Lee Pulliam caps emotional year with special announcement

This weekend at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, 27-year-old Lee Pulliam celebrated his third NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national championship. Making the night much more special, Pulliam and his wife, LeAnne, announced they are expecting a child. 

Pulliam's run to his third championship was not without its difficulties, particularly away from the track. While he scored 30 feature wins at six different NASCAR-sanctioned tracks across three different states, his attention turned to his wife at the end of the season. 

On Thanksgiving morning, LeAnne's car hit a tree head-on going 55 mph while she was on her way to work. She suffered a broken femur just below the hip, a partially collapsed lung and more. She was sent to the local hospital and Pulliam's racing took a backseat to his wife's well being. 

"I'm very lucky she's still here," Pulliam said. "She's a trooper and she's a big part of me being able to do what I love and that means a lot to me."

With his wife still recovering from the accident, the Semora, North Carolina, native contemplated skipping the final race of the season at Southern National Motorsports Park.

However, LeAnne had other ideas. 

"I was in the hospital with her, and she said, 'Look, I don't want you sitting here in the hospital watching over me,'" he explained.

With his wife's backing, Pulliam showed up to Southern National Motorsports Park for the final race of the year. Pulliam had never won at the Kenly, North Carolina track and admitted he was not at the top of his game given his wife's injuries just days before. 

Despite the off-track concerns for his wife, Pulliam not only showed up to the 0.4-mile track, he earned his first victory there.

"That was one race I had never won," he said of the track in Kenly. "We had been close four or five times, but just bad luck kept us out of Victory Lane, but we finally got it done."

The best part of the victory was the fact LeAnne was in attendance at the track. Released from the hospital on the day of the race, she watched her husband win the race from the tailgate of a truck.

The victory was Pulliam's 30th feature win of the year, and put the final touches on his third championship. Throughout the season he competed at Southern National Motorsports Park, Motor Mile Speedway, Langley Speedway, South Boston Speedway, Kingsport Speedway and Caraway Speedway. He won his third championship over Tomas Tillison Jr. by 23 points.

"I don't think people realize what you're racing against to win this title," said Pulliam. "Most people think you're racing against just late model stock cars from this part of the country, but you're racing against super stocks, asphalt modifieds, dirt modifieds, you're racing against the feature division at each NASCAR Home Track. This includes Canada and Mexico.

"It's a big deal to win this and there are so many people in it," he said. "They recognize the top 500 people in it, so that gives you a bit of an idea of how hard it is to win it."

Pulliam also joined Larry Phillips and Phillip Morris as only drivers with three or more NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national titles. If that wasn't enough, he also had a grandstand named in his honor earlier this year at South Boston Speedway. 

Now a three-time champion, Pulliam is also becoming a figure other young drivers are looking up to and approaching for advice.

"I'm pretty quiet and kind of humble, and I just don't take anything for granted," said Pulliam. "I'm just thankful to be here and have this opportunity. I was that little kid in the stands that wanted to race and financially just couldn't afford it. We worked our butts off, bought a used car, had some local people help us out and to see where we are now to where we started out, it's unbelievable.

"To any up-and-coming racer, do all you can to be the best you can be and always remember that things can change fast and always be humble," he said.