This year, JR Motorsports is adding a fifth car to their lineup for a few races in the 2024 season and has onboarded someone who has teared it up in over 100 Late Model races, including big names like the All-American 400 and Speedfest. Bubba Pollard who is gearing up to race for Dale Earnhardt Jr‘s squad will be seen behind the wheel of the #88 Chevrolet at Richmond Raceway on March 30. Not just this, Dale Jr himself is planning to jump into the fray for at least one race, though which one, is still under wraps.

But for Bubba Pollard, the number of races doesn’t really phase him. He’s all in, aiming to pour everything he’s got into each chance he gets, hoping to maybe follow in Josh Berry’s footsteps and climb his way to the top of NASCAR.

Bubba Pollard’s feeling the ‘pressure’ to deliver 

The whole journey kicked off in 2019 when Dale Earnhardt Jr dropped a video on his Facebook hyping up Josh Berry and Bubba Pollard as the picks for JR Motorsports at the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway on October 5th for a late-model showdown.

At that point, Josh Berry was already a part of the JR Motorsports crew in the Xfinity Series (since 2014) and has since moved up to race in the Cup Series with Stewart-Haas Racing. Pollard, on the other hand, earned his shot after he amped up his presence in the CARS Tour races across the Carolinas over two years.

Fast forward five years, and with Dale Jr tossing his support behind the late-model racer from Georgia, Pollard’s feeling the squeeze to prove his worth. He’s looking at this shot as his big break, a chance to jump into NASCAR full throttle and carve out a success story just like Josh Berry did.

He said, “I don’t know what the plan is right now; it’s just kind of a one-race at a time deal. […] The pressure is definitely there because, as you know um Josh performed um and he got to where he needed to do to be. So, we just got to go out there and have fun. That’s my biggest thing is this may be a one-time deal for me. Try not to put pressure on yourself because I do want to show people you know what you’re capable of doing that. […] So, I’m trying to do all my homework and put in the work to do whatever it takes to make this deal happen and run good.”

Bubba Pollard is set to race in a car sponsored by Rheem, a big-time supporter of Dale Earnhardt Jr’s team, JR Motorsports. He’s clinched titles at some of the biggest short-track showdowns nationwide. In 2022, he took a spin in the SRX Series race at Five Flags Speedway and snagged a close second behind Hélio Castroneves.

Before hitting Richmond, Pollard’s got a packed schedule. He’ll be racing in the ARCA Menards Series East at Five Flags Speedway on March 23. Add to that, he’s tackling the Super Late Model circuit with races like the UARA National Tour’s Rattler 250 at South Alabama Speedway on March 17, and the Sunshine State 200 with the ASA STARS National Tour at Five Flags, all happening right around the same time as the ARCA event. It looks like the coming weeks are going to be jam-packed for him.

And well, it’s worth mentioning that JR Motorsports, owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr and his sister, has a track record of throwing short-track stars into the Xfinity Series mix, given there’s enough financial backing. So, this isn’t the first time a late-model car driver is going to be a part of the Xfinity Series.

JR Motorsports is known for throwing late-model hotshots into the NASCAR ring

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Pollard, who’s a regular powerhouse at the Snowball Derby in Pensacola, Florida, has crossed the finish line first over 100 times in Late Model races. His trophy collection includes wins at big deals, most recently nailing Speedfest for the third year running. With those credentials, it’s a no-brainer that he’s got the chops for the big leagues.

Echoing this sentiment, Kelly Earnhardt Miller mentioned, “JR Motorsports has grown so much over the years. But the core of what we do, from our championship-winning Late Model team to the NASCAR Xfinity Series, is to produce championship drivers and team personnel. Bubba Pollard is a great example of that sort of progression, and we’re proud to support him alongside a great partner in Rheem Manufacturing.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr Would Rather Be a “Fool” and Lose Than Make No Impact on the Race

Pollard himself recognizes the golden chance he’s got, thanks to Dale Earnhardt Jr, Kelley Earnhardt Miller, and Rheem. They’re in the business of giving racers like him a shot at the spotlight—opportunities that don’t usually come knocking every day. He’s got nothing but gratitude for the support and chances they extend to drivers eager to make their mark.