Martinsville Speedway Gears Up for 15th Annual Christmas Toy Drive

For the 15th year, Martinsville Speedway is holding its Annual Christmas Toy Drive, to benefit less fortunate families during the holiday season.

For the second year in a row, the speedway will donate all proceeds and toys to the Grace Network of Martinsville and Henry County.

“The Christmas season should be a time of happiness, not having to worry where your next meal is coming from or wondering if Santa is going to visit or not,” Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell said. “We always want to do our part to bring as much happiness as possible on Christmas day.”

The Grace Network is a network of more than 100 churches in the area that works throughout the year helping support underprivileged families in the Martinsville and Henry County communities.

“Each day, Grace Network’s volunteers work with families who are struggling to overcome a financial crisis that, without our assistance, may cause them to lose their homes or their utilities because of a job loss or a major medical event that has spiraled these families into debt which they can’t emerge from,” Executive Director of Grace Network Tracy Hinchcliff said. “These families face worries and stress that most of us can’t comprehend. To have a toy or a special present to open at Christmas might seem like a small thing, but for a family at risk, it can be huge.”

The toy drive will start with online auctions, hosted on eBay. The auctions will begin on Friday, December 4 and run through December 12. The items include many autographed items from NASCAR personalities such as Jeff Gordon, Richard Petty and Dale Jr., along with Hot Passes to the STP 500 race weekend.

On Saturday, December 12, people can come to the speedway and get five minutes around the famous “Half-Mile of Mayhem” in their personal car, with a $10 donation or a new, unwrapped, unopened toy of the same value.

The first 25 people to donate $50 can ride with along with Clay Campbell in a stock car.

Santa will make an appearance at the track from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the Famous Martinsville Speedway Hot Dog™, coffee and hot chocolate will be available for purchase.

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.