51st Annual Snowball Derby Entry List

PixelatedSPEED Photo

The 51st Annual Snowball Derby is here, complete with a star-studded field of many of the nation’s top Super Late Model Drivers.

Short track racing standouts Bubba Pollard, Donnie Wilson, and Derek Thorn will face off against some of NASCAR’s rising stars like Noah Gragson, Harrison Burton and Grant Enfinger.

51st Annual Snowball Derby Entry List:

CAR, DRIVER NAME, HOMETOWN
11 David Rogers, Orlando, FL
11 Logan Boyett, Pensacola, FL
112 Augie Grill, Hayden, AL
112 Stewart Friesen,Sprakers, NY
12g Derek Griffith, Hudson, NH
12 Grant Enfinger, Kannapolis, NC
12 Harrison Burton, Huntersville, NC
12 Timothy Peters, Danville, VA
14 Austin Nason, Roscoe, IL
14 Carson Hocevar, Portage, MI
14 Chris Davdison, Pearland, TX
14 Connor Okrzesik, Grand Bay, AL
18 Casey Roderick, Lawrenceville, GA
18 Noah Gragson, Las Vegas, NV
19 Kason Plott, Marietta, GA
20 Jack Dossey III, Indianapolis, IN
24 Mason Diaz, Manasses, VA
25 Blaine Perkins, Bakersfield, CA
26 Bubba Pollard, Senoia, GA
26 Chandler Smith, Jasper, GA
29 Spencer Davis, Dahlonga, GA
2w Donnie WIlson, Oklahoma CIty, OK
30 Jesse Dutilly, Bradenton, FL
33 Dustin Smith, Mobile, AL
37 Kaden Honeycutt, Willow Park, TX
4 Kyle Plott, Marietta, GA
42 Dennis Prunty, Knowles, WI
43 Derek Thorn, Bakersfield, CA
48 Preston Peltier, Brighton, CO
5 Jerry Artuso, Sault Ste. Marie, ONT, Can.
51 Raphael Lessard, St. Joseph de Beauce, Que, Can.
51 Stephen Nasse, Pinellas Park, FL
51 Michael Atwell, Naples, FL
53 Boris Jurkovic, Manhattan, IL
53 Cole Butcher, Porters Lake, NS, Canada
54 Tyler Ankrum, San Bernadino, CA
5m Mason Mingus, Nashville, TN
64 Jan Evans, East Wenatchee, WA
66 Steve Wallace, Mooresville, NC
7 John DeAngelis, Hubertus, WI
7 Paul Shafer Jr., Portage, IN
75 Jeremy Doss, Upper Lake, CA
78 Corey Heim, Marietta, GA
79 Joe Aramendia, Sequin, TX
79 Kyle Bryant, Navarre, FL
81 Chase Purdy, Meridian, MS
88 Garrett Jones, West Palm Beach, FL
89 Perry Patino, Montgomery, AL
9 Derek Kraus, Stratford, WI
9 Jeff Choquette, West Palm Beach, FL
91 Ty Majeski, Seymour, WI
91 Patrick Laperle, St. Dennis, QC, Canada
99 Casey Smith, Austin, TX

Rig Parking Kicks Off Snowball Derby Track Activities

Augie Grill's hauler was the second rig to enter the speedway. (PixelatedSPEED Photo)

Rig Parking began promptly at 9 am on Wednesday morning as longtime Five Flags Speedway track announcer Dave Pavlock announced, in his famous deep voice, “Logan Boyett, Pensacola, FL… now arriving.”

This marked the traditional start of activities at the speedway during Derby Week. As each hauler is announced into the speedway’s grounds, Five Flags Speedway officials perform the ballet of parking each of these massive rigs into the spots they will call home for the next five days.

It’s a task that has gotten more and more difficult with each passing year as the not only have the car counts (and haulers by proxy) continue to grow, so has the size of the rigs. The days of the open trailer are pretty much gone, replaced by 53 foot behemoths carrying all the accoutrements of speed.

