Track news

#12 Sept 5, 2014

Double Features for 4 Divisions Tonight

Remember the chewing gum commercial that went like this… ”Double your Pleasure, Double your Fun”? Well, that is exactly what Five Flags Speedway is planning for our fans tonight.

The schedule is a little unique and will be a racing program that’s not been seen at the speedway for quite some time.

Todd Jones – Super Stock, Okie Mason – Pro Trucks, Shanna Ard – Sportsman and Robert Balkum – Bombers have no choice but to be on top of their game as things could change so quickly.

The same amount of points will be awarded in each feature so you can rest assured that all drivers will be UP ON THE WHEEL in both races to guarantee

Tonight’s sched- a good finish and a good ule will be made up of point’s night.

four of our classes which will consist of Super Stocks, Pro Trucks, Sportsman and Bombers. The four divisions will each compete in double features. The way they finish in the first race is just the opposite from the way they will start in the second feature. It will be a complete invert. The driver’s in all four divisions will have a chance to pick up some much needed points as the 2014 season is in sight of the final checked flag.

All four divisions are also seeing a fierce battle at the top of the points chase.

Humpy

WOW! Did you catch the big news this week from Tim Bryant?

The legendary president of the Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Humpy Wheeler will be the Grand Marshal of the Snowball Derby (c) this year. He will be meeting with track operators from across the US while here to share his insights (we call it magic) in promoting better racing action for the fans. See page 2 for more information on Humpy..

Just two weeks from tonight, September 19th, we will return with the last Buddy’s Home Furnishings Blizzard Series race for the Super Late Models. Look for a healthy field of cars as they all know it’s the last real test before the 47th Annual Snowball Derby in December. Super Stocks, Sportsman and Bombers will also be on hand for the 19th.

We then return on Saturday night, September 27th with the Whataburger Night of Champions for the Modifieds, Pro Trucks, Sportsman and Bombers, plus a 100 lapper for the Allen Turner Hyundai Pro Late Models.

Each of these nights should be packed with excitement, so make plans now so you can BE THERE!!

Enough said in this article, so until next time…

We’ll see you at the races!

Video Ted Baber Tom Wilsey 850-458-2501 251-597-4747 Car Photos

2014

schedule

WXBM-FM

Sept 5, DOUBLE FEATURES Trucks, SS, SP, B Sept 19, Blizzard #4, SS, SP, B Sept 27 Whataburger Nite of Champions, Pro Late 100, Modifieds, Pro Trucks, Sportsmen and Bombers Nov 22 Snowball Derby (c) Preview Dec 3-7 Snowball Derby 300

One of the pioneering forces in stock car racing will serve as our Snowball Derby (c) Grand Marshal. Longtime president of Charlotte Motor Speedway and a motorsports promoter extraordinaire H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler will officiate on Sunday, December 7.

“It is the Kentucky Derby for Late Models and just about everybody that is anybody has raced in that event at one time,” said Wheeler. “The competition is fierce and it is one of those events that brings out high passion in its many fans.

“Perhaps its popularity is a throwback – events in the past when all the top competitors in a division from all over meet to determine a king. And do their fans follow them! I am looking forward to being part of one of racing’s greatest events…the Snowball Derby.”

Wheeler spent decades as the president of Charlotte Motor Speedway, becoming one of the most well-known personalities in the sport. Since retiring from his role at CMS in 2008, Wheeler has become a consultant and founded Speedway Benefits, a marketing alliance to help grow short track racing across North America.

“Humpy Wheeler is a motorsports legend,” said Tim Bryant, Five Flags Speedway General Manager. “He has done so much to build stock car racing from the grassroots level to the top levels of NASCAR racing. The fact that he singled out the Snowball Derby as a race he wanted to be a part of means a lot to us. His presence will only raise the excitement surrounding this year’s Snowball Derby. ”Tickets are currently available. Contact the box office at 850-944-8400.

By Chuck By Corder Chuck Corder

Taras “Hollywood” Hodivsky Jr. has regretted little in his 36 years on Earth. He’s held a wide array of jobs from the sublime — 19 years and counting in restaurants and a lifetime in the family business of fencing installation — to the ridiculous, one time serving as a boxing promoter (hence, the “Hollywood”).

Hodivsky has enjoyed every second of a full life that now includes short-track racing, yet another family business that originated when granddaddy “Shorty” Rollins got into the sport in the 1950s and became NASCAR’s first official rookie of the year in 1958.

