Martinsville days numbered?

UPDATE International Speedway Corp. Chief Operating Officer John Saunders says the company has no plans to move any of its NASCAR Nextel Cup races from Martinsville Speedway and California Speedway.

Answering questions during a conference call with financial analysts to discuss the company's first-quarter financial results, Saunders today said that "We have stated previously that realignment, which is a NASCAR initiative, is something that we're very interested in and that we would look in time to markets that are saturated, smaller markets and where we have opportunities to go to larger, underserved markets," Saunders said. "But having said all of that, there are no plans sitting here today to do anything with Martinsville's schedule in 2006, 2007 and no plans beyond that at this point"

04/01/06 Might Martinsville Speedway lose one of its two NASCAR Cup dates to Las Vegas next season? Speculation is growing that something like that might be in the works. If so, Martinsville's fall race – in the middle of NASCAR's championship chase – might be the chip on the table between the France family and Bruton Smith. Winston Salem Journal

[Editor's Note: Given the limited seating capacity of Martinsville compared to the larger tracks, its days appear numbered – certainly it has no business having two races.]