October 22, 2024 • 8 mins
Scott Stevens talks racing with Clay Campbell, track president at Martinsville Speedway, about the next two upcoming racing weekends including the final race before the NASCAR championship weekend!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
For iHeartRadio. I'm Scott Stevens, and we're talking racing. We're
talking racing with the president of Martinsville Speedway for gosh,
thirty five thirty six years, I think, mister Clay Campbell.
How are you doing, sir?
Speaker 2 (00:12):
I'm great, Scott. How are you doing good?
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Of course you started as president at what nineteen years old?
Speaker 2 (00:16):
I think, right, Well, it was before I started, right
right after graduation of high school. I'm just kidding it.
It has been a while, that's for sure, you know.
I think I became resident in eighty eight, so yeah,
it's been a long journey.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Well, I was about one year behind you. Eighty nine
is when I got into radio, So I always tell people, Yeah,
I started when I was twelve, you know.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
So yeah there, Well I actually did quite frankly both anyway.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Well, yeah you did because growing up in a racing family,
you were at the track when you could walk.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Oh yeah, yeah. And I started working here in the summers,
you know, back when I was in high school. So
I've been here.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Well that's awesome. You've seen a lot of change through
the years in NASCAR, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Yes, it's been it's been very interesting. To see how
NASCAR has just gone through the decades and the improvements,
and it's just it's nothing like it was years and
years ago.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
No doubt about it. I love the improvements and I
love that we're coming down here to the end of
the season and Martinsville is the final race before the championship.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Yeah, so that's that's pretty cool. We like that spot.
I think we have found our home being the last
race before they go out to Phoenix for the championship.
I mean, think about it. You have, it's the round
of eight. So you come in here with eight guys
buying for that shot at a championship, and you leave
with four. So I mean, in itself, that just speaks
(01:45):
the excitement, especially here at Martinsall.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Well, and you know, the only one locked in at
this point of those four is Joey Logano for his
win last weekend.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Right, Yeah, you're right, So he punched his ticket, so
he'll be one of before. You know, it's always interesting
to see and you think about Joey, I mean, he
came from being out of the championship to back in it,
to winning the race to now being in the in
the championship four. So he's He's really made a big
(02:16):
change in just a week.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Yeah, no doubt about it. In the uh, you know,
as you look down the list of potential for the
final four, Christopher Bell right there knocking on the door,
Kyle Larson and William Byron a fan favorite at Martinsville.
That's where they stand right now. But that could really
change a.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Lot, it could. And you know you've got you got
different tracks coming up. You got obviously Miami and Martinsvill.
It would be hard to say, all right, say Christopher
Bell or Larson. It would be hard to point on
either either one of those or Lgano having you know,
being a favorite. Although I will say Larson is pretty tough.
(02:57):
I don't care where he goes. He's pretty tough. So
it's going to be it's going to be a dogfight
all the way to the end.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
And of course don't forget about Hamlin sitting right there
below the cut line in fifth, Reddick, Blainey and Elliott.
They're all in potential to be one of those final four,
depending on how the how things end up.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Now, you're right, Scott, all of them are good. I mean,
every one of them has an opportunity to punch their
ticket to the championship. I mean, you look at Hamlin,
has never won one, and you know he's hungry for
championship and he'll do what it takes to get in there.
The other guys you mentioned, they're incredible talents. What can
I say? They're just really good. Their teams are good.
(03:40):
So it's going to be you know, the fans are
the beneficiary of everything we're talking about here, how good
these teams are, how good the drivers are, and you
can't really say, oh, this one is a favorite over
that one. They're all good.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Well, I tell you, we're all excited about race weekend
coming up next weekend at Martinsville. But before we talk
about that, let's talk ab out this weekend. You've got
some excitement coming up at the track this this coming weekend.
