MARTINSVILLE, Va. – Tuesday night's down-to-the-wire Sugar Bowl victory for the University Michigan was quite sweet for Michigan International Speedway president Roger Curtis, but a bit sour for Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell.
Michigan's 23-20 overtime victory over Virginia Tech on Tuesday means Campbell will have to make a trip west in June to serve up MIS' signature Coney Dogs to the press prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race June 17.
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While serving the media, Campbell will be wearing a maize and blue University of Michigan shirt.
"Hail to the victors!" Curtis said. "We are so excited Clay will be in Michigan to greet our guests and serve up the famous Coney Dog to the press. The game was a nail-biter to the very end, and while I'm obviously pleased Michigan won, it was a thrilling game for fans of both teams."
Campbell's concessionaire duties are the result of a Sugar Bowl wager he made with Curtis. Each backed his state's top football team in the Sugar Bowl. Campbell was behind Virginia Tech while Curtis supported Michigan. The bet was simple: if the Hokies won, Curtis would have travelled to Martinsville to serve the Famous Martinsville Speedway Hotdog® to media. If Michigan won, Campbell would visit MIS to serve the Coney Dogs to the press.
"I can't complain because Virginia Tech played a heck of a game," said Campbell. "We all thought Tech had won with Danny Coale's touchdown reception in overtime. But It was sort of like leading a race on the last lap and blowing an engine. You know you should have won, but it was snatched out of your hands and there is nothing you can do about it. I look forward to my trip to Michigan this summer, and I don't mind serving hot dogs to the media. I just wish it was the same good hot dog they are accustomed to getting from me."
After Coale's apparent TD reception was overruled, Tech kicker Justin Myer missed a 37-yard field goal attempt. A few plays later, Michigan kicker Brendan Gibbons hit a 37-yarder of his own to give the Wolverines' victory.
Nestled in the lush Irish Hills of Southeastern Michigan, 30 miles from Ann Arbor, Michigan International Speedway is the Great Escape, a venerable NASCAR national park where fans can get away and enjoy the very best in racing and camaraderie. It's the love of racing and the thrill of a great time for race fans and drivers alike.
Founded in 1947 by the late H.Clay Earles, Martinsville Speedway is the only track remaining on the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit that hosted an event in the series' inaugural year, 1949. While the facility has grown with the times to include modern, state-of-the-art amenities, the racing hasn't changed. It is "racing the way you want it to be."