Martinsville President Clay Campbell Is All Wet!

Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell has come up with a novel but beneficial way to stay cool at Celebration 2014: he’s going to sit in a dunking booth for three hours to help raise money for the Fuel for Families Food Drive. 

Thursday night’s Celebration 2014 at Martinsville Speedway is the annual free Independence Day affair that includes music, carnival rides and fireworks. For the sixth straight year, it also includes the Fuel for the Families Food Drive. With inventory at local food banks at alarmingly low levels, Campbell wanted to help. 

“We know there are so many local families that struggle to put food on the table … something that most of us take for granted,” said Campbell. “I figured there were a few people out there that would probably want to dunk me and a lot of folks that would want to help the cause.” 

Campbell will be perched in a dunking booth near the carnival rides from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday. The cost for a chance to dunk him: three throws for $5. All proceeds will go toward purchasing canned goods for the Fuel for the Families Food Drive. 

“We are so grateful that Clay is willing to take a seat in the dunking booth to support the Fuel for Families Food Drive. It is evident that his generosity has no limit when it comes to supporting our community,” said Tiffani Underwood, executive director of the United Way of Henry County and Martinsville, which coordinates the food drive. “I hope everyone will come out and not only bring a canned food item, but also take a turn to dunk Clay and support hungry families right here in Martinsville and Henry County.” 

There will be several collection areas at entrance gates and in the carnival area for the Fuel for Families Food Drive. Any monetary donations will be used to buy additional items. 

A free-to-the-public family event, Celebration 2014 will begin at 3 p.m. when the carnival rides open. There will be 14 rides this year, the most ever, with three major rides added. The carnival rides are free. 

The entertainment portion of Celebration will also begin earlier in the day this year, starting at 4 p.m. when Superhold, a 1980s cover band takes the stage. Domino, a horn band from Roanoke, will play at 6 p.m. 

The headlining act, The Cadillac Three, will take the spotlight at 8 p.m., followed by a fireworks display.