Tell us about that.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Yeah, we do. It's uh, it's it's a busy time
for us here at Martinsville. This weekend. We have the
Virginias for Racing Lovers three hundred. It's a double header
with the NASCAR Wheeling Modified Tour that happens to be
we talk about championship, this happens to be their championship event,
so it will be determined Saturday night. The other race
we're running, which is totally new, it's the Masa m
(04:30):
X five Cup, which is a part of EMS, which
NASCAR owns that. But it's it's going to be an
incredible event. These are the uh, well I'll say Masa
m X five Cup. Fans know these cars as miatas. Okay, Well,
I say, yeah, they're they're four cylinder meat race cars.
If I say this weekend is going to be open
top and open wheel, these cars don't have a top
(04:52):
on them and modifiers don't have fenders, so open top,
open wheel, it's going to be great. Hundred laps for
those guys. Two hundred laps the modified What a night
of racing you're going to see. And the me out
is they don't run This is the first oval track
they've ever run. Wow, they run road courses, so this
will be their first oval. I think all of those
guys are excited about it. We've had two tests within
(05:15):
the past year and they really really enjoyed it. Surprised
at how well they did. I am forcing the car
and they're running over one hundred miles an hour. Yeah,
they fly through the turn you can't go but so
fast with a four cylinder down the straight away, but
they're going through the turns as fast as any division
we've got here.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
I mean it's almost us a break much. Yeah, I
was going to say they don't even hardly have to
let up on a track like Martinsville.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Now they let up, get on the break and get
the thing wowed up just a little bit and they
owe left rottle and right back in. So I think
the fans are really going to enjoy it. I can't
wait to see it myself.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Yeah, that's going to be fun. Look forward to seeing that.
I've got some experience with the wheeler modified during my
time at Motor Mile Speedway. Those are exciting cars too, man,
they really up. Oh.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
They have always been a fan favorite here at Martswall.
I mean you mentioned modified, it's synonymous with saying Martinsall.
They have been here so long ground pounders and you know,
six hundred horsepower and oh gosh, they get with it.
And and you talk about modified versus a cup car,
(06:20):
You've got a modified ways half what a cup car.
Ways towers are wider than a cup car. They get
with the program. And you know, I said, the Moses
run one hundred here top speed on a modify is
about one hundred and twenty five. It's an exciting race.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
I love that one, no doubt about it. That's coming
up this Saturday. None like Saturday night racing under the lights.
I know it's been a while now, but still I
love saying under the lights that Martinsville. So glad that
happened all those years ago. And it's like going to
your hometown track, only faster. And of course you know,
it's very affordable to come to that race Saturday night
(06:58):
as well.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Absolutely thirty five dollars, children under twelve free. It's just
going to be a great you know weather, it looks great,
so it's going to be a super night to be
out enjoying some great racing here at Martinsall Speedway. Give
us a call eight seven seven Race kicks or go
on line at Martinsall Speedway or in the area stop
by the office here. But I guarantee you'll really have
a good time.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Well, no doubt about it. Well, let's plan to talk
again next week, because you got a whole weekend of
racing November first, November second, and then of course November
the third, a big weekend of racing. We'll give a
little preview right now. Tell us what's going on Friday
through Sunday.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Yeah, it is a big, big weekend, so every major
division of NASCAR will be running here next week. Friday
night it's the truck Race, Saturday for the Expinity Series,
Funday for the Cup, and all of them determine the
championship four to go to Phoenix. So three great races.
If you're into NASCAR racing, martins Ball is the place
to be for the next ten days.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Might as well just go down there and stay for
the whole time you. Camping space is available for folks too,
don't you.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Absolutely for both events. We open up for the this
weekend and also we open up Saturday and Sunday for
next weekend. So yeah, this is a This is a
great place to spend a week. I'm looking out the
wind and out at the trees turning turning colors. It's
just a beautiful time of year. Temperatures are going to
be really comfortable, and what better way to enjoy it
(08:24):
than being here at Marshall Speedway, No.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Doubt about it. Clay Campbell, Martinsville Speedway. We'll talk again
next week after Homestead and kind of see where we
stand in the playoff picture coming into Martinsville.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Okay, sounds good, Scott, all right, thank you,
For iHeartRadio. I'm Scott Stevens, and we're talking racing. We're
talking racing with the president of Martinsville Speedway for gosh,
thirty five thirty six years, I think, mister Clay Campbell.
