Bubba Pollard Wins Championship Belt in Lee Fields Memorial at Mobile

Pollard Sets Record With Third-Straight Extra-Distance Pro Late Model Win at Mobile

The late Lee Fields prided himself on the promotion of his racetrack, Mobile International Speedway in Alabama.  When NASCAR star and local hero Rick Crawford took over as promoter of the half-mile track earlier this year, he wanted to add to the tribute of the Lee Fields Memorial 150 in his honor.  Starting in 2011 the championship trophy would be a championship belt like in wrestling which Fields also took part in as a wrestler in his early years. 

Two-time defending Lee Fields Memorial champion Bubba

Pollard had his eyes on the unique new prize as he hoped to

earn the “three-peat.”  Pollard, already having won 16 races

coming into the Pro Late Model event, was the top contender

for a part of history and he didn't disappoint by scoring the

win after taking the lead in the late stages of the 150-lap

race.

"We have won it three years in a row, but Rick (Crawford)

and Ida (Fields) have done a great job to bring out

something different for us drivers to race for," said Pollard. 

"Nashville has their guitars and now we have the belt at

Mobile.  It's very nice, custom made and it's really neat to

have a trophy like that."

To get the belt, Pollard had to work his way through a

caution-plagued race before taking the lead just after the

race’s halfway point.

"We wanted to get the lead before halfway, but they kept having so many yellows so it slowed our progress," said Pollard.  "This race, being 150 laps, was one of the longer ones of the year so we hope we were able to takes some notes away from this in preparation for the big shows coming up at the end of the year."

The victory marked the 17th win of the 2011 season and fifth in his last six starts for Bubba Pollard, his family team and Ronnie Sanders Racing.  They set the bar high at the beginning of the year hoping to cash in with 20 wins.  What started as a lofty goal now may become a reality.

"We have had a year to remember," said Pollard.  "I know it's tough to win one, two or even three races, but we have been solid everywhere we go and had a chance to win the race.  We thought 20 wins would be a goal to shoot for and I am not sure if we really thought we could get there. Now that we are getting closer it makes it that more special."

The Pro Late Model Allen Turner Tune Up will be up next for the Senoia, Georgia hot shot who leads the points at Five Flags Speedway heading into the final 100 lap event on Saturday, October 9th.  Pollard could lock himself into the Snowflake 100 like he did the Snowball Derby just a few weeks back.  The top two finishers in the Super Late Model and Pro Late Model points get automatic starting spots in the December events, Pollard was second in the Blizzard Series points.   

Pollard celebrates his decorated weekend on the Gulf Coast. 

Pollard (center, with track owner Ida Fields (L) and race sponsor President Juanita Wiltz) earned his third Lee Fields Memorial win.