Virginia's Gray Gaulding Ready For Next Step

Gaulding meets with teammate Ricky Stenhouse Jr after Virginia529 College Savings 250 qualifying at his hometown track, RIR.

At just 18 years old, Gray Gaulding has already had an impressive career in NASCAR, - and this weekend he's adding to it.

The Virginia native will attempt to make his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut this weekend in the Goody's Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway, the first of three rides he's earned in the final four races of 2016.

"It’s exciting to be making my NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut at a track like Martinsville," said Gailding. "We’ve had a really good history here (so it's) honestly unfathomable."

Gaulding enters the Martinsville field in the No. 30 Feed the Children Chevrolet for The Motorsports Group (TMG). He's also set compete at Phoenix International Raceway and in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

"We are pleased to sponsor Gray Gaulding, the youngest NASCAR driver in the Martinsville field and a promising and fierce competitor," said the Hon. J.C. Watts, Jr., president and CEO of Feed the Children.

The youngster from Colonial Heights, VA started racing about as soon as anyone could. At just three years old he started his racing career on four-wheelers and dirt bikes, running at dirt tracks around the Commonwealth for seven years before giving stock car racing a shot.

After winning four of the five Bandolero races he ran in his first season, it's safe to say he sunk it.

Gaulding continued to impress through the NASCAR K&N ranks, setting a slew of records in the process. In 2013, Gaulding won the pole for the Blue Ox 100 right here at Richmond, making him the youngest pole-sitter in NASCAR K&N Pro Series East history at 15.

A regular in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Gaulding has a Sprint Cup ride for three of the final four races.

As an alumni of the NASCAR Next program (2013, 2014), NASCAR has recognized Gaulding’s talent at a young age. That promise has bore itself out over the past several seasons, where he's competed regularly in the NASCAR Camping World Trucks Series with NTS Motorsports, Red Horse Racing and Kyle Busch Motorsports.

Earlier this year Gaulding was signed to Roush-Fenway Racing as part of their driver development program. He's competed in two NASCAR XFINTIY Series races this season, at Bristol Motor Speedway and Richmond, earning a 13th place finish in both races.

This weekend in Martinsville is just another milestone in Gaulding’s notable career. While it'll be far from the last - it could be his most significant to date.