Father and Son Make the Race at Martinsville

RIDGEWAY, VA :: Last Sunday’s MDCU 300 featured the first father-and-son race team to make the big race since 1995.

Long time Late Model racer Terry Carroll and sophomore Late Model racer Justin Carroll both made the feature race at Martinsville Speedway. Both drivers can usually be found at the confines of Langley Speedway on Saturday nights, while occasionally racing at South Boston Speedway, and making trips to East Carolina Motor Speedway as well. While it’s been a struggle for both drivers this year finding success, the tireless efforts and the dedication to do the best with what they have paid off for them both at Martinsville.

History buffs of the event may remember that back in 1989 under the previous format, the father/son team of Orvil and Tink Reedy did it one time before. To confirm such information, historian of the event Kenny Lang confirmed of the accomplishment for both father and son race teams. Both Carroll’s took different routes to make the big race, Terry needed the last chance race to make the field in what was very eventful for him to get there. His efforts netted him the thirty ninth starting spot in the forty two car field. Son Justin Carroll hit on something big that out of 75 cars that took time in qualifying; Justin qualified 18^th and finished his heat race in sixth. Those efforts were worthy of starting eighteenth in the forty two car grid and looking pretty stout at this point.

We spoke with both Terry and Justin Carroll about their race weekend at Martinsville and taking a piece of its race history home with them. After showing speed in practice, Justin knew something special was going on at Martinsville.

“We showed a lot of speed in practice, our goal was to make the race. But as the weekend went on, my goal was to keep going higher and not just making the race,” Justin Carroll stated. “In practice, we were showing 21^st and I mean we had no new tires. I was probably the only car there without new tires. I knew we had a good chance then and every time we went out the car just got better. The car drove good everywhere I wanted to put it and I knew it was going to be a good driving car.”

At the end of the event, Justin Carroll finished 31^st and was forced out of the event when a rocker arm failed in the valve train. Though disappointed, the young talent made a name for himself passing such greats such as as Phillip Morris and Matt Waltz whom he gave chase to all season at Langley Speedway.

“This race has really helped me to want to keep on racing, I was so tired of spending my own money to go race and basically blow it out the window”, Justin expressed. “But after making Martinsville, all the publicity, all the phone calls and texts from guys like Sam Hunt, Sergio Pena congratulating us, telling us how good we did. It’s all set in now, it’s helped me to push myself to go out and make more money so I can race these next few big races. Martinsville has me really wanting to race and do well.”

For father and longtime racer Terry Carroll, Martinsville has a special place in his heart too. Though proud to take home some history, being proud of his son Justin is a bigger thrill to him than any of his own.

“It used to be in my earlier years that if I didn’t make it to the race track that the earth would stop turning, but its not that way much anymore,” the elder Carroll said. “But people that know of me know that I’ve always loved the bigger races, especially Martinsville, the biggest Late Model race of the year. Love the track, love the people that run it and have such a great time there, its reshaped my thinking in how I can still get it done.  It’s just that we don’t have quite the resources, we do more with little and I am proud of that, were going to continue to try and I’ll keep driving as long as I feel that I have the ability”.

Next, Terry Carroll shared how racing has shaped him and his son’s relationship in a sport they both love.

“We’ve always been close, he’s taken advice, learned well as far as mechanical ability and it’s taken shape now that he points out things to me and I’d say right now that he’s probably a little bit ahead of me,” Terry explained. “As far as our relationship, we’ve had our trying moments, you know there are questions and there are answers but all in all we have a great father and son relationship.”

Then our talk turned to their accomplishment in becoming the first father and son race team under the current race format to make the big race at Martinsville.

“It’s a wonderful feeling, I have to tell ya it’s a great experience for him (Justin) and myself even though I’ve been around a lot longer,” Terry Carroll remarked. “Just being a part of it and especially sharing it with him to make the big show, it’s something I’m extremely proud of.”

Justin Carroll shared the same sentiments to no surprise on becoming the first father and son team under the current format as well.

Martinsville Speedway is known for its twists and surprising finishes along with timely controversy. But this year, for a father and son race team who would have loved to win it, the race gave a special moment for Terry and Justin Carroll. Though their names won’t be found under the win column just yet, they will be found somewhere in MDCU 300 history. And when the next father and son race team comes along and accomplishes the feat, Terry and Justin Carroll’s names will be remembered and what they accomplished in the 2014 Martinsville MCDU 300.