Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

It took a bit longer than planned for Marc Davis to get rolling with his professional baseball career. Originally drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 11th round out of Florida Southwestern State Junior College, the Buckingham native, whose family still lives in the area, was held back by injuries in 2022 and 2023. Now fully healthy, Davis dominated in Low-A, going 4-3 with a 2.23 earned run average in 17 starts. The Nationals organization felt he did enough to earn a promotion, moving him up at the end of July to the Wilmington Blue Rocks, their High-A franchise, where he’ll continue to start and will likely remain for the rest of the season. 

Buckingham market shuts down

The Buckingham Farmers and Artisans Market is closed for good. Organizers made the announcement this weekend, posting on Facebook that “unfortunately, we are canceling all future dates of the Buckingham Farmers and Artisans Market. Hopefully there will be a successful farmers market in Buckingham in the future.” They told the Herald it wasn’t working, as they were struggling to get established. Instead, they directed everyone to try the two options available at the Christian Outreach Thrift Store, located at 23878 N. James Madison Highway in Dillwyn. On the first Friday of each month, there’s a grocery auction at the store and then on the second Saturday of each month, there’s a community market. The next market is this coming Saturday, Aug. 10 and will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Races put on hold 

Fans of Farmville’s Toby Layne, Max Sangillo and Charlotte County’s Jordaine Penick will have to wait a bit longer for their next races. Due to the threat of severe weather, all of last Saturday’s races were canceled at South Boston Speedway. South Boston General Manager Brandon Brown said organizers wanted to err on the side of caution and instead of rescheduling, the different circuits would just move forward to the next scheduled event on Saturday, Aug. 17. 

Now anyone who bought tickets for the Aug. 3 races will be able to get in Aug. 17 for free, as those will be honored. 

South Boston pays tribute 

One more speedway-related note to pass along today, as the racing community mourns the death of Roy Lee Hendrick. The Central Virginia native, who died Saturday, Aug. 3, was 70 years old. 

Hendrick, the son of late legendary racer Ray Hendrick, won South Boston Speedway’s first NASCAR Late Model Stock Car Division race in 1983 and won South Boston Speedway’s first NASCAR Late Model Stock Car Division championship that same year.

Hendrick won 14 NASCAR Late Model Stock Car Division races at South Boston Speedway during his career with his last win at the speedway coming in 1991.

“Roy was always smiling and had a great personality about him that once you met him you would never forget him,” said former South Boston Speedway general manager Cathy Rice, who currently serves as an advisor and consultant for the speedway.

“There are so many stories that we could tell about Roy, but the one thing I know is he will always be a legend in motorsports and his memories will live forever here at South Boston Speedway,” Rice said.

‘Farmville Five’ offers free pass

There is a need for blood, both here and across Virginia. To deal with that, a “Farmville Five’ blood drive will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 28 at the Farmville Train Station, with walk-ins taken from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The station is located at 510 W. 3rd Street in Farmville. Anyone who shows up will be able to learn more about the five Virginia state parks both in and around the town of Farmville. Also, all participants will receive a free parking pass, good at any Virginia state park. They’ll also be entered into a drawing for a $100 Virginia state park gift card.