How are you doing, sir?
Speaker 2 (00:12):
I'm great, Scott. How are you doing good?
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Of course you started as president at what nineteen years old?
Speaker 2 (00:16):
I think, right, Well, it was before I started, right
right after graduation of high school. I'm just kidding it.
It has been a while, that's for sure, you know.
I think I became resident in eighty eight, so yeah,
it's been a long journey.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Well, I was about one year behind you. Eighty nine
is when I got into radio, So I always tell people, Yeah,
I started when I was twelve, you know.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
So yeah there, Well I actually did quite frankly both anyway.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Well, yeah you did because growing up in a racing family,
you were at the track when you could walk.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Oh yeah, yeah. And I started working here in the summers,
you know, back when I was in high school. So
I've been here.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Well that's awesome. You've seen a lot of change through
the years in NASCAR, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Yes, it's been it's been very interesting. To see how
NASCAR has just gone through the decades and the improvements,
and it's just it's nothing like it was years and
years ago.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
No doubt about it. I love the improvements and I
love that we're coming down here to the end of
the season and Martinsville is the final race before the championship.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Yeah, so that's that's pretty cool. We like that spot.
I think we have found our home being the last
race before they go out to Phoenix for the championship.
I mean, think about it. You have, it's the round
of eight. So you come in here with eight guys
buying for that shot at a championship, and you leave
with four. So I mean, in itself, that just speaks
(01:45):
the excitement, especially here at Martinsall.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Well, and you know, the only one locked in at
this point of those four is Joey Logano for his
win last weekend.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Right, Yeah, you're right, So he punched his ticket, so
he'll be one of before. You know, it's always interesting
to see and you think about Joey, I mean, he
came from being out of the championship to back in it,
to winning the race to now being in the in
the championship four. So he's He's really made a big
(02:16):
change in just a week.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Yeah, no doubt about it. In the uh, you know,
as you look down the list of potential for the
final four, Christopher Bell right there knocking on the door,
Kyle Larson and William Byron a fan favorite at Martinsville.
That's where they stand right now. But that could really
change a.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Lot, it could. And you know you've got you got
different tracks coming up. You got obviously Miami and Martinsvill.
It would be hard to say, all right, say Christopher
Bell or Larson. It would be hard to point on
either either one of those or Lgano having you know,
being a favorite. Although I will say Larson is pretty tough.
(02:57):
I don't care where he goes. He's pretty tough. So
it's going to be it's going to be a dogfight
all the way to the end.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
And of course don't forget about Hamlin sitting right there
below the cut line in fifth, Reddick, Blainey and Elliott.
They're all in potential to be one of those final four,
depending on how the how things end up.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Now, you're right, Scott, all of them are good. I mean,
every one of them has an opportunity to punch their
ticket to the championship. I mean, you look at Hamlin,
has never won one, and you know he's hungry for
championship and he'll do what it takes to get in there.
The other guys you mentioned, they're incredible talents. What can
I say? They're just really good. Their teams are good.
(03:40):
So it's going to be you know, the fans are
the beneficiary of everything we're talking about here, how good
these teams are, how good the drivers are, and you
can't really say, oh, this one is a favorite over
that one. They're all good.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Well, I tell you, we're all excited about race weekend
coming up next weekend at Martinsville. But before we talk
about that, let's talk ab out this weekend. You've got
some excitement coming up at the track this this coming weekend.
