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Countdown to the Snowball from the Pensacola News


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The Pensacola News Journal does a countdown to the Derby every year. They post a "fast fact" at the top of the sports section. I'll post them here as they come out.

 

Countdown to the Derby 14 days

From staff reports

 

FAST FACT: Today, Rusty Wallace makes his 706th and final start in NASCAR's elite Cup series in the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

 

One of NASCAR's most popular drivers, Wallace amassed 55 victories, the 1989 Cup championship and more than $45 million in earnings. Before that, he attempted nine times to win the Snowball Derby. Wallace's best finish was second in 1985.

 

Last year, Wallace's son, Stephen, accomplished something his famous father never did: He won the Snowball Derby, outlasting Pensacola's Eddie Mercer by 15 car lengths. Earlier this week, Stephen Wallace announced he would return to the Pensacola Bay Area in two weeks to defend his crown.

 

· The 38th Snowball Derby will be run at Pensacola's Five Flags Speedway on Dec. 4. To reserve tickets or get more information, call (850) 944-8400 or go to: www.snowballderby.com.

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Countdown to the Derby 13 days

 

The Allen Turner Snowflake 100 race is shaping up to be one of the most exciting preliminary events in the history of the Snowball Derby.

 

The new Pro Late Model rules format has drawn interest in the Saturday night race (Dec. 3) at Five Flags Speedway like never before.

 

Now, an additional challenge has been offered by Allen Turner Hyundai. If the fastest qualifier chooses to start the race from the rear of the field and wins the 100-lap race, he will claim an additional $5,000, making it a $10,000 payday.

 

More than 50 drivers have entered, including defending champion David Hole.

 

· The 38th Snowball Derby will be run at Pensacola's Five Flags Speedway on Dec. 4. For more information or to reserve tickets, call (850) 944-8400 or go to: www.snowballderby.com.

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Published - November, 22, 2005

 

Countdown to the Derby 12 days

 

Red Farmer holds the record for the most consecutive Snowball Derby races, as well as the most entered.

 

The Hueytown, Ala., legend ran in the first 32 Snowball Derbys.

 

So who's next?

 

Former winner Jody Ridley raced in 27 Derbys, while Pensacola's Junior Niedecken has raced in 25.

 

David Rogers of Orlando is next with 24 starts, while former winners Dave Mader III and Ronnie Sanders each have 21 starts.

 

Red Farmer's 1999 Snowball Derby start was his last and ended a streak of 32 consecutive races in the famed event.

 

· The 38th Snowball Derby will be run at Pensacola's Five Flags Speedway on Dec. 4. For more information or to reserve tickets, call (850) 944-8400 or go to: www.snowballderby.com.

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Published - November, 23, 2005

Countdown to the Derby 11 days

So who holds the current streak of starting in the Snowball Derby?

 

Pensacola's Scott Carlson has started the last 10 Derbys and has finished in the top 10 in four of them.

 

Two-time Derby winner Gary St. Amant has raced in the last nine Derbys, while Pensacola's Donald Long has been in the last eight.

 

Charlie Bradberry, David Hole and Stanley Smith have raced in the last six Derbys.

 

All of them are entered in this year's race.

 

· The 38th Snowball Derby will be run Dec. 4 at Pensacola's Five Flags Speedway. For more information or to reserve tickets, call 944-8400 or visit www.snowballderby.com.

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Pacecar is correct; 51Sports will have the coverage of the Snowball.

 

Sports51

 

For those wondering what kind of internet access may be available at the track, and what you have to do to be able to use it, the phone number is (850) 944-8400 or 8406.

Edited by txtom
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Published - November, 24, 2005

 

Countdown to the Derby 10 days

 

Ten years ago, the 1995 Snowball Derby was sweet redemption for winner Jeff Purvis.

 

He dominated the race, leading 201 of the 328 laps, holding off Rick Crawford and Jody Ridley at the finish.

 

It was the completion of a quest that had been going on for several years for Purvis. He had dominated the three previous Snowball Derbys, but had yet to take the checkered flag.

