Hettinger Racing Tabs Luke Baldwin For Martinsville O’Reilly Series Debut

Luke Baldwin will make his NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut this Saturday at Martinsville Speedway, driving the No. 5 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Hettinger Racing in the NFPA 250. The 19‑year‑old enters the event with a strong short‑track résumé and a family history closely tied to the Virginia half‑mile.

Martinsville’s 0.526‑mile layout has been part of NASCAR since 1949, and its tight corners and heavy braking zones make it one of the most demanding tracks for any driver. Baldwin’s debut carries added meaning because of his family’s success at the track. His grandfather, Tommy Baldwin Sr., won two NASCAR Modified Tour races at Martinsville in 1988.

His father, Tommy Baldwin Jr., has been a Cup Series crew chief and team owner for more than 20 years, overseeing more than 500 national‑series starts. Luke becomes the third member of the Baldwin family to compete at Martinsville in a NASCAR‑sanctioned event. The track has been a defining venue for the family, and his debut adds another chapter to that history.

Short‑Track Background And Experience

Although Baldwin is new to the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, he arrives with significant experience in regional competition. He is the two‑time and defending SMART Modified Tour champion, a series that routinely features veteran short‑track drivers. Over the past two seasons, he has won multiple races and posted a top‑five finish rate above 70 percent.

Baldwin has also logged competitive laps at Martinsville. He has two NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour starts at the track, finishing 12th and 9th. In 2025, he made his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start at Martinsville, completing all 200 laps and finishing 18th.

Those laps provide valuable context heading into his O’Reilly Series debut. The field will include drivers with Cup, Xfinity, and Truck Series experience, giving Baldwin a clear benchmark for where he stands.

Opportunity With Hettinger Racing

Hettinger Racing will field the No. 5 Ford Mustang Dark Horse with primary sponsorship from Victory Custom Trailers. The team has expanded its operations over the past two seasons and views Baldwin’s debut as an important evaluation point. The O’Reilly Series cars weigh more than 3,200 pounds and produce roughly 650 horsepower, a significant change from the Modifieds and Pro Late Models Baldwin has driven.

Team owner Chris Hettinger has emphasized the importance of giving Baldwin a competitive platform. The team has prepared a dedicated Martinsville car and focused on maximizing braking performance and mechanical grip. Baldwin’s background in Modifieds, where aggressive corner entry and throttle control are essential, aligns well with Martinsville’s demands.

In 2025, Baldwin split time between the SMART Modified Tour and the zMAX CARS Tour Pro Late Model division. He also contributed to Rick Ware Racing’s owner’s championship in the Modified ranks by scoring multiple podium finishes in select starts.

Preparation For A Busy 2026 Schedule

Baldwin’s Martinsville debut is part of a larger 2026 schedule that includes 12 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races with Team Reaume. His Truck Series campaign begins next weekend at Rockingham Speedway, a 1.017‑mile track known for its abrasive surface and high tire wear.

Rockingham returned to the national schedule in 2024 and has quickly become one of the most physically demanding tracks outside of Darlington.The NFPA 250 provides him with a valuable warm‑up. The race is scheduled for 250 laps, totaling 131.5 miles. Martinsville’s long green‑flag runs and heavy braking zones will test his ability to manage tires, maintain rhythm, and communicate effectively with his team.

Baldwin has stated that maximizing his learning curve is the priority. A clean, competitive run at Martinsville would give him momentum heading into Rockingham and help establish a baseline for the rest of his Truck Series schedule. It would also give the team an early read on how he responds to longer race distances and heavier traffic.

What This Means

Baldwin’s entry into the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series marks an important step in his progression through NASCAR’s development ladder. He has already proven himself in Modifieds and Late Models, but Martinsville offers a clearer measure of how he stacks up against national‑level competition.

The field he’ll race against includes drivers with significant experience, making it a meaningful test. For Hettinger Racing, the weekend provides a chance to evaluate its program with a driver who has a strong short‑track background. Baldwin’s feedback and race data will help the team refine its setups for future events.

A clean run would also strengthen the team’s position with sponsors and manufacturers. For the Baldwin family, the event continues a lineage that began decades ago. Tommy Baldwin Sr.’s Modified wins at Martinsville in 1988, and Tommy Baldwin Jr.’s long tenure as a Cup Series crew chief give the weekend added significance.

What’s Next

Luke Baldwin enters the NFPA 250 at Martinsville Speedway with a strong short‑track background, meaningful experience at the facility, and a family history closely tied to the venue. His debut in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series gives him a clear opportunity to measure himself against deeper, more experienced competition while providing Hettinger Racing with a solid benchmark for its program.

The race also serves as an important lead‑in to Baldwin’s upcoming Truck Series schedule, which begins next weekend at Rockingham Speedway. Martinsville will offer the first indication of how quickly he can adjust to the demands of NASCAR’s national ladder and how well his short‑track strengths translate to heavier, longer‑distance equipment.