MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Landon Pembelton wanted to win another grandfather clock Saturday evening in more ways than one.
The 20-year-old Amelia, Virginia native is set to move out of his parents’ house at the end of the year. One of the conditions his father Brian Pembelton gave him about finding a new place is that the grandfather clock his son earned in his first ValleyStar Credit Union 300 appearance in 2021 would stay inside the family home.
Fueled by extra motivation to bring a grandfather clock to his new home, the younger Pembelton took the fight to two-time ValleyStar Credit Union 300 winner Lee Pulliam in an overtime shootout. The two accomplished competitors traded blows during the closing laps, culminating in a finish decided by only a few inches.
Pembelton emerged victorious in the photo finish, denying Pulliam a record-tying third Martinsville Speedway triumph while simultaneously claiming his second.
“You can’t ask for a better finish,” Pembelton said. “That’s how you’re supposed to race. This race has brought a lot of excitement, and it was fairly clean [tonight]. We rubbed a little bit and moved each other, but that last corner I knew he was going to give me a shot, so I sailed it on down there pretty good.
“He got to me and we rubbed, but we didn’t tear nothing up, so that’s all you can ask for.”
Ummm … WOW.
Landon Pembelton wins his second #VSCU300 at @MartinsvilleSwy in incredible fashion!!! pic.twitter.com/5C3QezlhfP
– NASCAR Regional (@NASCARRegional) September 28, 2025
As with plenty of ValleyStar Credit Union 300 winners that came before him, Pembelton’s victory on the Late Model Stock discipline’s biggest stage back in 2021 proved to be a life-changing moment.
Pembelton joined Toyota Racing Development the following year, partnering up with Venturini Motorsports for a part-time ARCA Menards Series schedule while continuing his Late Model Stock exploits. In his first race with Venturini, Pembelton scored an impressive third-place run at Elko Speedway.
The other two starts for Pembelton in a Venturini car that year saw him place inside the top 10. He also continued to excel in Late Model Stocks with a Dominion Raceway track championship, all of which appeared to prime Pembelton for a methodical-but-successful progression through Toyota’s developmental ladder.
For Pembelton, there were two reasons as to why advancing into NASCAR’s top divisions never materialized.
“Money became a factor, but I don’t like to blame that,” Pembelton said. “I felt like I could have done better behind the wheel, but it all kind of played out. [Toyota] offered me a good deal, but it was not something we were really chasing after. Late Model Stocks hit home for me, and it’s something I’ve always grown up around.”
Content with his status as a Late Model Stock regular, Pembelton has been gradually refining his skills in the discipline. He is partnered with a top-tier program in R&S Race Cars, a combination that netted two victories and a third-place points finish in South Boston Speedway’s Late Model Stock standings.
The cohesion with R&S Race Cars served Pembelton well as he prepared for his fifth ValleyStar Credit Union 300 attempt this weekend. Pembelton emerged as one of the favorites alongside Pulliam, who had pulled away with a small-but-comfortable advantage as the white flag drew closer.
A caution for Brandon Pierce transformed Pembelton’s initial satisfaction with a runner-up finish into an opportunity to become a multi-time ValleyStar Credit Union 300 winner. Pembelton knew Pulliam would do everything possible to defend his lead, so he had to go on the offensive.
After muscling Pulliam out of the top spot, the Late Model Stock legend returned the favor to Pembelton coming to the checkered flag. Instinct and adrenaline kicked in for Pembelton as he did everything possible to hold onto his lead.
“It was kind of a blur,” Pembelton said. “When I went into turn three, I didn’t really remember anything until I got out of turn four. We were drag racing to the line, and I knew I had him at the line. I was very confident in that.”
For as much elation Pembelton, his family and team showed in the immediate aftermath of the ValleyStar Credit Union 300, the mood was bittersweet for Pulliam, who was in front when a rain shower hit Martinsville with 25 laps remaining. The delay only lasted an hour, forcing Pulliam to fight for another grandfather clock.
If he had fended off Pembelton, Pulliam would have matched his long-time rival Philip Morris in ValleyStar Credit Union 300s wins.
Pulliam was among the first to congratulate Pembelton in Victory Lane. Having previously mentored Pembelton through his own program, Pulliam has always held the young competitor in high regard and commended him for the performance he put together at Martinsville on Saturday.
“Landon is a great kid,” Pulliam said. “He drove my car here last year. [The Pembeltons] are a great family. They come from the logging business, and I grew up logging with my dad. Hard workers. I don’t blame the kid, and I can’t be mad at him. I would have done the same thing.”
LP 🤝 LP https://t.co/tJNB7APNKt
– NASCAR Regional (@NASCARRegional) September 28, 2025
By preventing Pulliam from claiming another grandfather clock, Pembelton is now in the same category as a two-time ValleyStar Credit Union 300 champion. Aside from Morris and his three checkered flags, the only other multi-time winners in the event are Tony McGuire, Tommy Lemons Jr. and Timothy Peters.
Pembelton’s second ValleyStar Credit Union 300 victory is now enshrined in the Martinsville record books, but one question remains. Where will the second grandfather clock end up?
Brian, who has plenty of experience around Virginia’s short tracks himself, is holding firm on keeping both clocks at the family home for now, but he has no issues with one day seeing them in his son’s own living room.
“I told him that we’re going to keep [the grandfather] clock until he builds him a house,” Brian said. “He’s going to rent a house. When he gets his own place and settled in 100 percent, they are his clocks to take. I might buy me some replicas to keep, but he earned them.”
For all the conversations he has exchanged with his son about the grandfather clock, Brian felt nothing but immense pride Saturday. It was only four years ago when Pembelton stunned the Late Model Stock and NASCAR communities by winning the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at just 16 years of age.
Now Pembelton is a two-time winner after outdueling Pulliam, someone Brian considers a legend of the sport and a close friend.
“I was emotional the first time, and I was probably more emotional the second time,” Brian said. “I wanted [Landon] to solidify himself for what he had done the first time, and I believe he did that. He made the fans stand up. Lee and him put on a great show.
“To beat one of the best that’s ever done it is humbling, really.”
A lot has changed for the younger Pembelton between his two ValleyStar Credit Union 300 victories, but the second one places him amongst many Late Model Stock legends that have turned laps around Martinsville.
Conversations with his family may continue about the immediate future of his two grandfather clocks, but Pembelton returns home knowing he is a two-time Martinsville winner with plenty more great years ahead.
“I can soak this one in,” Pembelton said. “The first one I came in as a rookie not knowing the full extent of it. I’m able to celebrate this one to the fullest extent.”