NASCAR Legend Ned Jarrett Named Honorary Pace Car Driver at Martinsville Speedway

NASCAR Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett, a championship winning driver and legendary broadcaster, has experienced just about everything in the world of NASCAR. However, there is one thing he has never done, until now. Jarrett will be the Honorary Pace Car Driver for the Goody’s^® Headache Relief Shot^® 500.

“Like Martinsville Speedway, Ned Jarrett is one of the most iconic and recognizable figures in our sport,” Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell said. “When he said he would be able to drive, I got excited. “I know how much it means to me, but more importantly I know how much it means to our fans. It’s going to be a really neat deal.”

Jarrett, who recently turned 83, said Martinsville is the perfect place for him to drive.

“One of the things that makes me feel good about it is knowing that the track hasn’t changed much,” Jarrett said. “They say you never forget how to ride a bicycle, well maybe I won’t have forgotten how to drive a car around Martinsville Speedway. I certainly look forward to it. It’s quite an honor.”

Jarrett, who won 50 races in his career, never won at Martinsville, despite it being his favorite type of track.

“Short-track racing was really my forte,” Jarrett said. “I was able to win the majority of my races on short-tracks, but I was just never really able to put it all together at Martinsville.”

However, his son Dale, who has followed right in his famous father’s footsteps from being a championship winning driver to the broadcast booth to the Hall of Fame, did win a grandfather clock.

As a father, that’s a memory he will never forget.

“Seeing Dale win there, that was special time, because I didn’t get to win there myself,” he said. “I was in contention a number of times, but was never able to pull off a win.

“That’s something that’s a bit of a void in my career because it is and always has been one of the most popular and one of the most challenging tracks on the circuit.”

In addition to Jarrett leading the field to the green flag, Martinsville Speedway will welcome back the N.C. State University Marching band to perform the National Anthem.

The Bandit Flyover Team will once again fly over the track before the race and the Rev. Jonathan Fallwell will give the invocation.

The Goody’s^® Headache Relief Shot^®500 race weekend starts on Friday with Virginia Lottery Pole Day.

The Camping World Truck Series will returns for the Kroger 200 on Saturday and the Goody’s^® Headache Relief Shot^® 500 is Sunday.

The Goody’s^® Headache Relief Shot^® 500 is the first race of the Eliminator Round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

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