Three years ago Denny Hamlin was sitting on the outside pole for the Bailey's 300 Late Model Stock car race at Martinsville Speedway. This fall he is lined up in the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup, the only rookie driver in the top 10.

Jeff Burton, also in the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup, competed in the Bailey's 300 before he began his climb to racing's top tier. Mark Martin actually won a Late Model Stock race at Martinsville early in his career. Dale Earnhardt Jr. also raced in the Late Model ranks at Martinsville.

The Bailey's 300, scheduled for Sunday, October 1, has long produced some of the sport's biggest stars. Virginia brothers Elliott Sadler and Hermie Sadler both raced in the event as did Jeff Burton's older brother Ward. Cup driver Scott Riggs raced in the Bailey's 300. NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers Mike Skinner and Dennis Setzer both won in Late Models on Martinsville's tough half-mile.

"Unfortunately I never had the opportunity to be a contender to win the late model race at Martinsville," Riggs said. "I think the three times I made the show I had to get in through the heat races. Then I think I only finished the race once and I was two laps down because my car was so slow. All the other times we did make the show, we got into accidents in the first five laps."

Setzer's memories are a little better than those of Riggs.

"I remember coming up from Hickory for the big Late Model show at Martinsville and thinking I was in way over my head," said Setzer, who still tries to make the Bailey's 300 when his truck series schedule allows. "To a youngster from Hickory, it was pretty overwhelming to see all those cars."

There are newer names, fresher stars climbing NASCAR's ladder who got their first day of a big-time track in the Bailey's 300.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series sophomore Timothy Peters has competed in the premier Late Model event for five years. He ran well the first time he rolled onto the difficult half-mile track. And last year, while competing as a rookie on the truck series for Bobby Hamilton Racing, he returned home to Martinsville Speedway and picked up his first Bailey's 300 win. And he was driving a Late Model sponsored by Bailey's.

"For us to win the Bailey's ¿ that was tremendous," said Peters. "It's the biggest Late Model event we have. The best of the best are there. You get more publicity winning this race than you would all year at your weekly track. The prestige of this race is incredible."

Fans will get their first chance to catch a glimpse of this year's Bailey's 300 field on Wednesday, September 20 when Martinsville Speedway will host a full day of open testing. At least seventy-five teams are expected to show up for the test. Gates open at 9 a.m. and admission is free for fans.

Practice and qualifying for the Bailey's 300 is set for Saturday, September 30. Admission is $5. The fastest 22 cars will make the field through qualifying on Saturday.
On Sunday, October 1, the remaining 20 positions will be filled through four, 25-lap heat races, with the top-five finishers in each race advancing to the feature, which will begin at about 3 p.m.

Admission to the Bailey's 300 on Sunday, October 1 is $20. Tickets may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or online at racetickets.com. Tickets may also be bought at the ticket office on the day of the race.