Rain Makes for Murky Snowball Derby Schedule

Tim Bryant addresses teams on Saturday morning. (PixelatedSPEED Photo)

After persistent storms pounded the Gulf Coast on Saturday, Five Flags Speedway has had to make some changes to the Snowball Derby schedule, including the first ever postponement of the Snowflake 100.

With the Saturday slate of racing washed out, the focus shifted to preparing the track for Sunday’s 51st Annual Snowball Derby.

To get there, speedway officials worked late into Saturday night, pumping water out of the areas affected by torrential downpours that flooded the racetrack, submerging turn three’s infield area up to the edge of the apron on the speedway.

From the Five Flags Speedway Facebook Page:

“Sunday's schedule will remain unchanged with the exception of tire selection at 7:30 am and the last chance qualifier which will start at noon and be 30 laps. Snowball Derby pre-race festivities to start immediately following the last chance qualifier followed by the 51st Annual Snowball Derby at 2pm.”

Should rain continue to be a factor, the Snowball Derby could be ran on the following day.


“If we have weather tomorrow, we’ll run the Snowball Derby on Monday, if possible,” said Tim Bryant, Snowball Derby Promoter.

The Modifieds of Mayhem and Pro Trucks will join the Snowflake 100 Pro Late Models on Saturday, December 8th for a one day show that will also include abbreviated practice sessions, qualifying, and last chance races if needed.

The postponement of the Snowflake 100 is the first of its 20 year history.

“We hate this for anyone who has traveled a long way for these races, but when you combine the bad forecast with the fact that most of them can’t race on Monday anyway, that was the reason for our decision,” said Bryant.

The Modifieds were initially scheduled to battle on Friday evening for 75 laps. Rain pushed that race to Saturday, and then again after Saturday’s storms. Because of this, that feature has now been shortened to 50 laps. Starting positions from the qualifying session held on Friday will remain, and teams will get a short hot laps session before going racing.

The Pro Truck teams never made it onto the property on Saturday after all the flooding around the speedway. Tim Bryant has told truck teams that they are welcome to leave their rigs parked at the nearby Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds this week and that there will be security provided.

Tickets will still be honored on December 8th, as well as the pay per view coverage by Speed51.com.