JR Motorsports co-owner and general manager Kelley Earnhardt announced today that Hayes Jewelers will serve as primary sponsor of the team’s No. 72 late model entry at Martinsville Speedway for the Virginia Is For Racing Lovers 300 on Oct. 9. 20-year-old Josh Berry will drive the Hayes Jewelers Chevrolet for the event.
Owned by Bruce Hayes and based in Lexington, N.C., Hayes Jewelers has been known as the “King of Diamonds” since 1939. The company’s involvement in NASCAR dates back to the 1950’s when it sponsored numerous races at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C. All totaled, Hayes owns 19 modified championships as a car owner over the years.
“Mr. Hayes and Hayes Jewelers have been a huge supporter of NASCAR and local short-track racing for decades,” said JRM late model team manager L.W. Miller. “We’re very appreciative of his support for this race, and we’re hopeful we can get the Hayes Jewelers Chevrolet to victory lane next month at Martinsville.”
Hayes’ initial involvement with the Earnhardt family began in the early 1980’s when he sponsored Dale Earnhardt Sr. in races at Caraway Speedway. Hayes built the .455-mile speedway, located in Asheboro, N.C., in 1966. Originally a dirt track, he spearheaded a paving effort to the facility in 1972 and finally sold it in 1977.
“I’ve always been on the lookout for young up-and-comers,” Hayes said. “Joining forces with JR Motorsports and giving Josh an opportunity is exciting for us. Martinsville is a great, historic short track and sure to be a very entertaining race.”
Berry and the No. 72 Hayes Jewelers team will participate in an open test session at Martinsville Speedway on Wed., Sept. 21, 2011 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in preparation for the race. The test session is open to the public.
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