Bubba Pollard to Return to ARCA Racing Series for
Mobile International Speedway Opener
Late Model Ace Running a Former James Finch Machine
51 Sports PR
After winning 19 times or more in 100-lap events in Super and Pro Late Model action in 2011, Bubba Pollard is ready to take on his next challenge. That challenge is a familiar track, Mobile International Speedway (AL), but this time it's in the ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards short track opener at Mobile.
Pollard has filed an entry and will be a co-owner with Mike Ellis for the March 10th, Mobile ARCA 200 in Irvington, Alabama. This will be the inaugural event for the ARCA Series on the high-banked half-mile.
"We are excited after the year we had in 2011," said Pollard. "The biggest thing was we wanted to branch out and try some new things. We have gotten the opportunity to do that and we hope this effort goes well.”
Pollard is no stranger to ARCA, having made three starts in 2005. He qualified in the top-10 in two of those three events and his best was 11th at Michigan driving a car owned by Bob Schacht.
This time, Pollard has a new attitude and what he hopes is the right combination. After purchasing a car from legendary car owner James Finch, Pollard went and got the power plants out of the Ernie Elliott engine shop. The equipment is being worked on out of the Bill Elliott Racing shop in Dawsonville, Georgia and former ARCA driver Eddie Mercer has been aiding in the Pollard effort.
"This is another shot for us after the year we had, which really means a lot to me," said Pollard. “I was really young and inexperienced the first time I ran ARCA. We are looking forward to Mobile because we have had lots of success there in the past."
The number 51 has been registered as Pollard and his team of supporters will focus on a track where he won the Miller Lite Series Championship after sweeping all five races in 2011. In all Pollard has 14 career Late Model wins at Mobile.
"I don't think an advantage is there for us," said Pollard on his Mobile laps. "The seat time and the laps will help us, but the cars are not like anything else we have driven. It's going to be tough and hopefully we can make the transition well."
With success might come a heavier ARCA schedule in 2012 for Pollard. He would like to run selected races that would include Michigan International Speedway, Pocono International Raceway (PA) and some other intermediate tracks. Right now only the Mobile race is a definite go.
The Pollard Motorsports team is still looking for sponsorship for this and future ARCA events. Interested parties can contact the team by email at Bubbapollard26@yahoo.com
A full day of practice followed by qualifying will take place on Friday, March 9th as Pollard will look to lock his car near the front of the starting field. Saturday, March 10th, is race day with the green flag going off at 2pm CT.
Pollard's new ARCA ride is being prepared for Mobile. (Pollard Motorsports Photo)
