RIDGEWAY, VA :: This year’s Valley Star Credit Union 300 will look a bit different with new faces running the race and familiar faces not in the race.

The anticipation is in the air and it’s almost time to go racing and, at the end of the day, someone will be $27,000 richer and have a brand new grandfather clock in their living room. Here’s who I think will be in the mix.

Dark Horses

With the help of Mike Darne, who has made noise himself in this event, Ricky Gillespie could be primed for a breakthrough performance on Late Model Stock Car racing’s biggest stage. Gillespie will be attempting to make the race for the first time in his career, but he could end up doing more than just that. Gillespie could be one driver to keep an eye on in the heat races.

Nobody has talked a lot about Wayne Hale this season but the Lonesome Pine Raceway track champion has had a solid season. Much like Ryan Stiltner did two years ago, Hale could surprise everyone on Sunday and have a strong showing.

Contenders

Myatt Snider appears destined to win the championship in the Championship Auto Racing Series (CARS) and has put himself in contention by showing patience mixed with just the right amount of aggression. The 20-year-old has improved significantly this season alone and he will certainly play a role in deciding the outcome of the race.

It has either been feast or famine for Todd Gilliland this season, but Gilliland has a good car every week. Gilliland won the inaugural CARS Late Model Stock Tour race earlier this season at Southern National and scored a win in his first ever ARCA Racing Series start at Toledo Speedway becoming the youngest winner in series history. Gilliland will be faston Saturday and Sunday as he always is. But, will luck be on his side?

Jake Crum was fast in testing and put everybody on notice about his intentions of winning the race for a second time. Crum is driving for Jamie Yelton so we already know his car will be plenty fast on raceday, and he won the Bobby Isaac Memorial race at Hickory Motor Speedway earlier this season. However, much like Gilliland, it’s either feast or famine for Crum. Regardless of his result, he will be a factor.

You can’t put together a list of Martinsville contenders without including national champion and defending race Lee Pulliam or three-time race winner Philip Morris. I would expect this pair of national champions to be in contention for the win on Sunday. Of course, we will also have to keep an eye on Brayton Haws, Josh Berry and Jamey Caudill.

Who will win though? That’s the question.

I’m going to go out on a limb and say Dalton Sargeant. The 17-year-old from Florida has won in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, has numerous top-five finishes in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and finished second in last year’s Snowball Derby. Sargeant is one of the up-and-coming drivers in NASCAR racing and I think he will show everyone why that is on Sunday.