When the nation's top IMCA dirt modified drivers converge on Batesville Motor Speedway this week, Mark Martin will be the biggest fan in the grandstands.
Martin will host the second annual Race for Hope 74 at the Locust Grove track tonight through Saturday night. The NASCAR Hall of Famer's excitement for the event is genuine, both for his pride in the charitable efforts the event assists with and the joy he gains from watching competitive racing.
At a glance
WHAT Ryder Cup
WHEN Friday-Sunday
WHERE Le Golf National, Guyancourt, France
U.S. TEAM Captain: Jim Furyk, Golfers: Bryson DeChambeau, Tony Finau, Rickie Fowler,Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Webb Simpson, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Bubba Watson, Tiger Woods
TV (All times Central) Thursday: Opening ceremony 10 a.m.-11 a.m., Golf Channel; Friday: 1 a.m.-noon, Golf Channel; Saturday: 1 a.m.-3 a.m., Golf Channel; 2 a.m.-noon, NBC; Sunday: 5 a.m.-noon, NBC
"It's a night full of racing each night," Martin said. "We've got more than 100 early entries. The vast majority of your IMCA modified guys are weekend racers, and they get after it.
"These are the guys we wanted to impact -- the grass-roots racers who are just like me when I started. I wanted to make this their Daytona 500."
It is the richest race for IMCA-sanctioned modified. A typical weekly IMCA modified event pays less than $500 to win. The traditional top event in the division, the IMCA Super Nationals held earlier this month in Boone, Iowa, paid $2,000 to win. The Race for Hope 74 pays $20,000 to win and $2,000 to start.
"We wanted to have a good payback for these guys, and not just for the winner," Martin said. "Seventh place pays $10,000, and 10th place gets $5,000. You have to go to NASCAR to see that kind of payback."
Two former NASCAR regulars will compete at Batesville this week. Ken Schrader competed in the Cup series in 1984-2013, earning four victories. David Stremme made 200 Cup starts in 2005-2014.
Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., won last year's inaugural event. The week's preliminary winners were Jordan Grabouski of Beatrice, Neb., Justin Kay of Wheatland, Iowa, and Kyle Stickler of Mooresville, N.C.
Martin's racing career began at what is now Batesville Motor Speedway in 1974, thus the Race for Hope 74. Proceeds from the week's event will be donated to a new children's advocacy center in Batesville.
"My wife Arlene and I wanted to start a foundation to help the less fortunate in Arkansas," Martin said, "with a special emphasis on Independence County. Something Arlene and I have is a passion for helping abused children."
The event begins tonight with practice and time trials. On Wednesday through Friday, a complete card will be held each night, culminating with a preliminary feature. The top eight finishers in each prelim will qualify for Saturday night's main event. The rest of Saturday's 30-car starting lineup will be set by a series of last-chance qualifiers.
Martin works hard during the event to be a proper host for the racers as well as the fans. Each day he will serve lunch for the racers.
"I'll come visit with the racers during lunch and hear their stories," Martin said. "I want to know more about them and where they're from."
Martin said he will visit with fans throughout the week of racing. He also hopes fans from throughout his home state will take the opportunity to attend one of the biggest events in dirt racing.
"Arkansas people need to support this event," he said. "Fans and racers are coming from all over the country and Canada to visit our home state and race."
Sports on 09/25/2018