The biggest Late Model Stock Car race of the year will take place Saturday evening under the lights at Martinsville Speedway (VA). We take a look at the race in this edition of “By the Numbers” on Speed51.com.
0: It’s hard to believe but no current NASCAR Whelen All-American Series National Champion from the region of Late Model Stock cars has won the Martinsville race.
2: Can he do it again? Lee Pulliam doesn’t want to think about finishing second because he’s done it three years in a row and four times in his career. Pulliam has seven top five runs at Martinsville with two wins, four seconds and a fifth.
7: Timothy Peters has seven top-five finishes in this race including a win last year.
12: Tommy Lemons, Jr. is set to make his 12th start in the Martinsville race this weekend. Lemons is a two-time winner.
20: Saturday will be the 20th start at Martinsville for Late Model star Philip Morris. His three wins is an all-time record along with his 653 laps led. He’s actually started on the front row seven times.
26: Peyton Sellers, driver of the No. 26, will look to start his 11th Martinsville 300 as he is still seeking his first win. Sellers had tied his career-best finish in 2017 with a third after several finishes out side the top 10. Maybe this is the year he can get the monkey off his back.
50: The qualifying races will be 50 laps and they will take place on Saturday afternoon.
75: The number of cars that officially entered the race as of Friday afternoon.
120: Mike Looney led a race-high 120 laps in 2016 on his way to his upset win. We spoke to him earlier in the week for a story on Speed51.com. Link: https://speed51.com/
200: The main event will be 200 laps under the lights Saturday night.
$10,000: The Virginia triple crown bonus will be up for grabs as Peyton Sellers and Philip Morris are tied in points entering the race.
$25,000: The winner gets $25,000 which is one of the biggest prizes in all of short track racing.
Past Winners
2017 Timothy Peters (2)
2016 Mike Looney
2015 Tommy Lemons Jr. (2)
2014 Lee Pulliam (2)
2013 Tommy Lemons Jr.
2012 Philip Morris (3)
2011 Lee Pulliam
2010 Philip Morris (2)
2009 Jake Crum
2008 Jason York
2007 Dennis Setzer
2006 Alex Yontz
2005 Timothy Peters
2004 Tony McGuire (2)
2003 Jamey Caudill
2002 Frank Deiny, Jr.
2001 Phil Warren
2000 Philip Morris
1999 Robert Powell
1998 Dexter Canipe
1997 Billy Hogan
1996 B.A. Wilson
1995 Tony McGuire
-Story by Elgin Traylor, Speed51.com Southeast Correspondent
-Photo credit: Speed51.com
