The 2025 Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway was everything a short-track Sunday should be. We spent Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Ridgeway, Virginia, watching Denny Hamlin hold off Christopher Bell in an intense late run to the checkered flag. Our RaceAway tour group was right there in the middle of it, taking in tight short-track racing, classic Martinsville bump-and-run moves, and pit strategies that shuffled the order all afternoon. From start to checkered, it was an unforgettable day at The Paperclip and a great showcase of our Martinsville Speedway NASCAR packages.
Hosting Our 2025 Martinsville Cook Out 400 Group in Greensboro
I’m Emily, a North Carolina girl who loves a good short-track Sunday, and I had the pleasure of hosting this Martinsville weekend. Our home base was the Embassy Suites Greensboro Airport, which gave everyone roomy suites and a simple place to meet before we headed to the track.
Most of our guests were first-timers, both to Martinsville and to traveling with RaceAway. That made the lobby feel extra special on Saturday evening as folks checked in and picked up their RaceAway lanyards. Instead of the usual “remember last year” stories, I heard a lot of “what The Paperclip is really like” and “are the hot dogs as famous as people say?” I walked everyone through the plan, from when we would meet the next morning to what to bring for race day, and I kept everything calm and friendly so no one felt overwhelmed.
On Sunday morning, I greeted everyone out front of the Embassy Suites before our 10:00 AM charter departure. The charter picks up right at the hotel entrance, and I do ask folks to be ready ten minutes early so boarding is smooth and we can roll on time. Martinsville Speedway is about 45 miles from the hotel, but we plan on a 90-minute drive so we have a little cushion for traffic.
Once everyone and their soft-sided coolers were aboard, we settled in for the ride. Guests are welcome to bring a beverage on the bus as long as it is not in glass, and I just ask everyone to keep it smoke-free so the whole group is comfortable.
Race Day at The Paperclip
When we pulled into Martinsville Speedway, you could feel the excitement. The track looks small on television, but when you walk up and see how steep the concrete turns are and how tight pit road is, it really hits you that this little half-mile packs a punch.
Some of our guests had purchased the Pre-Race Experience. They exchanged their vouchers for wristbands at the ticket office, then entered the track surface between 11:30 AM and 2:45 PM through the gate at Section H or the pit gate at Turn 4. From there, they could walk the track, watch Q&A sessions on the frontstretch, and see driver introductions from down low before heading back up to the grandstands.
The rest of the group found their way to our seats, grabbed some food, and settled in. From our section we had a full view of the oval, the tight turns, and the busy pit road inside. Driver introductions started at 2:25 PM, and by 3:00 PM the 2025 Martinsville Cook Out 400 was underway for 400 laps and 210 miles of classic Martinsville action.
As of March 2025, Martinsville Speedway allowed soft-sided coolers up to 14 inches and used cashless payments for concessions and merchandise, so I made sure everyone knew the cooler guidelines and to have a card or mobile pay ready before we ever reached the gate.
Right away, our first-timers saw why folks love this place. The racing was nose-to-tail, with cars piling into the corners two-wide and sometimes three-wide, and there was hardly a moment when someone was not using the bumper just a little bit. Cautions, pit stops, and restarts kept shuffling the running order, and fans in our group quickly picked favorites to pull for.
Late in the race, Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell became the story. Bell kept the pressure on, lap after lap, while Hamlin worked traffic and defended the inside line. You could feel everyone in our section leaning forward on each restart and every time the leaders dove into Turn 1. When Hamlin finally held on to take the win, our guests were on their feet, cheering and shaking their heads at how intense a little half-mile can be.
After the checkered flag, I reminded everyone that our bus would leave one hour after the race ended, which gave folks time to take photos, grab a last snack, and make their way back without feeling rushed. We rolled out right on schedule and headed back to Greensboro, the bus full of stories and fresh race memories.
Kind Words from Gail and Other First-Timers
Hearing from guests after a weekend like this is one of my favorite parts of hosting. Gail D. sent us a note that really warmed my heart:
“I just want to say Thank You so much to our host, Emily! We had such an Awesome time. Our seats were Awesome and the Hotel was really nice. Emily did a great job getting us there and back to the hotel. We are already talking about going to another race next year. And if we do we will be doing it through you guys. Again, I just want to tell you that you put a Great Package together for us.”
For a group of mostly first-timers, I could not ask for kinder feedback. Hearing that guests are already talking about their next RaceAway weekend tells me we hit that sweet spot between a well-organized plan and a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.
Highlights from This 2025 Martinsville Weekend
- The Embassy Suites Greensboro Airport was our comfortable, all-suite home base, with an easy charter pickup location at the front door.
- Hosted charter transportation to and from Martinsville Speedway, with a planned 90-minute ride each way so guests could relax.
- Optional Pre-Race Experience that let guests walk the track surface, watch Q&A sessions, and see driver introductions up close.
- As of March 2025, clear cooler and bag guidelines, including soft-sided coolers up to 14 inches and cashless concessions and merchandise, so entering the track was simple.
- An intense 2025 Martinsville Cook Out 400 where Denny Hamlin held off Christopher Bell in the closing laps, filled with bump-and-run passes and strategy calls that shaped the finish.
- Sweet feedback from Gail D. and other first-timers who are already talking about which RaceAway weekend to try next.
Wrapping Up a Sweet Sunday at The Paperclip
On the way back to Greensboro, the bus had that happy, tired buzz that tells me the day went just right. Guests scrolled through photos, replayed their favorite moves, and compared notes on what surprised them most about Martinsville.
As a North Carolina host who loves seeing new fans fall in love with short-track racing, this weekend was a joy from start to finish. If y’all are thinking about joining us for a future Martinsville Speedway trip or exploring other NASCAR travel packages with RaceAway, I would be delighted to welcome you along. We will handle the details so you can cheer loud, eat a few hot dogs, and make your own race-day memories at The Paperclip.