August 10, 2024

For the fourth year in a row, a Georgia-born driver has claimed a summertime victory in Cordele.

Bubba Pollard continued his winning ways at Cordele Motor Speedway with his victory in the Georgia Summer Nationals. The Senoia, Georgia native also won the SpeedFest event at Cordele back in January, making this a sweep for him in ASA Southern Super Series events at the track this season.

“Just a good race,” said Pollard. “Really just had a good race car all weekend. Didn’t practice much but unloaded fast. I knew the race was gonna play out where we had to save. It was gonna be those fifty-lap runs, and we had to be there at the end.”

“This is only two hours from home, it’s a good place for us. I grew up racing here. They’ve done a great job with the race track. This is the best I’ve seen it look in years. Ricky [Brooks] and the Noland’s have done a great job. Got a lot of respect for them because we own a race track and I know much hard work it is.”

Pollard qualified in second place originally, but ultimately started in third position due to the redraw.

The starting position mattered not, as Pollard found his way to the front following a competition caution at lap 50. The ensuing restart saw Pollard challenge Michael Hinde for the lead, eventually taking the spot away from the Florida driver.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Pollard however, as a late caution was brought out for contact between Connor Okrzesik and Casey Roderick, who were fighting for second spot at the time.

The contact took both drivers out of contention, opening the door for Michael Hinde to reappear and potentially challenge Pollard for the lead.

“A racer’s got the best view of that,” said Michael Hinde on the Okrzesik-Roderick incident. “We only had a few laps to go. I was trying to get in there, but at the same time you gotta use your head when they’re racing like that. Luckily I was able to stay out of it.”

Again, it mattered not for Pollard. Bubba’s inevitability at Cordele has been showcased time and time again.

Hinde would have to settle for second, with Timothy Watson crossing the line in third. Jake Finch was fourth and Tyler Tanner finished fifth.

“We had a pretty good car all day in practice. I think we were top five the whole time,” Michael Hinde told Liberty Racing Review. “Led the first fifty til the caution came out. I knew Bubba was coming, I just tried to hold him off.”

“Had another good restart. Went into the corner and felt like I was just bogging a little bit. We just found out my right-rear axle seal went out, so that was part of our problem.”

The next race for the ASA Southern Super Series will be on September 28th at Five Flags Speedway.

2024 Georgia Summer Nationals Results

1. Bubba Pollard
2. Michael Hinde
3. Timothy Watson
4. Jake Finch
5. Tyler Tanner
6. Jett Noland
7. Casey Roderick
8. Billy VanMeter
9. Blaise Rutherford
10. Connor Okrzesik -2 laps
11. Matt Craig -6 laps
12. Colin Allman -6 laps
13. Stephen Nasse -7 laps
14. Dustin Smith -30 laps
15. John Coffman -48 laps
16. Hudson Bulger -53 laps
17. Cody Stickler -60 laps

Cover photo: Connor Cochran/Liberty Racing Review