A fourth place finish at Martinsville caps a career changing calendar year for Lee Pulliam

At last years Martinsville 300, Lee Pulliam was making just his second start in seven years in a Late Model Stock car. Fast forward 365 days and he’s moving on from Late Model Stock racing to go full-time in the NASCAR O’Riley Auto Parts Series with Peterson Racing in 2027.

However the events that make up the calendar year in between is what truly makes Pulliam’s story so special. Following that Martinsville race last fall, Pulliam got the call from Dale Earnhardt Jr. to run the Thanksgiving Classic at Southern National Motorsports Park last November for JR Motorsports. Pulliam backed up his runner-up at Martinsville with a runner-up at the Classic.

Then, 2026. A second place run in the CARS Tour season opener at Southern National, an O’Riley Series debut with JR Motorsports at Martinsville where Pulliam netted a top-five finish, and finally breaking the winless drought with his first win at South Boston Speedway in 2,387 days. Pulliam was back in a JR Motorsports Late Model Stock for a bid at the Virginia Triple Crown and while the 200 at South Boston and Hampton Heat at Langley Speedway may not have gone the way Pulliam and co. had hoped, a fourth place run at Martinsville is a strong way to close out the Triple Crown bid.

Now, more than anything, Pulliam is grateful for the journey that has been the past year of his career.

4th place run for Lee Pulliam at Martinsville. He’s thankful for the last 365 days.

He’s off to the O’Riley Series now but he’s already looking at the 2027 schedule for a potential Martinsville run. pic.twitter.com/F6NpFUxaM3

— Short Track Scene (@ST_Scene) September 27, 2026

“It was really special to lead laps here,” Pulliam told Short Track Scene. “Any time you can lead laps and be that good here it’s a lot of fun, … you know, I went six years without doing this, so I have a lot of emotions because here last year was kind of what rebirthed all of this for me.

“It’s taken a little bit to process it but my focus is going to be basically turned to Las Vegas and Peterson Racing, but so much has happened in the past year. I worked really hard to get back in shape, there’s no secret that I was in probably the worst shape of my life a year and a half ago. It’s been rewarding to get to the place where I’m at today and I feel really sharp as a driver, I feel like I’m 20-years old. So many people I’ve met along the way, so many good people have helped me, and this past 365 days has been really rewarding in a lot of different ways.”

As Pulliam steps away from Late Model Stock racing for the time being, he’s still looking ahead at when he can come back and run for another Martinsville 300 triumph. Afterall, as close as he’s been, one could argue he’s due for a third Late Model Stock grandfather clock at the paperclip.

“Maybe one day,” Pulliam said. “I’ve already looked at the O’Riley schedule and if they keep it on the same weekend, we’re off next year. Peterson Racing wants me racing so it sounds like I’ve got an opportunity if things work out. One day, even if I run 10-years in the O’Riley Series, I’m still gonna come back and run this race again, that’s for sure, even if it’s after my career. A lot of great times here, a lot of great memories here, a lot of really cool things and special things happened for me here, things I’ll forever be grateful for.

“Man, the future is really looking bright and I cannot wait to get to Vegas next week. I’ve got a lot to learn but there’s nobody that is going to work harder.”

Pulliam now turns to his first ever start on a 1.5 mile track with Peterson Racing, as he heads to Las Vegas for next Saturday’s (Oct. 3) O’Riley Series event. The third grandfather clock may not have been in the cards for him this season, but the journey Pulliam has been on over the past year has been nothing short of remarkable.