Tommy Lemons Jr. arrived at Martinsville Speedway in 2013 as one of the many seasoned Late Model veterans entered in the race, alongside Lee Pulliam, Philip Morris and Timothy Peters. In his ninth consecutive appearance at the historic short track, Lemons only led eleven laps that day, but managed to lead the last lap as he held off Dillon Bassett and Dennis Setzer for his first career ValleyStar Credit Union 300 victory.
Two years later in 2015, Lemons returned to Martinsville in search of a second victory in the ValleyStar Credit Union 300. Lemons led the final 48 laps in the event, but on the final lap, Timothy Peters attempted to pull alongside Lemons, but ended up crashing after making contact with the leader coming off Turn 4, ensuring a second victory for Lemons. His second ValleyStar Credit Union 300 victory was made more special by the fact that his first child was born shortly before the event started.
Now in his 13th consecutive year entering the ValleyStar Credit Union 300, Lemons is looking to join Philip Morris as the only other driver to win the prestigious Late Model event three times. He is also looking to become the first driver to win the first Late Model night race in Martinsville’s long history.
“We were really happy with our car during the test,” Lemons said. “Running under the lights is really going to add a new element to this place. Everyone wants to win here anyway, but the first race under the lights adds a lot more to the race in general, and I’m really looking forward to this weekend.”
A native of Troy, North Carolina, Lemons began his career in Late Model racing in 2007 when he made two dozen starts at Motor Mile Speedway. Between 2007 and 2016, Lemons contended for track championships at Motor Mile, South Boston Speedway and Southern National Motorsports Park, accumulating 22 victories and a track championship at Southern National in 2014.
In 2015, Lemons was one of the 36 drivers who entered in the inaugural CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour race at Southern National. Since then, Lemons has established a strong presence within the CARS LMSC Tour, expanding his team to four cars, winning two consecutive races at Greenville-Pickens Speedway and Orange County Speedway in 2016, and finishing second in points to Deac McCaskill during the same year.
Lemons will be bringing his four-car fleet to the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 on September 23 with a driver lineup that will consist of himself, Justin Johnson, Justin Hicks and Trevor Noles. Lemons believes that he will once again be one of the front runners when the green flag drops on Saturday evening, but he signaled out a couple of drivers that will present a challenge to his team and the rest of the competitors.
“I think Mike Looney, last year’s winner, will definitely be good again this year,” Lemons said. “Philip Morris has also been real dominant in Virginia this year, especially since he’s put a full effort back into racing this year. I feel like that with Philip’s program, he’ll probably be the car to beat.”
However, Lemons acknowledged that many factors could take front-runners out of contention at Martinsville. The heat races have been key factors in shaping the outcome of the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 during the past several years, and accidents on the track tend to cut the field in half by the time of the race’s conclusion. Combined with the fact that many drivers are anticipating running under the lights at Martinsville for the first time, Lemons believes that the 2017 ValleyStar Credit Union 300 will be a chaotic race.
“The drivers are crazy,” Lemons said. “Racing under the lights probably adds a little bit more anxiety to the mindset of the drivers, but no matter what happens, lights or no lights, the race will be a wild one. I just have to be there at the end to capitalize.”
The annual test session for the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 attracted over 90 entries, with many of them expected to return for the main event Saturday night. Along with Looney and Morris, former winners Timothy Peters and Lee Pulliam are expected to file entries for the event, along with many of Lemons’ fellow competitors from the CARS LMSC Tour. Lemons will have to do more that obtain a strong starting position and avoid all of the accidents if he wants a chance at a third Martinsville victory.
The ValleyStar Credit Union 300 is NASCAR’s biggest, richest and most prestigious Late Model Stock Car race. The day starts with three 25-lap heat races to set the field, followed by a 25-lap “last chance” heat. Tickets for the September 23 event are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 1-877-RACE-TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.
