PENSACOLA, Fla. - Twenty-nine years after his father Steve won a race at Five Flags Speedway in the old All-Pro Series, Kyle Grissom pulled into victory lane for his first career win at the famed Pensacola, Fla. half-mile oval Saturday night for the Southern Super Series Gulf Coast swing opener.
Grissom would start from the pole after the top eight from qualifying redrew for their starting spots. From the drop of the green flag he drove out to the lead. The only real challenge came on a lap 60 restart that put fast-qualifier and defending series champion Bubba Pollard to his outside for the ensuing run to the green.
Pollard would start back in fifth and work his way up to second by lap 32. Although he managed to reel in Grissom, Pollard could never get a run alongside or mount a serious challenge for the top spot.
A four lap side-by-side battle for the lead followed the restart when Pollard finally cleared Grissom at the line. It looked like deja-vu with Pollard out front and opening up a sizeable advantage.
“I wasn’t surprised (Bubba) got by me, but they told me once we got going under green that my lap times were a little bit quicker than his so that gave me hope.” Grissom said about watching Pollard open up a lead on him.
But just as a restart gave Pollard his chance, just 20 laps later Grissom would get his redemption on a restart.
After choosing the inside lane for every restart as the leader, Grissom was forced to the outside when it was Pollard’s chance to choose. It worked out, however, as Grissom was able to over-take Pollard on lap 81.
Two more late-race cautions, including one with three laps to go, gave Grissom the choice. He chose the outside lane both times over Dominique Van Wieringen and was able to hold on for the win.
“The reason I chose the outside was that Bubba made me go out there and I was able to beat him,” said Grissom. “From there I just stuck on the outside because I felt like that is what was working.”
Van Wieringen lurked inside the top five and top three all race long and, after mechanical problems sidelined Pollard late in the race, found herself in a position to fight for the win.
Van Wieringen challenged Grissom, almost moving alongside on the outside exiting turn two after a restart. But her car got sideways, knocking her back a few car lengths.
“I screwed up off of two. If I didn’t do that I think it would have been a tough fight for the win,” said the NEMCO development driver. “I’m very excited. This is where the (Snowball) Derby is at the end of the year so this is just more practice for that.”
Current Southern Super Series points leader Casey Smith rounded out the podium after struggling during the mid-point of the race.
For race winner Grissom, the first leg of this opening Gulf Coast swing for the Southern Super Series provides a much needed boost heading into Saturday night’s race just over the bay in Mobile, Alabama.
“This is huge. With all the struggles we’ve had here. Last year I didn’t think we would ever get to this point,” said the race winner. “We worked our butts off all winter. It’s feels awesome to finally be able to pull it off.”
For more information on the Southern Super Series, visit SouthernSuperSeries.com.
Southern Super Series
5 Flags Speedway – Pensacola, FL
Race Results – April 24, 2015
1. 31 Kyle Grissom
2. 5DW Dominique Van Wieringen
3. 99 Casey Smith
4. 5S Dalton Sargeant
5. 2W Donnie Wilson
6. 1 Mike Garvey
7. 88 Garrett Jones
8. 7 Casey Roderick
9. 88R Roger Reuse
10. 47 Allen Karnes
11. 79 Kyle Bryant
12. 5W Spencer Wauters
13. 22P Jeremy Pate
14. 11 David Rogers
15. 9 Cale Gale
16. 27 Bobby Good
17. 22B Josh Bragg
18. 12 Friday Hassler, Jr.
19. 83 Scotty Ellis
20. 26 Bubba Pollard
21. 98 Daniel Hemric
22. 5 Jerry Artuso
23. 21 Brandon Carlson
24. 30 Ken McFarland
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