From Roanoke.com:

When it looked as if Martinsville Speedway could lose one of its two NASCAR Sprint Cup races earlier this year, officials in one of Virginia’s most economically troubled regions turned to Richmond for help.

Track operator International Speedway Corp. had decided to add a second Sprint Cup race at its Kansas City track, shifting an event from one of its other 12 venues on the Cup circuit. It was not the first time Martinsville faced the prospect of losing one of its races. But, as Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell said, “This time it was serious.”

“It was not just a rumor or speculation,” Campbell said. “It was fact it was going to happen from somewhere, and we certainly didn’t want it come from here. It could have been a devastating blow, not only to our economy here locally, but to the state, as well.”

Enter Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, the “chief job creation officer” in Gov. Bob McDonnell’s administration. Bolling traveled to Daytona, Fla., in March with Campbell and a delegation of officials from Martinsville and Henry County to meet with International Speedway Corp. executives.

Read the Rest…