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Lee Pulliam will make his NASCAR debut at Martinsville Speedway this spring in JR Motorsports<\/a>‘ No. 9 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series entry. Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s close friend and the No. 1 team crew chief, Rodney Childers, has shared his reaction as the late-model legend gears up to qualify for the race at the historic Virginia track in March.<\/p>\n Pulliam built his reputation in late-model stock car racing over many years. He won four NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national championships and has collected multiple major victories at Martinsville, including two wins at the famed ValleyStar Credit Union 300, a race many drivers call the “Daytona 500” of late models.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \nThanks for the submission!\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/template><\/p>\n On Tuesday, February 24, JR Motorsports announced that Pulliam will drive the No. 9 Chevrolet at the NASCAR O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Martinsville Speedway on March 28. Childers shared his reaction on X, writing:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/template><\/p>\n “As many that know me, this one hits close to home. I was once a late model guy, and never got that shot. So, this makes me SO happy to see [Lee Pulliam] get this opportunity. I can’t wait to see him climb in the 9.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Pulliam and JR Motorsports also teamed up for the Thanksgiving Classic at Southern National late last year. The deal brought one of late model racing’s most accomplished drivers into a marquee late-model car for the 25th annual Solid Rock Carriers Thanksgiving Classic at Southern National Motorsports Park. Pulliam drove the No. 88 Chevrolet in the 250-lap feature event.<\/p>\n Additionally, the 37-year-old will race two CARS Tour races at Coastal Plains Raceway and Southern National this season. Pulliam will also run at South Boston Speedway.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the JR Motorsports’ No. 9 open entry will also see Shane van Gisbergen and Ross Chastain<\/a> compete in some starts this season.<\/p>\n Rodney Childers joined JR Motorsports for the 2026 season to serve as crew chief for the No. 1 car, shared by Carson Kvapil and Connor Zilisch. Earlier this month, Childers commented on working with his longtime friend Dale Earnhardt Jr<\/a>. and explained his thought process to take up the team owner’s offer, saying:<\/p>\n “I had a lot of thinking to do this past year\u2026 what’s the right thing for me? What’s going to make me happy? What am I going to have fun with? Do you wait around and hope that the right Cup opportunity comes back around? Or do you take something where you get to work for your best friend in a way, and you also get to work with two of the sport’s young talents that have a bright future?”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Childers, who left Spire Motorsports last season after a short stint, added:<\/p>\n “I’ve gone home every night with a smile on my face and enjoying it and having fun.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Childers has spent two decades in the Cup Series and helped Kevin Harvick<\/a> to 37 wins and the 2014 championship with Stewart-Haas Racing.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“I’ve gone home every night with a smile” – Rodney Childers on working with young talents at JR Motorsports<\/h2>\n