PENSACOLA, FL :: Defending Southern Super Series champion Bubba Pollard is preparing to retire should he manage to win the Snowball Derby on Sunday afternoon … retire as a car owner, that is.

Due to the expense and stress associated with operating a Super Late Model program in 2014, Pollard told Race22.com that he is willing to step aside as a car owner if he is able to accomplish his ultimate goal in winning the Tom Dawson Memorial Trophy this weekend.

“Racing has changed a lot even since I’ve been in the sport,” Pollard said. “It’s frustrating. I said this weekend — and you’re going to think this is funny — if I win the Snowball Derby, I’m retiring as a car owner. I would be willing to drive for someone else but I’m not going to own my own car if I win the Derby.

“If someone wants me to drive their car, I’ll drive it but come Sunday, if I can win the Snowball Derby, I’m retiring.”

Pollard parted ways with former team owner Ronnie Sanders following the 2011 season and has been the sole proprietor of his No. 26 Super Late Model ever since. The 27-year-old won five SLM races and a championship before getting married in November.

He explained that the commitment required to maintain that sort of success takes a toll on the personal lives of both himself and his blue collar team, exacerbating his decision to potentially retire from ownership someday.

“It’s just frustration,” Pollard said. “You work on Thanksgiving to make a race like this. We busted our tails to come to this deal. It’s frustrating how racing is in general. You get frustrated from some of the things you have to put up with so I would seriously retire as a driver-owner come Sunday if I win.”

Based on his recent success at Five Flags Speedway, Pollard may have to live up to those promises.

The defending track champion built a brand new chassis for the Snowball Derby but ultimately chose to bring the older car that won two races at the half-mile with an average finish of 2.25 in four races this season. Pollard says a gut decision prompted him to bring that car instead.

“We have a little bit of a different strategy this year,” Pollard said. “You always want to bring your best piece here and oftentimes we feel like that’s a new car. We’ve actually brought the car that we won all the Southern Super Series races with and we’re going to stick with that piece and just freshen her up.

“I think this is the safer bet because we already know how good she gets around this place and I feel like she’s going to be nice to us this weekend.”

Pollard is feeling confident after running second for a majority of the Snowball Derby last season. He did not finish that race after breaking an axle on pit road but knows he has the speed to compete with Chase Elliott, Erik Jones and the rest of the usual contenders. Pollard knows he could have won the race last season once Elliott was disqualified for tungsten but wouldn’t have wanted to win that way anyways.

He wants to win the Snowball Derby by being the best driver with the best equipment by the end of the race.

“And all you can do is prepare and put yourself in position,” Pollard said. “You want to win it by having the best race car at the end of the day so you can outrun these guys. This is the best race in the country and you want to outrun the best teams in the country.”

He just might retire if he succeeds … as a car owner.