28th Annual Martinsville Speedway Christmas Toy Drive Raises $19,200 & Collects Over 400 Toys from Martinsville Community

Martinsville Speedway held the 28th Annual Christmas Toy Drive to benefit the Grace Network of Martinsville and Henry County on Saturday, Dec. 3. The traditional holiday event raised $19,200 in donations and collected over 400 toys that will be distributed to families in need this Christmas season.

“We are grateful to the Martinsville and Henry County community coming together to impact the lives of others this holiday season for the 28th Annual Christmas Toy Drive,” said Clay Campbell, Martinsville Speedway President. “Thanks to our valued Martinsville Speedway partners, race fans and community for donating to the Grace Network’s efforts to support families this Christmas season.”

The Christmas Toy Drive welcomed the greater Martinsville region to donate an unwrapped toy or $25 for the opportunity to drive laps around the iconic track in their personal vehicles. In addition to hundreds of members of the community, AEP, Bassett Furniture, Campbell Family Foundation, Patrick & Henry Community College all made significant contributions to the 28th Annual Christmas Toy Drive.

To download images from the 28th Annual Christmas Toy Drive, click here.

“Well, it’s that wonderful time of the year as it begins to look like Christmas in our homes and towns. But in some homes, there are tough times and not so much joy and laughter. That’s why Grace Network teams up with Martinsville Speedway for the annual toy drive,” said Tracy Hinchcliff, Executive Director, Grace Network of Martinsville and Henry County. “To have the ability to bring joy and smiles to kids that otherwise might not be able to experience that wonderful gift of love on Christmas morning, is so precious to all of us that can make it possible in this small way. This year we were able to serve over 800 kiddos and we were so blessed to be able to do that. We are grateful to a community that pitches in and helps make it all happen and particularly grateful to NASCAR and the Martinsville Speedway to continue to change lives right here in our community. To give back is what it’s all about and Martinsville Speedway is really good at it and we are grateful! Thank you to the Speedway staff and the Grace Network volunteers that makes the magic happen. Merry Christmas, everyone!”

The donated toys and monetary donations will be distributed to over 800 area children through the Grace Network of Martinsville and Henry County, which is a faith-based, first-stop center for resources for families in crisis. The organization supports those in the community who need support to keep a roof over their heads, homes warm and lighted, and food on the table with short-term assistance and long-term solutions. To learn more about the Grace Network of Martinsville and Henry County, visit gracenetworkmhc.org.

Over 28 years, the annual Christmas Toy Drive has impacted over 21,000 area children through nearly $320,000 in donations and over 50,000 toys to unwrap on Christmas morning in Martinsville and Henry County. The Christmas Toy Drive is one of the most popular events in the region with residents from Henry County and the surrounding counties in Virginia and North Carolina coming to support the community and take laps on the same historic half-mile short track as NASCAR’s biggest stars.

2023 NASCAR Season

As part of NASCAR’s 75th anniversary season, Martinsville will host all three NASCAR national series on April 14-16, 2023, featuring the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series on Friday, April 14 at 3:30 p.m. Xfinity Series on Saturday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m. and the Cup Series on Sunday, April 16 at 3:00 p.m.

The ValleyStar Credit Union 300, the nation’s biggest, richest and most prestigious NASCAR Late Model Stock Car race, will return for an evening of intense competition next fall.

Martinsville will host the Whelen Modified Tour season finale on Thursday, Oct. 26 and penultimate races of the Xfinity Series in the Dead On Tools 250 on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m. and the Cup Series for the fourth consecutive season in the Xfinity 500 on Sunday, Oct. 29 at 2:00 p.m. In an intense short track battle that can only happen at Martinsville, the races will set the field for the respective series for the NASCAR Championships the following week at Phoenix Raceway.

2023 NASCAR tickets are available for purchase via phone at 877-RACE-TIX or online at martinsvillespeedway.com. Fans can view the full 2023 NASCAR schedule and purchase tickets at www.nascar.com/2023schedule.