Martinsville Speedway Once Again Played Host to MHS After-Prom

The Martinsville High School Prom ended at midnight, but for students, the fun was just getting going.

In what has become an annual tradition, Martinsville Speedway hosted the school’s After-Prom Party.

“Prom night is such a big part of the high school experience and we’re glad to be a part of it,” Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell said. “It’s also nice to know that we’re playing a role in providing the students a safe place to have fun, after the prom is over.”

While the night was full of games, prizes and more dancing, the ultimate goal is to allow the kids to keep the night going, in a safe environment.

“This is a big day for these children,” Pam Allen, co-chair for After-Prom said. “They go out to dinner, they go to prom and then they want to keep going. This provides them a way to do that that’s both safe and fun.”

While many After-Prom parties are held back at the school, using Martinsville Speedway as the venue serves a two-fold purpose: logistics and uniqueness.

“The Speedway is a great place for Martinsville to host After-Prom,” Heidi Pinkston, who co-chaired the party along with Allen, said. “It’s a contained space. It’s also an opportunity for kids to come to the speedway and come to places in the speedway they otherwise might not ever be able to see.”

Any discussion of having After-Prom somewhere else, has been short-lived.

“There was a little talk about wanting to go somewhere else. There was a committee member there who said I was there when we did it the first year and there is nothing like what we can do at the speedway,” Allen said. “This is too good of an opportunity to be here, in this space.”

After a night of dancing and socializing, the party also offered students something they might not have had for a few hours.

“I’m here for the food. I was pretty hungry when I got here,” Taylor Colledge, a Martinsville High School senior, said. “I think it’s fun when it’s outside. It’s just something different.”

Racing returns to Martinsville Speedway in October.

The ValleyStar Credit Union 300 is scheduled for October 16. The race is NASCAR’s biggest, richest and most prestigious Late Model Stock Car race.

NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series and Sprint Cup Series return October 28-30 for the Goody’s® Fast Relief 500 race weekend.

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