Hutto’s Mark Chrudimsky defends Snowball Derby Modified title with impressive win
December 4, 2010
Mark Chrudimsky made Texas proud last night by winning the most prestigious Asphalt Modified race of the year at Five Flags Speedway’s 43rd Annual Snowball Derby in Pensacola, Florida, for the second year in a row.
Mark is all smiles as he poses with the winner's hardware
The popular Texas stock car ace, affectionately known as “Wild Man” to his many Texas fans, started the 50-lap feature at the Five Flags half-mile oval in the the 12th spot beside fellow Texan Tuffy Hudson.
Chrudimsky avoided numerous wrecks and pile ups, worked his way methodically to the front of the 32-car field and joined yet another Texan, Stephan McCurley, in a spirited battle for the lead late in the race.
With eight laps remaining Chrudimsky made a great pass under the two leaders, but fellow Texan Stephan McCurley was right there to challenge. However, two laps later McCurley tangled with another competitor while dicing for position and his night was over as his ride suffered too much damage in the mishap to continue.
After that it was clear sailing for Chrudimsky who won by several car lengths over Billy Melvin.
Hudson looked fast early on, but had something go awry in the rear suspension about mid-race, knocking him out for the night.
Pushing the car to the tech area with a confident smile!
Jason Mormon, another Texan, had a decent run, finishing a strong ninth. Two more Texas drivers, John Schultz and Bradley Riethmeyer, had fast cars but both suffered mechanical woes and dropped out early.
“Texans are four out of five in the Modifieds at the Derby,” Lone Star Speedzone contributor Tom Taylor said. “Jason Boyd won in 2006, Tuffy Hudson in 2008, Mark Chrudimsky in 2009 and Mark again in 2010.”
Unofficial results:
1. Mark Chrudimsky
2. Billy Melvin
3. John Sappralcone
4. Korey Ruble
5. Todd Jackson
6. Gerald Wilkerson
7. Brandon Howell
8. Nathan Ingersoll
9. Jason Morman
10. Donnie Hamrac
11. Mike Maddox
12. Chris Cotto
13. Nathan Davis
14. Trevor Edwards
15. Todd Jones
16. Jeff Letson
17. Brandon Curren
18. Stephan McCurley
19. Tim Martin
20. Kevyn Terry
21. Kevin Peel
22. Scooter Grice
23. Bradley Riethmeyer
24. Augie Grill
25. Kevin Chase
26. John Schultz
27. Tuffy Hudson
28. Bubba Gale
29. James Patrick
30. Michael House
31. Don Livingston
32. A.J. Winstead
By Nick Holt, Lone Star Speedzone
Photos by Debbie Williams, Lone Star Speedzone
Texan Mark Chrudimsky brings the Snowball Derby Modified trophy home to Texas
December 6, 2009
Affectionately called “Wild Man” at his home track – Thunderhill Raceway in Kyle, Texas - Texan Mark Chrudimsky won the rain-shortened 36-lap Asphalt Modified feature at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida, Friday night. The event was part of the prestigious Snowball Derby held at the famed half-mile oval each December.
Mark all smiles as he celebrates after his huge win at the Snowball (Levi Krauss photo)
Chrudimsky is known to win in just about anything and just about anywhere – from school buses to Asphalt Modifieds and from Texas to Florida - and he proved it one more time on Friday.
Chrudimsky went three-wide after starting fourth on the grid to take over second place on the second lap and a lap later took over the lead form Brian Nester until the 15th circuit, when he backed off a bit to conserve his tires. But lap 30 saw the savvy Chrudimsky use a lapped car to position himself to scoot by Nester on the low side to retake the lead for good.
Other Texas who made the show after an arduous qualifying process include Jason Body (15th place), Jason Morman (18th place), John Schultz (27th place) and Tuffy Hudson (30th place).
Official results of the Modified Feature, Friday, December 4, 2009
Finish, Car number, Name, Laps completed, Fastest race lap
1. 39 Mark Chrudimsky, 36, 18.056
2. 83 Bubba Gale, 36, 18.134
3. 11 Brian Nester, 36, 17.902
4. 4 Mike Stacey, 36, 18.245
5. 66 Ryan Redmon, 36, 18.317
6. 88 John Sarppraicone, 36, 18.327
7. 10 Danny Bagwell, 36, 18.354
8. 131 Jeff Letson, 36, 18.185
9. 8 Donnie Hamrac, 36, 18.346
10. 33 Nathan Ingersoll, 36, 18.171
11. 121 Kyle Jones, 36, 18.279
12. 1M Tim Martin, 36, 18.318
13. 77 Jeremy Gerster II, 36, 18.387
14. 7G Scooter Grice, 36, 18.477
15. 9 Jason Boyd, 36, 18.554
16. 9 Gerald Wilkerson, 36, 18.414
17. 70 Jeremy Gerstner, 36, 18.438
18. 33 Jason Morman, 35, 18.379
19. 18 Kevin Peel, 35, 18.299
20. 86 Mavervick MacDonald, 35, 18.701
21. X Damon Breedlove, 35, 18.552
22. 67 Frankie Martin, 35, 18.738
23. 32 Randy Haney, 35, 18.876
24. 17 Chris Cotto, 31, 18.057
25. 55 Scott Barbaric, 29, 18.382
26. 71 Josh Goodwin, 26, 18.823
27. 14 John Schultz, 11, 18.434
28. 145 Billy Melvin, 11, 17.958
29. 99 A.J. Winstead ,10, 18.593
30. 7 Tuffy Hudson, 6, 18.463
31. 5 Jeff Ganus, 2, 18.738
32. 34 Randy Herrick 0
By Nick Holt, Lone Star Speedzone
Photo by Levi Krauss
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