Dale Earnhardt Jr. is making waves in the NASCAR world as he announces a thrilling opportunity for Lee Pulliam, appointing him to drive the No. 9 Folsom Fence Supply Chevy at Martinsville Speedway on March 28. This marks a monumental moment for Pulliam, a seasoned competitor with multiple victories in Late Model stock car racing, as it serves as his official NASCAR debut.
Pulliam’s track record is nothing short of impressive; he has claimed victory in the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville not once, but twice, and has clinched the NASCAR Local Racing Series championship four times across 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2017. Not to mention, he is a two-time winner of the Virginia Triple Crown. Despite these accolades, Dale Earnhardt Jr. believes that Pulliam’s journey to this point has been riddled with missed opportunities. In an episode of his podcast, Dale Jr. shared his thoughts candidly, stating, “He’s that guy like, you know, that did enough but never got looked at. He never got the call.”
Their camaraderie runs deep, as Dale Jr. revealed that he and Pulliam have remained friends through the Cars Tour, often pitting alongside one another. The complexities of Pulliam’s career path are laid bare as Dale Jr. elaborated, “Lee quit driving. Lee gave up driving to own his car and put drivers in it, like Butterbean and so forth.” This decision was not without its personal challenges, as Pulliam made a promise to his ailing father to give racing another shot, making his return at Martinsville to reclaim glory.
The anticipation builds as Pulliam prepares for his NASCAR debut in the NFPA 250, a 250-lap spectacle set to be broadcast on CW starting at 3:30 PM ET, with exclusive updates available on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. This race could be the turning point that Pulliam has long awaited.
In another segment of his podcast, Dale Earnhardt Jr. passionately discussed his love for racing at Atlanta’s EchoPark Speedway, formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway. He emphasized the vibrant atmosphere and the sellability of weekly race tickets in the current climate. Reflecting on the recent Autotrader 400, where Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing secured his second consecutive win, Dale Jr. observed the relentless efforts put forth by the Cup Series drivers, saying, “I know they’re driving their a** off.” His admiration for the sport is palpable as he noted the visible hard work during the race, particularly at Atlanta, where he feels the intensity of competition thrives.
Since retiring from full-time racing in 2017, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has stayed connected to the sport, participating in at least one race each season with JR Motorsports. However, he did not compete in any NASCAR-sanctioned events last year, focusing instead on his commitments with Amazon Prime and TNT. This shift has only heightened the excitement surrounding his role as a team owner and mentor, making the upcoming race even more significant for both him and Lee Pulliam as they look to carve out their legacies in the world of NASCAR.
