Bubba Pollard recorded his fourth career SpeedFest Super Late Model victory on Saturday at Watermelon Capital Speedway. Photo: Southern Super Series
Bubba Pollard opened up the 2024 Asphalt Super Late Model Season in high fashion on Saturday afternoon.
The Senoia, Georgia speedster came out on top of a cat-and-mouse duel with long time competitor Stephen Nasse to score his third straight SpeedFest 150 at Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele, Georgia for the ASA Southern Super Series.
The victory by Pollard was his fourth in the SpeedFest event and fourth at the Watermelon Capital Speedway.
Pollard made the fifth and final lead change on lap 139 of the 150 lap event as he passed Nasse, who had gained the lead when Pollard and the other leaders pitted on lap 109. Pollard charged back to the front and made the winning pass just outside 10 laps to go.
“You don’t know if the strategy is going to work,” said Pollard. “Last year we won it by pitting early and today it was the other way. We had a 40-lap run to get it done. Had it been 25 it would have been interesting. It was a great race for the fans. I hope they enjoyed it in the cold weather, but it was some really good racing.”
The caution flew on lap 75 for a competition yellow and Nasse pitted from fourth to take tires with seven cars remaining on the track. Nasse charged to fourth and then held his position to save tires if a caution came out before a competition yellow.
Stephen Nasse took home top honors in the JEGS CRA All-Star Tour Pro Late Model feature on Saturday at Watermelon Capital Speedway. Photo: Southern Super Series
Nasse held the lead until those with fresh tires climbed back to the leaders. He ended up second as Lawrenceville, Georgia native Casey Roderick posted a third place run after leading laps early on. Rookie Dawson Sutton posted fourth and defending series champion Gio Ruggerio finished fifth.
Michael Hinde, Jett Noland, Cole Butcher, Matt Craig, and Timothy Watson rounded out the top 10.
In the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour 100 Pro Late Model feature, Nasse took the top honors for the second time in his career. Nasse outlasted NASCAR Cup Series regular Ross Chastain who had a strong second place run. George Phillips finished in third, with Pendergrass, Georgia’s Seth Christensen in fourth, and Mike Hopkins in fifth.
Hampton, Georgia’s Josh Hicks, Griffin, Georgia’s Cale Hall, Michael Hinde, Alpharetta, Georgia’s Harrison Halder, and Grant Thompson rounded out the top 10.
The ASA Southern Super Series returns to action on Tuesday, February 13 at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway. For more information, visit SouthernSuperSeries.com.
Southern Super Series
Watermelon Capital Speedway – Cordele, GA
SpeedFest 2014 – January 20, 2024
1. Bubba Pollard
2. Stephen Nasse
3. Casey Roderick
4. Dawson Sutton
5. Gio Ruggiero
6. Michael Hinde
7. Jett Noland
8. Cole Butcher
9. Matt Craig
10. Timothy Watson
11. Michael Atwell
12. Billy VanMeter
13. Derek Kraus
14. Jake Finch
15. Daniel Webster
16. Dustin Smith
17. Brandon Jones
18. Steve Dorer
19. Stuart Dutton
20. Tony Elrod
21. Michael Goddard
22. Hudson Halder
23. Colin Allman
24. Anthony Cataldi
25. Dave Farrington
26. Josh Berry
27. Connor Orkzesik
28. Jake Garcia
JEGS CRA All-Star Tour
Watermelon Capital Speedway – Cordele, GA
SpeedFest 100 – January 20, 2024
1. Stephen Nasse
2. Ross Chastain
3. George Phillips
4. Seth Christensen
5. Mike Hopkins
6. Josh Hicks
7. Cale Hall
8. Michael Hinde
9. Harrison Halder
10. Grant Thompson
11. Steve Dorer
12. Luke Yarborough
13. Christopher Tullis
14. Hudson Bulger
15. Jeremy Miller
16. Brandon Lopez
17. Scott Moseley
18. Gage Rodgers
19. Chris Munson
20. Bubba Pollard
21. Augie Grill
22. Kevin Cremonesi
23. Chase Pinsonnea
24. Kyle McCallum
25. Zack Dixon
26. Benjamin Jones
27. Allen Gordon
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