The 88 drivers that made up the entry list for the 2017 ValleyStar Credit Union 300 consisted of an even mix of veterans and rookies who were looking to become the first driver to win the prestigious Late Model race under the lights. Philip Morris, Tommy Lemons Jr., and Timothy Peters were among the drivers that were seeking to add another Martinsville win to their resume, while other drivers, like Trevor Noles and Peyton Sellers, were looking to make a statement by claiming their first Martinsville win.
The idea of a night race at Martinsville also attracted drivers who were not regulars in the ValleyStar Credit Union 300. Late Model veteran Matt Leicht successfully made his second career start at Martinsville by finishing eighth in the chaotic Last Chance Qualifier, despite not attempting the event since 2007.
“My dad built Late Models for a long time, and it’s kind of where my heart is,” Leicht said. “I love the competition and big races like this past weekend, and next year we will be even better and plan on hitting all of the big races.”
A native of Asheville, North Carolina, Leicht began his career in Late Model competition by making his debut in the UARA STARS Late Model Series in 2006. Leicht faced heavy competition from drivers that included former Martinsville winners Jake Crum and Alex Yontz, but Leicht was able to record five Top 10 finishes, including a Top 5 at Newport Speedway in 2007, during his five-year career in the series.
At the start of the new decade, Leicht’s Late Model program began to encounter financial and sponsorship issues, which eventually forced him to suspend his program for the first half of the 2010s, with the exception of an appearance at the UNOH Battle of the Beach in 2013, where he finished 23rd after being involved in an accident. During his hiatus from Late Model racing, Leicht began to make a name for himself in the SouthEast Super Trucks Series, recording 4 victories, 23 Top 5’s, and placing 3rd in the final championship standings in 2012 and 2016.
Despite his success in the series, Leicht was searching for an opportunity to make a comeback in Late Model competition. In 2016, Leicht return to Late Model competition at Myrtle Beach Speedway, and became a regular in the division during the 2017 season. Leicht made his CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour debut at Tri-County Motor Speedway, finishing on the lead lap in 17th, and arrived at Martinsville on September 22nd with the hopes of making the first ValleyStar Credit Union 300 under the lights.
“I thought it was a cool thing to be a part of,” Leicht said. “The whole show up there is top notch and the lights put it over the top, even though there’s really no difference when the lights come on because they are so bright. The one thing that I did notice that was different from last time was the energy from the fans. The crowd was insane!”
Leicht’s weekend at Martinsville got off to a rough start, as he was unable to transfer into the main event through the heat, and had to rely on a Top-10 finish in the Last Chance Qualifier to make the field. Leicht was able to survive the carnage and earned a starting spot in 40th position for the main event. Although Leicht was able to move his way up through the field early, he knocked the exhaust on his car loose during his heat race, where it finally broke off shortly before the halfway break, which forced him to finish in 33rd behind the wall.
“With us missing the test, we didn’t know how the track was going to change when the sun went down and we figured that out really quick after qualifying on Friday night,” Leicht said. “We used a lot more brakes when the track was cooler and had more grip because you could go so much harder. Next year we will have a good notebook to start with, and I think we will have a lot better chance of getting to the front and staying there.”
Leicht remains committed to Late Model competition for the future, and plans to run in the 25th Myrtle Beach 400 onNovember 11th. He also plans to file an entry for every major Late Model race remaining in the 2017 season, as well as the 2018 season, which will feature the return of the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown at Langley Speedway after a two-year hiatus.
