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| Entry Forms Available for 40th Annual Snowball Derby | by Matt Kentfield
CONCORD, N.C. -- It may only be June, but already the buzz surrounding the 40th Annual Snowball Derby, held at Pensacola, Florida’s Five Flags Speedway the weekend of November 29th through December 2nd, is already swelling throughout the short track racing world. The Snowball Derby has traditionally been the most anticipated short track event in the entire country, with the best racers, cars and teams battling for 300 laps at the South’s toughest racetrack.
With entry forms now available for the 40th Annual Snowball Derby, the Snowflake 100 Pro Late Model race, as well as the local division features, the buzz for this year’s Snowball Derby weekend will only increase as the event creeps closer and closer.
“That weekend, the eyes of the short track world will be on Pensacola,” said Tim Bryant, General Manager and co-owner of Five Flags Speedway. “The Snowball Derby weekend is big in itself, and I think that will be even more enhanced this year because I’ve talked to a lot of manufacturers and they’re going to be stopping into the Snowball before going to PRI (Performance Racing Industry Trade Show in Orlando, FL) this year. That had always been a bit of a conflict, but this year we’re the weekend before PRI. This year a lot of people will be coming to the Snowball before heading to Orlando to set up.
“For the racers, though, especially the young guys, the Snowball Derby is an experience. It’s not like any Super Late Model race because of its history and tradition. For the veteran guys, what does a victory in the Snowball Derby do for you? Well, I think it’s probably been a boost for (2006 Derby winner) Clay Rogers this year. For everyone, though, I think it’s special just knowing that you’re running against the best of the best and that gives everyone good experience in a great race.”
The all-time winner’s list of the Snowball Derby reads like a “who’s who” of asphalt racing. Names like Donnie Allison, Darrell Waltrip, Butch Miller, Ted Musgrave, Bobby Gill, Rich Bickle and Steven Wallace all have their name in the record book as Snowball Derby champions.
Each year, NASCAR stars, short-track legends and racers young and old hoping to score the biggest win of their career try to get their name etched onto the Snowball Derby trophy. This year, the entries are flying in already from some of the biggest names in Motorsports.
“I have to believe that is one of the reasons that the (Five Flags Speedway) Blizzard Series is so popular,” added Bryant. “Guys are already thinking Snowball, and they know that the top two in Blizzard points get starting spots into the Derby.
“A lot of our pit parking stalls are going fast. Our front pit road stalls are all taken, and we’re already working our way around the quarter-mile. We assign pit stalls with an entry. We don’t sell pit stalls, but we obligate them with an entry. That gets guys on their toes when it comes to entering early.”
Entries for the 40th Annual Snowball Derby, as well as the 100-lap Pro Late Model Snowflake 100, plus the Super Stock, Modified, Bomber and Sportsman features, are available at the official Snowball Derby website, www.snowballderby.com.
The next Blizzard Series event for the Super Late Models is Friday, July 20th. The next race on the schedule at Five Flags Speedway is Friday, June 22nd, with Pro Late Models, Super Stocks, Sportsmen, Bombers and Bike Races on tap.
For more information on the 40th Annual Snowball Derby event, contact Matt Kentfield at (704) 788-2134 x 5 and visit www.snowballderby.com.
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