Did you know that our community has star power? Throughout the years, Martinsville - Henry County, Virginia has been featured in numerous films, programs, and reality TV shows. Several residents of the area have also been featured on TV and in film. Beautiful scenery, gracious amenities and a convenient location make Martinsville - Henry County a perfect location for filming.
Parts of the following films and TV shows were filmed in Martinsville - Henry County
Quest for the NASCAR Sprint Cup (2009)
According to NASCAR, this weekly, half-hour series is a "fast-paced, up-close HD look at the twelve drivers competing in the 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup". The series aired each week during the 2009 season on the network Versus and featured Martinsville Speedway in several episodes.
On the Road: Martinsville (2009-2010)
This series of programs airing on Blue Ridge PBS highlights several of the businesses and attractions in Martinsville - Henry County that make our community so unique. The series is made possible, in part, with a grant from The Harvest Foundation, supporting expanded coverage of Martinsville - Henry County as a place where everyone has the opportunity to live, work, and play.
Driver X (2005)
In this reality TV show 25 professional stock and sports car drivers compete for a chance to drive for the legendary Jack Roush and race in NASCAR'S Craftsman Truck Series. The series aired on The Discovery Channel from October 2005 to February 2006 and featured Martinsville Speedway as the competitors were tested on their ability to drive the challenging paper-clip shaped short track.
NASCAR 3D: The IMAX Experience (2004)
Filmed to be seen in 3D at IMAX Theaters where screens can be up to 8 stories tall, this movie puts viewers in the driver seat for a big-screen look into one of America's most successful entertainment industries- NASCAR racing. The film was released in 2004 and is narrated by Kiefer Sutherland. Filming NASCAR races in 3D was no easy task as the camera itself weighed more than 200 pounds and required four men to move it from once location to another. This film was winner of the 2005 Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing in Special Venue Film.
Cooking with Paul (2003-2010)
The Cooking with Paul Show began in 2003. Since then, Paul has been doing shows featuring businesses and various people who live, work and play in Martinsville - Henry County. The Cooking with Paul Show airs on local station BTW 21 Wednesdays at 1 pm and 8 pm, Fridays at 6 pm and Saturdays at 10 am. You can also watch Paul's shows livestream on BTW 21 at the same times. Fans of Chef Paul who are in the Rocky Mount viewing area can see the show on Channel 12. Check the local listings for times.
The Last American Hero (1973)
Staring names such as Jeff bridges, Ned Beatty and Gary Busey, this film was based on the true story of Junior Johnson's career as a NASCAR driver and moonshiner. This film takes us back to the early days of Martinsville Speedway. One of the driving stunts shown in the film is a technique called the "bootleg turn" where a driver escapes a pursuer by sharply turning his vehicle 180 degrees. Junior Johnson is credited with inventing the maneuver.
The following local businesses and individuals have been featured on national television programs
Great American BBQ Showdown (2010)
Tommy Houston, BBQ guru and owner of Pigs-R-Us in Martinsville, Virginia, was featured on this reality TV show. Four pasionate barbecue teams, armed and dangerous with their best barbecue recipes, competed in the South Carolina BBQ Championship held in Greenwood, South Carolina. The teams had to ace all four competition categories: pork, chicken, ribs and beef brisket in order to win $2500 and the title of "grand champion." Tommy's superb cooking skills paid off as the team won the title of Reserve Grand Champion in the contest.
The Amazing Race (2009)
Steve and Linda Coles of Bassett, Virginia competed in this CBS reality TV show as they vied to win a $1 million dollar prize. Challenges that the couple participated in include running down a mountain-side in the Swiss Alps, bungee jumping off a 70-story tall dam and transporting 200 pounds of cheese across a muddy hillside. The couple's role in the race ended as they came in tenth place to a check point in Salzburg, Austria, but left the Cole's with a lifetime of memories.
Who Wants to be a Millionaire (2002)
Nancy Redd started out life as a fairly ordinary girl in Martinsville VA, but quickly proved to the world how extraordinary she really was. After graduating from Laurel Park High School, Nancy went on the Harvard University to pursue a degree in Women's Studies. During her junior year of college she appeared on the ABC show Who Wants to be a Millionaire and won $250,000. The winning question was, In his 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech, Martin Luther King Jr. recites the first verse of which song. After graduating from Harvard with honors Nancy won the title of Miss Virginia and went on to make the Top 10 and win the swimsuit competition at Miss America. She's now an author and on a worldwide tour speaking about her new book, BODY DRAMA, for young women.
