Blizzard Race brings the Super Late Modsels Back

Ready for the Modifieds?

Tonight’s Schedule Blizzard #1 Super Late Models Pro Trucks, Sportsman, Pure Stock Friday, April 28th 1:00 Pits Open ($30 Admission) 1:15 Qualifying Draw / Tire Selection 3:00 SSS Driver’s Meeting 4:00 – 5:00 SSS Practice

2 Donnie Wilson 2h Brett Holmes 4 Dalton Armstrong 7 Casey Roderick 9 Jeff Choquette 11 David Rogers 11 Logan Boyett 14 Conner Okrzesik 19 Kyle Plott 26 Chandler Smith 26 Bubba Pollard 26 Travis Braden 30 Bobby Knox 43 Dennis Schoenfeld 47 Allen Karnes 51 Cole Rouse 51 Stephen Nasse 51 David Gilliland 55 Cole Anderson 58 Tyler Ankrum 77 Zane Smith 79 Kyle Bryant 88 Garrett Jones 95 Derek Griffin 98 Paul Kelley 99 Casey Smith 99 Jr Niedecken 99 Chase Purdy 112 Augie Grill

5:00 PT, SP, PS Practice (Round 1) 5:30 SSS Cars to Pre Qualifying Tech (by group) 6:00 PT, SP, PS Driver’s Meeting 6:20 PT, SP, PS (Round 2 / Qualifying) 7:00 SSS Qualifying 7:50 National Anthem, Invocation 8:00 Pro Truck Feature (30 Laps)

Rubber & Specialties 100 The Dock Sportsman Feature (25 Laps) Lloyd’s Glass Pure Stock Feature (20 Laps)

1 Howard Langham 6 Oakie Mason 8 B J Leytham 12 Brandon Burks 15 Colt James 15 Mark Lindley 18 Clint Holmes 18 Jessie Reid 21 Jason Welch 29 Shanna Ard 36 Rodney Benefield 46 Jarrett Parker 47 Brian Weimer 54 Jensen Jorgensen 56 Darryl Rudd 58 Jake Moore 67 Daniel Bradford 68 Lori Lindley 95 Chris Comalander 96 Steven Davis 96 Rick Pollaro

National Anthem

Nasse Carves Own Path as DSC Blizzard Series Make Season Debut

By Chuck Corder Stephen Nasse might be the most enigmatic personality in short-track racing. The 21 year old loves to race as much as his next rival, yet holds no serious aspirations at chasing NASCAR or any other kind of stardom. He’d rather chase the elite competition to short-track’s premier races and hand the well-funded teams their hats.

To Nasse, racing isn’t something he eats, breathes and sleeps, but simply a hobby. He looks forward to the day he takes over the family construction business, which has been around for more than a century, and races a part-time schedule.

He enters Friday’s Rubber and Specialties 100, the Deep South Cranes Blizzard Series opener, as the early points leader of the Southern Super Series.

The Super Late Model touring division that stops at the southeast’s most iconic short tracks has two of its 12-race schedule already under its belt.

“It’s still early,” Nasse cautioned of his 12-point lead over young Chandler Smith. “I try and not look at that kind of stuff. At the same time, it feels good to be No. 1 right now. I’ve never been a points racer. My program is always so scattered out and over the map.

“If we can go to Pensacola and get a good finish, and keep lead, we’ll stick with the Southern Supers as long as we can stay out front.” The Southern Super Series seems to be a tour that fits Nasse well. (The story is continued on our web site.)

