Will the Easter Bunny Visit the Martinsville Speedway?

With the STP 500 race weekend just a week away, the more than 100 campers pulled into Martinsville Speedway Saturday morning to get ready for the race.

However, for a few campers, there is a more pressing issue: How will the Easter bunny know where they are?

Dayjo, a 5-year-old from Chesterfield, who is setting up camp with his grandparents, not only believes the Easter bunny will show up, but also knows just what he will be bringing with him.

“He knows everything, he said. “He’ll bring eggs with candy in it. That’s what Easter bunnies do.”

Dayjo’s grandfather, Roger Smith, may have given the Easter bunny a heads-up as to the change of location for 2016.

“We’ve informed the Easter bunny that we’re not in Chesterfield, we’re in Martinsville this weekend and he tells us he will be here,” Smith said.

However, 8-year-old Jake, from nearby Danville, isn’t so sure.

“I think so. I don’t know,” he said. “I’ve been thinking about that. I think it’s going to be pretty cool.”

But much like Dayjo, Jake’s father believes his son has nothing to worry about.

“The Easter bunny will be here,” Jason Hall said reassuringly. “The Easter bunny knows everything.”

While Dayjo is just down for the weekend setting up (Roger said he needs to wait a couple of years before he can stay for the whole week), the Hall
boys have no plans of going home, even though it’s less than 30 miles away.

“It’s spring break for my son and we’re going to stay all week,” Jason said. “I think it’s good guy time. It’s good for the fellas.

“He gets to learn to be conservative, not to use too much water, to go easy on power usage, things like that. I think it’s good he learns to be friendly around other people.”

Spending time with his son and seeing the STP 500 aren’t the only reasons Jason is camping this week though. He’s also excited to be reunited with folks like Smith.

“Roger and some of these folks around here, I’ve known for about five years and they are some of the best, closest friends that I think I’ve made,” he said. “They’ll do anything for you. They’ll give you the shirt off their back.

“I could come over here and just hang out with my friends, even if there wasn’t anything going on the track.”

General Admission camping at Martinsville Speedway is $100.

The STP 500 weekend starts with Virginia Lottery Pole Day on Friday and continues with the Alpha Energy Solutions 250 Camping World Truck Series race on Saturday.

The STP 500 Sprint Cup Series race is next Sunday.

Tickets start at $55.

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