Blam, Crunch, Bang, Pow, Smash, Ouch! The season is quickly winding down as only five weeks remain in the 2016 racing season here at Five Flags Speedway. These five weeks include tonight’s action and the 49th Annual Snowball Derby on December 1st through 4th. All five events that remain are big shows and we’ll start tonight with the Annual Demo Derby along with the Modifieds of Mayhem, Sportsman and Bombers. We only have a Demo Derby once a year and as always there’s plenty of excitement in the air and we expect the same again this year.
The Modifieds, Sportsman, Bombers and a Demo Derby for only a $5.00 admission! Where else can you get this much entertainment for only $5.00?
As I mentioned, all the remaining shows are special races. We’ll return on Friday, September 2nd with twin 50 lappers for the Allen Turner Hyundai Pro late Models. After that we will switch to Saturday nights and return on Saturday, September 17th with the Allen Turner Tune Up 100 lapper Pro Late Model plus Sportsman and Bombers, then on September 24th (also Saturday) will be the final Deep South Crane rentals “Blizzard” series race for the Super Models Night of Champions We’ll give a box of Late plus Super Stocks, Sportsman and Really Good Steaks Bombers. to the Five Flags For more information and 50/50 winner updates on racing at Five Flags beginning on May 28th be sure to watch “In The Groove” on BLAB/TV every other Monday night at 6:00 pm or “Rubbins Racing” with Robbie Harvey every Let Us Fix Your Windshield. Tuesday of race week at 6:00 pm on ESPN 1450 AM. At No Cost To You.* A windshield contributes to You can also go on our webyour vehicles structural integrity. site 5FLAGSSPEEDWAY.COM
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See ya at the races!!
DEMOLITION DRIVERS After Failures Nearly Derailed Him, Leytham Found Winning Ways Thanks to Jackson & Denmark B.J. Leytham had drawn a line in the sand four years ago. These days, Five Flags Speedway fans are used to seeing the Mobile-area driver dominate the Butler U-Pull-It Bombers division to the tune of six wins this year and back-to-back Bombers Snowball Derby crowns (2013-2014). But in 2012, Leytham was spinning his wheels in mediocrity as a rookie on asphalt. The sport had dealt enough blows to Leytham that he and wife, Kim, were ready to leave racing behind. “I tore the transmission up in the first three races that year, and I was done,” Leytham, 36, said. Enter Darryl Jackson and Steve Denmark. The two had the resources to put a Bombers team together, and wanted Leytham to come aboard. Jackson, who had previously turned wrenches for perennial late model contender Gerald Wilkerson years ago, and Denmark came out of the stands one night at MIS and approached Leytham with their pitch. “I didn’t know those guys,” Leytham said. “But I knew I couldn’t afford the sport anymore.” Fast forward to the present and thanks largely to Jackson and Denmark, Leytham sits atop the Bombers points standings (The story By Chuck
Corder has lots more details, and continues on our web site: www.5flagsspeedway.com)
K3 Killer Keller; Chrylser Newport Pensacola, 12 John Burks; Lincoln Town Car Milton, Fl 26 1/2 Guy Finney; Ford Crown Vic Jay, Fl 221 Michael Fowler; Lincoln Town Car Pensacola, Fl 46 Kurtis Bailey; Ford Crown Victoria Pensacola, Fl 01 Joshua Couture; Ford Crown Victoria Pensacola, Fl 67 Dwight Busby; Pontiac Eight Mile, Al 14 Don Meyer; Toyota Camry Pensacola, Fl 15 Marcus Michels; Lincoln Continental Pensacola. FL
5 Donald Crocker Citronelle, AL 7 Ryan Worsham Niceville, FL 07 Ryan Paul Mobile, AL 8 Donnie Hamrac Semmes, AL 9 Keith Joiner Prattville, AL 10 Okie Mason Kushla, AL 14 Mike Maddox Meridian, MS 17 Chris Cotto Milton, FL 31 Parker Pugh Madison, AL 33 Jason Mormon Seabrook, TX 41 Rocky Rogers Jasper, AL 64 Adam Crawford Mobile, AL 66 Ryan Redmon Headland, AL 88 Larry Hughes Houston, TX 91 Jim Wall Mdison, AL 99 Brandon Howell Lucedale, MS 131 Jeff Letson Madison, AL 145 Billy Melvin Trussville, AL
By Chuck Corder
Demolition Drivers Playing Cards Close to Vest in Smash-n-Crash Kurtis Bailey got his a year ago. Terry “Killer” Keller drove all the way to Fort Worth, Texas, for his — on Valentine’s Day, no less. For all the bouquets of flowers and boxes of chocolate and shoeboxes of cards, nothing says love quite like a Chrysler Newport. The point of all these timelines and romance is to understand it takes a lot of planning and TLC to hold your own in a Demolition Derby. Since its return in 2011 after a lengthy layoff, the Demo Derby has never failed to disappoint an always full house, which rivals any night during Snowball Derby week. “There ain’t a free moment this close to the Demolition Derby,” said Keller, who will be behind the wheel of “Nelly,” a 1967 Newport. “I’m not gonna tell all our secrets, but it will be camouflaged and dressed up like a tank. It’ll be a big ol’ boat. You can’t miss it. Well, hopefully, the other drivers can, but the spectators won’t.”
