Local Look: Martinsville

Event: Subway 500

Local papers covering: Martinsville Bulletin, Roanoke Times, Hampton Roads Daily Press

Drivers racing for points but hot dogs always win

The deal: Debbie Hall of the Martinsville Bulletin says things move at the Martinsville Speedway -- cars, people and food. And when it comes to food, hot dogs set the pace.

Far and wide, hot dogs are the perennial favorite at the speedway, according to Gerald Compton, the concession manager.

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"Martinsville Speedway is famous for their hot dogs. There ain't no doubt about that," he said.

Why we care: Concession workers will sell about 25,000 pounds of food over the three days of racing which starts Friday, and much of that will be the hot dogs.

"We make everything in house," Compton said, adding that it takes four women two days to peel, quarter and dice 1,500 pounds of onions to go on the hot dogs. The workers stop crying after the first 45 minutes or so, he added.

Some race teams also have hot dog-eating contests among crewmembers.

For more NASCAR news from around the country, click here.

Drivers: All apologies aren't equal

The deal: Dustin Long of the Roanoke Times says cell phones will chime, beep and buzz Monday as Nextel Cup drivers call each other to apologize for incidents during Sunday's Subway 500.

While an apology admits guilt, that doesn't help the driver who was wrecked. An apology can't recoup the money and points lost. So does it really matter if a driver says he's sorry?

Some competitors say yes; others say an apology can be meaningless.

Why we care: Stick 43 cars race on a tight half-mile racetrack and there's bound to be bumping, beating and banging. Most of it is accidental, although it's hard to tell from the drivers' reactions on their radios.

For more NASCAR news from around the country, click here.

It's not all glamorous for Junior

The deal: If you're a fan of Dale Earnhardt Jr., this may come as a surprise: The life of NASCAR's most popular driver isn't all glamour. Contending for a Nextel Cup title while fulfilling sponsorship obligations leaves little free time for a man who said his schedule is booked through December.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

"Sometimes it can be a grind," he said.

Why we care: Junior says his outlook changed some when he suffered neck and thigh burns in a crash during a warm-up session for an American Le Mans Series race in July.

It's the kind of perspective that makes it easier to fulfill sponsorship obligations, even during a tight race for the Nextel Cup title.

"Physically, I'm all the way back," he said. "Something like that teaches you about handling adversity. The small things don't seem so big."

For more NASCAR news on Earnhardt Jr., click here.

No secret where Busch brothers get their racing skills from

Kurt Busch

The deal: Dustin Long of the Roanoke Times says for racing sons Kurt and Kyle, Tom Busch curtailed his racing career, jeopardized his health and risked his wife's wrath. The 51-year-old's reward could be to see his sons win NASCAR's biggest prizes next month.

Why we care: Kurt, 26, leads the NASCAR Nextel Cup standings. He holds a 24-point advantage on Dale Earnhardt Jr. heading into Sunday's Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

Kyle, 19, is second in the Busch Series standings. He trails leader Martin Truex Jr. by 144 points going into the Sam's Town 250 on Saturday at Memphis Motorsports Park.

For more NASCAR news on Kurt Busch, click here. For news on Kyle, click here