Photo Courtesy Scott McIlwain
by Kari Shear-Carlson / July 22, 2015 – In 1981, NASCAR great, Mark Martin, became the first winner of what would become an event that drivers from all over the nation sought to be a part of. This year will be no different when the ARCA Midwest Tour presented by Scag Power Equipment returns to Wisconsin International Raceway on Tuesday night, August 4th, for the unprecedented Potawatomi Dixieland 250 presented by Calypso Lemonade.
With names like Mark Martin, Dick Trickle, Joe Shear, Butch Miller, Rich Bickle, and Johnny Sauter on the winner’s list, it is no wonder a driver like Bubba Pollard has decided to make the trip from Senoia, GA in hopes to add his name to that list.
No matter where he goes, when Bubba Pollard unloads his Five Star Bodies, Earnest Performance sponsored machine, he is always a threat to win. With most of his success generating in the South, Pollard has proven it doesn’t matter what region of the country he races in, he’s always a top contender. In fact, the Georgia native recently traveled 2,690 miles across the country and returned $36,000 richer after winning the Summer Showdown at Monroe Washington’s Evergreen Speedway.
While it isn’t quite as far, traveling to Wisconsin International Raceway for the Dixieland 250 has been added to his bucket list.
“This year we’ve been traveling and racing at new places. I had always heard a lot about that place (WIR). It’s a big event. Racing against the Midwest Tour guys will be some great competition,” noted Pollard.
WIR is known to be one of the trickiest tracks to get a handle on in the Midwest. So for a driver who has never seen the place, Pollard has some homework to do.
“I’ve watched a few YouTube videos trying to learn as much as I can. I’ve asked a few guys, but haven’t talked to anyone from the Tour. My shock guy has some guys who run out there, so I’ve talked to him a little bit. I know it’s very unique and tricky. Hopefully we can adapt quickly and run well for a good finish,” said Pollard.
Current Midwest Tour point leader, Ty Majeski, has had a lot of success on the track, so he understands the challenges Pollard will face.
“WIR is one of the roughest and most challenging tracks I’ve ever raced on. You don’t get a lot of practice up here. He’s one of the best in the country, so it will be interesting to see how he adapts,” said Majeski.
Pollard isn’t one to be intimidated by his surroundings or his competition and recognizes that adaption is exactly what he needs in order to be competitive.
“It’s a little different racing against guys you’ve never raced before…learning how they race, and putting yourself in position around those guys to make it to the end. I was just telling someone the other day the Midwest Tour guys are the toughest in the country. I’m looking forward to seeing how we stack up against those guys,” Pollard said.
When the Senoia, GA driver of the Hamner Race Engines powered machine rolls into the state of Wisconsin, the Stars and Cars of the ARCA Midwest Tour will be ready for the additional competition.
“The tracks down in the South have a little bit more banking than the tracks up here. When we go down there it seems we have a little bit of a disadvantage, kind of blind-folded, so it will be a little different for him to come up here,” said Majeski.
The ARCA Midwest Tour will also be joined by the Big 8 Series on Tuesday night, August 4th. The grandstands will open at 4:00pm. Qualifying will begin at 5:00pm, opening ceremonies will be at 6:15 and racing at 7:00pm. See you there!
For complete event details, log on to arcamidwesttour.com
Be sure to follow the ARCA Midwest Tour on Facebook (/midwesttour) and Twitter (@midwesttour).
To learn more about the Automobile Racing Club of America Midwest Tour, log on to arcamidwesttour.com. The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is among the leading auto racing sanctioning bodies in the country. Founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum, the organization administers more than 100 events each year in multiple racing series, including the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, the ARCA/CRA Super Series, the ARCA Truck Series and the ARCA Midwest Tour, plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedway.
