The pavement short track racing community of Virginia was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
While some tracks were able to operate somewhat normally, strict safety restrictions in different parts of the state prevented others from even opening up.
The cancellation of South Boston Speedway’s 2020 season and subsequently the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway also meant no Virginia Late Model Triple Crown, which had become well-respected by drivers and fans since its creation in 2012.
Now after a year-long absence, the Virginia Triple Crown is set to resume on Saturday evening with the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 at South Boston, much to the excitement of the track’s assistant general manager in Chase Brashears.
“[The Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200] means a lot to the community, the racers and the track,” Brashears. “Our fans, competitors and sponsors have waited over two years to have this event again. To be able to hold the race after the year we’ve all been through is absolutely astonishing.”
Despite being a relatively new tradition, the Virginia Triple Crown has always attracted the best Late Model Stock racers from the state along with many from North Carolina, Tennessee and South Carolina.
Peyton Sellers, who has claimed the Virginia Triple Crown title three times during his career, expects that trend to continue for all three races in 2021 and believes that every field will be among the toughest he has competed against.
“It feels like we’ve been off for five years with the way the pandemic hit everyone in 2020,” Sellers said. “It’s good to see these tracks back rolling again with fans in the stands and I think you’ll see a big car count for all three races. People are anxious to get back to normal.”
Sellers added that the Virginia Triple Crown showcases not only talent on the East Coast but three top-tier facilities that have tested drivers like Philip Morris, Ray Hendrick, David Blankenship and many more.
Following 200 strenuous laps at South Boston, the Virginia Triple Crown goes through Langley Speedway for the Hampton Heat, which is another grueling event that tests the endurance of drivers and cars with sweltering summer temperatures.
The prestigious 300-lap feature at Martinsville wraps up the three-race stretch, with the driver tallying the best average finish in the Virginia Triple Crown receiving a $7,000 paycheck.
Sellers said that the Virginia Triple Crown’s format leaves no margin for error, which puts more pressure on drivers to start strong and maintain consistency up until Martinsville.
“You have to come out at South Boston with a solid Top 10 finish,” Sellers said. “You can win the Triple Crown with a worse finish than that but the odds will be stacked against you. With the way it works, you could win the first two races but lose the championship in the third. All three races have to be perfect.”
Starting the Virginia Triple Crown has not been an issue for Sellers lately, as he won at South Boston in 2018 and 2019 after holding off late chargers from Morris and Lee Pulliam respectively.
Neither Pulliam nor Morris are entered for Saturday’s Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 but Sellers said that drivers like Bobby McCarty, Mike Looney, Jared Fryar and more are going to be obstacles as he attempts to win the race for the third consecutive year.
With the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 also counting towards South Boston’s Late Model Stock championship, Sellers said that finding the perfect balance between aggression and patience will be crucial to claim the victory and keep his commanding points lead intact.
“We’ve got to be smart,” Sellers said. “Getting to the halfway break is going to be important so we can make adjustments but I have to points race too. There’s big money on the line along with track and Triple Crown points.”
Sellers said that having the Virginia Triple Crown back for 2021 is going to be a major confidence booster for himself, his competitors and all three host tracks as they continue to recover from the impacts of the pandemic.
Brashears admitted that South Boston has struggled with car counts to begin the season but is optimistic about the rest of the year with over 30 drivers having filed an entry for the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200.
While the car count is important for Brashears, he said that experiencing the atmosphere of an Independence Day race at South Boston for the first time as a member of the track’s staff is going to make Saturday night memorable for him.
“For me, celebrating Independence Day and what it means to be an American at large is what makes this race special,” Brashears said. “We’re expecting a lot of people, a lot of cars and a great show. We’re looking forward to having everyone back.”
Brashears knows there is still a long way to go in the recovery process but is relieved to see the vibrant Virginia short track community back on its feet after weathering a tumultuous year.
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