As the “rookie” at RACE22.com this year, I will be making my maiden voyage to the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 this weekend. I can recall reading about this race in Stock Car Racing Magazine or Dick Berggren’s Speedway Illustrated growing up, hoping to attend the race some day. Sunday, I’ll be able to check that item off the bucket list, and I can’t thank the people here at RACE22 enough for giving me the opportunity to do so while helping bring their coverage of this great race to you.

With that in mind, that means I’ve never actually seen the race, no matter how many recaps I’ve read, highlight videos I’ve watched, and stories I’ve heard. Thus, when you look at my predictions, remember that I am the rookie, and that they would probably put yellow strips of duct tape on the back bumper of my personal vehicle if I let them. If my predictions are terrible, hey, I’m the idiot new kid! I don’t know any better. If they’re actually pretty good, it was probably just beginner’s luck.

DARK HORSE

One driver who has been fast this year is R.D. Smith. Smith racked up six wins in the last seven Late Model Stock races at Ace Speedway, including a win in a 125 lapper in August which featured a thrilling battle with 2006 Martinsville winner Alex Yontz. Smith also fared well in the Championship Auto Racing Series (CARS) Late Model Stock Tour, accumulating three top-fives and a second-place finish at Tri-County Motor Speedway before a pair of mechanical issues diverted his attention elsewhere. 

CONTENDERS

Of course, we can start by rounding up the usual suspects, to quote Captain Renault. There are the guys who have proven wildly successful both at Martinsville and elsewhere in Late Model racing, drivers such as Lee Pulliam, Philip Morris, and Jamey Caudill. It’s boring, but it’s true. It goes without saying that Pulliam will be a favorite to win this weekend, as he seeks his third Martinsville win to join his NASCAR Whelen All American Series National Championship and victory in the Hampton Heat 200 at Langley Speedway this year.

You can also point to the drivers you have performed well this season on the inaugural Championship Auto Racing Series (CARS) Late Model Stock Tour campaign. While nothing can compare to the challenge of the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 field, Brayton Haws and Josh Berry hold multiple wins against strong CARS Tour fields in 2015. 

One name omitted by my more experienced colleagues in their lists of Martinsville contenders is Sam Yarbrough. Last year, Yarbrough survived the traditional late-race carnage to finish second to Lee Pulliam in the 200-lap feature. This season, Yarbrough has been on a tear, winning 13 NASCAR Whelen All American Series races at Myrtle Beach Speedway. Yarbrough made an impromptu decision to run the CARS Tour event at his home track the Saturday night before the Martinsville test, and came away with a huge victory against a field which included several of his biggest competitors this weekend.

Ultimately, my pick to win is Jake Crum. Crum put together the most impressive showing during last week’s testing session. The Newport, Tennessee native won this race in 2009, and brings that experience to Jamie Yelton’s team for a potent combination. With a win in the Bobby Isaac Memorial at Hickory Motor Speedway already in the team’s pocket, I believe they are the favorites to win on Sunday.