America’s Favorite Home Track is set for it’s season opener this Friday Night, and we would like to invite you to be a part of it. For the first time in many years, 5 Flags Speedway will drop the inaugural Green Flag for the new season on the Buddy’s Home Furnishings Blizzard Series for Super Late Models, with the running of the Pepsi Max 100. Many of the finest drivers in the region, representing at least 9 states will be on hand. In addition to Friday’s 100 Green Flag Lap extravaganza, the Super Stock, the West Florida Coatings Sportsman, and the Butler’s U Pull It Bomber Divisions will also begin new seasons.
A rematch of the most recent Snowball Derby may very well be in the making Friday Night, as 1st and 2nd place finishers Johanna Long and Donnie Wilson will lead a super strong field of competitors, including recent Rattler 250 Winner Grant Enfinger, 2 time Derby Champ Augie Grill, Georgia hotshoe Bubba Pollard, and last year’s 5 Flags Pro Late Model Champion D.J. VanderLey, making his 5 Flags Super Late Model debut behind the wheel of Eddie Craig’s potent #4. Additionally, Friday Night will mark the return of Pensacola Driver Jeremy Pate, returning after a after a lengthy absence. Last year’s Champ Chase Elliott will be making his NASCAR K & N Series debut this weekend, but plans on returning to the Gulf Coast for Blizzard Series Race # 2 on May 27th.
Randy Thompson will return this week to begin defense of his Super Stock Championship, with Mike Moore, John Schuffler, Bubba Winslow, Shannon Jackson and a host of others out to dethrone the King of Super Stocks.
Thompson himself, and the strongest field ever predicted, of Sportsman Drivers will be on hand to try to stop the long winning streak of Steve Buttrick, last year’s Champion. Buttrick will only be running in the Sportsman Division part time this year, with a part of his schedule being devoted to his new Modified ride. Last year’s Bomber Division Champion Mike Goream will wheel the # 33 on Buttrick’s night off. And speaking of Bomber’s, there is definitely going to be a changing of the guard, with Goream out of the picture.
Inverted starting lineups, double file restarts and a faster running program are just a few of the things awaiting Fans at 5 Flags this year. Additionally on Friday Night, there will be an autograph session for the Super Late Model Drivers prior to the Night’s races. Plan to come early, where at the conclusion of Time Trials, the Fans will be allowed down on the front straightaway to meet and greet their favorite driver. The Steel Drum Band will be providing live music during this part of the activities.
We hope you will like the changes in store for 2011. We think you will. It is our intention to entertain you this year better than ever. Come on out and bring your friends and neighbors. We’re gonna have a blast.