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Burton sits on Snowball Pole. Modifieds, Trucks & Pro Lates rain delayed a week to next Saturday,

Burton Blazes Trail to Pole for 51st Snowball Derby; Grill among Major Names in Last-Chance Race

UPDATED

Modifieds of Mayhem  rained out, Scheduled to run on Saturday Dec 8th , along with Pro Trucks and Allen Turner Snowflake 100 for Pro Late Models

By Chuck Corder

Harrison Burton’s future among racing’s biggest stars is bright.

In just a matter of months, the 18-year-old will climb behind the wheel of a Kyle Busch Motorsports truck and compete full-time in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series.

Before that, though, the son of NASCAR legend and current NASCAR on NBC analyst Jeff Burton wants to add short-track racing’s most coveted piece of hardware to his trophy case.

Harrison Burton took a giant leap toward that goal when he won the pole for the 51st annual Snowball Derby on Sunday at Five Flags Speedway.

Burton set the fast time during Derby qualifying on Friday with a blistering time of 16.273 seconds, topping 46 of the most elite Super Late Model drivers in the sport.

“We’ve got a great racecar,� Burton said. “I’m honored and humbled. These are some tough guys to beat. I’ve got my dad’s genes, but he lit a fire in me before we qualified. It’s nice to come out and get the job done.�

The 2017 NASCAR K&N East champion with five victories, Burton won the Rattler 250 earlier this year, as well as the ARCA race at Pocono.

He was the seventh car to take to the track Friday and had no troubles topping Preston Peltier’s fast time of 16.344 seconds, which held the top spot early on.

Canadian Cole Butcher, driving a car owned by fellow Derby driver Donnie Wilson, will start outside of Burton on the front row after a lap of 16.327 seconds. Jeff Choquette (16.378), a multi-time late model winner at Pensacola’s high banks, will start inside of Peltier on Row 2.

Logan Boyett was the highest Pensacola qualifier in sixth position and “Redneck Jesus� Bubba Pollard will occupy the 12th spot for the one race that has eluded him in 10 previous starts.

There will be some big names competing in the Derby last-chance race on Saturday. Two-time Derby champion Augie Grill will join the likes of Steve Wallace, another past Derby champ.

David Rogers will also be in the last-chance race. The Orlando driver is looking to make his 33rd career Derby start, which would eclipse the mark set by short-track icon Red Farmer.

 

Saturday's activity was all washed out, and rescheduled for Saturday Dec 8th.  Modifieds, Pro Late qualifying and last chance race if needed, and Pro Truck practice, qualifying and 50 lap feature.

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