Countdown to the Snowball Derby

[Snowball]

www.pensacolanewsjournal.com

Published - November, 21, 2007

Snowball Derby Countdown 11 days
From staff reports

With the Snowball Derby celebrating its 40th anniversary on Dec. 2, here is a daily look at the event's history.

The 10th annual Snowball Derby was won by Ronnie Sanders, but he didn't know it until around midnight.

Former NASCAR champion Darrell Waltrip took the checkered flag and celebrated in Victory Lane what he thought was his second consecutive Snowball Derby title, while track officials sorted out protests. Finally, officials declared that Waltrip was two laps down and Sanders was declared the winner.

Waltrip still has the original trophy, but Sanders is credited with the victory.

[Snowball]

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Snowball Derby Countdown 10 days
From staff reports

With the Snowball Derby celebrating its 40th anniversary on Dec. 2, here is a daily look at the event's history and current updates leading into race.

Ronnie Sanders is back for Snowball Derby week. The 1977 Snowball Derby champion on Wednesday turned in his entry for the Allen Turner Snowflake 100 Pro Late Model race that will run Dec. 1.

Sanders is an example of the growing popularity of the Pro Late Model cars. They are the same as the Super Late Model, with just a less expensive engine.

In fact, for the first time, the Snowflake entries may surpass the Snowball Derby entries.

Sanders will celebrate his 62nd birthday during Snowball Derby week.

[Frasson118]

Ronnie is a hell of a racer, and has had a very successful career. I had no idea he was over 60 by now.

Are Mader and Niedecken coming back also?

[Snowball]

Yes, they are both entered in the Derby. Mader sat on the pole a few years back, and Niedecken had one of the best cars, running in 4th last year before a wreck took him out.

[Snowball]

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Countdown to the Derby 9 days

While the Modifieds do not race on a regular basis at Five Flags Speedway, another strong field is expected to show up for the 75 lap Snowball Derby feature. Last year 56 modifieds showed up, and another large field is expected this year. Drivers from as far away as Ohio and Texas have entered the event.The race will be held Dec.1 after the Allen Turner Snowflake 100. Qualifying will start at 2pm on Dec 1. Among the drivers expected to compete include the 2007 Super Stock champion Chris Cotto ,who will be doing double-duty, and former Snowball Derby driver and NASCAR South East series champion J.R Norris.

[FromBehindTheMIC]

Steve, what number do I call to ensure that I'm covered on the media listing for the Wed-Sun Media Passes?

Bill Green
(941) 920-3370

[rjb2]

frasson 118

hey frasson 118 are you going up for the derby and when will you be there

I'll be there I'll be getting there thrusday

let's hook-up at the track

[Snowball]

Bill,

Call the track at 850-944-8400. Talk to Pat Niedecken.

[Snowball]

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Snowball Derby Countdown 8 days


From staff reports

A future name in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series could make a name for himself at the 40th annual Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway on Dec. 2.

Joey Logano, 17, is a Joe Gibbs development driver, who won the Busch East Series points title this season. He will be driving the car of long-time Snowball Derby competitor Stanley Smith.

However, because of his Busch East title, he will be in New York during the week for festivities, which means Smith will have to qualify the car on Friday night.

That will give Logano just the Saturday practices to prepare for the race.

[Snowball]

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Countdown to the Derby 7 days

Five Flags has Limits as drivers get younger

Johanna Long,14, raced in the Pro latemodel division this seasonat Five Flags Speedway, while Hunter Robbins won the Snowflake 100 at the age of 14 a couple years ago.
Logan Ruffin, a 13 year old Pro Latemodel driver from kentucky, sent in his entry for the Allen Turner Snowflake 100 on Dec.1. He does have racing experience, having raced in an ASA event in Nashville, TN, as well as a Pro All Star race at Concord, N.C. Although he was cleared by the tracks insurance company, track officials declined his entry, saying that they felt he was too young to race in an event that draws the type of field that the Snowflake 100 draws.

[Snowball]

Snowball Derby Countdown
From staff reports

Benny Gordon, a former Hooters Pro Cup champion, will drive Tracy Goodson's car on the 40th annual Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway on Dec. 2.

Gordon of DuBois, Pa., who turns 37 on Thursday, is the 2005 Hooters Pro Cup champion. He has 24 career wins in the Pro Cup Series and finished in the top 10 in points this season.

Bobby Gill, 49, won his fourth Hooters Pro Cup national championship this season by nearly 100 points. Gill, a two-time Snowball Derby champion, finished second in last year's race, but was disqualified along with winner Johnny Brazier when both cars failed to pass post-race tech inspection.

[Snowball]

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Snowball Derby Countdown 5 days
From staff reports

Five Flags Speedway will give the fans more racing on Thursday, the opening night of racing during Snowball Derby week.

Instead of deciding the starting lineup for the Bomber and Sportsman features by qualifying times, the lineups will be determined by qualifying heats.

Depending on the number of cars entered, it will determine how many eight-lap qualifying heats will be run.

The top 20 cars from the qualifying heats will make the feature, while a B Main — if needed — will determine the final four starting positions.

"We felt this was a way to give the fans more racing action on Thursday night," said Tim Bryant, Five Flags Speedway promoter. "By using this format, we'll have numerous more races with the 30-lap Bomber feature to run that night. Then we'll have the 50-lap Sportsman feature on Friday night, as well as the Super Stock feature, which will be set by qualifying times."