The entire process takes about two hours to complete, and afterward the dash to the “Room of Doom” was underway as teams began to unload thier haulers and make their way to the technical inspection line.

There are no on-track activies in store for the late model teams today, however for the second year in a row the local Pure Stock division will take to the speedway on Wednesday, contesting a 50 lap feature later in the evening.

The night concludes with the annual Green Flag Party, which includes the Snowball Derby Qualifying Draw.

It's Official. Derby Week is Here!

PixelatedSPEED Photo

The 51st Annual Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL is upon us. This jam packed week of racing will feature many of the nation’s best short track drivers and teams. Seven separate divisions will each take to the track throughout the course of the week, leading up to the 300 lap Super Late Model spectacular on Sunday, December 2nd, 2018. Here is a look at what’s in store throughout the week. (All times in Central)

Wednesday - Tech Day

9:00 - Pro and Super Late Model haulers will park in traditional fashion under the direction of the Five Flags Speedway officials, and featuring the familiar voice of long time speedway announcer Dave Pavlock 11:00 - TECHNICAL INSPECTION OPENS (Snowball Derby & Snowflake cars) 2:00 - Pure Stock teams are welcomed into the speedway. 3:00 - Technical Inspection opens to the Pure Stock division. 4:30 - Pure Stock Division Practice (30 mins) 5:00 - Last Call for late model technical inspection. Cones will be going up to signify the end of the line. 5:15 - Pure Stock Division Driver’s Meeting outside the tech shed. 5:45 - Pure Stock Division Qualifying. 6:00 - Snowball Derby and Snowflake 100 Qualifying Order Draw. 7:00 - The first racing of Derby Week begins with the Pure Stock 50 lap feature. 8:00 - Green Flag Party. 10:00 - Pits Closed.

Thursday - Practice Day

8:00 - Pits Open. 9:00 - Late Model Driver and Team Meeting. 10:00 - 11:00 - Snowball Derby Practice 1 11:00 - 11:45 - Snowflake 100 Practice 1 12:15 - 1:15 - Snowball Derby Practice 2 1:15 - 2:00 - Snowflake 100 Practice 2 2:00 - 3:00 - Snowball Derby Practice 3 3:00 - 4:00 - Snowflake 100 Practice 3 4:30 - Sportsman and Outlaw Driver’s Meeting 5:00 - 6:30 - Sportsman and Outlaw Division Practice. 6:45 - Sportsman and Outlaw Division Qualifying. 7:45 - Pre Race Ceremonies. 8:00 - Racing begins! Sportsman 50 lap feature and Outlaw 50 lap feature.

Friday - Snowball Derby Pole Day

8:00 - Pits Open. 9:00 - Late Model Driver and Team Meeting. 10:00 - 10:45 - Snowball Derby Practice 4 10:45 - 11:30 - Snowflake 100 Practice 4 11:30 - 12:30 - Modified Division Practice 12:00 - Tech closes to Late Models. 1:00 - Snowball Derby Practice 5 2:00 - Snowflake 100 Practice 5 3:00 - Modified Division Qualifying. 4:30 - Modified Division Driver’s Meeting. 6:00 - Snowball Derby Qualifying. 7:45 - Pre Race Ceremonies. 8:00 - Racing begins! Modified 75 lap feature.

Saturday - Snowflake 100 Day

8:00 - Pits Open 9:00 - Late Model Driver and Team Meeting. 10:00 - 11:00 - Snowflake 100 Practice 6 11:00 - 11:45 - Pro Truck Practice. 11:45 - 12:45 - Snowball Derby Final Practice. 1:30 - Pro Truck Qualifying. 2:00 - Snowflake 100 Qualifying followed by the LAST CHANCE RACES! 6:00 - Pro Truck Division Driver’s Meeting. 7:00 - Snowflake 100 followed by the Pro Truck 50 lap feature.

