Pollard Reaches 50 Career Late Model Wins With Family Support

Viper Series Title and Victory Mark Historic Night at South Alabama Speedway 

Rolling into South Alabama Speedway for the final Viper Series race of the 2011 season, Bubba Pollard was locked in a tight point battle with fellow racer and friend Brandon Odom.  Only a few points separated the two for the final 100-lap race that saw Pollard's Atlanta Thrifty Nickel number-18 beat out the 81 of Brandon Odom for the win and the championship by a single point.

The victory marked the 50th win for Bubba Pollard in Late Model races of 100 laps or more.  Pollard has won well over that counting shorter events and Open Wheel Modifieds, as well.  It also marks the 13th win of 2011, surpassing his impressive win total in 2009.   

"We get the chance to race so much that it makes the wins possible," said Pollard.  “When we won 12 races two years ago I didn't think we could top that.  Now we have 13 in a year and we still have lots of races left.  I hope we can keep winning, but we want the bigger races like the (Snowball) Derby and the World Crown 300.  If I can win one of those then we'll cap off this dream season."

Pollard's Championship in the Viper Series was his second.  He accomplished the same feat in 2009. 

"It's pretty cool to get our 50th win and the Viper title on the same night," said Pollard.  We've had good cars all year, only one flat tire put us behind in the points. We worked hard to get it back and we got it right at the end.  Hopefully we can get 50 more."

Pollard's girlfriend, Amber Odom, is the sister of younger racer Brandon who just missed the championship by a single point.  Brandon has learned a lot from Pollard in a mentor role. With some of Pollard’s tutelage, Odom has established himself as one to beat in the Pro Late Model ranks.  

"He's a good little racer and he's smart with what he does on the track," said Pollard.  "He's helped me a lot and I have helped him.  It was cool to be able to race him for the championship."

The Odom's are like family, but Pollard also made it very clear without his immediate family none of his racing success would be possible

"If it wasn't for them (Pollard's family), we could do this," explained Pollard.  “I am surrounded by great people. We all work hard, and that's away from the cars and the track.  They all enjoy racing and that allows me to be able to do it.  Mom (Vicki) and dad (Sonny) run the family business and keep all the books straight so we can go racing."

It's more than just mom and dad as his sister Andrea Pollard is a Kindergarten teacher by day and a tire specialist and spotter on the weekends. 

"There are plenty of things my sister Andrea has things in her life she could be doing, but she takes the time out of her busy life to come to the track for us," said Pollard.  "She does tires and she spots for me on the race track so it's cool to have that connection with her."

The involvement doesn't stop there as his joining forces with Ronnie Sanders racing has produce a Deep South dream team that was won 34 times since 2009. 

"The Sanders family has become part of our family.  Mr. Ronnie (Sanders) has done a lot for us and we have worked so well together since we teamed up.  Jimmy Hammonds owns the Modified that we run and we're all real close."  

Pollard also ran on Friday night at Five Flags Speedway (FL) and was leading when he was spun out of the lead.  He finished 11th.

Pollard will head to Gresham Motorsports Park in Jefferson, Georgia on Saturday, September 17th for the next leg of the CRA Southern Six Pack.  Pollard won in his most recent start at GMP in a Super Late Model after a photo finish with Augie Grill.

For more information visit www.BubbaPollard.com or email Elgin Traylor at Elgin@51sports.net

Bubba Pollard took his 13th win of 2011. (Speed51.com Photo)