Lee Pulliam Honored As Third Driver To Win Multiple NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Titles

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For a driver who didn’t get started racing until he was 18, Lee Pulliam is quickly making a name for himself.

Pulliam collected his second NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national championship in as many years Friday night at the Charlotte (N.C.) Convention Center adjacent to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

The 25-year-old Semora, N.C., driver joined the late Larry Phillips and Philip Morris as the only drivers in the 32-year history of the series to win multiple national titles.

“Just to have my name mentioned with those guys sends tingles down my spine,” said Pulliam, who also finished third in 2011. “To have one of my names on the banner; and now to have two years on that banner, means a lot to me.”

Pulliam drove to 27 wins at four different tracks in his asphalt late model.

It was a trophy haul for Pulliam on Friday night. He also picked up his second NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Virginia state championship, as well as the Late Model Division championships at South Boston (Va.) Speedway and Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va.

But it was the big trophy he walked away with at the end of the year that really drove Pulliam.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I believe I would have the honor of receiving (this) coveted trophy, much less a second one,” he said.

Pulliam earned the title in the No. 1 H.R. Ramsey Construction Chevrolet in near unbeatable by accumulating the maximum 810 points. He joined David Rogers (1994), Phillips (1995) and Keith Rocco (2010) as the only national champions with perfect seasons.

Other members of the championship team honored were Harold Pulliam, who received the Lincoln Electric Car Owner Award and crew chief, Winston Brooks, who picked up the Lunati Crew Chief Award.

Pulliam out-distanced asphalt Late Model rival Deac McCaskill, who won his second straight North Carolina championship and third late model title at Southern National Motorsports Park in Kenly, N.C.

McCaskill, of Raleigh, N.C., equaled his career-best in wins with 18 in 42 outings spanning three tracks — Southern National, South Boston and Motor Mile.

Connecticut’s Keith Rocco rounded out the podium. The asphalt modified driver had 14 wins while earning his sixth consecutive Connecticut state championship. He competed at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway, Thompson (Conn.) Speedway and Waterford (Conn.) Speedbowl. Over the past seven seasons, Rocco has finished no lower than fourth in the national rankings and has accumulated 105 wins in 293 starts over the span.

Highlighting the evening’s special awards was the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series National Rookie of the Year Award presented by Jostens. Todd Stone, of Middlebury, Vt., claimed the honor after garnering 10 wins in 17 starts at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in West Haven, Vt.

Jay Beasley, of Las Vegas, was presented the prestigious Wendell Scott Trail Blazer Award by NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Darrell Wallace Jr. Beasley won the Super Late Model title at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and was the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Nevada state champion.

Patrick “Dinky” Torbett, crew chief for Chad Finchum at Kingsport (Tenn.) Speedway, earned the UNOH Ultimate Mechanic Challenge Award.

Speedway Digest Staff
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