Sunday - Derby Day

7:00 - Pits open to crew members in order to remove haulers. 8:00 - Pits Open 9:30 - Snowball Derby Driver’s Meeting 10:00 - Worship Service 12:00 - Engine Warmups 12:30 - 2018 Snowball Derby Class Photo 1:15 - Driver Introductions 1:45 - Pre Race Ceremonies 2:00 - 51st Annual Snowball Derby (300 laps)

PixelatedSPEED is Going to the Snowball Derby!

PixelatedSPEED Photo

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. My hometown of Pensacola, FL transforms into the site of the most prestigious late model race of the year.

Over the course of five of the busiest days in racing, close to 200 teams will battle across seven divisions, with each race growing more and more intense as the excitement builds toward the finale on the first Sunday in December, the 51st Annual Snowball Derby.

For the 10th year, I’ll be attending this symphony of speed. It is my pleasure, and honor to be able to provide my perspective of the week’s events through the lens of my camera, and the stories I will be sharing via PixelatedSPEED.

From the drop of the first hauler door on Wednesday morning, to the drop of the checkered flag on Sunday afternoon, PixelatedSPEED will be there to chronicle all the action.

I plan to provide the usual news stories, covering the various practice sessions, time trials, and races. Additionally, I want to provide observations from my perspective on how the week transpires. I know that sounds vague, but essentially, I intend on keeping a journal of my activities on each day.

With a decade of Derby experiences behind me, I can honestly say that I have no freaking clue what lays ahead. That is one of the awesome things about the Snowball Derby; something unexpected always happens. For all the traditions, the pomp and circumstance… something crazy always happens, and I look forward to seeing what surprises will reveal themselves this year.

I invite you to join my journey this year. Like PixelatedSPEED on Facebook and Twitter, and share your experiences along the way.

Things get busy early on Wednesday morning as the haulers pull into the pit area. Wednesday continues with Tech Day, as technical inspection opens for both Snowball Derby and Snowflake 100 cars. For the second year in a row, racing begins on Wednesday with the Pure Stock Division feature and the night is capped off with the Green Flag Party.

Late Models take to the track beginning Thursday with practice sessions throughout the day.
Friday is Pole Day for the Snowball Derby while Saturday the Pro Late Models take center stage for the Snowflake 100. Then on Sunday, over 30 of the nation’s top Super Late Model drivers fight it out in a bid to win the Tom Dawson Trophy.

PixelatedSPEED is a motorsports news and views website covering all things racing. If you've made it this far into the post, thank you. Please consider sharing this content on the interwebs and following PixelatedSPEED on Facebook and Twitter and joining in on the conversation. http://facebook.com/PixelatedSPEED & http://twitter.com/PixelatedSPEED

PixelatedPICK: 2018 Cup Series Championship; Homestead

The 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season is drawing to a close as the premiere series descends on the well-worn asphalt of Homestead Miami Speedway for the Ford 400. The Championship 4 of Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Joey Logano have all earned their place in this final dance, but only only driver will emerge as the Champion.

Joey Logano is statistically number four of the group. He only has two wins on the season, one a Talladega and a thrilling finish using the bump-and-run on Martin Truex Jr. at Martinsville to secure his spot into the Championship 4. With 12 top fives and 25 top tens, Logano has had the consistency to make it through, and is more than capable of winning in any given weekend, including this weekend at Homestead. Logano has two previous appearances in the Championship 4, 2014 and 2016. I don’t think Logano will capture the Monster Energy Cup in his third visit to the Championship 4.

It’s not that I don’t think he’s capable so much as the competition is at such a high level. Also, I’m not sure if the NASCAR community at large is ready to have Joey Logano has their champion. While yes, he’s been in the series for 11 years (wow, that’s impressive) his break out didn’t happen until 2014, getting five wins on the season. Perhaps it’s his age, maybe that quirky smile, or something else. I can’t put my finger on it, but aside from the large Logano fan base, I just don’t think the NASCAR fan base is ready for Logano.