 

He finished third in 1994, 31st in '93 and 2nd in '92 after leading more than 100 laps.

 

· The 38th Snowball Derby will be run Dec. 4 at Pensacola's Five Flags Speedway. For more information or to reserve tickets, call 944-8400 or visit www.snowballderby.com.

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Countdown to the Snowball Derby: 9 days

Rick Bickle has won more Snowball Derbys (five) than any other driver. No other driver has more than two wins.

 

But who has consistently been in the top 10?

 

Four drivers have finished second in three different races -- Freddy Fryar, who also won twice; Jody Ridley, who also won once; former winner Butch Miller; and Eddie Mercer, who finished second last year to Stephen Wallace.

 

Jeff Purvis has the most third-place finishes with three.

 

Ridley, who won in 1985 and has raced in 27 Snowball Derbys, has the most top-five finishes with 12 and the most top-10 finishes with 16.

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Published - November, 26, 2005

 

Countdown to the Derby 8 days

 

(Actually there is 8 former champions when adding in Bobby Gill!)

 

So far, seven former Snowball Derby champions have entered to try to win the 38th annual event.

 

The list is led by defending champion Stephen Wallace, who last year became the youngest driver at age 17 to win the event.

 

In fact, the past five winners will attempt to qualify for the race. Besides Wallace, Charlie Bradberry (2003), Ricky Turner ('02), Wayne Anderson ('01) and 2000 winner Gary St. Amant have entered.

 

Other former champions entered include Dave Mader III ('78 ) and Ronnie Sanders ('77).

 

· For more information or to reserve tickets, call 944-8400 or visit www.snowballderby.com.

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Now, an additional challenge has been offered by Allen Turner Hyundai. If the fastest qualifier chooses to start the race from the rear of the field and wins the 100-lap race, he will claim an additional $5,000, making it a $10,000 payday.

 

Sounds like someone has been watching Terry Dickerson... :)

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Sounds like someone has been watching Terry Dickerson...

 

Actualy, The Snowball weekend has had these kind of race incentives for far longer than I can remember. For years, when the Snowflake and Snowball ran under identical rules, they offered a bonus to anyone who could double up and win both. You had to use different cars for each, so not everyone tried it, but several teams had additional cars.

They have also had other events at Five Flags where they offered a bonus for those electing to start from the rear.

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Countdown to the Derby 7 days

From staff reports

 

Two drivers coming into the Snowball Derby with the most momentum could be the two drivers who won major Late Model races during November.

 

Freddie Query won the Asphalt World Championship at Concord (N.C.) Motorpark. He also wrapped up the Big 10 Series Super Late Model championship with five wins in 10 starts.

 

Query has started in nine Snowball Derbys.

 

Mike Fritts is coming off a victory in the 40th annual Governor's Cup at New Smyrna Speedway. He held off former Snowball Derby champion Wayne Anderson for his second title in the event.

 

Fritts made his first Snowball Derby start last year and finished 29th.

 

· The 38th Snowball Derby will be run Dec. 4 at Pensacola's Five Flags Speedway. For more information or to reserve tickets, call 944-8400 or visit www.snowballderby.com.

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I think they should have a blue/gray race for the non-qualifiers for the Snowball Derby, just like they did in Nashville. You're looking at a field of almost 30 late models. That would be cool for all the ones who made the long haul, all they want to do is race and if they don't make it, they at least know they have another race to shine.

 

Here is a link to last years results on our forum:

 

 

http://txsz.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=...hl=entry41678

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Countdown to the Derby 6 days

The 38th annual Snowball Derby on Dec. 4 will be the first without its creator, Tom Dawson, who died earlier this year.

 

Dawson created the Snowball Derby in 1968 and saw it grow to become one of the most prestigious short-track races in the nation. The unusual December date allowed most of the top drivers in the country to come to Pensacola to race.

 

He ran the track until the mid-1980s, but continued as the track's co-owner until his death.

 

For more information or to reserve tickets, call 944-8400 or visit www.snowballderby.com.

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