Veteran Puryear Takes A Different Route To Solid South Boston Speedway Finish

Stacy Puryear took an unorthodox route to a second-place finish in South Boston Speedway’s biggest race of the season last Saturday night, leaving most of the track’s heaviest hitters in his rear-view mirror.
 

He built the car he raced for his 13-year-old stepson Caleb Dyer. When he shook the car down a few weeks back, he discovered he had quite the hot rod on his hands and decided to drive it himself.
 

“I really had no expectations for the car, but we were really pleased with the way it turned out,” said Puryear. “We had a good engine, rear end and transmission, but everything else was sort of used parts. Sometimes you spend and spend and fall short. This was the only time I had done it like this. It turned out to be a blessing.”
 

He rolled the car out for competition for the first time on June 17 at South Boston. Without a lap of practice, he qualified fourth and finished fourth in the first 75-lapper. So, he knew he had a pretty good piece when he got to the track for last Saturday’s Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200. He just didn’t know how good.
 

He started near the front, ran with the leaders all night and was able to coax enough speed out of the car nicknamed “Rose” to pass Nick Smith for second in the waning laps.
 

“I still love it. I’m an older guy, I’m 46, but I just love it,” he said after finishing behind winner Philip Morris. “It sure does feel good to run against all these youngsters. But there are lots of older guys like me still getting it done. I feel like I’ve got a few good years left if the Lord continues to bless me.
 

“There’s a lot of self-satisfaction running like this. If I could race more I would, but my business is demanding. It was a rush, a great feeling to be able to run like that. The competition level is so high at South Boston.”
 

Puryear hopes to race a couple more times at South Boston this season, and says for a racer like him, it’s the perfect track to visit.
 

“I think the two-tire rule and the $500 to start (at South Boston) attracts the working man who also has a race car,” said Puryear. “It’s appealing to go racing when you know you can break even once you get to the track.”
 

Puryear’s primary goal now is to chase the Virginia Late Model Triple Crown. Saturday’s race was the first leg of the three races. The next is the Hampton Heat at Langley Raceway in a couple of weeks followed by the final leg at Martinsville Speedway in late September.
 

Puryear has to like his chances in the Triple Crown. He started just two races in 2016. One was a victory at Orange County Speedway; the other a solid Martinsville run, qualifying sixth and running in the top five late in the race when he lost an engine.
 

He also has plans to make sure Caleb starts getting some lap time in “Rose.”
 

“He’s such a hardworking kid. He works beside me every day he’s not in school. He loves this almost as much as I do,” said Puryear. “Once we get past the Hampton Heat, we’ll work on getting him in the car some.”
 

Puryear, who gets sponsorship help from Marion Brothers Logging, ITS Manufacturing, Creed Home Improvement, Mike Bledsoe Heating and Air Conditioning and his own company, Puryear Race Parts, said there is an added payoff when he has nights like last Saturday.
 

“It helps my business when I run well. The phone rings a little more,” he said. “When guys see me run well, a light may go off for them.”
 

Racing returns to South Boston Speedway Saturday, July 15 with the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center NASCAR Late Model Twin 75s racing program.
 

In addition to twin 75-lap races for the Late Models, there will be twin 25-lap events for the Limited Sportsman Divison, a 30-lapper for the Budweiser Pure Stock Division and a 15-lap race for the Budweiser Hornets Division.
 

Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for youth ages 7-12. Kids six and under are admitted free. Grandstand gates open at 5:30 with the green flag flying at 7 p.m.