Martin Truex Jr. is the reigning Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Champion. He won last year’s title, capping off a storybook year that saw he, and the Denver, CO based team dominate the season. This year, Truex has again had impressive numbers with four wins, 19 top fives and 20 top tens. He has also had the smothering cloud of impending doom over his head, as his team, Furniture Row Racing, announced prior to the NASCAR Playoffs that due to the departure of sponsor 5 Hour Energy, that the team would be shutting down following the 2018 racing season.

The lame-duck status of the team, the fact that they are defending champions, and the pure raw talent of Truex and the team easily make a second MTJ/FRR championship the sure fire top sentimental storyline. I don’t think sentiment is going to be enough, however. Outside of the ROVAL, where Truex came within one corner of the victory but was taken out by Jimmie Johnson, Truex hasn’t been quite as strong as his competition in the 2018 NASCAR Playoffs. He hasn’t scored a victory since July at Kentucky and while always a threat at mile and half tracks, his performance at the mile and halfs in the Playoffs has just been a little off when compared to the other three. For that reason, while a truly awesome story, I don’t see Martin Truex Jr. winning the championship this year.

Kyle Busch, with eight wins in the season going into Homestead, has by all accounts had his most successful season in the Cup Series thus far. He is a threat at every race, and every track. He has had several races where he has been the outright favorite, but in addition to having the overall performance needed to win, Kyle Busch and the number 18 team have been benefactors on multiple occasions of opportunity. Looking back at Phoenix, for example. That was a race that looked to be Kevin Harvick’s race to lose… and he did. After a cut tire, and penalty for pitting too soon prior to a stage end, Harvick was in catch up mode for the remainder of the race, and by the time he made back to the front, Busch was solidly in control of his destiny, fending off a late charge by Brad Keselowski and Aric Almirola.

While Kyle Busch is without a doubt capable of winning on Sunday, I don’t see him picking up title number two. It is so difficult to have to choose just one driver for the championship, but only one can win. I think the fact that Kyle’s had so many opportunistic situations will be the deciding factor. Anything can happen, but I placing my championship eggs in the freaky fast basket of Kevin Harvick.

Kevin Harvick, with eight wins, has been dominant in the 2018 NASCAR Playoffs. He has led the most laps of any other driver and if not for some very huge missteps along the way, could have had even more wins tacked onto his total. He has had dominant cars in every round, but has had a ton of bad breaks along the way with cut tires, penalties and pit road mishaps. Oh yeah, let’s not forget the penalty after Texas for the unapproved spoiler. Throughout it all, Harvick has fought back and fought hard, always finding a way to remain in striking distance.

If Kevin Harvick and company can avoid the mishaps that have plagued their playoff run, then I think that Kevin Harvick can, and will emerge as the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Champion.

Upset: So far under the current playoff format, each champion has been crowned at Homestead after winning the race as well. Could 2018 be the first year to see a non-playoff driver win at Homestead under this format? If so, I think that Kyle Larson is the guy to do it. Larson is very strong at Homestead, and even stronger at tracks that feature the use of the highest, rim-riding groove. Plus, Larson has shown a knack for racing well at tracks that feature well-worn surfaces, Homestead falling into that category as well. If a Championship 4 driver doesn’t win this thing, it will be because Kyle Larson got to the finish line first.

Each week PixelatedSPEED will pick one driver, or team, as the PixelatedPICK. No fantasy rosters, leagues, budgets, or any of that other inflated fantasy stuff... just one driver... win or lose... for the fun of it!  If you've made it this far into the post, thank you. Please consider sharing this content on the interwebs and following PixelatedSPEED on Facebook and Twitter and joining in on the conversation. http://facebook.com/PixelatedSPEED & http://twitter.com/PixelatedSPEED