Crum Inherits ValleyStar Credit Union 300 Pole

2009 Martinsville winner will lead field to green flag on Saturday

The times for Jeff Oakley and Deac McCaskill, who qualified first and second respectively, were disallowed following inspection.  Race director Lynn Carroll said Oakley was disqualified for having a spacer plate under the carburetor while McCaskill had an issue with the squirters on his carburetor.

Crum, who won the 2009 ValleyStar Credit Union 300, said in a press conference that he was excited to lead the field to the green flag in the first primetime Late Model Stock Car race at Martinsville Speedway.

“It means a lot,” Crum said.  “It means a lot for everybody that has put a lot of work into this.  It’s just an honor to be the first one under the lights here.  Hopefully we can bring home a win.”

Stacy Puryear will start on the outside of the front row.  As a result of moving up to the front row, neither Puryear or Crum will have to race their way in during heat races.

“It’s pretty amazing,” Puryear said.  “We were excited to qualify fourth.  To be on the front row and not have to run the heat race, I’m pretty excited.  I knew we had a good car in practice today.  Just still pretty amazed that we’re here.”

Two-time Martinsville winner Tommy Lemons, Jr. will start on the pole in the first heat race while 2016 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champion Matt Bowling will start on the pole for the second heat race and two-time Martinsville winner and newly crowned four-time national champion Lee Pulliam will start on the point in the third heat race.

The heat races, which will run for 25 laps each, will commence at 4pm EST on Saturday, which will be followed by a last chance qualifying race.  10 cars will transfer in from each qualifier.  The 200-lap main event will go green at 8pm EST.

Jake Crum pilots his no. 01 MyFreedomSmokes.com Ford around the track at Martinsville Speedway on Friday, September 22nd, 2017. Dinah M. Thompson photo