Story by: Adam Fenwick ~ [email protected]
Martinsville, VA(October 19, 2012) – Last year, Matt McCall could practically taste victory lane at Martinsville Speedway during the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300, but at the last second that victory disappeared from his grasp.
One year later, McCall is back at Martinsville and ready to take on the best late-model stock-car drivers in the country once again.
Some would say that he has every right to be bitter. Last year Lee Pulliam used his bumper on McCall, pushing him out of the way in order to win the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300. Instead, McCall is more determined than ever to leave Martinsville with a grandfather clock.
“You’ve just got to go there as prepared as you can and try to win the race. I’m definitely not a guy who believes a track owes you something,” McCall said late Thursday. “It’s not the tracks fault; it’s the idiots you’ve got to race with.”
McCall is presumably referencing defending race winner Pulliam, who pushed McCall out of the way in turn three on the final lap of last year’s race. McCall said he won’t avoid Pulliam this weekend at Martinsville, but he won’t seek out trouble either.
“We’ll just let it (the race) play out,” McCall said. “I’m not going to keep my distance, that’s for sure. I don’t get to race much and whatever happens, happens. I don’t think I’ll be in the same situation (like last year) and if I am it’ll be a really bad ending.”
If McCall can survive and claim the grandfather clock this weekend at Martinsville, it would certainly be vindication for the resident of Denver, N.C.
“It would be a good confidence builder,” McCall said. “I’ve run a whopping three races this year. I think it would be cool to come here and outrun the guys that race week in and week out. They’re the best ones that run late-model stocks.”
McCall said he has a very simple game plan entering the weekend at Martinsville – dominate.
“I guess just win every practice, set fastest time in qualifying, win the heat race and win the race,” McCall said simply.
