MARTINSVILLE, VA (March 23, 2008) – The first on-track action for the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 weekend at Martinsville Speedway is still five days away, but the speedway is already teeming with activity.

The speedway’s campground opened on Saturday morning and by Sunday afternoon more than 300 campsites were filled with fans from as close as a few miles from the track and as far away as Canada.

Workers began scurrying back and forth around the facility a week ago, making sure everything is in place for the more than 60,000 fans that will invade Martinsville and Henry County Sunday, March 30. The paced picked up over the weekend.

“There are a lot of folks from a lot of different companies in here the last several days making sure everything is just right for race weekend,” said Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell. “We plan for these events months in advance, but so much of the work can only be done the last few days.”

New NASCAR Sprint Cup banners and signs are in place around the facility, replacing the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup versions that were used the past few years before the series’ name change in the offseason. Sign painters are still busy putting the final brush strokes on wall signage around the racing surface. The huge white hospitality tents have been set.

The pace will pick up as the week goes on with souvenir vendors, exhibitors, more campers claiming open spots in the campground and finally, the teams rolling into town.

“It’s always an exciting week. It’s like watching a city coming together in a week,” said Campbell. “And by Friday when the first car goes on the track, it’s all together.”

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series teams get a jump start on the weekend on Thursday when the teams roll their big rigs into the infield at 11 a.m. At 5 p.m. Thursday, the NASCAR Sprint Cup haulers will slowly move around the track to claim their spots in the infield.

The first on-track action will be at 11 a.m. on Friday when the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers begin practice for Saturday’s Kroger 250. The Cup cars will roll out for their first practice session at noon on Friday preparing for the Goody’s Cool Orange 500.

.Good seats remain for all three days of activity, Carilion Clinic Pole Day on Friday, the Kroger 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on Saturday and the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 on Sunday.

Tickets may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com. Ticket prices for the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 range from $42 to $80

Tickets for the Kroger 250 are $37 in advance, $42 on race day. Kroger 250 tickets for children ages 6 to 12 are $5.

The Goody’s Cool Orange 500 weekend kicks off on March 28 with Carilion Clinic Pole Day with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying. Tickets are $15 for adults, children 6 to 12 $5 and children under 6 free.

The campground is also open, with good camping locations available. Campers can call 877.RACE.TIX for camping information or visit the campground.

Martinsville Speedway’s ticket office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.