NASCAR-WCUP: Ticket Misconception, Martinsville Tickets Available Race Day
2 April 1999
Martinsville, VA---Sometimes, tickets for an event sell so fast that fans think they have no chance to get them and don't even try. NASCAR Winston Cup racing is one of the hottest tickets in sports but in most cases fans can still obtain them. And from the ticket office too, not scalpers.In Martinsville Speedway's case, it is impossible for the track to be sold out until race day because it puts thousands of unreserved seats on sale at 7:30 a.m. And, normally, there are reserved seats remaining on race morning.
"Right now, our sales are ahead of any other time in our 52-year history," said speedway president W. Clay Campbell. "But while the continuing popularity of racing obviously is great, it has created a new set of problems for some tracks, including a misconception among the fans.
"Most of the people who call up for tickets today usually say, 'I don't guess you have any tickets left, do you?' And they are surprised we have good seats available.
"Since we were the last track to go to the preferred seating arrangement, all our seats are not locked up. You don't have to wait for someone to die to get a ticket. We still have great seats in all our tower sections for the April race (Goody's Body Pain 500, April 18.) With few exceptions, most Winston Cup tracks can and will sell you a seat today," Campbell said.
Due to the large crowds, parking and traffic control are now major concerns.
The speedway, which opened in 1947, has never stopped making improvements in those areas. "Our new 50-acre parking area is going to be a tremendous help," Campbell said "and now we'll have four entrances into the grounds. Obviously, this is a prelude to building more seats when we need them.
"Most of the time, when we build new seats, they are sold before we can finish them. But despite the boom in racing, no track should ever take the fans for granted. We certainly don't at Martinsville.
"Where else can you go where the top ticket price is $60? And we will continue to offer the fans free parking, attended restrooms and affordable concessions. If it wasn't for the fans everyone from the drivers to the promoters would be out of business," Campbell said.
Martinsville Speedway is one of the few tracks where fans can purchase tickets online. The may be ordered at www.martinsvillespeedway.com., by calling (540) 956-3151 or by writing Martinsville Speedway, P.O. Box 3311, Martinsville, VA 24115.
"We just want the fans to know if they want to see a Martinsville race, they can get a ticket race morning," Campbell said.
Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot photos
and racing art, please visit The Racing Image
Galleries and The
Visions of Speed Art Gallery .