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Clay Campbell, Ken Schrader Join Forces For Daytona, Talladega ARCA Races

Two longtime racing friends, Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell and NASCAR Sprint Cup veteran Ken Schrader, are joining forces on the track in 2014.

Schrader recently announced that Campbell would drive two superspeedway events in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards in 2014 for Ken Schrader Racing, Inc.

Schrader's team will run the entire ARCA Series, with Schrader and 17-year-old Matt Tifft filling out the remaining 18 events.

Campbell will be in the No. 52 Chevrolet for the February 15 season-opener at Daytona International Speedway and the May 3 event at Talladega Superspeedway. Campbell and Schrader bring sponsors to the car they both have longtime ties with. Federated Auto Parts, which is in its 15th year as a partner with Schrader, will be the primary sponsor on the car the entire season. Mountain Dew, which has aligned with Campbell since 2011, will be an associate sponsor for the two superspeedway races.

Campbell isn't a newcomer to the driving side of auto racing. It will be the second consecutive season he has run the two ARCA superspeedway events. He has competed in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Late Model Stock Series at weekly tracks throughout the region for more than 20 years. In 2001 he won the Limited Late Model Sportsman championship at Caraway Speedway.

For the past few years he has raced in as many NASCAR K&N Pro Series East events as possible.

While Campbell's passion for racing is well known in the sport, he readily admits his hobby helps with his fulltime career.

"I think that being on the competitor side of this business has given me an understanding of ‘the other side' that I wouldn't have gotten otherwise," said Campbell, who will bring Mountain Dew as an associate sponsor for the two races he runs for KSR. "The success of this sport relies on car owners, drivers, sponsors and tracks. It helps me to have a feel for what it takes to make all those groups work together so we can continue to grow.

"With me being a driver, I certainly think it helps in my communication with our competitors. They know I have somewhat of an understanding of what they are faced with, which in the long run helps what I do here at Martinsville Speedway."

Campbell said it is especially exciting to be driving for Schrader, a driver he has welcomed across the pre-race stage many times at Martinsville Speedway.

"Growing up in this sport like I have, obviously, I've known Ken and followed his career for a long time and have tremendous respect for him," Campbell said. "To now drive for him in the Federated Auto Parts No. 52 is really a highlight of my life.  Ken loves racing and has a passion for it just like I do. He knows both sides of this business by being a driver as well as a track owner.  I'm the same way, just the exact opposite.

"I enjoy racing at Daytona and Talladega and with Ken, his equipment and his team, I really think we have a great opportunity to run well.  For him to have confidence enough to put me in that car means a great deal to me and I'm looking forward to it."

Racing returns to Martinsville Speedway March 28-30 with the STP 500 weekend. Tickets are on sale and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com.