The 2026 ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway proved to be a perfect evening for Caden Kvapil.
Not only did Kvapil survive an overtime restart to earn his first victory in the crown jewel event, but he also came away as the 2026 Virginia Late Model Triple Crown champion. Kvapil achieved this milestone by sweeping two of the three events, the other being the Hampton Heat at Langley Speedway in July.
For Kvapil to bring home both a crown and a grandfather clock, he needed to withstand valiant charges from Treyten Lapcevich and Corey Heim during an overtime restart.
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“It’s just so crazy, you never know what’s going to happen here,” Kvapil said. “I built such a big gap and was trying to get to the white flag and get this race over with. My spotter called yellow, and my heart kind of sank. I didn’t know what to expect. I knew we had the best car all night and I needed a good restart. It almost went south there. Luckily, we were able to get away at the white flag, clear myself in [turn] three and drive away with it. “
Kvapil’s maiden ValleyStar Credit Union 300 victory came in his second attempt. He made his debut in the crown jewel race last year with JR Motorsports, earning a lead-lap finish of 13th after starting in the 15th position.
The year before Kvapil’s first ValleyStar Credit Union 300 appearance, he got to watch his older brother Carson earn a victory in the prestigious event himself. Now both Kvapil brothers possess ValleyStar Credit Union 300 victories on their resumé, both of which have come under the JR Motorsports banner.
Being able to claim a Virginia Triple Crown alongside a grandfather clock only made Saturday even more special for Kvapil. It has been a long, meticulous grind for Kvapil to climb atop the Late Model Stock pedestal, and he hopes to keep building upon the momentum following a night to remember at Martinsville.
“We’ve had such a good year so far,” Kvapil said. “To be able to get a clock and a Triple Crown on that note is just so awesome. I can’t thank my crew enough. Jay Hedgecock [built] an awesome car. It might be old, but it still got it. It’s awesome to do this.”
Heim and Lapcevich finished second and third, respectively; both of their cars sustained heavy damage following an accident in turn one after the checkered flag. Lee Pulliam, Kvapil’s teammate, placed fourth, with Jared Fryar rounding out the top five.
The rest of the top 10 consisted of Conner Jones, Landon Pembelton, Doug Barnes Jr., Carson Loftin and Conner Weddell.
Following an intense ValleyStar Credit Union 300, Martinsville Speedway will host the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and the NASCAR Cup Series on Oct. 30-Nov. 1, with the weekend serving as the penultimate round of each series’ respective Chase. Tickets for the Martinsville Speedway’s 2026 NASCAR Chase weekend are selling quickly, and fans are encouraged to secure their seats now by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com.
About ValleyStar Credit Union
Serving businesses and families across Virginia since 1953, ValleyStar Credit Union is committed to making banking simple, convenient, and focused on what matters most to its members. Whether helping members purchase a home, finance a vehicle, grow a business, or achieve long-term financial goals, ValleyStar is dedicated to providing trusted financial solutions with exceptional service. As a member-owned financial cooperative, ValleyStar returns earnings to its members through competitive loan rates, higher returns on deposits, and fewer fees. The credit union is equally committed to strengthening the communities it serves through financial education, community partnerships, and volunteerism, helping members and neighborhoods thrive together.
About Martinsville Speedway
Founded by H. Clay Earles in 1947, Martinsville Speedway is the only NASCAR track to host NASCAR Cup Series races every year since its inception in 1949. At .526 miles in length, the track annually hosts two NASCAR race weekends featuring the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in the spring, accompanied by the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in the fall. Martinsville Speedway also annually hosts the ValleyStar Credit Union 300, the nation’s biggest, richest and most prestigious NASCAR Late Model Stock Car race. For more information about Martinsville Speedway, visit martinsvillespeedway.com.
About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 15 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Euro Series, NASCAR Mexico Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Local Racing Series Powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.
For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X and Facebook.
