Winning the Martinsville Late Model Stock 300 will always be a big deal but track president Clay Campbell is raising the stakes to simply make the main event on September 23.
First and foremost, the race boasts the largest purse in event history at $125,000. It pays $32,000-to-win the 200-lap main event but the most noteworthy purse elements come from outside the top-five thanks to regional partnerships with Hitachi Energy, Danville Toyota, The Lester Group, MaxPro and B99.
Campbell wants to ensure that teams continue to enter the event even if they aren’t obvious expected contenders.
“I think we’re in really good shape with the ValleyStar Credit Union 300,” Campbell said. “The entry blank is done. As you know, we’ve added about 15,000 to the purse, to the back end.
“We want to maintain that 70 to 90 car count and that helps. There are a lot of guys who come here and run, and they know they don’t have the best chance of winning but they want to run good and we want to help them. The front is loaded enough so we’re happy with that. We’ll have a good car count and we’re expecting a good race, our staff here really looks forward to that. I know the fans do too.”
The race, which drew over 90 cars last year, now pays $1,275 to start the main event from 31st to 40th. The top-five breakdown is as follows:
1. $32,000
2. $8,000
3. $6,000
4. $5,000
5. $4,000
The following bonuses are available as well.
$5,000 Martinsville Speedway Fastest Qualifier Award.
$5,000 Doughtons Racing Products Lap Leader Award paying $25 to the leader of each lap
$2,000 Clarence’s Steakhouse Award paying $1,000 to the leader at the stage breaks
$1,000 Sunoco/Sparks Oil Most Improved Position Award.
$3,300 (value) Grandfather Clock to the winner of the 200-Lap Feature.
As for the format, time trials continues to no longer locks anyone into main event. Everyone must race their way into the show via one of the four 25 lap qualifying heat races. There will be no Last Chance Race. Effectively, every qualifying race is a last chance qualifier.
RACE PROCEDURES
The NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Race Procedures (as per 2023 Rule Book) will be used for this event.
These procedures will include the double file “cone” restarts and the use of the “free pass car” procedures. Only lead lap cars, which are not under penalty or involved in the caution will be permitted to take the cone. All lapped cars, including the “free pass car” must re-start at the rear of the longest line of the lead lap cars. Race procedures will be explained during the pre-race driver, crew chief and spotter meetings.
This race will be run in three (3) stages. There will be a 5-minute break at or near the conclusion of lap 100 and lap 175.
During the break(s), crews will be allowed up to four (4) new tires only for the Feature Race that may be changed at their discretion during either break and make any other changes that can be made during the 5-minute break(s). All work during the break(s) must be performed in the car servicing area (pit stall) on pit road. No work is to be performed during any break Until the last car in the field is in its assigned pit stall. Cars are not required to pit during the break(s). At the end of the break(s), cars will be lined up in their respective running order at the time of caution in the following order:
1. Lead lap vehicles that did not pit.
2. Lead lap vehicles that pitted and returned to the track in the proper time allotment.
3. Lap(s) down vehicles that did not pit.
4. Lap(s) down vehicles that pitted and returned to the track in the proper time allotment.
5. Free Pass vehicle.
6. Vehicles under penalty.
Cars exiting pit road once the one to go signal is given will restart at the tail. The restart after the break(s) will be the normal “cone” restart for this event. All lapped cars, including the “free pass car” must restart at the rear of the longest line of the lead lap cars. When the Race Director is ready to resume the race after the 5-minute break(s), cars must be ready to return to competition or start at the rear of the field.
Caution laps will not be scored and counted in the four (4) 25-Lap Qualifying Races. Caution laps will be scored and counted in the Feature Event and in excess of the advertised distance if necessary. The race may be concluded with unlimited restart attempts at a green/white/checkered finish unless due to time restraints or adverse conditions a limit may be set and communicated to the competitors.
The complete entry blank, and the full regulations, can be viewed at the link below.
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