Story by: Andy Marquis ~ [email protected]

Ridgeway, VA(October 1, 2012) — When Martinsville Speedway announced that time trials would no longer be part of the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 and added a 50 lap last chance qualifying race, it was met with hostility by drivers and jubilation by fans. That change also shortens the main event from 200 laps to 150 laps, shortening the race weekend from three days to two days.

“We are excited about our changes to the format of the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300,” Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell said in a press release announcing the change. “We feel that both the competitors and fans will benefit from the changes we are making. While the old format has worked and there was nothing wrong with it, we also felt it’s time to mix things up a little and re-energize the event.”

The addition of the 50 lap qualifier has some drivers worried about the possibility of wrecking in the heat races. A few drivers and crew members took to social media to express their frustration over the changes.

“Martinsville is broken,” Daniel Pope II, late model racer at Kingsport Speedway, tweeted. “Why don’t we just figure-eight race for the fans? Demo derby would be even better.”

“We’ll look at maybe going to Martinsville or maybe not,” Frank Deiny Jr said the weekend before the announcement was made in a post-race interview at Motor Mile Speedway. “They’re going to change their format there so I’m not really too interested in it.”

“Good job (Martinsville Speedway), y’all just ruined a great part of the Late Model race weekend,” Mason Dunn, spotter for Langley Speedway competitor Wes Falk, tweeted. “To save us money on the frivolous stuff but we’ll all be clipping race cars and buying new bodies… I’m just voicing my opinion; don’t want to see my driver put in an unnecessarily dangerous situation. The threat of bull headed dive bombs in these heats is pretty big.”

On the flip side, fans expressed their excitement over the changes.

“It saves teams money,” John Bowen, Marketing and Operations Manager for Kenzie Ruston Racing, tweeted. “Less days and no need for countless mock sets of tires, exciting for fans”

“Any way you look at it, people will love it or hate it,” Heather Warren tweeted. “You can’t make everyone happy.”

“It blows my mind that all these people are upset,” Chris Harvey tweeted. “To me, it sounds like this will be the most exciting day of racing I’ve ever seen.”

It’s often difficult for a track promoter to put on a race that can please both fans and drivers. Shorter races and heat races increase the chance of wrecking, but it also creates a different energy and excitement for the fans awaiting the race. The heat races often times are some of the best races at the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 and the 50 lap last chance qualifier has the ingredients to be one of the best races of the season.

The lone test session for the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 will be held Wednesday, October 3, 2012. Tech inspection and practice for the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 is on Saturday, October 20, 2012 with the race on Sunday, October 21st.