Jace Hale announced today that he will compete in the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway, driving the No. 5 Hettinger Racing Late Model Stock Car with support from Coastal Carolina University.
Hale will be behind the wheel of the No. 5 Hettinger Racing entry as teams converge on Martinsville Speedway for the ValleyStar Credit Union 300, the final event of the Virginia Triple Crown.
The prestigious 200-lap race has long been one of Late Model Stock Car racing’s marquee events, bringing together many of the top drivers from throughout the region with the opportunity to earn one of Martinsville Speedway’s iconic grandfather clocks.
The opportunity brings Hale together with one of the region’s established organizations for one of the biggest Late Model Stock Car events of the season. Hettinger Racing has built a growing presence across Late Model competition, ARCA and NASCAR, creating opportunities for drivers to advance through multiple levels of the sport.
For Hale, the Martinsville opportunity represents another important step forward as he continues to build his Late Model Stock Car program and compete against some of the strongest drivers and teams in short-track racing.
“I’m really looking forward to this weekend,” said Hale. “It’s a huge event with some of the best competition out there, and I’m coming in confident in what we can accomplish. Having Hettinger Racing and Coastal Carolina University behind me is a huge opportunity, and our goal is simple. Be fast, execute all weekend, and put ourselves in a position to win.”
Coastal Carolina University’s involvement adds another significant element to the program. Located in Conway, South Carolina, the university has an established history of involvement in motorsports while also continuing to expand its engineering and applied science programs.
ABOUT JACE HALE
Manteca, California native Jace Hale is one of the emerging young drivers in Late Model Stock Car racing. Hale captured the 2025 Spears CARS Tour West Pro Late Model championship after a breakout four-win season and has continued his progression in 2026 with competition in the zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock division. Also in 2026, Hale joined up with DriveRefine Performance Management.
ABOUT COASTAL CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
Coastal Carolina University is a comprehensive public university located in Conway, South Carolina, near Myrtle Beach. Founded in 1954, CCU offers more than 105 areas of study and emphasizes hands-on learning, research, internships and real-world educational opportunities. The university continues to expand its science, technology and engineering programs through the Gupta College of Science and Engineering.
ABOUT HETTINGER RACING
Hettinger Racing, owned by second-generation racer Chris Hettinger, has developed a growing presence across Late Model Stock Car racing, the CARS Tour, ARCA and NASCAR competition. The organization has continued to expand its driver-development platform while creating a pathway from grassroots short-track racing into NASCAR’s national series. Hettinger Racing currently fields the No. 5 Ford in NASCAR competition while maintaining its strong involvement in Late Model racing.
Press Release and Graphic via Hettinger Racing