While many big names are entered into the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway, one driver to keep an eye on is someone who probably flies under the radar.
2024 Thanksgiving Classic winner Parker Eatmon is looking to make a big splash in Late Model Stock Car racing’s biggest event this year. While he did race in the event last year, he only had a handful of Late Model starts under his belt. This year he is competing full-time in the CARS Tour and competed in the South Boston 200 and Hampton Heat earlier this year.
“Last year I only had a couple of races before Martinsville,” Eatmon said. “Running the full CARS Tour [schedule] this year has prepared me well for the weekend and the challenges we are going to face. The heat races are [a] pretty big [challenge]. I feel more prepared than ever going into Martinsville this year.”
With the CARS Tour race at North Wilkesboro being on FS1 and Hickory being $50,000 to win earlier this year, Eatmon has some marquee Late Model races under his belt, but Martinsville is even more important.
“Martinsville is definitely the biggest race of the year,” Eatmon said. “Everyone looks forward to Martinsville. Everybody’s got it circled on the calendar. The most cars show up for it. I still think it’s the biggest one of the year. I’m super excited to get into the weekend.
“We’ve been waiting on this all year. I’m really excited to go there with Hettinger Racing. I think we’ll bring a good car.”
Eatmon teamed up with Hettinger Racing for his season. So far he has four top tens in the CARS Tour with the team and a third place run in the South Boston 200. He has enjoyed his time with the team this season and feels more prepared than ever with them heading into Martinsville.
“It’s been a really good experience for me this year with Hettinger,” Eatmon said. “Recently we’ve been clicking [together] a lot and it’s been good. Me and Jason Staley have been working really good together the last couple weeks. I’m super excited to get there with them. I know Jason is going to bring a good package. I think it’s going to be a really good weekend for us.”
Even though this is the first time Eatmon is going to Martinsville with the team, he feels like they all have high expectations for this weekend.
“There’s always high expectations going [to Martinsville],” Eatmon said. “Especially going in a Reynolds Racing Chassis. It’s my first year going with them. I think there’s a lot of, I wouldn’t say pressure, but high expectations for sure. Everybody wants to run good.
“You never want to go there and say ‘Oh I want to finish here or there,’ you want to go there and win. That’s the goal this weekend. I don’t want anything else.”
Eatmon’s hometown win at Southern National in the Thanksgiving Classic was not only the biggest win for him so far, it proved to him that he is able to perform in big special events for Late Models. He feels that he has performed even better when the lights are on bright, which makes him even more excited for Martinsville.
“I don’t know why, [but] I always run better at these bigger races,” Eatmon said. “I wouldn’t even say the bigger races, just the longer races. We ran third at the SoBo 200 this year. I’m looking forward to Martinsville [being] another 200-lapper. I think we should be good. I feel like I save my stuff a little bit better. I should be good this weekend.”
