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Papa John’s 100 Blizzard

Editor's Note: This story appeared in May 27 editions of the Pensacola News Journal.

Chuck Corder

It has been a bittersweet season for Bubba Pollard.

No short-track racer across the southeast, arguably the nation, has enjoyed the season’s spoils more than the Senoia, Ga., driver.

The Five Flags Speedway fan favorite has five wins, including the Blizzard Series season opener in March, and 12 top-five finishes in 16 starts this year.

But Pollard also has dealt with incredible loss away from the track when longtime friend and fellow driver Beau Slocumb lost a courageous battle with cancer last month.

Pollard has raced with a heavy heart since that fateful day in April. He honored Slocumb at last year’s Snowball Derby with a hunting-inspired, camouflage paint scheme.

Pollard looks to honor his late buddy’s memory once again tonight against a deep field when the Blizzard Series returns to Five Flags with the Papa John’s 100.

“Knowing his personality, he wouldn’t want anyone to sit there and be down,� Pollard said of Slocumb. “He’d want us be at the racetrack.�

Modifieds, Sportsmen and Bombers also will be there when the gates open at 5 p.m. today.

Grandstands admission is as follows: $15 Adults; $14 Seniors/Military; $12 Students; $5 Child (6-11); Under 6 is Free. Pit passes are $25.

Pollard made a late charge to capture the Pepsi Max 100 on March 25, only leading the final four laps.

He leads an accomplished group of drivers into tonight. Reigning Snowball Derby queen and NASCAR trucks rookie Johanna Long is back and happily pushing her father Donald Long into a Super Late Model for the first time in several years.

“We won’t waste too much time practicing because I’m afraid I’ll wear myself out,� the 48-year-old Long joked.

Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) Series regular Grant Enfinger, who finished second in March, is back. He enters trailing Pollard by a slim 64-62 margin in the overall Blizzard points race.

The Papa John’s 100 marks the second of five Blizzard races this year, all leading up to the 44th annual Derby in December.

Despite a sparkling resume, Pollard has yet to win a Derby. Pollard hopes his chance to hoist the Tom Dawson trophy will come at season’s end, as he attempts to buck a recent trend where fast starts have not always ended with victorious finishes.

“I always set goals at the beginning of the year to win as many races as I can,� Pollard said. “As long as I’m winning, the championships will come.�

Augie Grill knows a thing or two about championships. And, much to Pollard and the other competitors’ envy, two Derby championships.

Grill won back-to-back titles in 2007-08 and always is a favorite to be up front at Five Flags. He led most of the Pepsi Max 100 before faltering down the stretch.

The 2011 season has been different for Grill. The Hayden, Ala., native has raced just twice since March, primarily focusing his attention on his successful Grand American Race Cars business.

“It’ll be nice to kinda get away from it a little bit,� Grill said of his car stock-car manufacturing company before admitting, “but we’ve got enough customers where I’ll still get hassled about something at the racetrack. It’s a Catch-22.�

He hopes to stall what has been a glorious year for Pollard, who believes Slocumb is getting to share in all the checkered flags and trips to Victory Lane.

“I definitely feel like he’s right there with me,� Pollard said of Slocumb. “It’s been tough the last couple of months. He’s right there with us.�

 

 

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