SpeedFest 2025 was run under the lights on Friday night to beat the incoming rain on Saturday at Cordele Motor Speedway (GA). The atmosphere was electric as both races entertained the crowd who came out to see the annual event.
In the ASA Southern Super Series event, the lead was swapped three times in the first 40 laps setting up what was looking to be a record performance. However, Cole Butch climbed to the top and threatened to run away with the race.
The complexion of the race changed when the caution flew on lap 110 in the 20th running of SpeedFest. Butcher had led a large chunk of the middle portion, but the tire changes left him fighting for his life in the lead with Bubba Pollard stalking him.
After a near dozen lap slugfest Pollard was able to work the high side and take the lead on lap 138. From there Pollard cruised to his fourth-straight win at SpeedFest and fifth overall in the Super Late Model division.
Butcher was inched out at the line by Colby Howard at the line. Rookie Gavan Boschele finished fourth and NASCAR Cup Series driver Chase Elliott overcame a poor time trial run to post a fifth-place finish.
Earlier in the day Ben Maier outlasted Michael Hinde and several others in the JEGS CRA All-Stars Tour 100-lap event. Maier had a side-by-side battle with Stephen Nasse going heading into the final lap before contact scattered the cars off the second turn giving Maier the win over Hinde, TJ DeCaire, Seth Christiensen and Nasse.
Maier is the fourth driver to win in their Pro Late Model debut at SpeedFest. The others being Chase Elliott, John Hunter Nemechek and Michael Hinde.
In qualifying Hudson Bulger won both the Pro Late Model and Super Late Model pole awards.
The ASA Southern Super Series will be back in action on Tuesday, February 11th at New Smyrna Speedway for the Clyde Hart Memorial 200. The race is a combination event with the ASA STARS National Tour which will be running its first race of 2025.
The ASA Southern Super Series begins its 13th season as a premier Regional Tour. In 2022 SSS, based in Pensacola, FL, formed an alliance with Track Enterprises and their ASA Midwest Tour, ASA Champion Racing Association, and the ASA STARS National Tour, in an effort to unify Super Late Model Racing on a national level.
For more information on the ASA Southern Super Series, log on to the series website www.SouthernSuperSeries.com
