1on1: Clay Campbell

Like many people deeply involved in auto racing, Clay Campbell grew up in the sport. But like very few, Campbell, as president of Martinsville Speedway, is in a position to really make a positive impact in the sport.

Campbell literally grew up around NASCAR racing as his grandfather, the late H. Clay Earles, founded Martinsville as one of "Big Bill" France's inaugural venues in the late 1940s.

In 2008, Campbell is not only the guiding force behind one of NASCAR's strongest short tracks, he's also a community-minded individual with race driving, as well as race promoting in his background, who diversified into team ownership in the Craftsman Truck Series this season.

Upcoming races

Truck	Oct. 18
Cup	Oct. 19

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While attending NASCAR's race weekend recently at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Campbell sat down to discuss several aspects of the 2008 season.

Q: Before we get to Martinsville's race weekend, what's life been like as an owner in the Truck Series?

Campbell: It's been good so far. You know, I'm a racer at heart, so it gives me another opportunity to view this sport from a different side than I'm used to doing it from, which can be good, and it can be bad.

But so far I like it -- but ask me in 10 months, and I'll give you an answer at that point, too -- but I've enjoyed it, because it's something different for me. Of course, it doesn't replace my day job, but I can tell you this: The [Truck Series] race that I watched in Daytona, I've never watched a race with the intensity that I watched that truck race.

I've always just watched races. I didn't have any vested interest in it [previously], but that was the first time I had a real, real keen interest in how things went.

Q: Why get involved in the Truck Series, why now and with this group?

Campbell: I've always liked the Truck Series, because they're so doggoned exciting. But now the flip side of that, as a truck owner, is that it really increases the anxiety.

Absolutely, a big part of it is how neat it is to work with these people. I think we've got good people in the right places, with Joey [Arrington], obviously. Our careers kind of parallel each other's, Joey and myself; and Stacy [Compton] and I go way back to when both of us were racing go-karts, when he was right out of high school and I wasn't too far out of it, myself.

But I've known him for a long time. And Dennis Setzer, you won't find a more likeable guy than Dennis -- a top-notch individual and a great driver. So those people, and our support crew members -- it's fun and we've got a good bunch of people.

So far we've had mixed results [ninth and 16th in the driver standings with Setzer and Compton, respectively], but we're still doing OK, and we look forward to a good year -- and especially our Kroger 250 on Saturday. (Continued)