Late Model Stock Car racing’s richest and most prestigious event is the latest event to be canceled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Shortly after Richmond Raceway announced that fans would not be in attendance for its upcoming NASCAR Cup Series race on September 12th, Martinsville Speedway announced its decision to cancel the 2020 running of the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 – a major blow to the Late Model Stock Car community which has now lost its two biggest races.
“The ValleyStar Credit Union 300 is a tradition that brings the Racing Virginia community together to root for their favorite local racers at The Short Track, so we will miss this annual day of competition due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell said in a statement.
ValleyStar Credit Union, which has sponsored the event since 2014, said it supported the decision made by Martinsville Speedway.
“We value our relationship with Martinsville Speedway and NASCAR,” Delbert Lee Morgan, CEO/President of ValleyStar Credit Union said in a Martinsville Speedway statement. “This prestigious late model race has been featured under the lights since 2017 and it is an important event for our community. We support the decision to cancel the race due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is imperative that we consider the safety of all spectators, teams and drivers.”
The ValleyStar Credit Union 300 has been an iconic event in short track racing. Racers such as Mark Martin, Mike Skinner, Timothy Peters, Dennis Setzer, Philip Morris, Lee Pulliam, Barry Beggarly, Curtis Markham and Josh Berry have won the race throughout its history.
Friday’s decision marks the first time the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 has been canceled by the speedway. The cancelation also comes just days after Myrtle Beach Speedway, which hosted the Myrtle Beach 400, ran its final race.
While the two biggest events of the season will not be held, the Solid Rock Carriers CARS Tour still plans to run its $30,000 Old North State Nationals at Orange County Speedway on October 17th. Florence Motor Speedway, which will be run by former Myrtle Beach Speedway general manager Steve Zacharias, and Carteret County Speedway also have major Late Model Stock Car events planned for the fall, and the Thanksgiving Classic at Southern National Motorsports Park is still scheduled to commence in November.
