Martinsville Race Not Sold Out|ABC 13

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Martinsville Race Not Sold Out

posted 8:07 pm Fri March 28, 2008 - Martinsville, VA

reporter: Brandon Herring posted by: Webteam

tags: nascar • racing • martinsville

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The excitement is building as the NASCAR (web|news) race at Martinsville speedway gets closer. The fans love being here at NASCAR's smallest track.

They say it has a feeling you just don't get at larger tracks, but some of them say they're worried about the future of racing here.

David Haddad, Race Fan - "Just the speed, the adrenaline, the passion you see those drivers going around with."

Janet Wheeler, Race Fan - "I plan this in January and they know: January I put in my vacation for April and October."

NASCAR races are always exciting for fans. And Martinsville is no different.

Ronald Blankenship, Race Fan - "I like the banging and bumping. It's racing really."

While a shaky economy isn't changing things for some fans.

Jarret Robertson, Race Fan - "You wanna still have fun so you gotta come out here and enjoy yourself."

Jeff and Shelly Bailess say they probably wouldn't have come if they hadn't gotten free tickets, and they're apparently not the only ones.

Wheeler - "It has to do with the gas prices and the ticket prices."

Sunday's race is not sold out yet. That's especially bad news at Martinsville where capacity is less than many other tracks around the country. Some people worry if both annual races don't sell out here, it could give NASCAR a reason to move one to a larger more profitable track.

Shelly Bailess, Race Fan - "Race tickets are frivolous. It's just a fun thing, and you just cut back where you have to. So if you have to stay home on Sunday afternoon and watch the race instead of being here, that's what you do."

And while Bailess is cutting back on traveling to races, she says there's still hope.

Bailess - "We're supposed to get this big check from the government in May and maybe we'll spend some of that on a race."

We tried to reach a representative of the track today to see if management is concerned about how the economy may impact the Martinsville Speedway, but he didn't respond. Of course the fans here this weekend are just focusing on the race and having fun. ABC-13 will be here to give you highlights of what's happening here this weekend.

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Latest Comment on Martinsville Race Not Sold Out

hunter007

4:05 pm on 03/29/08

You will see this start to trickle down to other races as well.Fans are getting tired of the Politics and those over priced tickets.The points system as it stands now is setup for auto maker.I for one have cut down even watching it on television.Maybe when that big HD scheme gets going then i will watch more.Not a chance.

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