Entry List for NASCAR All-American Late Model Battle at the Beach includes Kyle Larson and Lee Pulliam

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The entry list for tonight’s Wheelen All-American Late Model Tour features some of the best young prospects in the NASCAR development system, notably 2012 National Champion Lee Pulliam, Coleman Pressley (son of NASCAR veteran, Robert) and super prospect Kyle Larson who is attempting to sweep all three Home Track Series races over the next two days.

Lee Pulliam is the defending All-American Series Champion, winning 22 of 36 points races last season. He’s finished in the top three in National standings for each of the past two years and won the similarly configured All-American race at Martinsville last season.

Most remarkably, the 24-year-old from Semora, N.C. is just six years into his driving career. He wanted to pursue a career in racing as a teenager but just couldn’t afford it. The story goes that that Pulliam and his dad found an entry level car for sale while on a trip to the beach and ultimately decided to give it a shot.

The next season, Pulliam won Rookie of the Year honors in the Limited Sportsman class at South Boston (Va.) Speedway. Three years later, in 2011, Pulliam caught fire in the Late Model division, capturing 16 wins at Motor Mile Speedway and finished third in the national standings.

For those unfamiliar with the NASCAR All-American National Championship points system, drivers accumulate points at any NASCAR sanctioned Home Track during the season and their top-18 finishes go towards the championship. Once the season ends, top finishes are tallied and champions are crowned in each state and nationally.

That champion, last year, was Lee Pulliam. That championship earned him an automatic berth into tonight’s race (7:15 p.m. on Speed) with the driver looking for his biggest accomplishment yet – a victory at Daytona International Speedway.

Coleman Pressley is the son of former Nationwide Series standout, Robert Pressley and will also see his more popular father serve as both car owner and crew chief in tonight’s All-American Late Model Series race. While the younger Pressley has two poles and four top-5s in eight NASCAR Pro Series East Series starts, he has found most of his success in a Late Model where he’s won early and often and is noted for being the youngest Late Model winner at famed Hickory Motor Speedway in North Carolina.

Lastly, Kyle Larson is racing everywhere during Speedweeks. He will make his Nationwide Series debut on Saturday in the DRIVE4COPD 300 for Turner Scott Motorsports. He made his Daytona Superspeedway debut last Saturday, finishing third in the ARCA Series season-opener. Since then, he’s competed in USAC Midget races at nearby New Smyrna Speedway and practiced cars in all three Battle at the Beach division events.

He’s undeniably the media sweetheart not named Ricky or Danica at Speedweeks this year and could boost his stock with several wins in the Battle at the Beach.

The complete All-American Late Model Battle at the Beach entry list can be found below: