Pollard Hits Double at South Alabama Speedway

By Mark Chisum

Bubba Pollard took two wins Saturday night at South Alabama Speedway, winning the Modified Feature and the Viper Series Cottonmouth 100.

Pollard dominated the Modified Feature, leading all 25 laps. Pollard took the lead from the outside pole and steadily pulled away from the field. Ricky Brooks trailed Pollard early in the race, but Heath Mills worked his way around Brooks on lap seven. Mills couldn’t keep up with Pollard’s pace, however. With the race going green for the last 23 laps, Pollard eased further away from Mills each lap. Pollard led Mills by a straightaway when the checker flag flew. Brooks held on to finish third, followed by Mike Daniels and Kevin Peel.

In the Cottonmouth 100, Pollard set fast time in qualifying, turning a lap of 15.309, just .086 faster than Logan Boyett. Inversion put fourth fastest qualifier D.J. VanderLey on the pole and Pollard fourth. VanderLey led just the first lap before Boyett took the lead. Korey Ruble and pollard followed Boyett past Vanderley to move into second and third by lap four.

After the races first caution on lap 20, Ruble began to fade back into the field, falling back to sixth spot. Boyett continued to lead the race through the next two caution periods, but on lap 38, Pollard made the move to the front. Once out front, Pollard stayed just ahead of the field, but far enough nobody could challenge him for the top spot. At the halfw3ay point, Pollard led Boyett, VanderLey, Ruble, and Sam Smith.

Boyett got loose on lap 53, and VanderLey and Ruble scooted by. VenderLey closed the gap on Pollard and looked as though he may be able to give Pollard a good fight for the lead. However, as the race went on, Pollard was able to ease away from VanderLey to open a comfortable lead. VanderLey’s last shot came after the race’s last caution on lap 96. On the restart, Pollard got away from VanderLey to take his third Viper Series win of the season. VanderLey finished second. Smith came home third, followed by Roger Adkins and Boyett.

In the Street Stock Feature, Todd Valdez took his first win at South Alabama Speedway. Dennis Thomas led the first lap, but Valdez took the lead on lap two. Cameron Henderson took control of the race on the third circuit and began to pull away from the field. As Henderson came down the front stretch to complete lap seven, his engine went up in smoke, ending his night. Valdez retook the lead and outran Johnny Otto to take the win. Justin Killian finished third with Darrell Cawley, Jr. fourth, and Thompson fifth.

Max Nelson took the lead on lap 14 and held off Travis Slawson to take the Coyote Feature win. Rusty Locklar led the first lap with John Roberts taking the lead on lap two. Roberts led for three laps before Nelson took the point. Lee Rogers battled his way past Nelson on lap eleven and led the next three laps. Nelson and Rogers got together as they crossed the stripe with Rogers spinning into the water barrels at the end of the front stretch. Nelson led until the next caution period when Slawson grabbed the lead on the restart. Nelson battled back and led the final two laps to take the hard-earned win. Rogers came back to finish third ahead of Roberts and Jason Monaghan.

Zak Wallace grabbed the lead on lap six and went on to win the CupLite Feature. Jeremy Peacock led the first lap from the pole position. Waylon Spivey led the next four laps before Wallace got by to take the lead. Wallace led the rest of the way to take home the winner’s trophy. Greg Adams came from the sixth starting spot finish second. Jack Whittle followed Adams through the field to finish third. Spivey slid back to fourth in the final rundown, with Karl Williams fifth.

In the Mini Sportsman Feature, Eddy Hinson was awarded the win after Joshua Sibley was disqualified. Joey cannon led the first lap with Jason cannon taking the lead on lap two. Jason Cannon led the next six laps before Hinson took over on lap eight. Hinson led until the final lap before Sibley scooted by on the inside to take the apparent win. However, in post race inspection, Sibley was deemed illegal, and Hinson awarded the win. Jason Cannon finished second, followed by Joey Cannon, Dylan Wolfe, and Mike Wolfe.

The next races at South Alabama Speedway are scheduled for September 25. On the night’s schedule are feature races for all local classes. For more information, contact the track at (334) 565-3539, or visit the track’s web site at www.southalabamaspeedway.com.

Results

Pro Late Model Viper Series

Cottonmouth 100

1.       Bubba Pollard

2.       D.J. VanderLey

3.       Sam Smith

4.       Roger Adkins

5.       Logan Boyett

6.       Korey Ruble

7.       Donald Crocker

8.       Kyle Bryant

9.       Will Prance

10.   Brandon Odom

11.   Darin Cronan

12.   Mike Williamson

13.   Mike Garvey

14.   Will Mack

DNS Lance Blacker

Modified

1.        Bubba Pollard

2.       Heath Mills

3.       Ricky Brooks

4.       Mike Daniels

5.       Kevin Peel

6.       Bo McCraney

7.       Bruce Permenter

Street Stock

1.        Todd Valdez

2.       Johnny Otto

3.       Justin Killian

4.       Darrell Cawley, Jr.

5.       Dennis Thomas

6.       Billy Maxie

7.       Craig Harrison

8.       Cameron Henderson

9.       Chris Salter

10.   Chris Lucas

Coyote

1.        Max Nelson

2.       Travis Slawson

3.       Lee Rogers

4.       John Roberts

5.       Jason Monaghan

6.       Rusty Locklar

7.       Michael Piland

8.       Robert Colvin

9.       Mike Wolfe

10.   #54

11.   #7

12.   James Faulk

CupLite

1.        Zak Wallace

2.       Greg Adams

3.       Jack Whittle

4.       Waylon Spivey

5.       Karl Williams

6.       Jeremy Peacock

7.       Gordon Reese

8.       Carroll Williams

Mini Sportsman

1.        Eddy Hinson

2.       Jason Cannon

3.       Joey Cannon

4.       Dylan Wolfe

5.       Mike Wolfe

6.       Dale McClendon

7.       Donnie Howell

8.       James Mason