This weekend, auto racing history will be made at the iconic Martinsville Speedway in Henry County, Virginia. For the first time, an IMSA MX-5 Cup race, typically held on winding "road courses," will take place on the short, oval track affectionately known as "the paper clip." This unprecedented event brings together a diverse array of up-and-coming drivers, a local underdog, and a collision of politics and motorsports.

A Unique Opportunity for Drivers and Fans Alike

A Novel Experiment in Martinsville

The racing world is in a state of transition, with the traditional boundaries between different types of racing breaking down. The IMSA MX-5 Cup series, featuring only Mazda vehicles, is known for its road course races. However, this weekend, a "novel experiment" will unfold as one of these races is held on the oval track of the Martinsville Speedway. Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell sees this as an opportunity to bring back some of the track's early history while also introducing a new type of racing to the fans. "This will be the first time since the early 1950s that an open-top car has raced here at Martinsville," he told Racer, "so it's bringing back some of how we started, but it's also a chance for people to watch a car that's very close to the one they can drive on the street racing here on our track."For the racing authorities, this event is a chance for driver development and testing new markets. The desire for a "hybrid driver" who can adapt to both ovals and road courses has led to this unique opportunity. As Mazda Motorsports Senior Manager Jonathan Applegate explained, "NASCAR today isn't the same as it was 10 years ago in terms of the car, the road courses and the entertainment factor. That's produced a desire for a hybrid driver, one who isn't necessarily coming from ovals and who can adapt to road courses. At the same time, MX-5 Cup drivers are increasingly open not only to racing in sports cars, but also seeing what opportunities lie in stock cars."

A Local Underdog's Chance to Shine

Among the drivers lining up for this historic event is a local Martinsville resident, Capers Zentmeyer. Zentmeyer, a chiropractor by day, has been racing in the lower levels of the sport for the past few years, quickly establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with.Zentmeyer's racing journey began a few years ago when he purchased a 1996 Mazda Miata NA, which he described as "a piece of junk that was really run down." After fixing it up, he started racing in 2022, though he admits he "didn't do too well the first couple of races." Undeterred, Zentmeyer continued to hone his skills, and last year he ran 31 races, winning 24 of them.Zentmeyer's success has not gone unnoticed, with the motorsports press taking note of his impressive performances. Headlines have highlighted his dominance, such as "Three wins in Spec Miata for Zentmeyer at Brady Memorial Race," "Capers Zentmeyer takes two-of-three at rain-soaked Road Atlanta in June," and "Capers Zentmeyer goes three-for-three at Carolina Motorsports Park."The local chiropractor attributes his quick rise to his background in football, where he played tight end at the University of Virginia College at Wise. Zentmeyer's experience in watching film and studying his opponents' strategies has translated well to the racing world, as he spends a significant amount of time analyzing the driving patterns of his competitors.When Zentmeyer heard that an MX-5 race was coming to his hometown, he saw it as an opportunity he couldn't pass up. However, there was one problem – he didn't have a car that could compete at that level. That's where state senator and racing team co-owner Bill Stanley came into the picture.

Politics and Racing Collide

Stanley, who co-owns the Sadler-Stanley racing team, was able to provide Zentmeyer with a rental car for the event. But the connection between Zentmeyer and the Sadler-Stanley team goes beyond just a car rental.The Sadler-Stanley team has been a successful venture in the world of short-track racing, with one of their drivers, 18-year-old Luke Baldwin, recently winning the SMART Modified Tour championship. The team's cars are sponsored by Pace-O-Matic, a company that makes electronic "skill games" – a topic that has been a point of contention in Virginia politics.Stanley, a Republican state senator, has been a vocal advocate for these skill games, which he sees as a way for small businesses to participate in the state's gaming industry. However, the games have faced opposition from critics who view them as "neighborhood slot machines" that should be outlawed. This political battle has continued to play out in the Virginia General Assembly, with the issue expected to return in 2025.By sponsoring the Sadler-Stanley racing team, Pace-O-Matic is not only supporting the team's efforts but also making a political statement. Stanley believes that the presence of a Pace-O-Matic-branded car at the Martinsville Speedway will keep pressure on Republican office-holders to support the skill games, as the majority of the track's fans are the type of rural voters who play these games.For Zentmeyer, this opportunity to race at the Martinsville Speedway represents more than just a chance to compete at a higher level. It's a collision of his passion for motorsports and the political landscape that has shaped the sport's future in Virginia. With the support of the Sadler-Stanley team and the backing of Pace-O-Matic, the local chiropractor-turned-racer has a chance to make his mark on the historic track.

Preserving the Legacy of Short-Track Racing

Beyond the immediate excitement of the IMSA MX-5 Cup race, the event also highlights the broader challenges facing short-track racing in Virginia and across the country. State senator Bill Stanley, a self-proclaimed "gearhead," is deeply passionate about preserving the legacy of these historic racing venues.Stanley worries that as NASCAR and other major racing series have expanded to larger, more lucrative markets, the small, local tracks that were once the lifeblood of the sport have been left behind. Tracks like the Starkey Speedway in Roanoke County, which once hosted NASCAR races with legends like Curtis Turner and Junior Johnson, have since closed and been repurposed."These are the historic places," Stanley says. "If the pit wall could talk, the stories they could tell, and we're at risk of losing 'em." To combat this, Stanley has introduced legislation that allows local governments to grant tax breaks to historic racetracks, in the hopes of keeping these venues alive and generating tourism revenue.The Martinsville Speedway, the only track that has been on the NASCAR circuit since the series was founded in 1948, has managed to hold onto its place in the racing world. However, Stanley is concerned that as the sport continues to expand internationally, Martinsville could be in danger of losing one of its two annual races.For Stanley, preserving the legacy of short-track racing is not just about nostalgia – it's about maintaining a vital part of Virginia's heritage. He sees these tracks as community hubs, where local drivers and fans could once come together to celebrate the sport. As racing has become more professionalized, Stanley worries that the connection between the sport and its grassroots supporters has been lost.Through his involvement in the Sadler-Stanley racing team and his political efforts, Stanley is working to ensure that the small tracks and the local drivers who call them home continue to have a place in the future of motorsports.