DRAG RACING
NHRA PRO STOCK SERIES
MARCH 16, 2014
ROUND 1/GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA
P94
2013, Pollacheck entered the new year with a lot of uncer-
tainty after the Matt Smith Racing team lost their primary
sponsor. Pollacheck managed to put the off-track distrac-
tions aside and rode a solid race in Gainesville. Starting
from the number-eight spot, he caught a break in round
one when Lucas Oil Buell's Hector Arana Sr. broke and
then did a masterful job of defeating former teammate Star
Racing Buell's Michael Ray in round two. Ray, the low
qualifier, slowed from his earlier 6.79-second pace to a
6.916 and Pollacheck was there to take advantage of it
with a 6.911 for a narrow win.
Pollacheck improved his performance dramatically in
the semi finals, but it was his riding that won the round
as he defeated current MSR Buell teammate John Hall
on a holeshot, 6.86 to 6.84. With a nearly perfect reac-
tion time, Pollacheck appeared to be on his way to his first
career-win but he faded when his bike wouldn't shift into
third gear.
"I was going to run about a 6.86 and that would have
