Four-time NASCAR Local Racing Series national champion Lee Pulliam will make his NASCAR debut on March 28. He will be driving the No. 9 Chevrolet for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports at Martinsville, as the team announced on Tuesday.

The NFPA 250 is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET with coverage on The CW Network, Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. For a driver, long considered one of the best in Late Model Stock history, the opportunity has been years in the making.

Pulliam reacted shortly after the announcement, writing on X:

“I’m so thankful, it’s been a long journey and much awaited opportunity. So thankful to each person along the way that helped make this possible. Never give up on your dreams. Can’t wait to battle with this @JRMotorsports 9 team. ❤️”

Lee Pulliam won the NASCAR Local Racing Series national title in 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2017. The 37-year-old has two wins at Martinsville and also owns major wins at South Boston, Langley, Myrtle Beach, and Southern National.

Despite that success, Pulliam has never made a start in any of NASCAR’s top three divisions. His only national experience came in the ARCA Menards Series East in 2014, with one top-five finish in six starts. For several years, he was away from full-time duties to focus on his Lee Pulliam Performance program.

Drivers such as Corey Heim and Brenden Queen developed under his banner. In 2024, he surprised many by returning for a one-off Late Model Stock start at Martinsville. He finished 12th. A year later, he drove again and was second. A runner-up at Southern National last fall fueled his competitive fire.

Now, that momentum carries into the national stage. The No. 9 JR Motorsports entry won twice in 2025 with Shane van Gisbergen and Daniel Suárez. The car continues as a part-time entry in 2026, with appearances also planned for Ross Chastain, SVG, and Carson Kvapil, besides Lee Pulliam.

Lee Pulliam prepares for busy Late Model stretch before NASCAR debut

Before JR Motorsports’ duties, Lee Pulliam mapped out four early-season Late Model Stock starts to sharpen himself. He opened the year in the early-season Late Model event at Florence Motor Speedway in the Icebreaker. The veteran finished third as Kevin Harvick’s son Keelan Harvick won.

The CARS Tour event at Coastal Plains Raceway on February 21 was canceled. It has shifted focus to the 125-lap race at Southern National Motorsports Park for the CARS LMSC Tour opener on February 28. Pulliam explained what draws him back to the series, saying (via FloRacing):

“I’m excited for sure. The CARS Tour presents such a competitive opportunity week in and week out. When you run those races, you have to be in top shape with really good equipment, and the driver has to do a really good job. The challenge is what makes it exciting for me and I’m looking forward to seeing where I stack up.”

After years of concentrating on ownership, Lee Pulliam said he missed competing. He has adjusted his fitness routine and diet to prepare for a more consistent driving schedule in 2026.

Southern National is familiar territory. Pulliam has already won the Thanksgiving Classic there in 2015 and finished second in his most recent attempt. For him, the NASCAR debut at Martinsville also presents a familiar setting, but against a deeper field.