The 57th Snowball Derby unfolded with high expectations, especially for Bubba Pollard, one of short-track racing’s most celebrated drivers. As Pollard took to the track for his 19th attempt at clinching victory in this iconic event, fans were eager to see if this would finally be his year. Known for his masterful skill and racecraft, Pollard’s bid to secure a long-awaited triumph has become one of the Derby’s most compelling storylines.

However, the night took an unexpected turn as Pollard slipped from a promising P4 to a disappointing P14, leaving fans and critics alike pondering what went wrong. Adding to the intrigue was the debut of NASCAR Xfinity driver Sammy Smith as Pollard’s new teammate, a partnership designed to blend experience and fresh perspective on the fast-paced short track.

Pollard fails to make it to the victory line yet again

The 57th Snowball Derby yet did not go in favor of Bubba Pollard, once again. Pollard, being the magnanimous short track driver that he is, fans anticipated he would be altering the race outcome- at least in some way. But much to the awe of fans, Pollard ended up falling out of the top 10 chase towards the closing laps. This came as a shocker for many who were expecting that Pollard would at least finish the drive in the Top 5 position. 

Speaking of how the incident panned out, despite his attempts, Pollard explained what did not work in favor of him. Pollard was seen in the 4th position, but soon he slipped out and ended up finishing the night at the 14th position. He subjected the deplorable finish to a 5-word reason, “It was bad decision making”. 

He said, “I don’t know. We just don’t get ahead and make the right decisions. I don’t… we were pretty good there. I missed it and lost a lot of my track position and I was done there. It was so hard to pass today. Really, I mean there were some car to pass, it was difficult. Very line sensitive today, especially my car, for the most part. Just didn’t make it.” It is quite a well-known problem on the tracks that driving with cold tires is difficult. These tires are extremely difficult to maneuver and hence passing may seem an issue for many. 

Speaking of how the tires added to the major fall in position, Pollard said, “It can be, specially the way tires are. I mean, it honestly just goes back to race cars being so good. I mean, all the race cars are equal now”. While Pollard is someone from whom fans often have a lot of expectations, it seemed this time as though he was not so much vested in the tracks. He even expressed he would not come back to the tracks the next time, given the kind of preparatory efforts it requires. 

Keeping in mind the preparation behind the cars and the practice sessions one has to take up, Pollard seemed to be a bit skeptical about his appearance for the next season. He said, “But I don’t wanna do it again. It’s just a lot. Not only the week we go preparing at the shop. I have been going away from home way too much the last month”.

However, Pollard fans would agree when we say this amazing driver does deserve at least one win in the most celebrated short track – the Snowball Derby!

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Sammy Smith – a new teammate to Bubba Pollard

The track seemed to be full of surprises. However, what shocked fans more than Bubba Pollard’s below-expectations driving was the addition of a new teammate – the NASCAR Xfinity driver Sammy Smith. Smith was spotted behind the wheel of a car on the tracks, which had been provided by Pollard Racing. Philip Bell, who is Pollard’s cousin, specifically designed it. Bell also serves to be Smith’s crew chief for Saturdays. The team had also tested the cars for two days, and it seemed as though this partnership was ready to hit the tracks for the Snowball Derby. 

Why did Sammy Smith join as a teammate to Pollard? Well, the idea was to ensure that Smith could soak in all the knowledge from the short-track driver! Speaking of how the addition of Smith has panned out, Bubba Pollard said, “It definitely helps us being able to get the tire data and bounce the information because the cars are identical. We took Sammy testing Sunday, and we took a lot of what he has done and applied it to my car”. 

He further added, “I knew the racetrack would tend tight with the rubber being left down the last couple days. We did all the adjustments the same as we did to his car and it worked. It’s good when you can take that information. It speeds that process up.”

For Smith, this was his very first Super Late Model start for the year. He had missed the field a year before. However, Smith had been a winner for both the Winchester 400 and the Redbud 400. Speaking of the opportunity at hand, Smith said, “I’m excited to come back here and race again with Bubba and his group. I’m looking forward to having some fun”.

This partnership not only highlights Smith’s determination to conquer the Super Late Model stage, but also reinforces Pollard’s legacy. He has aced his roles as both a mentor and a fierce competitor.