Over 80 Late Model teams arrived at Martinsville Speedway early Friday morning for the 2017 ValleyStar Credit Union 300. The talented list of drivers that showed up for the very first Late Model night race include former track champions, former Martinsville winners, CARS Tour competitors, as well as many drivers making their first appearance at the historic short track.

There are many competitive drivers here at Martinsville this weekend, and as you might expect, the race22.com staff has different opinions on who will bring home the grandfather clock this weekend. Here are their picks for the 2017 ValleyStar Credit Union 300:

Charlie Alexander:

1. 27 Tommy Lemons Jr.- On the past two odd years (2013 and 2015), Lemons was victorious in this race. Look for him to be running up front.
2. 5 Lee Pulliam- It’s quite obvious that Lee Pulliam will be using the momentum from his fourth NWAAS National Championship, tying the ‘King’ Philip Morris. He also has two wins in this race in his last six starts.
3. 01 Philip Morris- With three wins, Morris has more in this event than any other competitor. Experience pays.
4. 12 Timothy Peters- Three of the last five races have been won for a repeating time, so Timothy Peters’ 2005 victory puts him on the table for a win.
5. 02 C.E. Falk III- Despite a recent stagnation in his late model career, Falk has proven strong at this event on many occasions.

Dark Horse: Brenden Queen

Mark Rogers Jr.:

1. 01 Philip Morris- Morris once again is back at looking to be at peak form coming into this race. When so, when has he ever lost? Bad luck and misfortune are behind now from previous years. Him and his team are prepared, he has the wins to back up his strong race season. He’ll conserve and play the invert game at the end, then steal the race from the guy who lead the most laps. It’s why he’s King Morris.
2. 88 Josh Berry- Berry, if not for being wrecked last year, looked to be the car to beat. It’s time for Berry to shine, he’ll lead many laps but will get schooled by the King in the end and come up just one spot short.
3. 87 Mike Looney- Looney again has the race set up, the goods in the car to win again this year and defend his crown. He’ll lead some laps but won’t be in position to win this year.
4. 22 Bobby McCarty- After impressive performances at South Boston and the win at Langley Speedway, McCarty will be on a mission, but he won’t catch the break he’ll need at the end to win.
5. 26 Peyton Sellers- Experience is an asset at Martinsville and Sellers has just that. But way too many others there with it as well. Sellers will have another good run but comes up short in victory.

Dark Horse: 24 Mason Diaz- Might be short in racing against the big names but nothing short of guts and determination. A real Late Model rookie, a real first timer at Martinsville, a true dark horse

Dinah Thompson:

1. 01 Philip Morris- It’s Philip Morris, what else does anyone need to say?
2. 5 Lee Pulliam- Controversy surrounds this year’s national title, I expect Lee to be out to prove a point.
3. 22 Bobby McCarty- McCarty looks to build off his Hampton Heat win.
4. 27 Tommy Lemons Jr.- Tommy is hungry for his third clock.
5. 24 Mason Diaz- The Mike Darne Motorsports driver has had a strong season and is looking to make a name for himself

Dark Horse: 14 Ryan Repko- The kid was fast at the test, now to see if he can keep it rolling throughout the weekend.

Justin Mincey:

1. 88 Josh Berry- The All-Time Winningest driver on the CARS LMSC Tour has won some of the LMSC Crown Jewels, but this one has eluded him, I think he could get it.
2. 1 Jake Crum- The former ValleyStar Credit Union Winner has had a stout car and could win his second Grandfather Clock.
3. 12 Timothy Peters- The time for redemption is now for the Nelson Motorsports Team and the former Camping World Truck Series driver.
4. 5 Lee Pulliam- Yes, I know he’s the favorite, but I’m picking him because of his fantastic season and the momentum he has from this month.
5. 16 R.D. Smith- Yes another LPP entry, but he’s been a strong front runner for years and if he stays out of the mess, he’ll be there at the end for sure.

Dark Horse:
1. 50 Haley Moody- I got a feeling she’ll make the field once again and with the LPP, she could not only finish strong, but she could win it!
2. 24 Colin Garrett- No it’s not because I’m spotlighting him, it’s because of the conversation I had with him and the confidence he has is amazing for a Martinsville rookie.

Andy Marquis:

1. 01 Philip Morris- 2017 has been a banner year for Philip Morris with 20 wins on the season. The veteran looks like he’s better than ever and poised for a fourth Martinsville victory.
2. 5 Lee Pulliam- Pulliam is always a factor at Martinsville. He finished second last year and will certainly be in the hunt for his second Martinsville win this year.
3. 22 Bobby McCarty- McCarty is one of the most under-rated racers in LMSC racing. Earlier this year, he won the Hampton Heat 200 and with a good car, he will certainly be a factor on Saturday.
4. 12 Timothy Peters- Another former winner of the race. In his most recent appearance two years ago, Peters was knocking on the door of win number two, but could not make it happen.
5. 26 Peyton Sellers- It’s hard to believe Peyton Sellers has never won at Martinsville with all his experience, but he has come close. I’d expect Sellers to be in contention again on Saturday.

Dark Horse: 50 Haley Moody- … because y’all were expecting me to say this. Haley hasn’t had a great season, but she’s often at her best when she’s not expected to be. Last year, she defied expectations and made the big dance. This year, teamed up with Pulliam, she might just be a surprise.

