It’s no secret in NASCAR that the little track in Martinsville has one of the biggest, if not the largest, trophies for the race winner. The Grandfather Clock prize has been in place since 1964 when the Ridgeway Clock company began supplying them.
Track founder, H. Clay Earles, wanted a unique and prestigious trophy that not only rewarded the race winner but also gave a nod to the furniture industry in the region.
Time, as it were, and circumstance took a toll on the furniture industry and Ridgeway Clocks with Gravely Furniture was acquired by Pulaski Furniture in the 1980s. Howard Miller, based in Michigan and also a long time clock and furniture maker, came into play in 2004. Production kept ties to the area with showroom and sales but it became increasingly difficult to keep up.
Fast forward to 2025 and 2026. Economic concerns, markets and current cost increases have forced Miller to shut down. That announcement left Clay Campbell (President, Martinsville Speedway) in a spot. The search was on for a new grandfather clock.
Back in Virginia, news was already on the desk of another clock builder concerning the closing of Howard Miller. The contact and discussions went well and rapidly. Hermle North America would supply the new clocks.
Hermle, started in Germany over 100 years ago and world renowned for their clocks, set up an American shop in Amherst, Virginia in the 1970s. Maintaining a Virginia foothold with a clock manufacturer of this quality and reputation touched all the bases for Martinsville Speedway. The partnership is an exciting move forward for Virginia racing and economic promotion.
The Spring races at Martinsville are set for late March and the H. Clay Earles Grandfather Clock is ready for a new winner’s home. If winning proves too difficult, the Earles clock can also be purchased directly from Hermle in Amherst, Virginia.
