Martinsville hopes falling gas prices and ticket packages will up ticket sales

    Richard Reynolds says his wife, Cindy, loves Halloween –- almost as much as she loves racing.
    Despite all the decorations, the only thing scary in Martinsville Speedway’s campground is the lack of campers.
    “I think people are staying home altogether definitely,“ Richard Reynolds said.
    Recently, gas prices and a slowing economy have taken a toll on tracks like Martinsville.  Just ask Martinsville President Clay Campbell.
    “It’s really been a tough year for anyone who travels and those who have to travel.  You know, four dollars a gallon and things like that,” Campbell said.  “It really hinders the mindset of people wanting to go to events like this.“
    But in the past week, gas prices have gone down.  The average for a gallon of gas now stands at $3.12.
    “For the gas prices to come back down this weekend, we think it’s great,“ Campbell said.
    Falling gas prices aren’t the only thing the Speedway is hoping will lure fans to the race on Sunday.  The track is also offering discounted ticket packages for fans
    “We always try to get creative and try to touch different segments of our fan population,“ he said.
    One of the packages allows a family of four to come check out the race for around 100 dollars.
    “I think our ticket packages are probably better than anybody on the circuit.“
    “This is cheap.  This place is really cheap,“ Reynolds said.
    So maybe the combination of cheaper tickets and falling gas prices will draw a big crowd this Sunday, because Martinsville without one of its biggest assets – fans—is well, a very scary thought.