Gene Martin Receives Martinsville Speedway Grandfather Clock Trophy After Winning Fans 500

Gene Martin isn’t a name that’s known throughout the NASCAR world. However, the Rupert, W.Va. native will forever be in the same club as Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, Dale Earnhardt Sr., Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and so many others, as the proud owner of a Martinsville Speedway grandfather clock trophy.

For every ticket purchased to the STP 500, the purchaser was entered into the Fans 500, a drawing where one ticket holder would have his or her name drawn to take home the same clock as the race winner. Martin, who’s been coming to Martinsville Speedway for nearly 30 years and said he has never won anything in his life, was drawn.

“I never thought I’d ever win anything like that,” Martin said. “I don’t play the lottery or nothing like that. I was one of quite a few thousand people who were there.”

Martin, who works an overnight shift at the Greenbrier, was in bed when the call came.

“I was in shock, but it was a good shock,” he said. “I couldn’t believe it. It’s unreal. I never thought that there was any way I would win the clock.

“Dale Jr. finally won the clock and for anyone who saw how excited he was to win it, it was unreal. I’m just as happy for my clock.”

Martin, a self-described collector of NASCAR memorabilia, said the clock will stand out in his collection.

“It’s number one,” he said. “Ahead of my Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin autographs.”

“It’ means a lot to me. To see so many drivers who haven’t won a race there, and I won one by the luck-of-the-draw. It means the world to me that I was lucky enough to win this clock.”

Racing returns to Martinsville Speedway October 27-29 for the Old Dominion 500 race weekend.

The Old Dominion 500 is the only short-track race in NASCAR’s playoffs and the winner may be the first driver to lock in a spot in the Championship Race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Last year, Jimmie Johnson won the race, his ninth at Martinsville, on the way to winning his record-tying seventh NASCAR Premier Series Championship.

The Old Dominion 500 will also celebrate the historic track’s 70th anniversary.

Opening its doors in 1947, Martinsville Speedway is the only track still hosting Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Races from NASCAR’s original 1949 schedule.

Tickets to the Old Dominion 500 are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.

Martinsville Speedway PR