NO FENDERS FOR FRIDAY FEATURES
Tonight marks the return of some of the fastest racecars that have ever turned a lap at the historic Five Flags Speedway and this is not an April Fool’s joke! There will be several “fools” turning breath-taking, close your eyes type laps around the ultra-fast half mile. The “King of the Wing” Sprint Cars with their only stop here in 2016. Don’t be surprised if we see a new track record again this year. Add in the excitement of motorcycles. The Southern Swing for Davey Hamilton’s brave warriors will move on to Mobile Saturday night and then head to Montgomery International Speedway to complete the swing on Sunday afternoon. Last year Indiana’s Brian Gurster shattered the track record with a lighting fast 13.06 seconds (139 mph). We hope this year we see a first ever twelve second lap. Also on the schedule f are the “Modifieds of Mayhem” open wheel modified tour.
. I guarantee the fans that this will be another wild one to watch as drivers such as Hamric, Melvin, Cotto, Letson and Ruble will light up the track. To round out the action packed schedule for the night are the motorcycles. Congratulations to Taylor Jorgensen, Okie Mason, Brannon Fowler and B.J. Leytham on their wins Friday night. It’s nice to kick their season off on a positive note.
How Fast is Real Fast Here? Brian Gerster on 4/11/2014 13.046 (137.973 mph)
It’s a gathering of the drivers who made open wheel sprint racing such a spectacle. You are seeing the cars that were built for power and speed. Some of the legendary drivers from years gone by are here for the reunion, arranged by Tony Martin.
Modified Drivers
5 Donald Crocker 8 Donnie Hamrac 9 Todd Jones 17 Chris Cotto 31 Parker Pugh 33 Jason Mormon 64 Adam Crawford 66 Ryan Redmon 66 Korey Ruble 71 Josh Goodwin 96 Augie Grill 114 Heath Mills 131 Jeff Letson 145 Billy Melvin
You will meet the drivers and see their mighty machines.
National Anthem Presented By:
EGLIN AFB Command Directorate
A Look Inside The World Of Go Fast Winged Cars The first time Davey Hamilton Jr. came to Five Flags Speedway his arm was in a cast. That night just so happened to be the same evening the then-15-year-old jumped behind a winged sprint car for the first time. “They still put me in the car even though I didn’t know what to expect,” said Hamilton Jr., the son of the Indy Car legend who he shares a name with. “I wasn’t very good. I was able to finish. That’s what the goal was, anyway. “Come to find out later, though, that every time I turned in the corner, the cast was hitting the winged adjuster and tightened my car up.” Junior’s tale defines what winged sprint car racing is all about: Daredevil drivers, who throw caution to the wind while whipping around tracks at breakneck speeds. It all be on full display when the King of the Wing series returns to the famed half-mile asphalt oval Friday night. The winged pavement sprint cars will be kicking off not only their Southern Swing, but also their 2016 season. On the line will be two shots at immortality. The most important one for drivers will be earning a victory at Pensacola’s prestigious and historic high banks. (con’t next page)
4/15 Pro Late Twin 50s, Super Stocks, Sportsmen, Bombers. 4/29 Universal Fabricators Blizzard 100; Pro Trucks, Sportsmen, Bombers. 5/13 Mods of Mayhem, Super Stocks, Sportsmen, Bombers. 5/27 Rubber & Specialties Blizzard 100, Fireworks, Pro Trucks, Sportsmen, Bombers. 6/10 Kids Bike Races, Motorcycle Thrill Show, Super Stocks, Sportsmen, Bombers 6/24 Pro Late Model Twin 50s, Pro Trucks, Sportsmen, Bombers. 7/8 Mods of Mayhem, Super Stocks, Sportsmen, Bombers. 7/22 SERF Blizzard 100, Pro Trucks, Sportsmen, Bombers. 8/5 Demolition Derby, Modifieds of Mayhem, Sportsmen, Bombers. 9/2 Pro Late Twin 50’s Super Stocks, Sportsmen, Bombers. 9/17 Allen Turner Tune Up 100 for PLM, Pro Trucks, Sportsmen, Bombers. 9/24 Season Championships, Blizzard 100, Super Stock, Sportsmen, Bombers.
