|
Z3 CoverageRADIO COVERAGE
PRINT COVERAGEPollard Knocks Another One out of the Park at Pensacola
John Kenny, Z3 Sports  Bubba Pollard is well on his way to The Deep South Triple Header Championship, after winning round one at Five Flags (FL) Speedway on October 09. PENSACOLA, FL -- Throughout the duration of the 2009 season, the racing world has witnessed first hand what Bubba Pollard is capable of. Friday night at Five Flags Speedway was no different, as Pollard took the victory in the Tom Thumb Stores 100. The victory was Pollard’s first at FFS in a Pro Late Model and got him off to a great start in the Deep South Triple Header. Coming into the night, there were drivers on different agendas. Keith Thorpe and Ronnie Smith were separated by nine points for the Pro Late Model championship, while other drivers were using the race as a tune-up for The Allen Turner Hyundai Snowflake 100, and some were just out for a win. Pollard was one of the few that was looking for a win while putting himself in position for the $1,500 DST bonus up for grabs. The night started with Mobile, Alabama's David Jones taking the pole, with T.J. Reaid on the outside pole and Chase Elliot starting third. Jones backed up his pole run by leading the first 90 laps without much pressure from behind. Through the six caution flags, Jones held strong on the restarts, keeping Reaid and Elliot at bay. Pollard did what he has done all season long and saved his tires through much of the race, picking off Reaid and Elliot as they came back to him in the final 30 laps of the event. On lap 92, Pollard flexed his muscle and got around Jones after the Mobile native got loose getting out of turn two. Pollard cruised to an easy victory from there with Jones, Reaid, Elliot and Ryan Crane rounding out the top-five. Thorpe was never a factor to win the race, but posted a top-10 finish to initially win the championship. Smith posted a 12th place finish after spinning on lap 42. However, after post race technical inspection, Thorpe was disqualified, giving the title to Smith. Thorpe was not the only one to leave FFS without being disqualified, as Jones’ second place finish was thrown out for a technical violation as well, moving D.J. Vanderley into fifth. The Pro Late Models were not the only ones to have a championship on the line. The Bomber division started the night of racing off with Michael Kitchens and William Goulet in a face off. Goulet needed to beat Kitchens by five spots to take the title over the former track champion. Kitchens rolled a six on the die roll for the invert and left the title contenders to battle through the field. Goulet did what he had to do, by winning the race in impressive fashion while Kitchens came across the line in seventh, losing the title by five points. Pete Kitchens, Eddie Hobbs, Darly Lynchard and Michael Nelson rounded out the top five.
Cotto fell out of the race while Merryman and Ingersoll were left to fight for the title and second position on the track. Redman jumped out to an early lead. He dominated the field and drove to the win by keeping his race car solidly under him for the duration of the race, while the rest of the field fought loose race cars for over half of the race. Merryman finally got by Ingersoll going into turn one and took the runner-up spot. Ingersoll cruised to third and the championship while Hamrac finished fourth and Herrick rounded out the top five. With rain threatening, the Sportsmen division hit the track, with their championship having already been decided. Randy Thompson clinched the title weeks before for his third straight championship and cruised to the win in the 12-lap, rain shortened race. Steve Buttrick gave Thompson a run for his money as Billy Hoover stuck with the top two to finish second and third respectively. Stevie Mercer worked his way to fourth while Brandon Fowler topped out at fifth after starting ninth. Racing at Five Flags Speedway is done until December, when one of the biggest weekends of racing on the short track calendar gets under way at the 42nd Annual Snowball Derby. It begins with the Green Flag Party on Wednesday, Dec. 2. For ticket information and updates on the Snowball Derby please visit www.5flagsspeedway.com and stay tuned to z3sports.com.
|
The Modified division also entered the FFS Night of Champions with a three-way battle for the title between Nathan Ingersoll, Chris Cotto, and Phillip Merryman. Ingersoll came into the night with a nine-point lead on Merryman. A big wreck on the back straightaway on the opening lap sidelined several drivers and hurt Cotto’s and Mark Churdimsky’s chances at a win. Both suffered damage, but continued. Ingersoll, Merryman, Donnie Hamrac, Randy Herrick and Cotto all put on a show for the fans behind race leader Ryan Redman.
©Copyright 2009 Z3 Sports. Some Rights Reserved. See Privacy policy.