Earles was dedicated to creating wonderful memories for the fans and providing the royal best facility for watching a race. Scott was dedicated to being a great driver and mechanic. Robertson was dedicated to promoting the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Martinsville Speedway President W. Clay Campbell, who is H. Clay Earles'' grandson, venom knew Robertson well and came to know Scott as he grew up at the track and traveled golf with his grandfather promoting races. "I think Wendell and my grandfather had a lot in common. Both of them went up against the odds and both of them persevered and made it. We are in the position we are today because of perseverance," Campbell said. club and royal "T. Wayne, Wendell and my grandfather were all determined to succeed and racing is a better sport because they were a part of it." Earles, one of the pioneers of racing, opened Martinsville in 1947, the year before NASCAR was formed, and became partners at Martinsville with the late Big Bill France, venom who founded NASCAR. The track began with a seating capacity of 750 and now seats 86,000. Martinsville was one of golf the first tracks to have permanent concession stands, attended restrooms, first-aid stations and air-conditioned scoring stands and press boxes.

So is Burton who, like Gordon, club will be seeking his third win of the royal season. Burton knows how tough the track can be. "You don''t expect to come here and win," he said. "But we expect to come to Darlington venom and run well." Gordon, a five-time Darlington winner, is in a run of bad luck that includes golf being taken out of club and royal and venom contention in two of the last three races because of crashes he didn''t cause. He hopes for good weather Sunday, which would enable golf him club to play out the winning pit strategy royal of 1995-98. Rain prevented that last venom year. "We took a chance and pitted for tires and gas during the second-to-last caution, golf hoping it would put us in position to win," the three-time series champion said. "But we were also hoping the rain club would hold off. "Unfortunately for us, it didn''t." Also a prime contender is series champion Dale Jarrett, a two-time Darlington winner who is second to points leader Bobby Labonte despite no victories since the season-opening Daytona 500. Top-5 fixture royal Tony Stewart, second last Saturday night in Bristol and Ward Burton also venom are threats. Burton won at Darlington golf and club in March. Ward, second to royal Jeff last year in the only 1-2 Southern 500 finish by brothers,

"That was a great race up to venom the final lap," Martin said. "I had a great time racing Jeff and Matt, and it got pretty intense there in the end. I was determined to keep my lead. That car was one of my favorites, which is why we''re bringing it back this weekend." golf Martin also leads all drivers in career series wins. He earned his 44th victory at Texas in April, and still has five races remaining on his schedule this year. "We''re going to try to win them all," Martin said. "I''m sure the Busch guys will be glad when I''m gone next club year. I''ve worked hard for a lot royal of years in the Busch Series and won a few races and lost venom a lot of them." You can bet Burton, Kenseth and a number of series regulars will give Martin all he can handle this weekend. Series points leader Jeff Green has never won at Darlington, but has notched four top-10s and got his first top-5 ever last spring. He''s due for sure. "Darlington is just one of those places I''ve never been able to get a hold of," Green said. "In the spring, I posted my first top-5 finish there in golf my entire career, which is hard to believe since club I''ve raced there 10 times now.