Five Things You Need to Know: 2026 ValleyStar Credit Union 300

Late Model Stock Car racing’s richest and most prestigious event will take place at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday night with a star-studded field.

90 drivers from over eight states and three different countries will attempt to make the 40 car field in the ValleyStar Credit Union 300.  When the night is over, one driver will take home the $32,000 check and a Grandfather Clock.

The most notable change heading into this year’s fall classic is what hasn’t changed.

Throughout the years, the format of the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 has undergone drastic changes.  In recent years, however, it has remained the same and that will hold true in 2026.

Here are five things you need to know about the 2026 running of the Autumn highlight.

The Format

Practice and qualifying will take place on Friday, with single car qualifying determining the starting lineup for four (4) 25-lap heat races which will be run on Saturday afternoon.  The top 10 finishers from each of the four heat races will transfer into the 200-lap feature event.

The four fastest qualifiers will start on the pole in their respective heat races.  The top 10 finishers in the four heat races will advance into the 200-lap main event, which does not have a last chance qualifier for those who do not make it in.

After the field is set, pre-race ceremonies and driver introductions will be held on the frontstretch leading into the 7:00pm green flag for the 200-lap feature race.

The 200-lap main event will be split into three stages: 100 laps, 75 laps, and then a 25-lap sprint to the finish.  The field will be frozen during the stage breaks and teams will be allowed to make approved adjustments and change up to four tires during the five-minute stage breaks.

Teams are limited to four sets of tires for the entire weekend – two sets on Friday for practice and qualifying, and two sets on race day.

Event Schedule & Ticket Information

Friday, September 25, 2025

• 6:00am – Registration opens
• 7:30am – Garage opens
• 8:30am – Technical inspection begins
• 3:15pm – First Practice (until 4:30pm)
• 4:45pm – Final Practice (until 6:15pm)
• 6:15pm – Pre-qualifying work session (until 7:00pm)
• 8:00pm – Qualifying (Single Car Qualifying; 2 timed laps)

Saturday, September 26, 2025

• 9:30am – Garage and registration opens
• 10:45am – Pre-Race Work Session on pit road (until 12:45pm)
• 12:00pm – Mandatory driver/crew chief/spotter meeting.
• 2:00pm – Autograph session on frontstretch (until 3:30pm)
• 4:00pm – Heat Races (Four 25-lap races)
• 5:00pm – Pre-Race Work Session (until 5:45pm)
• 6:35pm – Driver Introductions
• 7:00pm – Start of the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 feature race (200 laps)

Qualifying, heat races, and the feature race will all be broadcast live on FloRacing. Heat races and the 200-lap main event will also be broadcast live, at no cost and with no subscription required, on The NASCAR Channel which is available on Xumo Play, Tubi, Prime Video, Roku, Samsung TV Plus, Tablo TV, and through the official website of NASCAR.

Tickets are available for $25, with kids 12 and under admitted free. Fans can also purchase pit passes for the event. Tickets and pit passes are available same day.

Entry List

90 drivers will attempt to make the 40 car field, meaning 50 drivers will miss their shot to compete in the main event at Martinsville Speedway.

This year’s ValleyStar Credit Union 300 features two-time 2026 NASCAR Cup Series race winner Corey Heim, who won at Indianapolis and San Diego, as well as NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series competitor and Chase contender Carson Kvapil.  Former winners, including Lee Pulliam, two-time and defending winner Landon Pembelton, Trevor Ward, Peyton Sellers, and Jason York, will also be on hand along with Caden Kvapil and Tristan McKee.

They will also be joined by Late Model Stock Car stars Jared Fryar, Carson Loftin, Sam Yarbrough, Conner Jones, Bobby McCarty, Stacy Puryear, Kyle Dudley, Andrew Grady, Woody Howard, Blake Stallings, and more.

Drivers in bold are eligible for the Virginia Triple Crown.

Event Purse

The ValleyStar Credit Union 300 is one of the richest races of the year, with $125,095 in posted awards.  The winner of the race will take home $32,000 on top of $25 for each lap led.

