Bubba Pollard Paints High Lane On Path to Win in Cordele 75-Lap Friday Feature

Watching Bubba Pollard compete in Super Late Models around local short tracks has to be the racing equivalent of being able to go back in time to watch Leonardo Da Vinci paint the Mona Lisa. Using the high lane as his canvas and his No. 26 car serving as his paintbrush, Pollard masterfully worked his way from the fourth starting position to take the lead from Matthew Craig on the 29th lap of Friday night's 75-lap ASA Southern Super Series event at Cordele Motor Speedway.

Once he got to the point, Pollard never looked back as he took a decisive win in the Georgia Summer Nationals 75, holding off Matthew Craig by a margin of victory of 2.321 seconds in the first race of a double-header weekend for the ASA Southern Super Series at Cordele Motor Speedway.

"I just really enjoy racing here," Pollard said of the 3/8-mile Georgia short track. "It's a lot of fun. To be able to move around like that and pass, and man, we have good cars."

Pollard, who started fourth in Friday night's race, said the car he utilized was seeing the race track for the first time, which gave him some apprehension about how he'd perform going into the race. Those doubts were quickly shelved.

"This is the first time we've run this car here. VanDoorn Racing Development, VRD, and I just didn't know what it was going to do," Pollard explained. "I knew we had a good package for here, and we put it under this thing, and it was fast. It was good, but I was still unsure. We had a good race car tonight, and a good race."

The 38-year-old racer was pleased that Cordele Motor Speedway opted to run a weekend double-header rather than running a bunch of practice sessions, and having everyone come back for one race. And the $7,500 payout for winning Friday's race, and the overall payday in October's World Crown 300 event Pollard feels is a big deal for short track racing.

"Just can't thank all of these people, these fans, for coming out on a Friday. The Nolands and Cordele here, for putting on two nights of racing. That's what it's all about," Pollard stated. "I'd rather go somewhere and race two nights than to practice and then come back to race. It gets you to work on your car. Them guys stepped on a limb putting up a lot of money for us this weekend, and also the World Crown. Hopefully, everyone can come out and support them. They've done a great job here, and it's a great racetrack."

Runner-up finisher Matthew Craig took the early lead on the green flag from polesitter Michael Atwell, and it looked like he'd have a shot to pull off a win at a track that has been a thorn in his side over the years.

However, once Pollard got by him, there was simply no keeping up with the No. 26 machine. Still, Craig was proud of the second-place result.

"Yeah, I mean, this track has been kind of tough for me. I haven't really had many good runs," Craig said. "So, this is nice to finish second, but you always want more, you know?"

The driver of the No. 54 says that his team simply needs to unlock the mystery of how Pollard is able to achieve so much grip throughout the duration of the corners at Cordele. They closed the gap on Friday night, but they still have work to do to keep up with Pollard at Cordele.

"The car was good. Just lacking a little grip. Bubba always has such good overall grip, the whole corner," Craig explained. "We can't quite get there, but we'll keep working on it."

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoff contender Jake Garcia came home in the third position, and he finished ahead of Gavan Boschele and Dylan Fetcho, who rounded out the top-five finishers in the race.

Atwell, the polesitter, was part of an excellent battle near the front of the field all race long, but unfortunately, mechanical issues forced him to the garage before the conclusion of the race. Atwell would finish 15th, 12 laps off the pace.

Additionally, it was an uncharacteristically rough night for Stephen Nasse, who was running around 15th place all race long. Nasse would finish the night 16th, 18 laps down to race winner Pollard.

The ASA Southern Super Series will return to Cordele Motor Speedway on Saturday night for the 125-lap conclusion to the weekend double-header. Saturday's race will pay $10,000 to the race winner.

Saturday's 125-lap Main Event can be streamed on RacingAmerica.tv at no additional cost for Racing America subscribers (click here to subscribe to Racing America). Racing America's coverage of Saturday night's events at Cordele Motor Speedway, which will include Bandoleros, Legends, and Crown Vics in addition to the ASA Southern Super Series, is set to kick off at 6:30 PM ET.

Georgia Summer Nationals 75 Results

-Photo Credit: Tyler Sontag