Saturday’s race at Lonesome Pine Raceway to be held in memory of Ralph Stanley

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Saturday’s race at Lonesome Pine Raceway will be held in honor of the late Ralph Stanley.

Stanley, a legendary figure in Southwest Virginia, passed away last week at the age of 89 after difficulties with skin cancer. Born in Dickenson County, Virginia, Stanley resided in Sandy Ridge, just miles away from Lonesome Pine Raceway until his passing.

In 1946, Stanley and his brother Carter formed the Clinch Mountain Boys, in which he performed with until his brother’s death in 1966. Stanley nearly decided to stop performing after the death of his brother, but the singer eventually opted to continue in music and developed an outstanding career.

Stanley’s work was featured in a track for the popular film “O Brother, Where Art Thou,” in which the singer won a Grammy Award for in 2002.   

Stanley was an inductee of the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor and was the first inductee of the Grand Ole Opry in the third millennium. The artist was also awarded the National Medal of Arts.

Beginning in 1976, Stanley became known largely as “Dr. Ralph Stanley” after receiving an honorary doctorate degree in music from Harrogate, Tennessee’s Lincoln Memorial University.

Throughout his storied career, Stanley touched the lives of many well-known individuals. Notable names that travelled to Virginia to pay their final respects to the artist included Vince Gill, Patty Loveless, Ronnie McCoury, Ricky Skaggs and a host of others.

Nathan Stanley, the grandson of Ralph Stanley, helped to arrange the race in honor of his late grandfather. The third generation performer is scheduled to be in attendance Saturday.

Saturday’s race has been renamed the “Ralph Stanley Memorial” and will feature a full night of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action with nearly 190 laps of racing.

“It is a true honor for us to hold this event in memory of Ralph Stanley,” said Karen Tunnell, general manager of Lonesome Pine Raceway. “Stanley was a true icon and his loss has been felt deeply throughout our area.”

Fan appreciation is also scheduled for Saturday night. An on-track autograph session will take place just before the green flag waves and fireworks will follow after the final race of the evening.

Grandstands open at 4 p.m., qualifying is set for 6 p.m., the autograph session is at 6:30 p.m. and racing gets underway at 7 p.m. Adult admission is $10 and children 12-and-under are admitted free.

LPR PR

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