HAMPTON, VA :: Well here it is race fans, Late Model Stock Car racing’s most prestigious event and it’s less than a few days away. With all its glory and gander, one of the strongest fields could potentially create one for the ages and picking a winner for this thing doesn’t come easy. Nearly 90 Late Models showed up for practice last week in hopes of finding out just how the famous paper clip design oval was going to behave and just how much work was needed to be competitive as this race has proven time and time again. Can you win this race with anything less than the best car? Maybe, as long as you still have a front bumper you can as we have all seen it used once or twice before.
Now, let’s start picking a potential winner. If practice times from last week were a solid indicator, let’s just give this race right now to Lee Pulliam. Why not, right? The guy wins just about every race wherever he goes. Back to back National titles, back to back state titles etc, etc, etc. So yeah, Pulliam makes a great pick here if decorations and past success is your reasoning but even Pulliam would tell you that Martinsville features the best in Late Model racing. It will take nothing but the best to beat them all in this race. So who else can do it? Phillip Morris practiced last week; does that mean anything to you race fans? Well it should, the guy has won this thing only three times.
I like previous race winners in coming up with a sound pick for winning the Martinsville’s Virginia is for Lovers 300. Laps, laps and more laps to me is the key to winning. Phillip Morris comes into this event logging in more competitive and leading laps than any other competitor. To do it, yeah, it shows you know the race line and braking points but it also shows that he knows how to take care of his equipment. While much attention will be given to the pony power of the Ford crate or whether the new GM cylinder heads and valves measure up to making higher rpm horsepower. Brake management better be every bit as important as making horsepower at Martinsville.
I’d be willing to bet most of you forgot about the extra skin going on in this race, say like the Virginia Triple Crown. It pays additional $5,000 to the winner and practicing last week in his Late Model was another cool customer with lots of Martinsville experience in Timothy Peters. Speaking of the Virginia Triple Crown, last year’s winner, CE Falk, will return again this year. Falk, along with BJ Mackey and Matt Bowling sported decent finishes last year, all who makes safe bets for potential winners. There are many others I like for this race and these guys have a bit of momentum with them too. Some are recent race winners and some are track champions.
Deac McCaskill, Chad Finchum, Ben Rhodes, Peyton Sellers and Dillon Bassett all showed good speed last week and all have shown big race experience. But hey, don’t fret here on me if I didn’t mention your favorite drivers name, this year’s race is highlighted by some of the biggest and brightest stars in the Mid-Atlantic region. All are hungry and believing in themselves, anything is possible to the one who desires it most with good fortunes throughout the race and not to mention a really good piece. Could very well be a surprise this year in store for you race fans as the biggest Late Model race in the nation goes down at Martinsville Speedway October 6th.
Ok, here it is my pick to be the winner. I’m going with Dillon Bassett and here’s why. He carries some momentum coming off a recent win at Caraway on September 22nd making it three in a row in the UARA-STARS tour. The guy flat out drives the wheels off his hot rod at every track he races. Having cars prepped from the same shop as his brother Ronnie Bassett, Jr. kind of makes you think no wonder why he’s got good stuff. If you’re ever ready to see a new face standing beside Martinsville’s Grandfather Clock as the race winner, you may just agree with me on Dillon Bassett being my Martinsville Virginia is for Lovers 300 race winner.
But like I stated earlier, don’t be soar at me for not picking your guy. I don’t doubt at all that we saw the very best out of anyone at practice last week. Many came with worn engines and 200 lap tires to practice with that had about four heat cycles on them. Quarter panels beaten up creating ill efficient down force on the front and rear of the car. Martinsville on a Late Model is as demanding on the car as it is demanding on the engines. Brakes could very well play into things as well especially late in the race. Add the fact that passing is difficult and tempers will flare creates a race that guarantee’s a drama filled ending.
Race22.com is pleased once again to bring to you live comprehensive race coverage of The Virginia is for Lovers 300 from Martinsville Speedway. Lap for lap, from the drop of the green to the checkered flag, nobody does it better than your friends from Race22.com. Exciting race pictures along with video interviews and lap for lap race coverage, only from Race22.com!