Corey Latham:

1. 22 Bobby McCarty- Because he wants it. I remember this team three years ago, didn’t know if they were coming or going, bunch of common rednecks like me but they got the job done. They are still regular people, but on the Barry Nelson team they have the resources to work with, and they will be the car to beat.
2. 01 Philip Morris- What can you say, the KING of Late Model racing. Took some time off, came back this year full force, came to the test with two different motors and both were consistently faster on 5 lap runs. If you want to win Martinsville, your story will be start off with “We’ll we had to beat Philip at the end. That is if he makes it, mechanical woes has been his Achilles heel the last few years.
3. 5 Lee Pulliam- Your National Champion times over, the guy that has ruled Late Model racing the last few years. He has won this race before and will be a threat to do it again. His testing wasn’t the fastest but they worked on race runs more this year, you better believe he will be top 4 when the time comes down.
4. 16 R.D. Smith- Unloaded fast as fire, then just tweaked on the car. They never tried to run the fastest lap in practice, but they were good overall. He has had bad luck in this race with stuff not of his doing, this may be his year to miss the carnage and get the grandfather clock.
5. 02 C.E. Falk III- Under the radar, was one of the fastest cars overall for sure. People were watching him for sure, his averages were mind boggling. 32, 33, 34, 32, over and over again. Talk about bad luck though, he has had it, this year may be different, driving for someone else other than his own car may do the trick on his luck. Something has to give eventually.

Dark Horse:
1. 03 Brenden Queen- Stay patient and good things will come to you.
2. 77 Trevor Ward- Super fast at testing, but have to see what a “race” situation does. Has raced at Ace in 35 lappers, just have to calm him down and may see some magic.
3. 57 Jimmy Mullins- “Mr. Excitement”. Do I need say any more? Last year in the heat race he drifted the car all the way through turns one and two, something we had not seen before and picked up a spot doing it. It made us give high fives all the way around. He has almost won this race numerous times and the best being with Denny Hamlin running side by side for nearly 50 laps.
4. 57 Eddie Johnson- Yeah I know what you’re saying. Watch his line around the track, it looks like a slot car, the same every lap. He doesn’t race as much anymore, has outdated equipment, but if he makes the main event, he’ll finish top 10, mark my word, maybe even top 5.
5. 1 Jake Crum- Past winner of this race. Doesn’t race much anymore, but is still balls to wall don’t give a damn, what I like in a racer. Driving a car built by Jason Stanley, he hopes to make one of his one-off racing appearances be memorable. And he will, he’s a checkered flag or steering wheel driver, I like that.

Mason Dunn:

1. 88 Josh Berry – Always strong on the big stages, luck owes him one at the Paperclip.
2. 22 Bobby McCarty – Going for extra money in the Triple Crown is only extra motivation for this strong team and driver.
3. 26 Danny Edwards Jr. – Bad luck late after running top five for much of the race last year, looking to turn a luck deprived 2017 around.
4. 12 Nick Smith – When the money is on the line Nick is at his best, look for him and McCarty to battle until the end for the Triple Crown title.
5. 82 Barry Beggarly – Flying under the radar just the way he and Eddie Johnson like to be, don’t be surprised if he’s up front by the end.

Dark Horse: 17 Bryan Reedy – If he can make the race and avoid the trouble, expect a solid finish out of the 17 car.

Kimberly Austin:

1. 15 Kres VanDyke- If he can keep his nose clean, and has half as good as car as he did last year, the field better look out!
2. 2 Matt Leicht- Matt hasn’t attempted this race in 10 years so I think he should be fun to watch.
3. 33 Macy Causey- GIRL POWER!!!!!!!
4. 4 Annabeth Barnes-Crum- GIRL POWER!!!!!!!
5. 50 Haley Moody- GIRL POWER!!!!!!!

Dark Horse: 24 Mason Diaz- After having a fast car last year and getting destroyed earlier I look for him to be a strong contender this year

Langley Austin:

“I’m not picking guys to win, but rather guys that you should be watching for various reasons.”

1. 57 Jimmy Mullins- He took an older car and put it in the show last year, he’s still got what it takes and with a new piece he could show us just what all he has left.
2. 7 Dylan Ward- You might think of him as just some Limited driver but he’s going to be a star in Late Model Stock Car racing and he might just turn some heads this weekend.
3. 2 Myatt Snider- He just keeps getting better not just in a LMSC but in every car he gets in and he could very well be a threat this weekend.
4. 12 Ryan Wilson- He’s going to be looking to turn his misfortune last Thursday when his trailers lift gate broke and he couldn’t even unload to practice into a grandfather clock this week.
5. 81 Jared Fryar- He’s damn good. He’s completely underrated and I think he’s poised to win one of these big shows here at the end of the year.

Dark Horse: 5 Ronnie McCarty- He’s never been here except for last weeks test but Kingsport success for Kres VanDayke has translated into success here and McCarty is VanDyke’s biggest threat week in and week out.

Brandon White:

1. 01 Philip Morris- Posted one of the fastest times in the test, and is a 3-time winner of the ValleyStar Credit Union 300. Undoubtedly one of the favorites for Saturday night.
2. 5 Lee Pulliam- Like Morris, he was pretty fast in the test, and has been one of the best Late Model drivers along the east coast this year.
3. 88 Josh Berry- He’s been solid in the last few races of the CARS LMSC Tour championship, and I expect him to carry over that success into Martinsville.
4. 22 Bobby McCarty- Winner of the Hampton Heat, and co-leader of the Virginia Triple Crown. He’ll be looking to end on a high note Saturday night.
5. 27 Tommy Lemons Jr.- Two-time winner of the ValleyStar Credit Union 300, and has looked strong in the races that he’s run this year. He could very easily join Morris as the only 3-time winners of this event.

Dark Horse: 14 Ryan Repko- I’ve liked what I’ve seen out of him in the CARS Tour, and If he can put a whole race together, he’ll be in contention at the end.

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 23rd event are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 1-877-RACE-TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.