Martinsville High School To Perform Anthem Prior To TUMS QuikPak 500 At Martinsville Speedway

The Martinsville High School marching band, which was founded the same year as Martinsville Speedway, will make a marching appearance and play the National Anthem prior to the running of the TUMS QuikPak 500 on October 19. Martinsville Speedway opened on September 7, 1947. That same fall, Ralph Shank, who directed the 29th infantry band in World War II, formed the Martinsville High School band. This will be the third time the entire band has performed in prerace at Martinsville Speedway. The band has performed in many other venues and events, including the 2006 Governor’s Inaugural Parade for Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, the Washington D.C. St. Patrick’s Day parade, at Universal Studios in Orlando, and at Disney World on three occasions . The Martinsville High School marching band averages 150 students and the band program as... [read full story]