Jake Crum, the 2009 winner of the ValleyStar Credit Union 300, will start Saturday night’s feature race from the pole position, while Stacy Puryear will start second. The duo was elevated to the front row after the qualifying times of Jeff Oakley and Deac McCaskill were disallowed in post-qualifying inspection.
Crum said it is exciting to be the first pole-sitter for a race under Martinsville Speedway’s new LED lighting system.
“It means a lot to the fans…and everyone who has put a lot of work into this,” Crum said. “It’s just an honor to be the first ones under the (new) lights here. Hopefully we can bring it home with a win and be the first one under the lights.”
For Puryear, a veteran racer who has faced the difficulty of racing his way into the feature race at the ValleyStar Credit Union 300, avoiding a qualifying race is the highlight of his starting position.
“It’s pretty amazing, I’m very excited,” Puryear said. “To be on the front row now and not have to run the heat races is pretty exciting. We knew we had a good car in practice today, just still pretty amazed to be here.”
Race director Lynn Carroll said that Oakley and McCaskill’s times were disallowed due to issues with their carburetors.
“The times were disallowed,” Carroll said. “(Oakley’s) car had an issue with a spacer plate which is not allowed for this event and (McCaskill’s car) had an issue with the squirters on the carburetors on his car.”
As a result of starting on the front row, Crum and Puryear have elected to accept the option of not participating in Saturday’s qualifying races.
The top 10 drivers from three qualifying races and the top eight drivers from the Last Chance Qualifier will join Crum and Puryear in the feature race.
Two-time ValleyStar Credit Union 300 winner Tommy Lemons Jr. will start on pole in the first heat race.
The 2016 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series National Champion Matt Bowling will start on pole in the second heat race.
Four-time NASCAR Whelen All-American Series National Champion and two-time ValleyStar Credit Union 300 winner Lee Pulliam will start from pole in the third heat race.
The ValleyStar Credit Union 300 will be broadcast live on MRN.com and select MRN affiliate stations.
The ValleyStar Credit Union 300 is NASCAR’s biggest, richest and most prestigious Late Model Stock Car race. Fan gates open at 2:00 pm, followed by an autograph session on the frontstretch at 2:30. The qualifying races will start at 4 with the main feature set to begin at 8. Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 1-877-RACE-TIX or online atwww.martinsvillespeedway.com.
Martinsville Speedway PR
