Lee Pulliam Excited To Compete With JR Motorsports At Thanksgiving Classic

LUCAMA – Lee Pulliam is teaming up with Dale Earnhardt, Jr., in his first Southern National Motorsports Park appearance of the decade.

Pulliam, who won the 2015 Thanksgiving Classic and is one of the most accomplished drivers in Late Model Stock Car racing history, will drive for JR Motorsports in Sunday’s 250-lap event. His return to Southern National and his JR Motorsports debut comes just a couple months removed from a runner-up finish in the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Maritnsville Speedway.

“I feel like we’ve definitely got a really good shot at winning,” Pulliam said. “Dale’s equipment is so freaking good, and he’s got the best guys working on the cars each week, so I feel like we’ll have a really good shot coming there.”

Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who is a co-owner of the zMAX CARS Tour which Pulliam fields entries in, has praised Pulliam’s talent and tenacity. After the ValleyStar Credit Union 300, Earnhardt reached out to Pulliam to put him in a car for the Thanksgiving Classic.

“Having Lee Pulliam in our car for the Thanksgiving Classic is special for me and our team,” Earnhardt said in a team press release. “He is one of the best drivers and team owners in the sport. His battles with our own Josh Berry years ago were epic. To see him return to Martinsville this fall and nearly win was incredible. I can’t wait to see him in our Chevrolet at Southern National.”

“We’ve talked about it for a long time,” Pulliam stated. “After I ran Martinsville, came within about 15 seconds of winning that race, it just all kind of came together. Just pretty special to be able to drive this car. A lot of history there in the 88 and I’m just thankful he gave me the opportunity to do it.”

Pulliam’s runner-up finish to Landon Pembelton in September’s thriller at Martinsville was just his fourth Late Model Stock Car appearance in the past six years. Coming up just shy of winning his third Ridgeway Grandfather Clock reignited the competitive flame that burns within the four-time NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series National Champion.

“I felt like we were the best car there at the end,” Pulliam explained. “Landon, he was good too. I just needed to get away on that restart. Landon was able to get to my bumper as soon as I cleared him and [Jared Fryar] kind of filled the hole on me when I was going to cross him over. It didn’t work out but I had a blast.

“I’ve never lost that fire to compete. I have it burning inside of me, maybe hotter than ever right now, so I’m pretty pumped to get down to Southern National.”

A victory in the Thanksgiving Classic is not the only success Pulliam has had at Southern National. Earlier in the same season, he clinched his third NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series National Championship after holding off Bradley McCaskill and Kate Dallenbach in a thrilling pair of twin races.

Pulliam is one of 29 drivers currently registered to compete in Sunday’s URA-sanctioned 250-lap Late Model Stock Car feature. The Thanksgiving Classic also serves as the final round of the Inaugural I-95 Showdown.

The 25th Thanksgiving Classic kicks off on Friday, November 28 and runs through Sunday, November 30.