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After Successful Year in ARCA, Mingus Hopes for Snowball Success

Tennesse Native Using Experience Gained in 2013 for Snowball Run
51 Sports / Snowball Derby PR

Now, Mingus is hoping this year of valuable learning experiences will put him where he needs to be as a driver to contend in the 46th Annual Snowball Derby come December 8 at Pensacola, Florida's Five Flags Speedway.

"I'm really looking forward to going back to the Snowball Derby,� said Mingus. “We've had some bad luck there the past couple of times, though. I really feel like the place owes us a little bit. We've learned a lot since the last time we were there after with running ARCA and some of the bigger Super Late Model shows and with the Truck this season. We've been strong in those all year. I think we're going to be really good."

Mingus feels the long-run nature of the Snowball Derby fits his style more than the traditionally shorter regular-season events where qualifying is so crucial. Despite the stressful nature of making the event, Mingus is confident that once in the show, he’ll have the time he needs to make his moves when it counts.

"I love the longer races, but man we struggle in qualifying,� admitted Mingus. “Even in short runs we struggle a bit, but long runs we're really good; it's something that we've gotten used to. I love the longer races, it gives you time to figure out things with the car and make adjustments. We don't always fire off super strong, but we've got time to make adjustments with pit stops, then sit back and ride and pick them off one by one. And it seems we always are able to save the tires and then be able to go all out with about 50 laps to go."

After trying his hand in different series throughout his career, Mingus always seems to come back home to the short tracks, like many Snowball Derby competitors who spend their regular season in different forms of racing.

"Short track racing is what I know,� said Mingus. “We've got some big track experience now and that was a lot of fun, but short track racing is my home and is what I love; it's what I know best. Anytime I get the chance to race the Super Late Model, that's where it's at. Bumping and rubbing with everyone and since we didn’t run a full season in them this year, there was no pressure with points or anything. That's what makes the Snowball Derby so special. It's the biggest and best short track race around and the biggest race to win. We're just going all out and hopefully we're fast."

The 2013 edition of the event will be Mingus’ fourth attempt at the Snowball Derby. His best effort came with a solid seventh-place result in the 2010 edition of the 300-lap event.

For event information, a detailed Snowball Derby weekend schedule and more, visit www.snowballderby.com

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