Tell us about that.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Yeah, we do. It's uh, it's it's a busy time
for us here at Martinsville. This weekend. We have the
Virginias for Racing Lovers three hundred. It's a double header
with the NASCAR Wheeling Modified Tour that happens to be
we talk about championship, this happens to be their championship event,
so it will be determined Saturday night. The other race
we're running, which is totally new, it's the Masa m
(04:30):
X five Cup, which is a part of EMS, which
NASCAR owns that. But it's it's going to be an
incredible event. These are the uh, well I'll say Masa
m X five Cup. Fans know these cars as miatas. Okay, Well,
I say, yeah, they're they're four cylinder meat race cars.
If I say this weekend is going to be open
top and open wheel, these cars don't have a top
(04:52):
on them and modifiers don't have fenders, so open top,
open wheel, it's going to be great. Hundred laps for
those guys. Two hundred laps the modified What a night
of racing you're going to see. And the me out
is they don't run This is the first oval track
they've ever run. Wow, they run road courses, so this
will be their first oval. I think all of those
guys are excited about it. We've had two tests within
(05:15):
the past year and they really really enjoyed it. Surprised
at how well they did. I am forcing the car
and they're running over one hundred miles an hour. Yeah,
they fly through the turn you can't go but so
fast with a four cylinder down the straight away, but
they're going through the turns as fast as any division
we've got here.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
I mean it's almost us a break much. Yeah, I
was going to say they don't even hardly have to
let up on a track like Martinsville.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Now they let up, get on the break and get
the thing wowed up just a little bit and they
owe left rottle and right back in. So I think
the fans are really going to enjoy it. I can't
wait to see it myself.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Yeah, that's going to be fun. Look forward to seeing that.
I've got some experience with the wheeler modified during my
time at Motor Mile Speedway. Those are exciting cars too, man,
they really up. Oh.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
They have always been a fan favorite here at Martswall.
I mean you mentioned modified, it's synonymous with saying Martinsall.
They have been here so long ground pounders and you know,
six hundred horsepower and oh gosh, they get with it.
And and you talk about modified versus a cup car,
(06:20):
You've got a modified ways half what a cup car.
Ways towers are wider than a cup car. They get
with the program. And you know, I said, the Moses
run one hundred here top speed on a modify is
about one hundred and twenty five. It's an exciting race.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
I love that one, no doubt about it. That's coming
up this Saturday. None like Saturday night racing under the lights.
I know it's been a while now, but still I
love saying under the lights that Martinsville. So glad that
happened all those years ago. And it's like going to
your hometown track, only faster. And of course you know,
it's very affordable to come to that race Saturday night
(06:58):
as well.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Absolutely thirty five dollars, children under twelve free. It's just
going to be a great you know weather, it looks great,
so it's going to be a super night to be
out enjoying some great racing here at Martinsall Speedway. Give
us a call eight seven seven Race kicks or go
on line at Martinsall Speedway or in the area stop
by the office here. But I guarantee you'll really have
a good time.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Well, no doubt about it. Well, let's plan to talk
again next week, because you got a whole weekend of
racing November first, November second, and then of course November
the third, a big weekend of racing. We'll give a
little preview right now. Tell us what's going on Friday
through Sunday.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Yeah, it is a big, big weekend, so every major
division of NASCAR will be running here next week. Friday
night it's the truck Race, Saturday for the Expinity Series,
Funday for the Cup, and all of them determine the
championship four to go to Phoenix. So three great races.
If you're into NASCAR racing, martins Ball is the place
to be for the next ten days.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Might as well just go down there and stay for
the whole time you. Camping space is available for folks too,
don't you.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Absolutely for both events. We open up for the this
weekend and also we open up Saturday and Sunday for
next weekend. So yeah, this is a This is a
great place to spend a week. I'm looking out the
wind and out at the trees turning turning colors. It's
just a beautiful time of year. Temperatures are going to
be really comfortable, and what better way to enjoy it
(08:24):
than being here at Marshall Speedway, No.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Doubt about it. Clay Campbell, Martinsville Speedway. We'll talk again
next week after Homestead and kind of see where we
stand in the playoff picture coming into Martinsville.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Okay, sounds good, Scott, all right, thank you,
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