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 |
 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 |
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.
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.
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.
