Landon Pembelton takes Martinsville victory in photofinish

MARTINSVILLE, VA – Landon Pembelton edged Lee Pulliam to score his second career Martinsville Speedway win in an eventful ValleyStar Credit Union 300 on Saturday night.

Pembelton moved Pulliam up the track coming to the white flag to take the lead.  On the last turn, Pulliam returned the favor, but Pembelton was able to hold Pulliam off.  The margin of victory was .024 seconds, one of the closest finishes in Martinsville Speedway history.

“That’s how you’re supposed to race,” Pembelton said.  “It’s unbelievable.  I can soak this one in a little bit better than the first one.  If you win two, that’s joining an elite list of drivers right there.  I know Lee wanted that one ba but I mean, I knew yesterday me and him were the two best cars and it was gonna come down to us.”

The race was the most eventful in recent years, with two stoppages for rain and a spree of cautions throughout the race.

The most notable incident came on lap 100 when Tristan McKee came down the track and turned Sam Yarbrough into the wall head on, collecting Bobby McCarty.  McKee told Short Track Scene it was a misjudgement.

Conner Jones had a strong run come to an end on lap 140 when he went around off the front bumper of Kade Brown. 

Trevor Ward, who had spent much of the race out front, was penalized for a restart violation on the 120^th lap of the race, ultimately changing the complexion of the race and setting up the battle between Pulliam and Pembelton.

An early race stack up collected multiple contenders, including Mike Looney and Daniel Silvestri, and ended Blake Stallings’ night.  Another big wreck on lap 38 ended Landon Huffman’s night and collected Doug Barnes, Brandon Pierce, Ty Majeski and others.

Connor Hall won the Virginia Triple Crown championship.

Unoffical Results

1. Landon Pembelton
2. Lee Pulliam
3. Jared Fryar
4. Andrew Grady
5. Parker Eatmon
6. Ty Majeski
7. Landon S. Huffman
8. Cody Kelley
9. Doug Barnes
10. Carson Loftin
11. Connor Hall
12. Ryan Matthews
13. Caden Kvapil
14. Jake Crum
15. Stuart Crews
16. Conner Weddell
17. Mike Looney
18. Riley Gentry
19. Donovan Strauss
20. Chase Burrow
21. Matt Waltz
22. Kade Brown
23. Brandon Piece
24. Dillon Harville
25. Cory Pack
26. Camden Gullie
27. Tristan McKee
28. Michael Bumgarner
29. Trevor Ward
30. Conner Jones
31. Ryan Millington
32. Bobby McCarty
33. Sam Yarbrough
34. Chase Murphy
35. Landon Huffman
36. Jacob Borst
37. Tate Fogleman
38. Ronnie Bassett, Jr.
39. Daniel Silvestri
40. Blake Stallings