Like he’ll do again this tonight, Hodivsky — whose mother Deborah is Shorty’s daughter — helps keep the racing torch alive by competing in the fledgling Pro Trucks series.

“We’ve been gaining and making strides here and there,” said Hodivsky, who sits third in the season standings.

“We’ve been coming on strong and running consistently.” So much so that the Foley, Ala., resident has posted backto-back runner-up finishes at the last two features.

“Tire management is going to come into play because, obviously, we’re running more (laps) than normal,” Hodivsky said. “My truck is a great piece. A lotta guys have trouble with the suspension and handling, but not this one.”

Read the full stories of Hollywood Hodivsky and Bubba WInslow on our web site: www.snowballderby.com

Everyone has subjects that make them ball up into the fetal position. Twenty-four-year-old driver Bubba Winslow cringes each time someone brings up last year’s Super Stocks Snowball Derby. Not to throw salt on his wound, but Winslow dominating the 50 lapper before colliding with a lapped car on the final lap and his boyhood Derby dreams were dashed.

There are certainly words to describe his disappointment — dumbfounded and heartbroken come to mind — but Winslow’s scars are still fresh nine months later. The Cantonment native and owner of two Faith Chapel Super Stocks track championships (2011, 2013) already at Five Flags Speedway is hoping a third crown can go a long way in easing his pain.

“It has been tough,” Winslow said of rebounding post-Derby. “We struggled the first half of the year. Re-clipping the car after the wreck really knocked our feet out from under us. But, the last two races we’ve made up some ground and I think we’re headed in the right direction.”

As he points out, Winslow has reason to feel excited. A sales contractor for Mingledorff Inc., a leading distributor of HVAC equipment throughout the southeast, Winslow sits second in the points standings — 10 points behind current leader Todd Jones of Pace.

With the two-feature format tonight, a 10-point deficit is little ground to make up. That is, if things go your way,

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The Locksmith Leader

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

52 03 22 27 11 1 83 15 7

Robert Balkum 1218 Michael Nelson 1207 John K Merritt 1110 Tommy Lowery 1054 Courtney Rodrigues 1032 Hunter Ward 928 Tim Wilmot 828 Preston Prevatte 767 Ryan Worsham

10 99 Jarrett Beal

656 621

1 10 Okie Mason 2 13 David Beale 3 66 Heath Mills 4 17 Chris Cotto 5 8 Donnie Hamrac 6 7 Robert Chason 7 117 Michael Swilley 8 88 Joe Thornton 9 99 Brandon Howell 10 131 Jeff Letson

540 471 309 287 209 185 173 170 127 123

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

29 00 77 33 07 12 42 33 17 10 83

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Shanna Ard Brannon Fowler Shawn Laws Steve Buttrick Jim Pokrant Thomas Faddis Randy Thompson Kenny Williams Kris Pierce Bo Resmondo

9 12 42 9 57 33 5 8 84 14

1256 1223 1099 965 908 847 791 743 718 595

Todd Jones

415

Dave Nolan Charles Skipper Dave Mader III Kevin Chase Dustin Knowles Jeremy Tassin Joey Moxley

355 347 325 263 93 91 89

Bubba Winslow 405 Randy Thompson 399

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1 2 3 4 5 6 6 8 9 10

337 305 Donnie Wilson 299 Daniel Hemric 297 Hunter Robbins 274 Anderson Bowen 264 Mike Garvey 248 David Rogers 233 Kyle Grissom 216 John H Nemechek 196

26 Bubba Pollard 29 Augie Grill 2

98 18 29

1 11 3

12

11 88 99 14 21 30 33 4 22 17

Johanna Long Garrett Jones Jr. Niedecken Ryan Luza Larry Blount Rusty Sanford Dustin Smith Elliott Massey Bryce Dulabhan Kurt Guillot

675 671 654 539 536 496 496 482 431 419

What Happens When A Race Car Tire goes Flat At over 100 miles an hour? That’s Dustin Smith.

1 2 3 4 5 6t 6t 8 9 10

463 451 436 217 112 105 105 56 Ray Hoey 103 50 Darryl Rudd 102 72 Greg Leachman 100 Okie Mason Jay Jay Day Teras Hodivsky Ty Roberts Rick Pollaro 1 Howard Langham 26 Chris Wagner

6 98 99 50 96

Two weeks ago during the Pro Late Model Feature Race.