The final time Lee Pulliam contested the whole thing of the offered by FloRacing, he ended up securing his second championship within the three-race stretch.
That was in 2019. Now one in every of Late Mannequin Inventory Automotive racing‘s heralded is hoping and getting ready so as to add one other crown to his lengthy record of conquests.
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Pulliam’s pursuit of a 3rd Virginia Triple Crown will see him workforce again up with JR Motorsports after making his with the workforce at Martinsville Speedway in March. Sponsoring Pulliam‘s No. 8 Chevrolet for the trouble will probably be , a free, 24/7 steaming community.
Just a few years in the past, Pulliam by no means imagined he would have help from JR Motorsports or NASCAR for even one race, particularly after transitioning to workforce possession. The circumstances during which Pulliam finds himself are why he’s so enthusiastic about chasing the Virginia Triple Crown as a driver as soon as once more.
“It‘s tremendous gratifying and humbling to drive these race automobiles,” Pulliam mentioned. “To do it with JR Motorsports is an unbelievable alternative, and to have the NASCAR Channel on board, it simply speaks volumes actually of [how much] all people at NASCAR and JRM consider in me. It‘s a extremely large deal and an honor I don‘t take calmly.”
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If it had been as much as Pulliam, he would have continued chasing Virginia Triple Crowns after his 2019 title. Sponsorship grew to become extra of a problem because the years progressed, which pressured to him to make a tough-but-necessary determination to step away from full-time driving on the flip of the last decade.
Regardless of the change in route, Pulliam maintained a long-lasting influence not solely on Late Mannequin Shares, however throughout motorsports. Drivers like Corey Heim and Brenden “Butterbean” Queen loved loads of success by Lee Pulliam Efficiency, which has additionally helped develop aspiring feminine rivals like Isabella Robusto and Lanie Buice.
But a burning want remained inside Pulliam to show laps alongside the drivers he mentored. Aside from a handful of begins in 2020, Pulliam remained out of the seat, however he by no means misplaced hope about at some point placing his fireplace swimsuit again on to chase one other win.
“It‘s one thing about driving; that‘s what bought me into this sport,” Pulliam mentioned. “My ardour was to be behind the wheel. I by no means needed to not be behind the wheel. Circumstances led to that.”
MARTINSVILLE, VA- OCTOBER 5: Lee Pulliam, #5, celebrates his win on the MDCU 300 on the Martinsville Speedway on October 5, 2014 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photograph by Sara D. Davis / NASCAR by way of Getty Pictures
The catalyst that finally bought Pulliam again into racing was a household emergency, as his father Stuart was hospitalized in 2024 after a Whipple process led to kidney failure in dialysis. Pulliam made a promise to a recovering Stuart that if his well being improved, he would discover the funding to go run the 2024 ValleyStar Credit score Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway.
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Pulliam certainly made his return to Late Mannequin Inventory competitors within the self-discipline‘s crown jewel occasion; he completed thirteenth after beginning eighth. Not happy along with his efficiency, Pulliam returned to Martinsville the next yr with the most effective automobiles, as he certified on the skin pole and led 44 of 200 laps.
Though he ended up osing the ValleyStar Credit score Union 300 to Landon Pembelton in extra time, Pulliam‘s comeback captivated many within the Late Mannequin Inventory business who both watched him race or had heard tales about his rivalries with different achieved drivers.
One of many first to contact Pulliam after that runner-up displaying was Dale Earnhardt Jr., a long-time buddy. It didn’t take lengthy for the 2 motorsports legends to start out deliberating on methods to put Pulliam in a JR Motorsports automobile.
“[Dale Jr.] simply felt actually touched by the entire story of me coming again after being gone for thus lengthy and the way shut I used to be to successful [Martinsville],” Pulliam mentioned. “It tugged on him to need to do one thing collectively, as a result of he might see I nonetheless had that keenness and fireplace. We simply linked from there.”
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The Thanksgiving Traditional at Southern Nationwide Motorsports Park that November noticed Pulliam climb right into a JR Motorsports Late Mannequin Inventory for the primary time. Pulliam displayed the identical effectivity with Earnhardt Jr.‘s gear that had adopted him all through his storied profession, finally ending second.
