Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300
Monday, October 10th, 2011Story and photos by: Drew Hierwarter
The “Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300″ is the biggest short track late model race of the year and this year’s version produced one of the wildest finishes ever in the history of the race.
The race was hampered with 17 caution periods, but an incident during the final green-white-checkered attempt between eventual winner Lee Pulliam and leader Matt McCall had the Martinsville fans on their feet and hot tempers erupting in Victory Lane. At stake was the $25,000 first-place check and the legendary grandfather clock trophy.
McCall (51) and Pulliam took the white flag side-by-side
As the field went into Turn 3, Lee Pulliam, who had been running in the top five during the entire race, made contact with leader Matt McCall sending him sliding high and Pulliam shot into the lead. McCall then retaliated by spinning Pulliam in the third turn on the cool-down lap after the race.
“This is breathtaking and the biggest win of my career, I can’t think of a bigger stage to be on and get it (win). This is our Daytona 500. He (McCall) got into me going into Turn 1 on the final restart and I just paid him back going into Turn 3,” Pulliam said of the finish.
Lee Pulliam hugs a crewman after the victory.
McCall had a few words with Pulliam in Victory Lane.
“I went up to him and told him I will see him around,” McCall said. “I have got too much going for me on my other career in racing but I will remember this and I will see him again.”
