Fenderz Drive-In:
Fenderz Drive-In has a 1950’s retro-diner look and food that is sure to cause a return visit. Stacy and Tim Connor moved from Pennsylvania to the Martinsville area in 2005. While they loved the “southern hospitality” of the area; the only thing missing was a “mom and pop” style diner and an ice cream parlor….Fenderz was born in 2010.
The Fenderz Melt -- a burger on sourdough bread, smothered with cheddar cheese, sautéed onions and Thousand Island dressing – is a great sandwich. The sandwich selection is great, the hand-cut natural fries are wonderful; but Fenderz beer-battered onion rings (served with a unique wasabi sauce) are quite possibly the best on the NASCAR tour.
And, if a good meal isn’t enough leave room for dessert featuring Homestead Creamery Ice Cream…the peanut butter hot fudge milkshake was incredible and online reviews have the banana split as a “must”. Include a friendly staff and Fenderz is a place to visit in Martinsville.
Address: 3627 Virginia Ave, Collinsville, VA 24078
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. / Friday-Saturday: 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Closed Sunday
Phone: (276) 647-4555
Wild Magnolia:
Tucked away on the backside of a shopping center, Wild Magnolia is front-and-center with an eclectic southern cuisine menu. In business since 2006, their motto is: “eat fresh-eat good-eat local”.
The lunch menu is extensive with a huge burger menu as well as fish and chicken sandwiches, a turkey reuben, and “Gloria’s Meatloaf Sandwich.” Salad, wraps, soups, a vast appetizer list and daily specials are part of the lunchtime fare.
For dinner the entrees are wonderful including a variety of Certified Angus Steaks as well as very creative and unique fish, shrimp and chicken dishes. And, if it’s appetizers and drinks; Wild Magnolia is one of the top night-spots in town.
Address: 730 E. Church St., (Patrick Henry Mall), Suite 7A, Martinsville, VA 24112
Hours: Daily open at 11:00 a.m. – Closes at Midnight Sunday-Thursday / 2:00 a.m. Friday-Saturday
Phone: (276) 666-6666
Clarence’s Steak House
Clarence’s is a family restaurant located about a mile south of the track. Driver Ricky Craven wrote last year in his Yahoo Sports blog:
“I seldom drive through Martinsville without stopping at Clarence’s Steak House and capturing that quality that exists in the people who make up this town. It was the late Dale Earnhardt who led me to Clarence’s, after stopping by our motor home in 1996 as we were celebrating our first pole position. He said, ‘Congratulations on your pole position, but you don’t stand a chance of winning Sunday if you have not eaten at Clarence’s.’”
Breakfast starts at 6:00 a.m. and good home-cooked food is available all day long. Owner Clarence Pickurel has been a long-time sponsor of local racers throughout Virginia and North Carolina.
Address: 6636 Greensboro Rd. (220), Ridgeway, Va.
Phone: (276) 956-3400
Note: Clarence Pickerel, is the owner, has sponsored local racers in the area for many, many years.
Pigs-R-Us
This is the host restaurant for the Checkered Pig BBQ team. A full menu is served at the restaurant includes BBQ pork, chicken and ribs, with combination platters available. The bbq has been honored in contests in Illinois, North Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Maryland, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio as well as the home state of Virginia. The biggest win was in the Best in the West Rib cook-off in Reno, Nevada where the Food Network covered the team. The team is a member of the Kansas City Barbeque Society and National Barbecue Association.
Address: 1014 Liberty Street, Martinsville VA 24112
Phone: (276) 632-1161
Website: www.CheckeredPig.com
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Friday-Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Closed Sunday
Biscuitville
FoodAroundTheTrack.com rarely lists chain restaurants. But, we are fond of good food and Buscuitville is a regional chain of breakfast restaurants specializing in all things on a biscuit. With over 50 restaurant in North Carolina and Virginia, the chain goes through about 4,000 pounds of country ham, 11,500 pounds of sausage and 9,500 pound of bacon each week. All that on about 28,600 pounds of flour.
Locations throughout Martinsville and surrounding towns
If You’re Travelling a Little:
Olivia and Isabella’s
NASCAR team owner Stacy Compton and his wife Vickie opened Olivia and Isabella’s in October 2010 and have been served the town of Altavista and the surrounding communities great food since. Named after their two daughters it’s a casual and fine dining restaurant.
The restaurant serves steak and seafood, all cooked on a charcoal grill; along with a soup and salad bar, homemade breads, and desserts. All of the food is fresh, not frozen. The restaurant is about 50-miles from Martinsville Speedway, east of Roanoke.
Address: 2600 Dearing Ford Road, Altavista, VA 24517
Phone: (434) 369-1700
Hours: Tuesday-Friday 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Saturday 4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Famous Martinsville Speedway Hot Dog
Look no further than the first concession stand, where for $2 you can have a world-famous Martinsville Speedway hot dog. The Jesse Jones frank, done all the way with chili, slaw, and onions, is a “must have” on any visit to the track.
Earlier this year, Dale Earnhardt Jr. told ESPN’s Terry Blout: “Yeah, I eat about three or four a day."
The greatest part about a Martinsville Speedway hot dog is that – like the Fenway Frank in Boston – you can only get it at the speedway. Meaning, great short track racing is the side-dish to this tasty-treat.
If You Can’t Wait to Get To The Track For the Hot Dog
Peoples Gas For Less
The closest thing to an authentic Martinsville hot dog is available at Peoples Gas For Less store, just south of the speedway on highway 220. It’s the same hot dog, same cole slaw and chili; the only thing missing is the waxed paper and the sound of race cars.
Address: 5780 Greensboro Road, Ridgeway, VA 24148
Phone: (276) 956-2912