Buttrick Leads Local Flavor at Snowball Derby Weekend
Pensacola, FL – The Snowball Derby is not just about the Super Late Models. It’s also the Snowball Derby for all the local classes, and there are many stories to tell. One is that of Steve Buttrick the standout in the Beef O’Brady’s Sportsman division. He finished fourth in points during the 2015 season, but as a four-time winner of the biggest race of the year he’s developed a niche for coming up big at the Snowball Derby.
“It doesn’t matter what class you’re in,” said Buttrick. “This is the biggest race of the year. This is our Snowball Derby. I didn’t start racing till I was 50 so I don’t have plans to move up and run other classes. This is my hobby and the wins I have had have been special. “
Buttrick was going for an unheard of fifth-straight win a year ago before he got taken out in a wreck ending his bid.
“I am looking forward to going for another one,” added Buttrick. “We hopefully got our bad luck at the test last Saturday after we got into the wall. It’s a sinking feeling when the car shoots up the track and goes into the wall. We got the car back to the pits and made sure if was okay after some repairs and we were turning fast laps later that night.”
Buttrick will have to deal with last year’s winner Brannon Fowler, this year’s track champion Shanna Ard and several others in his bid for a fifth win.
After the race, Buttrick will be around all weekend to take in the Snowball Derby to catch the racing action in the other classes.
“I have a four-day pass and I’ll be there tailgating like everyone else,” added Buttrick. “We have won four times and we just want to go out and have fun. Hopefully we can capture another one and really enjoy the weekend.”
Other stories include Donnie Hamrac, who will be chasing his third-straight win in the highly competitive Modified division. He will have to contend with some strong names like Jeff Letson, Billy Melvin and former Derby winner Augie Grill.
The Super Stocks have had eight different winners in the last eight races. This is only the third year for the trucks and they have already produced two different winners.
BJ Leytham is seeking his third win a row as well in the Bombers class.
The 48th Annual Snowball Derby weekend kicks off with the Cat Country/WEAR-TV3 Green Flag Party on Wednesday, December 2. On-track activities start Thursday, December 3, for the opening practice rounds for the Snowball Derby Super Late Models and Snowflake 100 Pro Late Models. The Five Flags Butler U-Pull-It Bombers and Beef ‘O’Brady’s Sportsman divisions will also have feature events on Snowball Derby Thursday.
The top Snowball Derby starting spots will be set on Friday, December 4 during WXBM 102.7 Pole Night at Five Flags. The Five Flags Faith Chapel Super Stocks and Modifieds will also battle in their Snowball Derby features after Super Late Model qualifying.
The Allen Turner Hyundai Snowflake 100 takes center stage on Saturday, December 5 as the top Pro Late Model racers in the country qualify and battle for 100 laps at Five Flags. In addition, Saturday’s action features the final 50-lap qualifying event for Snowball Derby drivers to make one last effort to qualify for the 300-lap Super Late Model race. The Better Built Tool Box Pro Trucks will also have a 50-lap feature on Snowball Derby Saturday.
Then on Sunday, December 6, the green flag will drop on the 48th Annual Snowball Derby at 2 p.m. CT at Pensacola, Florida’s Five Flags Speedway.
Fans unable to make it to Pensacola, Florida for the Snowball Derby can watch all of the action through a live online TV style pay-per-view broadcast on Speed51 TV. A four-day video ticket can be purchased now for $59.99 allowing fans to watch all of the action from Five Flags Speedway. Single-day video tickets are also available. Visit Speed51.com for more information.
For more information on the 48th Annual Snowball Derby weekend at Five Flags Speedway, visit www.snowballderby.com. All media credential requests and inquiries for the Snowball Derby can be sent to Matt Kentfield at matt@51sports.net and/or Pat Bryant at pat@snowballderby.com.
For more information on Speed51.com and the rest of the 51 Companies, contact Jana Wimmer (Director of Business) at 51 Sports via email through jana@speed51.com and visit Speed51.com. Speed51.com is on Twitter at @speed51dotcom and on Facebook by searching Speed51.com.
Sources: 51 Sports/Snowball Derby PR