Garvey Puts on Show but Comes up Short at Mobile Int'l Speedway

Muskegon's Mike Garvey was the center of attention for race fans at Mobile International Speedway in Alabama as he saw his ups and downs in the 100 lap event for Super Late Models on the Blizzard Series.

Garvey held the pole position in Time Trials right up until the last driver. Bubbba Pollard took the pole on the last lap of qualifying.

The draw for positions for the top eight spots placed Pollard on the pole and Garvey to his outside. At the start Pollard would jump to the lead, but on lap five Garvey made his way to the point.

For the next 45 laps Garvey held the top spot followed by Pollard. On Lap 51 a caution flag would fly for what was initially reported as a piece of lead on the track. Upon further review it was found to be a rag that was thrown out of the car of Jessie Reid, a driver for Kyle Busch Motor Sports. Reid was summoned to pit road immediately.

This was the first caution restart of the race and it turned out to be costly for Garvey. When the green flag flew Garvey found himself without 1st gear. Garvey,s misfortune took its toll on the drivers behind him causing a pile up that took out last nights winner Chase Elliot. Elliot's leaking radiator put the race under Red Flag.

Garvey relinquished his top spot as the headed to the pits to see if any thing could be done to aide the Buddy's Home Furnishings/Beef 'O' Brady's No 1.

Garvey headed back out on the track as the last car on the lead lap. He would restart 11th. For the next 49 laps Garvey's only hope would be that the race go caution free and he would have a strong enough car to make his way back to the point.

As the race wound down Garvey put on a show for the fans as he charged his way by some of the best drivers in the Blizzard Series including 2010 Snowball Derby Winner Johanna Long. While Garvey's efforts did not go unnoticed Bubba Pollard was on a Sunday cruise never being challenged for the rest of the event. Garvey's last pass of the night was for second with one lap to go. Ironically he finished exactly where he started. The official result will not show just how strong his run was for the night. For Bubba Pollard it would be his eleventh win this summer. Pollard continues to be the top Late Model Driver in the south for 2011.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Miller Lite 100
Miller Lite Series
Mobile (AL) International Speedway
Saturday, August 13, 2011

1. 18 - Bubba Pollard (Senoia, GA) 100 laps
2. 1 - Mike Garvey (Muskegon, MI) 100 laps
3. 54 - Jeff Fultz (Cincinnati, OH) 100 laps
4. 82 - Grant Enfinger (Fairhope, AL) 100 laps
5. 10 - Johanna Long (Pensacola, FL) 100 laps
6. 39 - Kenzie Ruston (El Reno, OK) 100 laps
7. 99 - Dale Little (Satsuma, AL) 100 laps
8. 42 - Steven Davis (Satsuma, AL) 100 laps
9. 4 - DJ VanderLey (Theodore, AL) 99 laps
10. 22 - Josh Bragg (Helena, MS) 99 laps
11. 112 - Augie Grill (Hayden, AL) 99 laps
12. 29 - Allen Karnes (Sharpsburg, GA) 98 laps
13. 12 - Thomas Praytor (Mobile, AL) 97 laps
14. R18 - Jessie Reid (Eight Mile, AL) 94 laps
15. 9 - Chase Elliott (Dawsonville, GA) 51 laps
16. 82 - Donnie Wilson (Oklahoma City, OK) 33 laps