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TSRS race report at CCMS, 6/5/04


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Texas Super Racing Series

Public Relations Office (512) 784-3026 * Series Information Line (512) 899-2602

Press Office Phone (281) 482-6798 * Press Office Fax (281) 648-4601

 

For Immediate Release

 

Pollard Overcomes Transmission Problem For Win

 

By: Pat Mayberry

 

A near capacity crowd turned out at the famed high-banked Corpus Christi

Motor Speedway to witness Houstonian, Jeff Pollard, overcome a serious

transmission problem and take home the winner's trophy. The problems began

on the second lap of practice when the transmission broke thwarting any

further practice time for Pollard before the race.

 

Only an hour before qualifying, Pollard wasn't even sure if his DC Eagle

sponsored Grand Prix would be able to start the race. However, Pollard and

his never say die team continued thrashing on their machine and made it out

to qualify with the ninth fastest time for the evening. "We never break

transmissions," explained Pollard. "Fortunately, we were able to borrow a

transmission from Damon Bean, thanks Damon. We had trouble getting it in

the car and I don't know why. The clutch didn't mesh, something just wasn't

right. We had the bell housing off and on, the clutch off and on, the

flywheel off and on, and we were about to give up."

 

While Pollard and company were struggling to just make the starting field,

Brad Hudak was having no problems at all with his rocket ship. Hudak took

his Monte Carlo out and set fast time for the second week in a row with a

time of 14.611 seconds. "We haven't been to this track enough to really

know exactly how much it will change," stated Hudak. "It's slippery out

there right now and our car is loose. It was loose in qualifying too, so if

the track will tighten up a little bit it will be good for us."

 

During the series trademark dice roll for field inversion, Hudak rolled a

two and ended up starting on the outside of row one. "This track is tight,

but you can go on the outside here," said Hudak. "We can race side by side

here. Hopefully, a hole will open up or we can get around him (Alexander)

and just go from there."

 

Pole sitter Lloyd Alexander caught the luck of the dice roll for a second

week drawing the number one spot to start the race. "I think we are a

little better than last week," mused Alexander on his good fortune. "We

just want to try and get out in front, lead a few laps and keep the pressure

on them."

 

Alexander made the most off his pole position by getting a great jump on the

start to lead his first lap of the season. Alexander appeared to be the

cream of the field most of the night putting the slower cars a lap down only

twenty-three laps into the feature event. He lead the field through several

other near misses that could have ended his night in a heap, but luck

appeared to be on his side.

 

Meanwhile, Pollard had methodically moved his way through the field taking

advantage of every opportunity that was presented to him. At the halfway

point, Pollard had worked his way up to the top five. After looking inside

and out, on lap forty-six, Pollard found his way around Chris Schild for

forth. Three laps later, Pollard got past Bean for third and set his sites

on the leaders. "This track was a ball. I really like this little track,

but you have to get into a rhythm," declared Pollard.

 

By lap fifty-one, Hudak and Pollard both closed quickly on Alexander who had

not been seriously challenged all night. After a quick caution bunched the

front-runners up on lap 58, Pollard set up Hudak and slid under him into

second. The on lap 63, Pollard got under Alexander and just powered by him

right in front of the cheering front grandstands. Unfortunately for

Alexander, his right front tire slowing starting to go down costing him any

chance at hanging on for the win. "The car got better on longer runs and it

looked to me like other cars in front of us were using up their tires,"

sited Pollard. "I was trying real hard not to and it worked. We drag raced

down the front straight-a-way and fortunately he (Alexander) raced me real

clean."

 

From that point Pollard only had to endure one more caution before capturing

the checkered flag. "I heard every noise in this car," mused Pollard on his

final few laps. "I thought certainly something has got to break. There's

no way this could happen." Over the last eight laps, Pollard just checked

out, crossing the finish line almost a full straight-a-way ahead of runner

up Hudak.

 

Series points leader, Mike Yale, who started in the third spot saw his race

end early when on lap fourteen his car just appeared to shut off on the back

stretch. "We had a cam or something seize, but we won't know until we get

it back to the shop and look it over," said a disappointed Yale. Yale and

team have been very strong this season winning the first two points races.

Team Yale has a meticulous work ethic making the breakdown even more

shocking in their pit.

 

Even with the bad luck on the night, Yale maintains his points lead by a

slim margin over second place Lloyd Alexander. "We've got to use our head

and we are truly looking at the big picture," replied Yale about the tight

points race. "I don't want to be accused of points racing, but if the

opening is there, we'll take advantage of it. But if not, well so be it."

 

Following Pollard to the checkers was Brad Hudak, Damon Bean, Chris Schild,

Lloyd Alexander, Pat Lyon, Brian Schild, Ronald DeLeon, Robert Elizando, and

Blake Harris. Harris was making his first start with the series and the

seventeen year old has to be considered a true "Young Gun."

 

The Bartel Motorsports Hard Charger Award was awarded to Pat Lyon who

improved ten positions for the evening and earning his first top five of the

season. Brian Schild was awarded a $25.00 Gift Certificate from Norman

Racing Products for his seventh place finish.

 

The next stop for the Texas Super Racing Series will be July 17th at Houston

Motor Speedway. For more information on series dates or rules please visit

the series web site at www.manracingpromotions.com.

 

Race Information:

Name: Jeff Pollard

City: Houston

Age: 42

Years in racing: 9

Chassis: Bopp/DB Motorsports

Body: Grand Prix

Engine Builder: KAM Racing Engines

Brakes: Willwood

Shocks: Penske

Sponsors: DC Eagle, KAM Racing Engines, Poly Dyn

Cautions: 8 / No yellow laps counted

Fastest green flag lap: Lap 16, Lloyd Alexander 14.797 seconds, 60.823mph

Lap Leaders: Lloyd Alexander 1- 62

Jeff Pollard 63-75

Time of race: 47:00

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