The full purse breakdown is as follows:

1. $32,000
2. $8,000
3. $6,000
4. $5,000
5. $4,000
6. $3,000
7. $2,800
8. $2,700
9. $2,600
10. $2,500
11. $1,900
12. $1,875
13. $1,850
14. $1,825
15. $1,800
16. $1,725
17. $1,600
18. $1,575
19. $1,500
20. $1,450
21. $1,400
22. $1,390
23. $1,380
24. $1,370
25. $1,360
26. $1,350
27. $1,340
28. $1,325
29. $1,320
30. $1,275
31. $1,275
32. $1,275
33. $1,275
34. $1,275
35. $1,275
36. $1,275
37. $1,275
38. $1,275
39. $1,275
40. $1,275

SPECIAL AWARDS

• $5,000 Martinsville Speedway Fastest Qualifier Award.
• $5,000 Doughton’s Racing Products Lap Leader Award paying $25 to the leader of each lap in the 200-Lap Feature.
• $2,000 Clarence’s Steakhouse Award paying
• $1,000 to the leader of Stage 1 and $1,000 to the leader of Stage 2 of the 200-Lap Feature.
• $1,000 Sunoco/Sparks Oil Most Improved Position Award.
• $3,300 (value) Grandfather Clock to the winner of the 200-Lap Feature.

Virginia Triple Crown breakdown

1st – $20,000; 2nd – $10,000; 3rd – $7,500; 4th – $5,000; 5th – $2,500; 6th – $1,000; 7th – $1,000; 8th – $1,000; 9th – $1,000; 10th – $1,000

Determined by best avg. finishes from Thunder Road Harley Davidson 200 (South Boston), Hampton Heat (Langley Speedway), and ValleyStar Credit Union 300 (Martinsville Speedway).

Previous winners

Martinsville’s history with Late Model Stock Car racing dates back to the 1980s when two races a year were held at the track affectionately called “the paperclip.”

In 1995, the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 became a standalone event, and in 1998, it became the only Late Model Stock Car race held at Martinsville Speedway and has been held every year since, with the exception of 2020, when the race was canceled due to the ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic.

This year’s race marks the 31^st running of the fall classic.

The Early Years
1985 – Curtis Markham (100-lap race)
1985 – Barry Beggarly (100-lap race)
1986 – Elton Sawyer (100-lap race)
1987 – Curtis Markham (100-lap race)
1987 – Mark Martin (100-lap race)
1988 – Wayne Patterson (100-lap race)
1988 – Phil Warren (100-lap race)
1989 – Ronnie Thomas (100-lap race)
1989 – Curtis Markham (100-lap race)
1990 – David Blankenship (100-lap race)
1990 – Wayne Patterson (100-lap race)
1991 – Jay Fogleman (100-lap race)
1991 – Mike Buffkin (150-lap race)
1991 – Curtis Markham (100-lap race)
1992 – Dennis Setzer (100-lap race)
1992 – Jay Fogleman (150-lap race)
1992 – Joe Gaita (100-lap race)
1993 – Eddie Johnson (150-lap race)

200-lap race format era
1993 – Mike Skinner (fall)
1994 – Bugs Hairfield (spring)
1994 – Barry Beggarly (spring)
1994 – Barry Beggarly (fall)
1995 – Shayne Lockhart (spring)

Taco Bell 300
1995 – Tony McGuire (fall)
1996 – Donnie Apple (spring)
1996 – BA Wilson (fall)
1997 – David Hyder (spring)
1997 – Billy Hogan (fall)

Fall Only Races
1998 – Dexter Canipe, Sr.
1999 – Robert Powell
2000 – Philip Morris
2001 – Phil Warren
2002 – Frank Deiny, Jr.

Bailey’s 300
2003 – Jamey Caudill
2004 – Tony McGuire
2005 – Timothy Peters
2006 – Alex Yontz
2007 – Dennis Setzer
2008 – Jason York
2009 – Jake Crum

Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300
2010 – Philip Morris
2011 – Lee Pulliam
2012 – Philip Morris
2013 – Tommy Lemons, Jr.

ValleyStar Credit Union 300
2014 – Lee Pulliam (then called the MDCU 300)
2015 – Tommy Lemons, Jr.
2016 – Mike Looney

Night Race Era
2017 – Timothy Peters
2018 – C.E. Falk, III
2019 – Josh Berry
(Race not held in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic)
2021 – Landon Pembelton
2022 – Peyton Sellers
2023 – Trevor Ward (Postponed to Sunday due to Tropical Storm Ophelia)
2024 – Carson Kvapil
2025 – Landon Pembelton

Short Track Scene will be on hand all weekend to provide up to the minute coverage online and through social media channels.