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Category Archives: Snowball Derby

Snowball Derby Sights & Sounds – Thursday [Video]

December 03, 2010   Daniel VIning   Comments

Courtesy 51 Sports Video

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Snowball Derby Practice; Times from Day 1

December 02, 2010   Daniel VIning   Comments

Jr. Niedecken zooming around the Pensacola half-mile oval. (TheSpeedzine.com Photo)

After over six hours of practice time, 80 plus drivers tuned their machines in preparation for the 43rd Annual Snowball Derby.

Final Practice Times for Thursday:

1) 51 T.J. Reaid 16.596
2) 82 Grant Enfinger 16.681
3) 10 Ryan Blaney 16.701
4) 10L Johanna Long 16.713
5) 74 Ryan Lawler 16.746
6) 42 Dennis Prunty 16.754
7) 5 David Ragan 16.757
8) 83 Cale Gale 16.776
9) 82W Donnie Wilson 16.777
10) 4 Derrick Griffin 16.812
11) 99S Casey Smith 16.831
12) 11 David Rogers 16.859
13) 35 David Stremme 16.862
14) 08 Bubba Pollard 16.889
15) 71 Kyle  (PLM) 18.896
16) 61 Johnny VanDoorn 16.901
17) 67 Jeff Fultz 16.920
18) 29 Andy Loden 16.927
19) 43 Dennis Schoenfeld 16.939
20) 21 Brandon Carlson 16.947
21) 5 Jerry Artuso 16.949
22) 02 Matt Smith 16.976
23) 99 Wayne Niedecken, Jr. 16.985
24) 97 Jimmy Garmon 16.993
25) 8 Andy Ponstein 16.998
26) 31 Tyler Millwood 17.001
27) 10C Ryan Crane 17.015
28) 1 Stephan McCurley 17.021
29) 112 Augie Grill 17.022
30) 36 Dan Fredrickson 17.028
31) 27 Jason Young (PLM) 17.034
32) 16 Korey Ruble 17.036
33) 41 Chris Davidson 17.043
34) 11 Logan Boyett (PLM) 17.062
35) 72 Eddie Mercer 17.100
36) 9 Chase Elliott 17.119
37) 26 Joey Herques (PLM) 17.125
38) 25 Ross Kenseth 17.136
39) 91 Heath Hindman 17.159
40) 47 Dakota Stroup (PLM) 17.163
41) 7 Landon Cassill 17.175
42) 14 Jake Kruger (PLM) 17.184
43) 14 Tyler Roahrig 17.185
44) 29 Allen Karnes 17.247
45) 39 Ryan Sieg 17.249
46) 18 Bubba Pollard (PLM) 17.252
47) 1 Mike Garvey 17.263
48) 3 Dillon Oliver (PLM) 17.267
49) 2 John Bolen 17.279
50) 28 Thomas Praytor (PLM) 17.279
51) 36 Keith Thorpe (PLM) 17.294
52) 41 Chris Davidson (PLM) 17.297
53) 17 Chuck Tuck (PLM) 17.297
54) 66 Daniel Hemric (PLM) 17.300
55) 39 Kenzie Ruston (PLM) 17.307
56) 07 Blake Ferguson (PLM) 17.315
57) 98 Mason Mingus 17.348
58) 2 John Bolen (PLM) 17.354
59) 40 Tyler Miles (PLM) 17.356
60) 11 Austin Kirkpatrick (PLM) 17.356
61) 2 Clay Rogers 17.363
62) 4 Erik Jones (PLM) 17.389
63) 64 David Jones (PLM) 17.398
64) 45 Dwayne Buggay (PLM) 17.401
65) 72 Scott Hantz 17.452
66) 49 Josh Hamner 17.461
67) 30 Bobby Knox, Jr. (PLM) 17.473
68) 18 Dave Mader III 17.489
69) 02 Scott Patton (PLM) 17.490
70) 42 Tony Clark (PLM) 17.511
71) 75 David Odell (PLM) 17.513
72) 47 Casey Roderick (PLM) 17.522
73) 03 Donny Kelly (PLM) 17.652
74) 15 Cody Smith (PLM) 17.564
75) 6 Brandon Bendele (PLM) 17.595
76) 43 Justin South (PLM) 17.603
77) 4 Chase Knox (PLM) 17.646
78) 81 Dillion Spreen (PLM) 17.665
79) 14 Davey Coble (PLM) 17.735
80) 4 Elliott Massey (PLM) 17.794
81) 45 Giancarlo Serenellli (PLM) 17.945
82) 53 Charles Evans, Jr. (PLM) 18.272
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Super Post: A Glimpse Inside the Snowball Derby Entry List

