Martinsville Speedway, NASCAR racing track in Ridgeway, Virginia, United States
Martinsville Speedway is a motorsport racing track in Ridgeway, Virginia. The oval layout runs about 0.53 miles (0.85 kilometers) and combines asphalt straightaways with concrete turns in a paperclip shape, offering clear sightlines from all seating sections around the circuit.
The track opened in 1947 when H. Clay Earles, Henry Lawrence, and Sam Rice built one of the first paved ovals for racing. Races have continued without interruption since then, making it one of the oldest active NASCAR venues and a witness to generations of drivers and fans.
The venue presents winners with longcase clocks, recalling the local furniture industry that once thrived in the region. These trophies connect the races to the craftsmanship of nearby communities and shape celebrations with a distinctive symbol that has become part of every victory here for decades.
The facility holds around 44,000 visitors and features LED lighting that allows races after dark. Fans can sit along the entire circuit, with stands on both straightaways and in the turns offering close views of the action from every seat throughout the venue.
The circuit is the shortest in the NASCAR Cup and the only one hosting races continuously since 1948. This continuity turns the oval into a living archive of motorsport history, linking modern competitions to the early days of American racing in a way no other track can.
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