NASCAR WCUP: Martinsville Speedway Begins Work On Tunnel
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
July 25, 2001
MARTINSVILLE, VA. – It may not be a tunnel of love, but it’ s a tunnel everyone will love. Martinsville Speedway officials unveiled plans this morning for a 160-foot pedestrian tunnel under the racing surface in the fourth turn of the .526-mile oval.
Work has already begun on the project, which is expected to be completed in two weeks.
The addition of the tunnel will allow pedestrian traffic in and out of the infield regardless of what is happening on the racing surface.
“We have always tried to keep our facility up to the level the competitors and fans have come to expect from us over the years,” said Martinsville president Clay Campbell. “Although Martinsville Speedway was built in 1947, we feel with the addition of the tunnel we will have practically everything a new speedway would have.”
The tunnel will consist of 26 precast reinforced concrete boxes that are eight feet wide and eight feet high. The 160-foot long tunnel will be 15 feet underground in its lowest point.
“My hat’s off to Clay and the staff at Martinsville for adding the tunnel,” Winston Cup driver Rusty Wallace said Monday morning. “I think that it should be some kind of rule that all tracks have continuous access from the inside to the outside.
“The thing is that with Martinsville being a great short track, Clay and his guys wanted to get the job done and do it so that the fans’ view of all the action wouldn’t be affected at all. It’s another super move by Clay and the Martinsville staff.”
The addition of the tunnel will make life easier for anyone who needs to enter or leave the infield any time cars are on the track. No longer will members of the media or crew members or even drivers have to wait for a break in practice to get in or out of the infield.
It will be especially beneficial during the hectic Friday of Winston Cup week when the track can remain open instead of periodically closing for the crossover gate to open. Campbell said he expects the tunnel will save at least a half-hour of track time on those busy Fridays.
The tunnel has been one of the most daunting projects Campbell has faced since he took over as president of Martinsville Speedway 1988, but he believes the end product will be worth the time, effort and expense.
“It’s definitely a challenge in doing our construction projects with a facility already in existence rather than starting one from scratch,” said Campbell. “With new tracks being built, the bar has been raised and we fully intend, as we have for over 50 years, to continue keeping up with the times.”
The general contractor for the project is Steve Martin Trenching, Inc. of Bassett, Va., while Hanson Pipe and Products of Salem, Va., is providing the precast concrete sections.
The next racing action at Martinsville Speedway will be the Taco Bell 300 Late Model Stock Car race on Sunday, Sept. 30. The Taco Bell 300 offers the largest purse in Late Model Stock racing.
The Advance Auto Parts 200 NASCAR Featherlite Modified Tour race is set for Saturday, October 13 while the 46th annual Old Dominion 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race is scheduled for Sunday, October 14.
Tickets for the Taco Bell 300 and Advance Auto Parts 200 are unreserved. There still are excellent reserved seats available for the Old Dominion 500 in the towers from $40-$70.
Tickets may be ordered by calling toll free at 1-877-722-3849 or (540) 956-3151.
Tickets for the Old Dominion 500 also may be ordered online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.
Text provided by Mike Smith
Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot photos and racing art, please visit The Racing Image Galleries and The Visions of Speed Art Gallery .