November 29, 2010   Daniel VIning   Comments

by: Daniel Vining, dan@thespeedzine.com

As the 43rd running of the most prestigious short track race in the country draws near, TheSpeedzine.com takes a look into the field that compete to qualify for the Annual Snowball Derby.  Held at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL, this 300 lap Super Late Model event draws drivers and teams from across the country; all in an effort to experience greatness for one last time in the racing season.  This is a non-sanctioned event, held under the purview of the Five Flags Speedway officiating team.

Landon Cassill

From Landon's Facebook Page

The Cedar Rapids, IA native, and 2008 Nascar Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year spent most of 2010 racing for teams with low funds in the Nascar Sprint Cup Series, starting 16 events.  Going into The Derby, Cassill has the backing of two of short track racing’s pinnacle names: Gary St. Amant and Jeg’s.  Cassill will run both The Snowflake 100 and the Snowball Derby.

“JEGS is such a household name and a respected brand in motorsports,” Cassill said. “I know there will be plenty of eyes on our bright yellow and black cars in Pensacola.

The high banks of Five Flags are not new to this young racer.

“I have been there a couple times,” he said. “The last time I was there I qualified on the pole for the ‘Flake and finished second. I really enjoy Five Flags Speedway and have always been fast there. I think we will have lots of fun.

“There is a lot of attention on the snowball derby in general. No matter who you are, a win there is big for anyone’s career.”

Johanna Long

from AllLeftTurns.com

Johanna Long’s 2010 season has featured her debut in the Nascar Camping World Truck Series.  She debuted with Billy Ballew Motorsports and in her first four starts, she garnered two top 20 finishes.  Under the leadership of championship caliber crew chief Kevin “Cowboy” Starland and her father, legendary short track racer Donald Long, Johanna returns to her home track where she hopes to continue forward from her pole winning performance in the 2009 Snowball Derby.

“I love it. I live only a mile from here, and it’s my home track,” said Long, 18, a Pensacola resident, during a practice session at Five Flags Speedway in preparation for Snowball Derby weekend Dec. 4-5. “It’s definitely a hard track (to drive), but I like it.” [from pnj.com]

Long will race in both the Snowflake 100 and Snowball Derby.

Tyler Miles

This Eagle Scout from Pulaski, TN honed is skills at the Nashville Fairgrounds and comes to Pensacola to race in the Snowflake 100 and Snowball Derby.  A freshman at Martin Methodist College, Miles began racing in WKA karts, finishing 2nd in two national championships.  Tyler has been racing on the ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour, finishing 9th in their season points standings.

Korey Ruble

This hard-nosed driver from Alabama comes into Pensacola ready to win.  On his Facebook page, Korey stated, “[The]Best 4 days of the year are just about here.”  Ruble, who many have been accostumed to seeing in a white and red number 73, will instead be in blue and black 16 for The Derby and will also race in the Snowflake 100 and Modified feature, pulling triple duty for The Derby weekend.