Just a few months later, JR Motorsports helped Pulliam fulfill a childhood dream in his first nationwide NASCAR begin at Martinsville, a monitor at which he’d received twice in a Late Mannequin Inventory. Almost all the pieces in regards to the alternative went in response to plan for Pulliam, who ended his day in fifth after main 40 laps within the closing phases.
Strolling throughout the stage throughout O‘Reilly Sequence driver introductions and listening to the uproarious cheers from the gang was an emotional second for Pulliam. Such a actuality was one thing Pulliam had labored diligently over practically 20 years to acquire, which is why he’ll all the time be grateful to JR Motorsports for serving to him attain that long-overdue milestone.
Given how nice their first two ventures collectively went, Pulliam felt it made an excessive amount of sense to try the Virginia Triple Crown with JR Motorsports.
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“We‘re racers,” Pulliam mentioned. “Dale‘s a racer; Bryan Shaffer is a racer. Bryan does an amazing job, and our friendship has grown over time. Bryan has crew chiefed the No. 8 and the No. 88 whereas I‘ve been a crew chief to my automobiles. We all the time attempt to assist one another on the race tracks when the opposite one wants one thing.
“Dale needed to go racing, needed a shot to win, and felt like I used to be his man. That was adequate for me. I used to be all in.”
MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – MARCH 28: Lee Pulliam, driver of the #9 Folsom Fence Provide Chevrolet, waves to followers as he walks onstage throughout driver intros previous to the NASCAR O
An avid supporter of Late Mannequin Inventory racing, Earnhardt Jr. believes Pulliam embodies all of the traits that make the self-discipline so particular to him, grit, dedication and all of the accolades that include it. From Earnhardt Jr,’s perspective, it’s only becoming that Pulliam is again in a Late Mannequin Inventory for all three Virginia Triple Crown offered by FloRacing occasions.
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Two high fives in two races for JR Motorsports throughout two completely different automobiles is just reinforcing Earnhardt Jr.’s confidence in Pulliam’s capacity as the 2 put together for the opening spherical of the Virginia Triple Crown offered by FloRacing at South Boston Speedway.
“I’m fairly excited to proceed working with Lee,” Earnhardt Jr. mentioned. “He’s had a great influence on our firm and his story resonates with the NASCAR fan. I’ve little question that he and Caden [Kvapil] will characterize us properly on and off the monitor chasing the historic [Virginia] Triple Crown [presented by FloRacing].”
Earnhardt Jr. and Pulliam are additionally ecstatic to hold the NASCAR Channel colours for the whole thing of the Virginia Triple Crown offered by FloRacing. Established in 2025, the NASCAR Channel presents a wide range of content material that features authentic programming, race replays and reside occasions that may embrace the ValleyStar Credit score Union 300 at Martinsville later this yr.
The NASCAR Channel is out there on Xumo Play, Tubi, Prime Video, Hearth TV, Roku, Samsung TV, FLS and Tablo TV.
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Because the motorsports business in the USA continues to evolve, Pulliam emphasised the significance of drivers like him getting the popularity they deserve within the trendy period. He sees the NASCAR Channel as a good way to perform that objective, however he additionally feels honored to have NASCAR branding on his automobile for 3 of essentially the most prestigious Late Mannequin Inventory occasions.
“That‘s an amazing deal to have the NASCAR Channel on board,” Pulliam mentioned. “I‘m tremendous stoked about that and proud to characterize them. That a part of the game is constant to develop so far as individuals subscribing and watching racing. I hope to assist advertise even additional. I‘m going to do all I can to get the NASCAR Channel No. 8 in Victory Lane.”
The Virginia Triple Crown offered by FloRacing will function the NASCAR Channel‘s first foray into race sponsorship. Dan Barker, the Senior Managing Director of Content material Technique and Distribution at NASCAR, admitted the thought materialized from a break-room dialog on the NASCAR Manufacturing Facility in Harmony, North Carolina.
Barker sees the NASCAR Channel‘s partnership with Pulliam and JR Motorsports as a victory for everybody concerned. He mentioned it permits the NASCAR Channel to additional maintain its exponential development whereas concurrently supporting a high-caliber quick monitor competitor like Pulliam.
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“Every thing we do on the NASCAR Channel and in regional broadcasting is for the followers,” Barker mentioned. “Lee Pulliam is without doubt one of the greatest names in late mannequin racing and an enormous fan favourite. It made sense to us to accomplice with Lee, FloSports and JRM across the Triple Crown and make it possible for all race followers are capable of watch these occasions without spending a dime.”
