martinsville, it's eight. After
(08:31):
that it is four so critical,and of course Martinsville has been known to
flare some tempers of drivers from timeto time, but they're gonna be racing
hard, especially those eight drivers,to try to finish well. And I
think it's going to be a spectacularweekend at Martinsville Speedway. Well, Clay,
always a pleasure to talk to you, and folks, you can find
out about everything we just talked aboutand even purchase your tickets at great prices
(08:56):
at Martinsville Speedway dot com. Iknow you guys have some great affordable packages
for folks to come out to theraces. We do thirty dollars for this
weekend children twelve and hundred three,and it's just going to be a great
race. If you've never seen agreat late Mossack carras, this is one
you need to be at. It'sa biggie thirty two thousand dollars to win
(09:18):
five thousand for the poll tonight andas you mentioned it, the Grandfather Clock,
all of that so much fun.All right, Well, Clay Campbell,
Track President Martinsville Speedway has always enjoyedour talk and we will talk again
soon before that end of October weekend. You got it. Thanks so much, Scott,
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