Chase Elliott

Chase Elliott, the 2010 Blizard Series Champion, is one of the favorites coming into The Derby.  With wins at some high profile races, including a victory at North Wilkesboro Speedway, Elliott is bringing the support and preparation of Bill Elliott Racing and is looking to become the youngest Snowball Derby winner at 15.  Read on to learn more about Chase’s remarkable season in a recent Speedzine post.

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Derby Days: Snowball Preview Event to Be Held at Beef O’Brady’s

November 29, 2010   Daniel VIning   Comments

by: Daniel Vining, dan@thespeedzine.com

video from: Matt Dillner, SpeedEats.com

from: hunterrobbins.com

Derby Week for the 43rd Annual Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL officially kicks off on Wednesday, December 1, 2010 with the WEAR TV 3 Green Flag Party, being held at Five Flags.  Unofficially, Derby Week starts Tuesday evening at Tracy Goodson’s Beef O’Brady’s on Mobile Hwy with the Speed 51 Radio Snowball Derby Preview.  Join Speed 51, Race Talk Radio, and  Matt Dillner’s SpeedEats.com as they discuss the week ahead.  The event starts at 5 pm, cst and is set to last until around 7 pm.  This is a great chance to meet with many of the Snowflake, and Snowball Derby drivers and teams for some great food and fun before and after the show.

Of course, TheSpeedzine.com will be there covering all the festivities and will publish a post event recap following the event.

In the first weekend of the “off” season for the Nascar Nation, Matt Dillner travels to Las Vegas for the Nascar Banquet and stops off at a local eatery for some tasty fiddles.

SpeedEats.com hits Las Vegas! Matthew Dillner and Racing Electronic’s Kevin Hughes and John Levecque chow-down at Hash House A Go Go.

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Snowball Preview Review

November 24, 2010   Daniel VIning   Comments

 
By: Daniel Vining

TheSpeedzine.com Photo

Teams from across the country will converge on Five Flags Speedway in the first week of December to participate in what is affectionately referred to simply as “The Derby”. The 43rd Annual Snowball Derby is more than a 300 lap Super Late Model race. Derby weekend is a series of races that drivers across the country pine to win. Sure, the Super Late Model race is the crown jewel event, but the preliminary races have grown to become pinnacles in their own right.

The Allen Turner Snowflake 100, The Derby’s Pro Late Model event, is a 100 lap race stacked with some of the best talent in the country. Young guns like Hunter Robbins, Landon Cassill, and DJ Vanderley will battle legends such as Mike Garvey and Eddie Mercer.

The Derby provides a national stage for local drivers to show their metal to teams from around the country. The Modifieds, Super Stock, Sportsman and Bomber divisions are all featured, and the best of the rest put on the shows of their lives with the hopes of winning a Snowball Derby trophy, in front of some of the nation’s best.

Bubba Pollard, working on one of the Pollard Racing cars. TheSpeedzine.com Photo

 

Before those teams can get their chance at greatness, they must first practice. That was the focus of the Snowball Derby Preview, held at Five Flags on November 20, 2010. A handful of Super Late Model teams participated in the Saturday test sessions, including Ryan Blaney and Thomas Praytor, and DJ Vanderley. Most of the late models on track were in the Pro Late Model, also called Snowflake, division. Some teams enlisted the help of Snowball drivers to aid them with their setups. Bubba Pollard and Augie Grill both ran laps in other driver’s cars to help dial in the feel of those racers. I talked with DJ Vanderley early in the day. He told me that overall, his car felt good however they were fighting a tight condition all day. Vanderley, from Mobile, ran mock qualifying runs late in the day along with Ryan Blaney, Augie Grill, Kyle Benjamin, Mason Mitchell and others.

While most of the focus was on the Pro Late Models, the lower divisions also got a ton of practice. Every class received crucial on track time which they used to tune there racers in preparation for The Derby.

There were very few incidents on track, however Korey Ruble’s number 16 Pro Late Model found the back stretch wall late in the day. The contact with the wall ended his day, although the damage was limited to some bent suspension parts and cosmetic scrapes.

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