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Bubba Pollard

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Bubba Pollard
Pollard at the 2019 Slinger Nationals
NationalityUnited States American
BornAndrew Pollard
(1987-03-16) March 16, 1987 (age 37)
Senoia, Georgia
CARS Super Late Model Tour career
Debut season2015
Current teamPollard Motorsports
Car number26
EngineFord
Starts14
Championships2018, 2019 Canadian Short Track Nationals Winner
2017 Slinger Nationals Winner
2016 All American 400 Winner
2014 Southern Super Series Champion
2012 CRA South Series Champion
Wins6
Poles2
Best finish9th in 2019
Previous series
2020ARCA Menards Series East
Last updated on: April 9, 2020.

Andrew "Bubba" Pollard[1] (born March 16, 1987) is an American stock car racing driver. He currently competes in super late model racing, driving the No. 26 Ford for his own team, and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series East, driving the No. 17 Ford for DGR-Crosley.[2] He is noted as one of the most successful active super late model drivers, winning the All American 400, Rattler 250, World Crown 300 and the 2014 Southern Super Series championship.

Racing career

Pollard's No. 26 late model in 2019
Pollard (first on the left in the back row) and the other drivers who competed in the 2019 Slinger Nationals.

Growing up, Pollard raced at Senoia Speedway in Senoia, Georgia, a track that his grandfather owned. He was invited on Roush Racing: Driver X in 2005 but did not win the contest, and besides for sporadic ARCA Re/Max Series starts, did not have the funding to compete on a national level.[1]

During the 2010s, Pollard won the 2014 Southern Super Series championship, and also ran several premiere late model events, winning the Kern County Raceway Park Winter Showdown in 2015 and 2016.[3]

During the 2017 Snowball Derby, Noah Gragson nicknamed Pollard "Redneck Jesus" for his popularity in the short-track racing community and his success.[1] Pollard later said that he does not aspire to move up to NASCAR but rather stay in the grassroots feel of the short track community.[4]

On August 3, 2019, Pollard and Matt Craig battled for the win in a CARS Tour race at Hickory Speedway. Craig won the race, and upon parking his car on pit road after the race, Pollard was offered a hand gesture by Craig's father. Pollard got out of his car and fought Craig's father before local law enforcement separated the two; Pollard was later fined his $1,500 race winnings and was suspended for the next five CARS Tour events.[5] In September 2019, Pollard won his second consecutive Canadian Short Track Nationals at Jukasa Motor Speedway, winning $75,000 CAD ($56,000 USD).[6] In October 2019, Pollard ran for JR Motorsports in the ValleyStar Credit Union 300.[7] The partnership bloomed from Pollard developing a friendship with JRM late model driver Josh Berry during the 2019 CARS Tour season.[8]

To start off 2020, Pollard ran a tour-type Modified for NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Preece at the World Series of Asphalt at New Smyrna Speedway.[9]

It was announced on March 9, 2020 that Pollard would make his debut in the ARCA Menards Series East, driving DGR-Crosley's No. 17 Ford in the race at Five Flags.[10] The race was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Pollard continued racing his super late model through the summer, scoring a Southern Super Series win at Five Flags.[11] Pollard ventured to Jennerstown Speedway in Pennsylvania, winning a CARS/CRA co-sanctioned race.[12] He also traveled to Wisconsin International Raceway for the ARCA Midwest Tour's Dixieland 250 and won his debut race at Citrus County Speedway.[13]

Personal life

Outside of his racing career, Pollard is a construction worker.[1] Pollard also has a wife and 2 children.

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Racing Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Re/Max Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 ARSC Pts Ref
2005 K Automotive Racing 29 Ford DAY NSH SLM KEN
20
TOL LAN MIL POC 75th 395 [14]
Bob Schacht Motorsports 75 Ford MCH
11
KAN KEN BLN POC GTW LER NSH
James Hylton Motorsports 48 Ford MCH
28
ISF TOL DSF CHI SLM TAL
2012 Pollard Motorsports 29 Chevy DAY MOB
11
SLM TAL TOL ELK POC MCH WIN NJE IOW CHI IRP POC BLN ISF MAD SLM DSF KAN 100th 175 [15]
2015 Goodson Racing 1 Ford DAY MOB NSH
DNS
SLM TAL TOL
18
NJE POC MCH CHI WIN IOW IRP POC BLN ISF DSF SLM KEN KAN 108th 140 [16]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Weaver, Matt (December 30, 2018). "Bubba Pollard is short track racing's blue-collar, Hall of Fame-bound superstar". Autoweek. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  2. ^ Srigley, Joseph (March 9, 2020). "Bubba Pollard to Make ARCA East Debut with DGR-Crosley This Weekend at Five Flags Speedway". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  3. ^ Weaver, Matt. "Bubba Pollard feels frustrated about lack of change in late model racing". Short Track Scene. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  4. ^ Allen, Richard (April 24, 2019). "Bubba Pollard Happy With Where He Is But Always Looking For More". Inside Circle Track. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  5. ^ Austin, Langley (August 6, 2020). "Bubba Pollard Suspended Five Races; Fined for Fight at Hickory". Race22. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  6. ^ "Bubba Pollard Bags Another Canadian Payday". Speed Sport. September 2, 2019. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  7. ^ "Bubba Pollard teams up with Dale Jr. for Late Model race at Martinsville". NASCAR.com. September 23, 2019. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  8. ^ Weaver, Matt (September 23, 2020). "How Bubba Pollard landed at JR Motorsports for the Martinsville 300". Short Track Scene. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  9. ^ Courchesne, Shawn. "Bubba Pollard To Race Modified At New Smyrna World Series For Ryan Preece". RaceDayCT. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  10. ^ Albino, Dustin (March 11, 2020). "Short Track Stars Heat Up Pensacola Field". ARCARacing.com. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  11. ^ Weaver, Matt (August 1, 2020). "Bubba Pollard 'Doubles Down' Again with Summer Sizzler 75 Win". Short Track Scene. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  12. ^ Weaver, Matt (July 5, 2020). "Bubba Pollard earns $20k in first visit to Jennerstown Speedway". Short Track Scene. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  13. ^ Evans, Zach (October 3, 2020). "Pollard, Florida Racer Trade Paint & Words for $10,000". Speed51. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  14. ^ "Bubba Pollard – 2005 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  15. ^ "Bubba Pollard – 2012 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  16. ^ "Bubba Pollard – 2015 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 1, 2020.