Martinsville Resident Heading to Homestead to Fight for a Championship

The winner at Martinsville is headed to Homestead-Miami Speedway to fight for the championship. Of course, that winner is Brendon Shreve and it’s the Smithfield Whole Hog Challenge amateur eating championship that he’s fighting for.

Shreve, a Martinsville resident, won the qualifying round held at Martinsville Speedway on race morning.

“I was at the truck race on Saturday and just put my name in the box,” he said. “They called me on Saturday night and told my they chose my name.”

He never imagined what would happen next. 

“I just thought I was going to go eat some free bacon, to tell you the truth,” he said. “I didn’t think I was going to win it.”

But he did win and now he and his wife are leaving Friday to head to Homestead for the championship round of the contest and to watch the Championship Round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

“We’ve held qualifying events at 16 racetracks this year, and each one of them have been a thrill,” said Dennis Pittman, Smithfield Senior Director of Corporate Communications. Smithfield is the primary sponsor of the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports race team with driver Aric Almirola. Petty and Almirola have helped co-emcee the contests throughout the season. “We’ve enjoyed giving race fans the opportunity to win some really great prizes, meet ‘The King’ and Aric, and enjoy our flavorful bacon and ribs!”

While he didn’t expect to win at Martinsville, the 31-year-old did say he’s ready for the next challenge.

“I’ve been practicing eating my whole life. I’m from Martinsville, so I should be good to go,” he laughed. “I’m going to give them a run for the money.”

And if he wins, he’s going to celebrate like a champion should.

“Oh man, we’re going to blow it out,” he said. “We’re going to South Beach.”

As for the Championship Race, Shreve wouldn’t pick a winner, but he did make a prediction.

“I predict it’s going to be interesting,” he said. “I’m a Jimmie Johnson fan, so it really doesn’t matter to me who wins. I just know it’s going to be a good race.”

Should Shreve win the Smithfield Whole Hog Challenge championship, he will win a trip to the 2016 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.

NASCAR returns to Martinsville Speedway April 1-3, 2016 for the STP 500 race weekend.

The weekend starts on Friday, April 1, with Virginia Lottery Pole Day and the Camping World Truck Series will return on April 2.

The STP 500 is on April 3. The race will mark the first short-track on the schedule and is the first race back on the east coast after the “west-coast” swing.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.