‘If that day comes, Martinsville is welcome’: Lou Whitaker benefiting from second look at his baseball career

When Lou Whitaker was playing Major League Baseball for the Detroit Tigers, most fans and writers only paid attention to the statistics on the back of baseball cards. Hits, home runs, batting average, and RBIs were the teller of a player’s ability. By those metrics, Whitaker was seen by the baseball world as good, not

Hanging with Miss Cooper: Why not Lou?

The AP headline following the announcement Sunday that former St. Louis Cardinals catcher Ted Simmons was one of two who will be inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame: “Ted Simmons can thank analytics for Baseball Hall of Fame nod.” It’s true Simmons, who received 13 of 16 votes by MLB’s Modern Era

What athletic qualities go into being a racecar driver?

By CARA COOPER Bulletin Sports Editor Dec. 17, 2018 A couple weeks ago, NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson and Formula One champion Fernando Alonso had a seat swap, in which both drivers drove the other’s car at Bahrain International Circuit. It was really cool to watch, and fun to see drivers who drive much

C.E. Falk makes good on his Martinsville Speedway Grandfather Clock promise

By CARA COOPER Bulletin Sports Editor December 27, 2018 C.E. Falk sat in the media center at Martinsville Speedway the day before the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 and said if he were to win that weekend’s race he would set the coveted grandfather clock trophy to chime every 15 minutes. Falk made good on the

Glen Wood helped foster a love of racing for outsiders

By Cara Cooper Bulletin Sports Editor Jan 19, 2019 Wood Brothers founder Glen Wood signs autographs for fans at a meet-and-greet in Stuart in April 2016. One of my first solo racing assignments for the Martinsville Bulletin was in the spring of 2016. The Wood Brothers were having a fan meet-and-greet at their shop and