Clay Campbell
Clay Campbell was born into the racing world and never left. He is the president of Martinsville Speedway, the historic Virginia race track founded by his grandfather H. Clay Earles 61 years ago.
Campbell certainly knows everything essential to operating the speedway. He started working there as a young boy by picking up trash, cutting grass with a swing blade and anything else that needed to be done. But he also knows the promoting side of operating the track after following his grandfather from race track to racetrack, passing out driver's trophies in victory lane and driving Miss Virginias around the track in pre race ceremonies at an age so young he couldn't see over the steering wheel.
He has known the sport’s early drivers like David Pearson, Fred Lorenzen and Wendell Scott as well as the current crop of Sprint Cup drivers. He has been part of racing from the 1960s until today. That one factor helps keep things in perspective for Campbell.
Campbell, who was born Feb. 7, 1960, began working for his grandfather full-time after graduating from Drewry Mason High School in 1978. His start came in the maintenance department.
Campbell later worked with concessions and souvenirs and then become vice president and assistant general manager before being named president in 1988.
Racing is not just a business for Campbell, it's is also his pastime. He raced go-karts for about six years and later moved up to race cars.
Besides racing, Campbell has a few other hobbies including golf and he is an instrument and multi-engine rated pilot.
Campbell also has plenty of things to keep him busy outside of work. He is currently a member of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership board of directors, a member of the Blue Ridge Airport Authority Board of Directors, a member of The New College Institute Foundation and a member of the National Stock Car Racing Commission. He also is a past-president of the Chamber of Commerce of Martinsville-Henry County, past president of the Martinsville YMCA board of directors and served on the Patrick Henry Community College Foundation board of directors.
Campbell is married and has two children.
