Observations from the 30th ValleyStar Credit Union 300

Another ValleyStar Credit Union 300 is in the books and this race had it all – action, drama, suspense, and a photofinish that came down to two former winners racing with mutual respect.

The weekend at Martinsville was chaotic.  Rain threatened the entire weekend and led to two lengthy stoppages during the 200-lap feature in Saturday’s ValleyStar Credit Union 300 – but the race would be completed with Landon Pembelton scoring his second ValleyStar victory over Lee Pulliam and Jared Fryar.

Behind them, there was plenty more to discuss.

Lee Pulliam Returns

Lee Pulliam was back behind the wheel of a Late Model Stock Car, and when Pulliam is racing, the sport is better off.

Pulliam is one of the greatest drivers in the history of the discipline.  When he first came onto the scene, he ruffled feathers as he quickly established himself as a dominant force.  His rivalry with Philip Morris was simply legendary.  However, as the price of racing has skyrocketed, Pulliam has stepped back to focus on being a championship-winning crew chief.

But you could tell all weekend what he really wants to do.  And we all know what we want too, which is Lee Pulliam racing more often.

Pulliam brings eyeballs.  He commands respect, respect which has been earned by accomplishing everything there is to accomplish in Late Model Stock Car racing.  He was, and might still be, the face of Late Model Stock Car racing.  And Late Model Stock Car racing needs him to race.  So, let’s make this happen.

Mayor McCarty

After being swept up in an accident triggered when Sam Yarbrough careened into the wall head-on off the front bumper of Tristan McKee, Bobby McCarty felt the need to speak out in an epic interview with FloRacing’s Jacklyn Drake, and a follow up with Short Track Scene’s Matt Weaver.

In short: McCarty said there is an incident with McKee every week, that McKee needs to hurry up and move up to ARCA, that McKee would hurt someone, and that the entire garage was tired of it.  When his interview concluded, McCarty was receiving near-universal praise from the garage area and from social media.

It’s not the first time in recent months McCarty has been outspoken about the state of racing.  He also recently discussed the cost of Late Model Stock Car racing, especially in the zMAX CARS Tour in another commentary that earned significant praise from the Late Model Stock Car community.

McCarty has always been quotable.  He’s always been outspoken.  But McCarty now speaks as a veteran and a champion of the sport, and with a level of authority, and his messages of late are usually the sentiments being echoed throughout the pits by his fellow competitors.

Bobby McCarty has become something of the Mayor in Late Model Stock Car racing, and he may have solidified that presence on Saturday.

Mr. Consistency

If Jared Fryar is in a Late Model Stock Car race, you can probably place a bet that he is going to win or at least be in contention.  He was my pick to win on Saturday, though he ultimately wound up finishing third.

Fryar does not race full-time, but he makes the most of it when he does and he maximizes the potential of his equipment every single race.  Fryar is smooth, steady, consistent, and fast, every single race.  He’s become a reliable driver, and might be the most underrated driver in Late Model Stock Car racing.

Whether you want to call him Mr. Reliable or Mr. Consistency, Jared Fryar has certainly earned either one of those nicknames.

AK Performance

Kendall Sellers and the AK Performance team have become one of Late Model Stock Car racing’s elite programs.

How elite?

Cody Kelley was the fastest man in qualifying.  Both he and Fryar, who was driving for Jimmy Mooring but had assistance from AK Performance, were in the top-five for the majority of the ValleyStar Credit Union 300.

Kelley ultimately faded to an eighth-place finish amidst the chaos of the closing laps, while Fryar went on to finish third.  However, make no mistake, this was a statement performance from the AK Performance team which has branched out of just contending at Florence Motor Speedway to contending anywhere they go.  Kendall Sellers and his guys have worked hard to get where they are at, and its time to give them their flowers.

The Redemption of Conner Jones

Flashback to one year ago.  Conner Jones was routinely maligned on social media for his frequent run-ins prior to a suspension from NASCAR after intentionally crashing Matt Mills.  He would finish his 2024 season, despite the suspension, with two wins to close out the CARS Tour season and a big win in the $20,000-to-win Battle of the Stars at Coastal Plains Raceway.

What we saw this weekend, a more mature and much more likeable Conner Jones.

He gave a hilarious pre-race interview with Jacklyn Drake, noting that his Martinsville hot dog count was at 27 for the weekend.  He has opened up about last year and his efforts to mature as a driver and person.

Jones was taken out of the race off the front bumper of Kade Brown in the closing stages of the race.

I spent some time with both Jones and crew chief Mike Darne this weekend, and I have to admit, I’m starting to like the kid.

A few more things…

Landon Pembelton is one of the easiest guys to root for in Late Model Stock Car racing.  Admittedly, I was rooting for Lee to get the win, but how can you not be excited for Pembelton and his dad, former Franklin County and South Boston competitor Brian?  Great family, great win, and he did it the right way – as evidenced by the respect Pulliam showed immediately after the race.

Too often, Late Model Stock Car races come down to a guy deciding to just go fool’s send in the last lap instead of racing it out.  Like in 2023 when Trevor Ward and Landon Huffman raced for the win, it was great to see a clean battle for the clock.

Andrew Grady came home in the fourth position, flying under the radar and methodically racing through the field.  It’s almost uncharacteristic of Grady to have an uneventful race, but he did just that.  And behind him, a strong run for another Eastern North Carolina standout, last year’s Thanksgiving Classic winner Parker Eatmon.

Landon Huffman had a solid seventh place finish.  And no, I’m not talking about “Trash Panda,” I’m referring to the other Landon Huffman, who goes by Landon S. Huffman.  Another underrated driver who pieced a great run together.

Martinsville Speedway and NASCAR heroically got this weekend’s race in against all odds.  The forecast called for a washout for most of the weekend and even as late as Thursday night.  Saturday’s race was run under threatening skies, with two rain delays.  However, in both instances, an army of track drying equipment was deployed and the race was able to resume with fans being treated to an instant classic.

And on the note of Martinsville Speedway, any recording label executive reading this needs to write the name Jocelyn Augustinowicz down after her fantastic, one of the best I’ve ever heard, rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner on Saturday night.  Pre-race ceremonies can sometimes set the tone and get fans excited, and Augustinowicz did just that.  Seriously, get her a record deal.

There is so much more ground to cover from this weekend’s ValleyStar Credit Union 300, or as I call it, Christmas.  2025 has not been a great year for Late Model Stock Car racing, but for one weekend, the magic was back.  It was the same energy and the same electricity that makes the final weekend in September special every year.  As always, Clay Campbell and his staff made the fall classic a weekend to remember.

I’ll conclude this with a shout out to our entire Short Track Scene team, led by Matt Weaver, and including my longtime friend and former Race22 colleague Corey Latham, Scotte Sprinkle, and Caleb Carter.  It is always great to be at the track and working with Short Track Scene, and I’m already counting the days until next year’s ValleyStar Credit Union 300.

Until we meet again.