Pollard Proud to Honor Rogers with Universal Fabricators 100 ‘W’ to Cap Rowdy Energy Twin 100s Weekend

By Chuck Corder

Bubba Pollard had some unfinished business.

The Senoia, Ga., superstar Super Late Model driver wanted so desperately to win the first half of the Rowdy Energy Twin 100s this weekend at Five Flags Speedway. Pollard piloted David Rogers’ legendary No. 11 Super Late Model on Friday night in the #Forever11 100, the race named in honor for the late Rogers who died in March from cancer.

Pollard and Rogers were as close off the track as they were on it.

“It was always cool to hear stories about how (Rogers) raced back in the day,� Pollard said earlier this week of his dear friend. “He had all this knowledge. When David spoke, you listened. I’d take in everything he was saying – whether it was life or anything.�

When Pollard settled for third against a 36-car field Friday, his SLM rivals and fans alike knew the all-time leader in Deep South Cranes Blizzard Series wins would be a man on a mission in the second half of the Rowdy doubleheader weekend.

Pollard wasn’t about to leave Pensacola without penning another chapter to his storied history at his beloved home away from his native Georgia.

True to form, Pollard was determined and methodical in capturing the Universal Fabricators 100 for his 27th career Blizzard Series victory. The 33-year-old passed 15-year-old Jake Garcia on Lap 74 and cashed a $15,000 payday.

“This is special. This is for David Rogers and TM Ranch,� said Pollard, who started eighth. “It has been a long, hot weekend, and it’s just awesome to see all the fans. We a’int gotten to race much, so racing in front of crowds this size is incredible.�

Garcia led nearly 30 laps on Saturday and kept Pollard honest for a while in the final 26 laps, but ultimately the teenager finished a more-than-respectable runner-up to short-track racing’s king. A night after coming home fourth, Pensacola’s Jeremy Pate capped a magical couple days by finishing third Saturday.

#Forever11 100 winner Stephen Nasse ran in the top-10 all night but could do no better than sixth in his attempt to sweep the weekend.

Casey Roderick finished fifth on Saturday after a roller-coaster ride in the maiden voyage of his self-owned No. 25 SLM on Friday. The three-time Blizzard Series champ led Friday’s race at one point and had the car to beat before a leak forced him to park it.

Kyle Plott started on the pole Saturday night and led the first 47 laps before mechanical troubles sent him behind the wall. That’s when Garcia took his turn in clean air and showed off his repertoire of skills befitting of one of the top young hotshoes in short-track racing.

Pollard, meanwhile, avoided trouble all around him and gradually chewed his way through a cluster of cars that separated him from Garcia’s bumper.

“We just got behind there for a minute,� Pollard said. “I didn’t know if we would make our way up through there. But the car was really good. Jake’s a good racecar driver. He didn’t make any mistakes and my hat’s off to him for the way he drove.�

Pollard now has 135 career Late Model wins (69 SLM, 66 PLM) and 25 victories in the Southern Super Series, 14 of which have come at Five Flags.