MARTINSVILLE, Va. — NASCAR fans associate a lot of things with Martinsville Speedway and its .526-mile track: Intense short-track racing, the prestige of winning there, the grandfather clock trophy, the paperclip shape of the track and hot dogs.
Yes, the southern Virginia track is home to the most famous hot dog in NASCAR. It’s been a tradition for more than 50 years and has become as synonymous with the venue as anything else.
“Fans love them,” track president Clay Campbell told For The Win. “We still keep them at $2 and that’s unheard of in pricing. But they’re pretty special. … I think the competitors like them just as much as the fans.”
If you get it with the works, it’s a steamed bun with a bright red hot dog, topped with mustard, chili, a vinegar-based slaw and onions. And it’s only $2.
So when NASCAR was at Martinsville last weekend for the Cup Series and Truck Series races, we did our own investigation and talked to a variety of people — including seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson — who explained why they love the hot dog.
