Martinsville Speedway and Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) announce a partnership for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race on Thursday, April 8th. The official name of the race is Virginia for Racing Lovers 200.

“When NASCAR Racing returns to Martinsville Speedway, we will be proud to expand our longstanding partnership with Virginia Tourism Corporation to promote and develop Commonwealth Tourism with Virginia for Racing Lovers 200,” said Clay Campbell, president of Martinsville . “We look forward to kicking off our extended three-race spring weekend with an exciting and competitive race in Virginia for Racing Lovers 200 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at Martinsville Speedway.”

“The Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 is a wonderful way to experience the excitement of motorsport and enjoy the outdoors,” said Rita McClenny, President and CEO of Virginia Tourism Corporation. “Martinsville Speedway is a popular destination for racing fans, and those who celebrate at such a legendary track will find out for themselves why Virginia is for racing enthusiasts.”

Martinsville Speedway will host an extended spring racing weekend on Thursday, April 8, 2021 with the Virginia for Racing Lovers 200 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. This is the first Modified Tour race in Martinsville since 2010 and the first of the night.

Martinsville hosted a modified race in the inaugural NASCAR season on July 4, 1948. The race was the third NASCAR-approved race in the history of the Commonwealth of Virginia. NASCAR’s National Modified Championship, the Predecessor of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, competed in Martinsville from 1960 to 1984. The modern Modified Tour was continued from 1985-2002 and 2005-2010 on the historic 800 m long short route. The series was originally scheduled to return to Martinsville last year but has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Race Virginia Legendary Ray Hendrick, who leads the career in Martinsville at 20, is the front runner in modified wins on the track at 13. NASCAR Hall of Famer Richie Evans is runner-up at 10. Mike Stefanik, who was elected to the 2021 class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame and one of the 10 greatest Modified Tour drivers of all time, holds today’s record with five victories in Martinsville. In qualifying for a modified event in 1986, Greg Sacks set the current Martinsville course record with a lap average of 101,014 mph.

Racing Virginia will be active in April as the Commonwealth will host two NASCAR Cup Series racing weekends in the same month for the first time since April 2017, with Martinsville April 8-10 and Richmond Raceway April 17-18. Richmond Raceway and VTC announced a partnership for Virginia for Racing Lovers 150 on Saturday, September 10th. It is the first time since 2002 that the Modified Tour competes in Richmond. This season, Richmond is celebrating its 75th anniversary with the Virginia for Racing Lovers 150 Modified Tour being part of the NASCAR Fall Playoff Weekend, September 10-11. For more information, visit richmondraceway.com.

To learn more about Virginia Tourism Corporation, visit virginia.org.

Martinsville Speedway PR

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