This Year's Bailey's Field Could Be Best Ever

Jason York raced to victory lane in 2008.

The Bailey’s 300 always draws the top Late Model Stock Car drivers in the southeast, but this year’s field may be better than ever.

The annual showdown for weekly racers at Martinsville Speedway this Sunday has an entry list heavy with track champions, former Bailey’s champions and race winners by the dozens.

There are six former Bailey’s 300 winners entered, including defending champion Jason York, Frank Deiny Jr., Tony McGuire, Philip Morris, Jamey Caudill and Alex Yontz. A seventh, Dennis Setzer, is expected to enter this week. Setzer has also won a pair of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races at Martinsville.

There are also a bunch of 2009 track champions entered, including Morris (Motor Mile Speedway), Justin Johnson (South Boston Speedway), Speedy Faucette (Ace Speedway), Travis Swaim (Caraway Speedway) and Andy Mercer (Hickory Motor Speedway).

Morris comes into Sunday’s race as the newly crowned NASCAR Whelen All-American Series National Champion, successfully defending his 2008 crown for his third national title overall.

There are two wily Late Model veterans entered – Eddie Johnson and Bugs Hairfield – who have scored Martinsville Late Model wins, but never the prestigious Bailey’s 300 title.

And then there are the young guns, those sporting braces on their teeth, but little fuzz on their chins. 

Young guns like 18-year-old Matt DiBenedetto, who finished fourth in his first start here two years ago … when he was 16, and who racked up another top 10 last year. He also had two wins this season on the NASCAR Camping World Series East tour.

Then there is 18-year-old Brandon McReynolds, who has two wins on the UARA circuit in 2009, along with fellow UARA driver, 20-year-old Kyle Grisssom, who recorded one UARA win this year. Both are entered in their first Bailey’s 300. Other young contenders include Marc Davis, Jake Crum, C.E. Falk, Wesley Falk and Ty Dillon.

The oldsters who have come so close with out a Martinsville win shouldn’t be counted out either. Guys like David Triplett, Davin Scites, who has two Bailey’s pole wins to his credit, Brandon Butler and Stacy Puryear.

UPTOWN, FRIDAY NIGHT: Fans, and non-fans alike, will get to see a few Late Model Stock cars up close Friday night at TGIF in Uptown Martinsville. The cars will be parked around the Bridge Street parking lot where TGIF is held.

TGIF is set for 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. in the Bridge Street parking lot in Uptown Martinsville. Area band FATZ will be performing. Admission is $4 at the gate, children 12 and under free.

THE SCHEDULE: With over 100 cars entered, most of Friday will be spent with technical inspection, but there will probably be at least two hours of practice late in the day. Grandstands will be open Friday with no admission charge.

Fan gates open at 9 a.m. on Saturday with two hours of practice beginning at 9 a.m. Time trials are set for 1 p.m. with the fastest 22 cars earning berths in Sunday’s 200-lap feature.

Fan gates open again at 9 a.m. on Sunday. The first of four 25-lap heat races begins at 12:30 p.m. Sunday. The top five from each heat race advance to the feature, filling out the 42-car field.

The 200-lap feature race will begin at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $20 for adults with children 12 and under admitted free. Tickets may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com.