8/13 Mountain Dew Drifting 9/2 Pro Late Twin 50’s Super Stocks, Sportsmen, Bombers. 9/17 Allen Turner PLM Tune Up 100 Pro Trucks, Sportsmen, Bombers. 9/24 Season Championships, Blizzard 150, Super Stock, Sportsmen, Bombers. 10/1 Mountain Dew Drifting 11/19 Snowball Derby(C) Preview 12/1-4 49th Annual Snowball Derby
At 53, Keller will be competing in his fourth and, likely, final Demo Derby to close out Friday night’s festivities. The last Demo Derby car maintaining power wins bragging rights for another year and a coveted $1,500 winner’s purse. Naturally, every driver and their respective teams will try anything, within the rules, to make their tanks less malleable and able to withstand extreme punishment. “We’re doing some things, as much as the rules allow,” said John Burks, 52, father to Pro Trucks driver Brandon Burks and who hopes his 1986 Lincoln dubbed “The General” remains the last car running. “We’ll have great, big American flags on it that will probably take a lotta abuse because of where they are. I’ve never been in a Demolition Derby before. I’ve been to a lot of them, and I always wanted to do it. When the opportunity arose, I jumped on it. It’s almost a shame. The big ol’ boat is in good shape and runs good. It’s gonna make one helluva Demo Derby car.” Just like fishermen who won’t reveal their top-secret honey holes or a card player flashing an impenetrable poker face, Demo Derby drivers are hesitant to reveal just how far they’re stretching the rulebook.They’ll happily describe the paint scheme and any sponsors, which Keller is still in search of, but they do not dare confess to what legal alterations they’re making. But just like in short-track or any other style of racing, there is, believe it or not, typically a process in getting the junkers Demo Derby ready. “All we do every year is knock the glass out of it, and make sure the car is in good working order, that it won’t overheat, and that the oil properly runs or we won’t burn through it in 8 to 10 minutes,” said Kurtis Bailey, who’ll drive a early-1990s Ford Crown Victoria. “We do spend a little more money than most when it comes to graphics, but we make sure it all looks nice.” Bailey works part-time for Winged Wheel Garage owner David Tau. With Ronnie Smith behind the wheel of various Crown Victorias, Tau’s team won 3 crash fests. (Cont on our web site)
Who is at the Wheel?
5 Derek Long; Bay Minette 8 BJ Leytham; Mobile 13 Jimmy Hollingsworth, Mobile 15 Robert Loper, Irvington 16 Brad Mosley; 8 Mile 22 John K Merritt; Pensacola 22 Zack Carpenter, Loxley, AL 24 Caleb Burkett, Pensacola 29 Matt Thompson, Wilmer, AL 34 Cory Pittman, Cantonment 42 Brandon Sidner, Pensacola 44 Bobby Jones, Mobile 49 Jay Whalen, Pensacola 52 Robert Balkum, Pensacola 55 Kenny Bullard, Pensacola 56 Kerner Kafka, Pensacola 71 Tommie Blocker, Invington 78 Tim Wilmot, Cantonment
80 Zack Jordan, Pensacola 86 Jonathan Smith, Theadore 88 Geno Denmark, Dauphin 91 Sarah Dority, Pensacola 95 Robert Riley, Gulf Breeze
00 Brannon Fowler, Molino 1 Jonathan Langham, Mobile 6 Jim Pokrant, Pensacola 09 Hunter McNair, Cantonment 13 Paul Mathis, Pensacola 28 Dayton Sidner, Cantonment 23 Jake Moore. Pensacola 31 Johnny Greene, Daphne, AL 33 Steve Buttrick, Cantonment 51 Albert Pirez, Lillian, AL 60 Jimmy Goodwin, Milton 77 Shawn Laws, Navarre 81 Tina Davidson, Pensacola 97 Hunter Lambert, Pensacola 99 Billy Hoover, Pensacola
Video Ted 850-458-2501
Pictures Tom 251-597-4747 Photo
8
B J Leytham
33 Steve Buttrick
52
Robert Balkum
6
22
John K Merritt
29 Shanna Ard
6
Kerner Kafka
28 Dayton Sidner
71
Tommie Blocker
97 Hunter Lambert
3
Taylor Jorgensen
9
Todd Jones
1
Howard Langham
94
Jason Johnson
46
Jarrett Parker
9
Andrue Nolen
36
Rodney Benefield
14
Wesley King
40
Brian Weimer
4
Bill Cooley
2
Bret Holmes
7
Casey Roderick
99 Jr. Niedecken
77
Zane Smith
89 Jeremy Pate
12
Harrison Burton Chris Davidson Bubba Pollard Donnie Wilson
7
Cole Daffron
14 Connor Okrzesik
14 4t 26 2
Jim Pokrant
See web site for latest total points for all drivers.