Consistently lauded by both fans and drivers as one of the best tracks where NASCAR races are held, Martinsville Speedway’s two annual races are typically among the best contests in all of motor sports.

But the importance of the half-mile, paperclip shaped racetrack runs far deeper than simply modern popularity.

Opening in 1947, Martinsville Speedway is older than NASCAR itself. The legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which first opened its doors in 1909, is the only track the series visits that is older.

While Indy may be the older track, it didn’t host its first stock car race until 1994. Martinsville is the lone track remaining on the Cup schedule from the inaugural season of 1949.

Instead of giving out standard trophies, the owners of the speedway give winners a grandfather clock. Because of the uniqueness of the prize, it is one of the most sought after in all of NASCAR.

Legends like Darrell Waltrip, Richard Petty, and Cale Yarborough have each brought home multiple grandfather clocks.

In more modern times, the story of Martinsville has become linked to the story of one of the most dominant racing teams in all of motor sports.

It’s impossible to question Hendrick Motorsports place atop Cup racing. As a team owner, Rick Hendrick has five championships in NASCAR’s premier division, four of them coming with Jeff Gordon, and the fifth won by Terry Labonte.

It all began for Hendrick in Martinsville. Eleven years before Gordon’s first championship, in April of 1984, Geoffrey Bodine got Hendrick his first victory as a car owner here.

Yet while the track will always hold the thrill of Hendrick’s first win, it also carries the deep scars that come from his darkest hour.

Last October, in the midst of Hendrick Motorsports 20th anniversary celebration, a team charter plane crashed en route to the race. Aboard the plane were Hendrick’s son, brother, two nieces, and a couple key team employees.

No one was made aware of the tragedy until after the race, won by Hendrick driver Jimmie Johnson. There were no celebrations after the race, as the tragedy cast a pall over the proceedings.

Which is just another reason why Jeff Gordon’s win on Sunday, his sixth overall at Martinsville, was a colossal moral victory for the Hendrick organization.

Early tire problems put Gordon three laps down. Over the course of about 200 laps, Gordon was able to work his way back on to the lead lap.

Once back into contention, he made his way to the front. On this particular Sunday, Gordon’s tactics were uncharacteristically aggressive. Gordon sent defending Cup champion Kurt Busch into the wall with a tap from his front fender.

Fortune also seemed to be on his side. Tony Stewart, who had the dominant car all afternoon, was dropped from contention with a late tire problem. Stewart’s teammate, Bobby Labonte also had one of the best cars in the field, only to see his day end with engine problems.

In the end, Gordon emerged triumphant on the Martinsville front stretch adding another grandfather clock to his trophy case. As typical with a Gordon win, there were as many boos cascading down from the grandstands as cheers.

However, even the most ardent Gordon hater could not boo his car owner.

When Rick Hendrick emerged to give a post race interview, he was wearing shades. The dark sunglasses couldn’t hide the truth. You could see the tears as they trickled down below them.