But the second, and perhaps most intriguing, storyline for spectators and officials will be seeing if any driver can get under the track record of 13.046 seconds and hit the 12s during qualifying. “I think it’s for sure gonna happen. No doubt, it will be beat,” Hamilton Jr. said of the record. “I’m not necessarily saying I’m gonna get it, but somebody will. Hopefully, I could get it, but we’ll see.” Friday night’s marquee will have an open wheel feel to it as the winged pavement sprints will be joined by the Modifieds of Mayhem and motorcycles. The current track record was set two Aprils ago when Indiana’s Brian Gerster lit up the racetrack with an average speed of more than 137 miles per hour. His time peaked at the 12-second precipice, but couldn’t quite get there. Hamilton Jr. is so certain history will be made come Friday because of the King of the Wing’s talented lineup that features drivers willing to test the limits of a winged sprint car. “This year is more competitive than any other year,” he said. “Years past, you might have had the top two guys take off from the rest of the field. This year, it’ll be better for the whole series.” One of the top drivers that returns with the King of the Wing is Bobby Santos III, who won the feature race at Five Flags a year ago.While nothing would make Santos happier than adding a track record to his already glowing sprint car resume, it’s not his sole motivation for making the long trek down from his native Massachusetts. “The track record would be cool, but winning the race is what it should be all about,” said the 30-year-old Santos. (Read the rest of Chuck’s story on the web).
Who is at the Wheel? Back in 2 weeks
-Butler U-Pull-It Bombers5 Derek Long; Bay Minette 8 BJ Leytham; Mobile 15 Robert Loper, Irvington 15 Preston Prevatte; Lillian 16 Brad Mosley; 8 Mile 22 John K Merritt; Pensacola 24 Kerner Kafka, Pensacola 24 Wayne Burkett, Pensacola 27 Tommy Lowery, Pensacola 34 Cory Pittman, Cantonment 42 Brandon Sidner, Pensacola 44 Bobby Jones, Mobile 49 Jay Whalen, Pensacola 51 Albert Pirez, Lillian AL 52 Robert Balkum, Pensacola 65 Rusty Powell, Satsuma, 83 David Johnson, Mobile 86 Jonathan Smith 88 Geno Denmark, Dauphin 91 Sarah Dority, Pensacola 97 Hunter Lambert, Pensacola
-The Dock Sportsmen00 Brannon Fowler, Molino 1 Jonathan Langham, Mobile 07 Jim Pokrant, Pensacola 13 Paul Mathis, Pensacola 24 Thumper Grice, Pensacola 28 Dayton Sidner, Cantonment 29 Shanna Ard, Milton 31 Johnny Greene, Daphne, AL 33 Steve Buttrick, Cantonment 60 Jimmy Goodwin, Milton 77 Shawn Laws, Gulf Breeze 81 Tina Davidson, Pensacola 99 Billy Hoover, Pensacola
Video Ted Baber Tom Wilsey 850-458-2501 251-597-4747 Car Photos
For points won during the current year for all competitors, check our web site.
8
B J Leytham
00
Brannon Fowler
7
Casey Roderick
52
Robert Balkum
33
Steve Buttrick
99
Casey Smith
86
Jonathan Smith
29
Shannah Ard
31
Kyle Grissom
22
John K Merritt
31
Johnny Greene
26
Bubba Pollard
91
Sarah Dority
2
Donnie Wilson
3
Taylor Jorgensen
26 Steven Davis 6
Okie Mason
12 Adam Haugh 1
Howard Langham
Pokrant / Davidson
42
Randy Thompson
14
Ryan Luza
33
Gary Sutton
33
Dustin Smith
9
Todd Jones
99
Jr Niedecken
12
Bubba Winslow
00
Anthony Cataldi
9
Dave Nolen
5
Ronnie Osmer
Pro Late Twin 50s Super Stocks, Sportsmen, Bombers!
April 15th 8pm