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Bubba Pollard wins Master of the Pros 200 at Birch Run

One race.

One victory.

Thus begins a busy weekend for Bubba Pollard in winning the Masters of the Pro 200 at Birch Run Speedway in Michigan.

The race is the richest-paying Pro Late Model race in the country and attracted an entry list that reflected it. Pollard outdueled fellow Super Late Model notables Johnny VanDoorn, Jack Dossey III, Jeff Choquette and Steve Dorer over a series of late restarts.

As a result, Pollard collected a $10,000 winner’s check and a series of bonuses. The 31-year-old picked up a $1000 JAS Expedited Trucking Winners Bonus in the second event of the JAS Expedited Trucking Michigan Cup mini-series. He also picked up a $500 bonus for the highest finisher who had never raced at Birch Run Speedway prior to the 2018 season.

It was a great start for Pollard, who is chasing a combined $41,000 over three races through Monday night. He will race at Anderson Speedway in the Southern Super Series-CARS Tour Border War 150 and the Money in the Bank 150 at Berlin Raceway on Monday.

“Man, this car was good tonight,” said Pollard in victory lane. “I knew if I could get track position and get out front that it would be tough for them to pass me. It feels good to come in here, a place I’ve never been, against VanDoorn and Campbell and all of these guys right here and get the win. That’s awesome. It makes me feel good.”

VanDoorn led the first 89 laps ahead of Carson Hocevar from the pole, despite several cautions that slowed the race and stacked the field behind the veteran. VanDoorn gave up the lead for a pit stop on Lap 98 and brought most of the field with him.

Dan Leeck stayed out to get the lead under yellow, and kept that lead at the drop of the green flag, but Pollard was soon in second, he had pitted under an earlier caution. Pollard passed Leeck for the race lead on lap 94 and kept that lead until VanDoorn, on fresher tires, was able to slip by to grab the lead back on lap 110, but another caution came out at lap 115, which again brought most of the field to pit road for service and two more tires.

Kyle Hayden did not pit and picked up the lead. Hayden had much older tires than all the other racers behind him, but he was able to hold the lead until Florida racer Steve Dorer, also on older tires, got by to take the lead on lap 130.

Pollard was quickly on the move working his way to the front with a car that looked dominant. Pollard was able to make the pass on Dorer on lap 134, but still had challenges over the last portion of the race including having to fight off VanDoorn on a couple of restarts, but Pollard was up to the challenge and cruised to take the checkered flag and join the list of Masters of the Pro’s winners that includes fellow Georgia natives Chase Elliott and Anderson Bowen as well as John Hunter Nemechek and Cole Williams.

The complete results can be found below.

  1. Bubba Pollard
  2. Johnny VanDoorn
  3. Jack Dossey III
  4. Jeff Choquette
  5. Steve Dorer
  6. Kyle Hayden
  7. Carson Hocevar
  8. Chris Davidson
  9. Brian Campbell
  10. Dan Leeck
  11. Kyle Crump
  12. Jeff Roethlisberger, Jr.
  13. Wes Griffith Jr.
  14. Robbie Pyle
  15. Brandon Varney
  16. Chris Koslek
  17. Hunter Jack
  18. Tyler Hufford
  19. Nathan Bertino
  20. Trever McCoy
  21. Michael Clancy Jr.
  22. James Krueger
  23. Kyle Jones
  24. Harold Fair Jr.
  25. Chris Koslek
  26. Sterling Marlin
  27. Mason Keller
  28. Hayden Sprague
  29. Garrett Schwartz

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Matt Weaver is the owner and founder of Short Track Scene. Weaver grew up in the sport, having raced himself before becoming a reporter in college at the University of South Alabama. He also has extensive experience covering NASCAR, IndyCar and Dirt Sprint Cars.

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