MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Martinsville Speedway and Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) have renewed their partnership on the entitlement for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race on Oct. 27.
This year’s race will be the sixth time that Martinsville has hosted the Whelen Modified Tour season finale, with the first running dating back to 1985. The official name of the race will remain the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200.
“As we go back to our roots of racing in our 75th anniversary season with the return of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season finale, we are proud to welcome back our long-time partners at the Virginia Tourism Corporation,” said Clay Campbell, Martinsville Speedway president. “We value the opportunity to work closely with VTC to promote and develop tourism across the Commonwealth of Virginia with the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200.”
The Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 Whelen Modified Tour season finale will be part of the penultimate NASCAR Playoffs race weekend. This is the second consecutive year the track has hosted the Whelen Modified Tour.
“The Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 is a great way to experience the excitement of motorsports and enjoy the outdoors,” said Rita McClenny, president and CEO of Virginia Tourism Corporation. “Martinsville Speedway is a sought-after destination for racing fans and visitors celebrating at such an iconic track will discover for themselves why Virginia is for Racing Lovers.”
Martinsville hosted a modified race in NASCAR’s inaugural season on July 4, 1948. The race was the third NASCAR sanctioned race in history in Virginia.
NASCAR’s National Modified Championship, the predecessor to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, competed at Martinsville from 1960 to 1984. The modern-day NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour continued to race at the historic half-mile short track from 1985 to 2002, 2005 to 2010, and 2021.
Virginia racing legend Ray Hendrick is the all-time leader in modified wins at the track with 13 victories to his name. NASCAR Hall of Famer Richie Evans is second with 10 wins, with another NASCAR Hall of Famer, Mike Stefanik, holding the modern-day record with five wins.
In last season’s Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200, Ryan Preece set the Martinsville track record with a 101.768 mph lap in qualifying. The previous record was set in qualifying for a 1986 modified event, when Greg Sacks had a one-lap average of 101.014 mile-per-hour.
Eric Goodale was the race winner last year.