Commending the Martinsville Missile.

2026, 1st Special Session Introduced by Bill Stanley

The Martinsville Missile set a new stock car land speed record of 253 mph in 2026 at the Shuttle Landing Facility, highlighted as a prideful regional achievement.

Bill text as passed Senate (SR2037ER)

Summary of Virginia Senate Resolution No. 2037 (2026 Special Session I)

Purpose and intent

Recognizes and commends the Martinsville Missile for setting a new land speed record for a stock car in 2026.

Serves as an expression of the Senate of Virginia’s admiration for the achievement and its significance to the Martinsville/Southside Virginia community and motorsports heritage.

Key provisions and changes

Official commendation: The resolution states that the Martinsville Missile set a new stock car land speed record in 2026.

Acknowledgments: Highlights the individuals involved in the project (Joey Arrington as a key organizer and engine designer; Danny Turner, a former Martinsville mayor; and Tommy Hurley, the driver) and their local and regional ties.

Vehicle and achievement details:

The Martinsville Missile is a 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona.
Powered by a 358-cubic-inch V8 engine producing more than 1,000 horsepower.
Set the record at John F. Kennedy Space Center’s three-mile Shuttle Landing Facility runway.
Record speed reached: 253 miles per hour (target speed 250 mph; time to target ~34 seconds).
Vehicle deployed twin parachutes and came to a stop after the run.

Historical and regional significance: Emphasizes pride in the Martinsville and Southside Virginia motorsports heritage and the broader national motorsports engineering initiative associated with the U.S. 250th birthday celebrations.

Affected parties and interests

Individuals:

Joey Arrington (engineer/designer and local figure from Martinsville area)
Tommy Hurley (driver, Ridgeway native)

Local institutions and entities:

Martinsville and Ridgeway communities
VA250 Commission and VA250 Car Project (referenced as part of the commemorative motorsports initiative)

Broader audience: Readers of the Virginia Senate, local supporters, and motorsports enthusiasts recognizing regional achievement.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Status: Introduced and presented in the Virginia Senate on June 15, 2026, during Special Session I.

Process: The resolution was laid on the Clerk’s Desk and prepared for presentation to the named individuals as an official expression of commendation.

Sponsor: Primary sponsor is Senator (Patron) Stanley, with a co-sponsor noted.

Overall impact

A formal, ceremonial acknowledgment by the Virginia Senate highlighting the Martinsville Missile’s record-setting performance, its technical components, and its cultural significance to the Martinsville/Southside Virginia region.

No changes to law, funding, or regulatory requirements are proposed; the resolution functions as an official commendation and acknowledgement.