PENSACOLA, Fla. – Bubba Pollard returned to his winning ways Friday at Five Flags Speedway with a thrilling drive from 17th to victory lane in Southern Super Series competition.
In the midst of one of his most difficult seasons in years, Pollard was able to kick the door down to victory lane in spectacular fashion. Starting 17th, Pollard methodically worked his way through the field and found himself in the top-five with less than 20 laps left.
Multiple caution periods in the final 20 laps gave Pollard the chance to run down Chandler Smith, who had dominated most of the race up to that point. Pollard took second from Michael Atwell with 10 laps left and began pressuring Smith for the lead.
Pollard made his move with two laps left, overtaking Smith as they raced towards the white flag. Pollard held on to take the victory, his first since last November when he won the Florida Governor’s Cup at New Smyrna Speedway.
Smith, a rookie in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for Kyle Busch Motorsports, finished second. Jake Garcia, Stephen Nasse and Kyle Plott completed the top-five.
The finish:
Bubba Pollard, Chandler Smith, Jake Garcia, Stephen Nasse, Kyle Plott, Michael Atwell, Jeff Choquette, Jace Hansen, Matt Craig, Jackson Boone, Ryan Crane, Jeremy Doss, Jake Finch, George Gorham, John DeAngelis, Kyle Bryant, Erik Jones, Grant Enfinger, Casey Roderick, Connor Okrzesik, Casey Smith, Johanna Long Robbins, Justin Drawdy, Ross Kenseth, Michael Hinde, Willie Allen, Hunter Robbins, Jared Irvan, Jett Noland, Anthony Cataldi, John Heil, Connor Mosack, Dusty Williams, Kodie Conner.