Luke Baldwin, the two-time and reigning champion of the SMART Modified Tour, will join forces with Hettinger Racing to make his NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut this weekend at Martinsville Speedway, driving the No. 5 Victory Custom Trailers Ford Mustang Dark Horse.
The 19-year-old driver is considered one of NASCAR’s brightest prospects, coming up through the ranks of the Northeast Modified Tour. Saturday’s 250-lapper at Martinsville is part of an expanded NASCAR program for Baldwin in 2026, which includes a 12-race stint in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for Team Reaume.
“With all that Luke has achieved of late, a lot of people have their eyes on him. We’re proud to be the ones he chose to make his NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut,” said team owner Chris Hettinger. “The O’Reilly Series is a big step up, but Martinsville is a flat and fast short track, and it’s the kind of place where Luke has excelled. He’s proven he can adapt quickly and run up front, driving all kinds of cars. Martinsville is the right track, and this is the right time for Luke to have this opportunity.”
The Mooresville, North Carolina-native isn’t totally green when it comes to NASCAR’s National Series, though, having competed in five NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events last season for ThorSport Racing, the best finish of which was a 12th-place result at Pocono Raceway. Baldwin made a start at Martinsville in the Spring, finishing 22nd in the No. 66 Ford F-150.
There’s also a family connection to Martinsville Speedway. Baldwin’s grandfather, Tommy Baldwin, Sr., is a two-time Modified Tour winner at Martinsville (April 1988 and October 1988), and Baldwin’s father, Tommy Baldwin, Jr. was the crew chief for that win. Today, Tommy Baldwin, Jr. serves as the Competition Director for Rick Ware Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series.
“Martinsville has always meant a lot to my family, so to have my own opportunity at the track is definitely special,” Baldwin said. “It’s a place where I have a decent level of comfort in terms of feel and what I need in the racecar to make a fast lap. It’s tight, it’s physical, and you have to race smart to be there at the end. I’ve been fortunate to have some good experiences there already, so the goal is to lean on that and keep learning throughout the race.”
In addition to his impressive performances in the SMART Modified Tour, Baldwin was also instrumental in helping Rick Ware Racing claim the zMAX CARS Tour championship for Rick Ware Racing in the Pro Late Model division — splitting driving duties with four other drivers — by winning two events.
“I’m really proud of what we accomplished last season,” Baldwin said. “Winning back-to-back SMART Modified Tour championships takes a lot of hard work from a lot of people, and being able to help RWR win a CARS Tour owners’ title made it even more special. Opportunities like this don’t come around without results, so I’m really thankful for everyone who’s helped me get to this point.”
The first of Baldwin’s 12 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts in 2026 will take place at Rockingham Speedway on Easter Weekend.
“This is a really good way to head into Rockingham,” Baldwin said. “The O’Reilly Series is a step up in competition, and Martinsville is a place that really challenges you as a driver. There’s a lot to learn in a short amount of time, and that’s how it’ll be at Rockingham, too. A solid weekend at Martinsville is the best preparation for next week’s Truck race.”
In its first six races as a NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series team, Hettinger Racing has a best finish of 20th with Luke Fenhaus in the season-opener at Daytona, as well as four top-25 finishes. Fenhaus has been joined by Chandler Smith, JJ Yeley, and Tyler Gonzalez in the driver’s seat of the entry this season.
The NFPA 250 will take place on Saturday, March 28, at 3:30 PM ET on The CW, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
