Bubba Pollard posted the quickest time in qualifying for the Money in the Bank 150 but will not lead the field to green on Monday night at Berlin Raceway.
That’s because Pollard ‘rolled a six’ for the invert, placing a familiar name on pole for the $20,000-to-win Super Late Model showdown in south Michigan.
Kyle Busch.
The 2015 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion was sixth-quick in time trials but inherited the top spot when Pollard drew for his invert. Busch is looking for three-straight Super Late Model victories after breaking a three-year winless drought with winter victories in the Snowball Derby and Winter Showdown.
But Pollard is looking to do something equally impressive in winning three times over the course of four nights. He opened the weekend with a Pro Late Model win in the Masters of the Pros 200 at Birch Run Speedway in Michigan on Friday, won with a Super Late Model at Anderson Motor Speedway in South Carolina in the Southern Super Series – CARS Tour Border War 150 on Saturday night and now looks to close out the week $41,000 richer if he can complete the sweep.
“It’s been a tough weekend, but I got excited when this whole thing came about,” Pollard told Short Track Scene after his ‘pole’ run. “I’ve been looking forward to this. We had a month off before this to prepare and it’s been good.
“We’ve been carrying some momentum into today, but there’s some tough competition so we’ll see how it shakes out.”
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Even though Busch is on the technical pole and has won twice here, Pollard expects both of the national stars to have to deal with regulars like Terry Senneker, Johnny VanDoorn, Brian Campbell and Carson Hocevar.
Because Berlin is covered in dirt for the autumn and winter, the track changes from year-to-year, meaning weekly experience this season is something the 2014 Southern Super Series champion will not discount on Monday night.
“This place is so friendly to regulars the way it races,” Pollard said. “The locals do well because it’s a tricky place, the ins and out, and the things that change.
“So, it makes it tough on us for sure.”
Meanwhile, Busch says his goal is to stay up front.
“We brought a brand new Rowdy Manufacturing car to the track and it seems fast,” Busch said. “It helps to have good stuff. But Bubba is fast too. I’ve never seen that paint scheme before so that must be a new car too. We’re both bringing out the new sheet metal it seems. It’s going to be fun, but the goal is to stay up front.”
The race can be watched live on Speed51.com’s PPV service for $19.99.
The starting lineup for the Money in the Bank 150 can be found below.
- Kyle Busch
- Terry Senneker
- Harrison Burton
- John VanDoorn
- Brian Campbell
- Bubba Pollard
- Lee VanDyk
- Tim DeVos
- Michael Simko
- Carson Hocevar
- Preston Peltier
- Jeff Choquette
- Nate Walton
- Chris Koslek
- Dave Lake
- Casey Roderick
- Boris Jurkovic
- Stewart Friesen
- Stephen Nasse
- Jordan Dahlke
- Hunter Jack
- Kyle Jones
- Evan Shotko
- Matt Crafton
- Lauren Bush
- Ben Welsh
- Steve Dorer
- Tristan VanWieringen
- Nick Murgic
- Aaron Hulings
- Logan Bearden
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