Eglin AFB Command Directorate Quartette

May 12 Meet the Drivers Night Outlaws, Pro Trucks, Sportsman, Pure Stocks June 2 SERF Blizzard 2 Super Late Models, Outlaws, Pro Truck, Sportsman, Pure Stock June 16 Kid’s Bike Races, Modifieds, Pro Truck, Sportsman, Pure Stock June 30 Allen Turner Pro Late Models Outlaw Stock, Sportsman, Pure Stock July 14 Outlaw Stock, Pro Truck, Sportsman, Pure Stock July 28 Universal Fabricators Blizzard #3 Super Late Models, Outlaw Stock, Sportsman, Pure Stock Aug.11 Demolition Derby Modifieds Pro Truck, Sportsman, Pure Stock Aug. 25 Allen Turner Pro Late Model Series, Outlaw Stock, Sportsman, Pure Stock Sept.16 Outlaw Stock, Pro Truck, Sportsman, Pure Stock Championship Night Sept. 23 “Night of Champions “ Allen Turner Tune Up 100, Blizzard #4 Nov. 18 Snowball Preview Nov 30-Dec 3 Snowball Derby

Video Ted Baber Eddie Richie 251-232-8836 850-458-2501 Car Photos

By Chuck Corder

Gilliland Brings NASCAR Credentials, ‘Purdy’ Talented Teenage Driver As torchbearers for the sport, longtime fans feel it is their calling to share the gospel of racing with the masses.

Especially, the next generation. It’s how short-track phenom Chase Purdy bonded with his grandfather from an early age. Purdy was joined at the hip with Bill Barkley and both were enraptured whenever NASCAR came on TV. “I remember being younger and telling my grandfather I was going to do that one day,” Purdy, now 17, said. “When I was a few years older, old enough to do it, my grandfather put me in the sport and it’s stuck with me ever since.”

Little could Barkley, who did a little drag racing in his heyday, imagine where the sport would take his grandson. The 2016 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Rookie of the Year for Late Model Stocks, Purdy comes to Five Flags Speedway.

Purdy will drive one of two David Gilliland Racing SLMs on Friday. The other will be driven by the boss man himself.

(Chuck’s story continues on our web site.)

Who is at the Wheel?

2 03 11 15 15 16 21 22 24 29 34 42 44 49 52

Tony Boyd, Pensascola, Michael Nelson, Pensacola Johnathan Day, Mobile Robert Loper, Irvington Preston Prevatte; Lillian Brad Mosley; 8 Mile Butch Harvell, Pensacola John K Merritt, Pensacola Caleb Burkett, Pensacola Matt Thompson, Wilmer, AL Cory Pittman, Cantonment Brandon Sidner, Pensacola Bobby Jones, Mobile Jay Whalen, Pensacola Robert Balkum, Pensacola 71 Tommie Blocker, Mobile 80 Zack Jordan, Pensacola 86 Jonathan Smith, Theadore 91 Sarah Dority, Pensacola 95 Robert Riley, Gulfbreeze 311 Bobby Suarez

00 1 3 07 07 09 13 28 31 32 33 54 55 60

Brannon Fowler, Molino Johnathan Langham, Mobile Mark Barnhill, Mobile, AL Jim Pokrant, Pensacola Johnny McNair, Pensacola Hunter McNair, Cantonment Paul Mathis, Pensacola Dayton Sidner, Cantonment Johnny Greene, Daphne, AL Red Dog Reynolds, Mobile Steve Buttrick, Cantonment Donald Hardy, Cantonment Jimbo Walker, Mobile, AL Jimmy Goodwin, Pensacola

44

11

Johnathan Day

00

Brannon Fowler

71

Tommie Blocker

33

Steve Buttrick

52

Robert Balkum

3

Mark Barnhill

22

John K Merritt

07

Jim Pokrant

15

Robert Loper

55

Jimbo Walker

15 Colt James

14

Wesley King

18

Casey Roderick

21 Jensen Jorgensen

7

Kody Brusso

Chris Davidson

2 29 Shanna Ard

14

40

Todd Jones

18

Ryan Paul

18 Jessie Reid

??

Hunter Lambert

43

Justin South

21 Jason Welch

15

Kevin Chase

99

Junior Niedecken

Memories Recalled-

Nate Markham (left) chats with Donnie Brusso and driver John K Merritt (r).

Markham lettered and for a while drove race cars. He recalls the “7” on Brusso’s car was styled after the 7 on a bottle of Seagrams.