Iconic NASCAR trophy maker, Howard Miller, set to close
Martinsville Speedway promises to continue the tradition of presenting winners with a grandfather clock but there will be changes in who produces the unique trophy
Howard Miller, the Michigan-based company renowned for crafting the distinctive grandfather clocks awarded to NASCAR winners at Martinsville Speedway, is reportedly shutting down. This news marks the end of an era for the family-owned furniture and clock maker, which has been in business for nearly a century.
According to Furniture Today, Howard Miller plans to cease production by the end of 2025 and will remain open in 2026 to sell off its remaining inventory. The company, which employs nearly 200 people across two facilities in Michigan and additional locations in Lexington and High Point, North Carolina, is facing closure due to a challenging housing market, escalating inflation and interest rates, and tariffs, as cited by its CEO.
The news of Howard Miller's impending closure has brought the unique history of the Martinsville grandfather clocks into the spotlight. Veteran NASCAR broadcaster Mike Joy took to social media to elaborate on this cherished tradition. Since 1964, major race winners at the historic short track have been presented with a Ridgeway clock. That year, Hall of Fame driver Fred Lorenzen famously won both races at Martinsville, leading an astonishing 980 out of 1,000 laps.
Over the decades, Howard Miller acquired Ridgeway and continued the tradition of supplying these coveted timepieces to race winners. The grandfather clock has become an enduring symbol of victory at Martinsville Speedway, with legendary drivers like Richard Petty, Darrell Waltrip, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, and both Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Jr. proudly adding them to their trophy collections.
Despite the news, Martinsville Speedway is committed to preserving the uniqueness of its trophy. Mike Joy shared a text from the Martinsville Speedway president, Clay Campbell, assuring him that the track "will find something just as good." Joy himself expressed confidence that "the clock situation will turn out fine, and the uniqueness of their trophy will be preserved."
The announcement prompted reactions from the NASCAR community, including Dale Earnhardt Jr., who famously won his only grandfather clock in October 2014. On social media, Earnhardt Jr. emphatically stated, "Whomever makes the next version better make them exactly like the previous versions. Don’t get cute and [expletive] this up."
Fellow driver Landon Cassill offered a humorous take, jokingly commenting on Earnhardt's post that the "next versions gonna be digital and Bluetooth controlled with an app."
The closure of Howard Miller signifies a change for one of NASCAR's most iconic victory lane traditions, but Martinsville Speedway's commitment suggests that the spirit of the grandfather clock trophy will continue in some form.
