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Bubba Pollard's Season Ends With Record Derby Pole Run

19 Wins Leaves 2011 Behind as a Memorable Season www.bubbapollard.net

Bubba Pollard's 19 wins coming into the 44th Annual Snowball Derby Weekend made him an early favorite for the win in the prestigious 300-lap event and also the 100-lap Pro Late Model Snowflake 100. He backed up his favorite status in qualifying for both with a pole run and a new track record that ended a 31-year mark that was previously held by Gary Balough in the Super Late Model Snowball Derby and the quickest time of them all again for the Snowflake on Saturday. From there things went downhill as Pollard Finished 17th in the Allen Turner Snowflake 100 and 12th in the Snowball Derby.

"It was a rough weekend," said Pollard. "Everything was going really good until after qualifying on Saturday. We took both poles and are cars qualified really good. On Saturday in race trim with the Super Late Model I felt we were going to get tight and we did. We tried to adjust on it and we did. I think we have to tweak our shock package just a bit for next year."

Even with a tight race car in Sunday’s Snowball Derby, Pollard found himself up front on a restart. He and Jeff Choquette went into turn three and both went sideways, triggering a multi-car wreck. Pollard suffered damaged, but others were done for the day.

"You race so hard down in these corners," said Pollard.

"Last night (in the Snowflake 100) Augie (Grill) got loose and today I am not sure if I got loose or how me and Choquette got together. We sat over there and couldn't get the car started so we lost a lap. We battled back and got an okay finish. We learned a few things by finishing the race."

It was a carbon copy of Saturday night when Pollard was going for the lead in a door-to-door battle with Augie Grill only to end up spun out and at the back of the field. A wreck would end their chances on Saturday, but they recovered on Sunday to post a nice finish after the incidents.
Another factor that Pollard was not used to was the pit stops. The four-tire strops were out and teams could only change two tires per stop.

"I am not a big fan on the two tire deal," added Pollard. "We ran too many caution laps and not enough racing. The Snowball Derby is about racing, not caution laps."

Pollard will now take a few weeks off as he preps for the his first event of the 2012 season in January. Stay tuned to BubbaPollard.com for info on 2012 plans.

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