Davidson Eyeing Breakthrough SSS Victory at Mobile
PENSACOLA, Fla. — Many will think the 2016 Southern Super Series presented by Sunoco championship battle is over, but don’t tell that to Pearland, Texas driver Chris Davidson. Through a run of consistent finishes the 38-year-old driver has moved up to second in the season-long standings as the Southern Super Series heads to Mobile International Speedway for the Lee Fields Memorial 150 on Saturday night.
“It’s no secret that 2016 has been a struggle for us,” said Davidson. “We have been making minor gains and perhaps we can put it all together at Mobile. We love it at Mobile. The track is tough on tires and that will play into our hands the longer we go on a set of tire.”
Davidson is a multi-time champion out of Texas and a winner in the Southeast region. He even has a win at Mobile in the past. Davidson will be looking to keep the series championship trophy in Texas as fellow longhorn driver Casey Smith won the title a year ago. In the three year history of the series, the championship has never gone to the same state twice. Davidson hopes to end that run.
Veteran Mike Garvey, a three-time runner up in the Lee Fields Memorial, will be working with Davidson again at Mobile. Working together, the two hope to produce a winning mount.
The growing trend throughout the history of the Southern Super Series season has been first-time winners. There have been two first-time winners this season, which is slightly below the average. That means that a driver like Davidson might be due to carry a checkered flag on Saturday night.
“We just want to run consistent and that way we can be up front,” added Davidson. “We have to travel 500 miles to race at Mobile and that’s a close one for us. We don’t mind the drive, but it sure would be nice to go back to Texas with a trophy.”
The championship is not the only point battle to keep an eye on at Mobile. Drivers who finish in the top 10 will have a chance to qualify for the guaranteed starting spot at the 49th Annual Snowball Derby. The series champion is guaranteed a starting spot for the Derby, but if he makes the race on time then it can fall back to the next driver in points all the way back through the top 10.
“That’s one thing we look at with the points is to have the fallback for the Derby,” explained Davidson. “We want to be in the show on time, but a provisional would be nice.”
Drivers will be racing for the wrestling belt at Mobile as a tribute to Lee Fields who used to promote wrestling as well as auto racing as the late owner of the Mobile track. Fields passed away in 2000.
The Lee Fields Memorial 150 will be the final stop for the Southern Super Series presented by Sunoco at Mobile for the 2016 season. The 150-lap race will be a six-tire event with $6,000 going to the winner.
Qualifying begins at 4 p.m. CT on Saturday with Southern Super Series qualifying slated to start at 5:30 p.m. Pre-race festivities are scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.
For more information on the Lee Fields Memorial, visit www.mobilespeedway.net. For more information on the Southern Super Series presented by Sunoco, visit www.southernsuperseries.com.
Sources: 51 Sports/