The alliance between Pulliam, JR Motorsports and the NASCAR Channel has a terrific probability to start out on an ideal be aware within the Thunder Street Harley-Davidson 200, particularly with how environment friendly Pulliam has been at South Boston throughout his profession.
The 2013 South Boston monitor champion, Pulliam notably received the Thunder Street Harley-Davidson 200 six consecutive occasions from 2011-16. He additionally this yr, the primary time he had received a race of any variety since 2019.
Lee Pulliam #5 throughout follow for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Sequence previous to the South Boston 150 on March 30, 2019 at South Boston Speedway in South Boston, Virginia.
Pulliam has witnessed South Boston endure loads of modifications all through his profession, from the drivers that repeatedly race there to the monitor floor that was repaved in 2016. A lot of Pulliam‘s triumphs occurred on South Boston‘s previous floor, however he feels assured about his consolation degree with the present pavement after his win there in March.
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A 200-lap race round South Boston goes to be a lot completely different than an area present; there will probably be extra emphasis on a endurance alongside elevated dangers with so many automobiles entered. For the primary leg of the Virginia Triple Crown to go easily, Pulliam intends to work carefully with Shaffer to make sure his automobile has loads of pace in time for qualifying.
“[South Boston] is hard race monitor,” Pulliam mentioned. “The hot button is realizing the place to place your self by the race. It‘s so robust to go these days with the automobiles being so equal. I really feel like monitor place is a premium and qualifying will probably be a giant deal. Generally the highest is available in, generally [everyone] will probably be down on the flat.
“There all the time appears to be a giant wreck in [the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200] sooner or later, so it’s important to attempt to keep away from that so you’ve one thing to combat with on the finish.”
Pulliam will not be involved about pace, as JR Motorsports enters because the reigning Virginia Triple Crown and Thunder Street Harley-Davidson 200 champion with Connor Corridor. Mixed with the truth that he may have a confirmed Late Mannequin Inventory winner in Caden Kvapil as a teammate, Pulliam envisions a terrific weekend at South Boston.
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As he works with JR Motorsports all through the weekend, Pulliam nonetheless has to double as an proprietor for his personal operation. Lee Pulliam Efficiency is fielding two automobiles for the Thunder Street Harley-Davidson, one pushed by Carson Brown and the opposite by Queen, who will try the primary two legs of the Triple Crown in a Pulliam automobile.
Nothing would make Pulliam happier than to see the highest 4 spots of the Thunder Street Harley-Davidson 200 get swept by JR Motorsports and Lee Pulliam Efficiency. There are a variety of duties for Pulliam to shoulder, however he is aware of streamlining his focus would be the finest avenue for each groups to complete properly Saturday.
The Thunder Street Harley-Davidson 200 is just the primary of three chapters. The Virginia Triple Crown offered by FloRacing is the large prize up for grabs on the finish. Well being-wise, Pulliam feels he has by no means been extra prepared bodily and mentally to sq. up with the very best drivers within the Late Mannequin Inventory self-discipline.
Fueled by a want to show he’s nonetheless on the high of his sport regardless of a chronic absence from racing, Pulliam is set to reward the religion JR Motorsports, the NASCAR Channel and everybody else has in him.
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“I‘ve bought a variety of fireplace and tenacity to go get it performed and achieve success,” Pulliam mentioned. “[It‘s all about] a never-give-up angle. I really like these items; I really like driving race automobiles. It was my ardour; it nonetheless is my ardour. For me, it means much more this time round, as a result of I went so a few years with out driving in any respect. It‘s simply actually particular to me.
“I‘ve been the man that‘s needed to watch all people take the inexperienced flag for a very long time, and I felt like I belonged on the market in all these races. That‘s a tricky capsule to swallow at occasions, however I‘m utilizing it as motivation this spherical. It‘s a really hungry Lee Pulliam, I‘ll inform you that.”
Rather a lot could have modified for Pulliam for the reason that final time he received a Triple Crown, however the driver who developed a popularity as a hard-nosed, spirited Late Mannequin Inventory competitor nonetheless embodies these qualities as we speak.
With a terrific workforce and a rejuvenated mindset at his disposal, Pulliam has all the pieces needed so as to add onto his storied legacy.
