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Robbins Hoping to Turn Back Clock with Sanders PLM as Kids Return for Annual Bike Races After Washout

By Chuck Corder

Much of the focus this Friday at Five Flags Speedway will be about young people.

After Mother Nature postponed the original date earlier this month, at long last, it’s once again time for the annual children’s bike races.

Four age groups get a taste of what he America’s Favorite Home Track is all about.

The 5 and unders will battle spoke-to-spoke from Turn 4 to the start-finish line while the 6 through 9s, 10-12s and 13 and ups will drive it hard into all four corners just like their Friday night heroes.

All riders must wear helmets and the free registration takes place inside the main entrance when the grandstands open at 5 p.m. Friday. Trophies and ice cream will be handed out afterward.

Admission to the grandstands is as follows: $15 Adults, $14 Seniors, $12 Military/Students (12-17) and Under 11 is free. Pit passes are $25.

Once the youngsters hoist their hardware and devour their treats, a driver who experienced tremendous success in his early years hopes his shot at another Pensacola win will be just around Turn 4 when the Allen Turner Pro Late Models return for their second 100 lapper of the year.

Hunter Robbins won the Snowflake 100, the most prestigious Pro Late Model races in the nation, when he was 14. That came on Snowball Derby weekend 2005.

Nearly seven years later, the now 20-year-old junior at Auburn is hoping he can solve what has been a Pensacola puzzle for him of late.

“You gotta be smart, especially at Pensacola,� Robbins said. “You can wear out your tires and not win the race if you aren’t careful. We’ve had great past success at Pensacola, but lately it’s been hit or miss.�

He hopes a new seat will help solve those frustrations.

Robbins typically drives his family-owned No. 18 for late model races across the southeast. Friday night, he’ll be in a new, but familiar No. 18 to Pensacola’s high banks.

Robbins will be driving for Ronnie Sanders this weekend. Sanders helped guide Bubba Pollard to 19 victories last season and himself won the 1977 Snowball as a driver.

“Ronnie has not only been a great crew chief, but a great driver’s coach,� Robbins said. “I’m never going to stop bettering myself and I’m looking forward to not only what I’ll learn from (Sanders) in practice and how he works on the car, but just the knowledge he’ll give me throughout race.�

It’s easy to hear to the privilege Robbins holds in his voice for this shot to drive for a short-track legend. Even if it does work out to a one-time deal.

“I’ve always had profound respect for him for his past accomplishments, which are pretty huge,� he said of Sanders. “The facts speak for themselves about how good he is in this sport. It’s truly an honor to drive his car.

“Hopefully, we click together and communicate well together. Maybe this will be something we can build a future together with and run some more races.�

Also Friday, the Sportsmen and Bombers reach the midway point of their respective seasons.

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