12/12/2018
Five Flags Speedway
Top 10 Snowball Stories from Speed 51
Seven days later than originally planned, the 51st Annual Snowball Derby is finally in the record books. The event, which turned into a two-week affair as a result of Mother Nature, featured loads of storyline that were covered on Speed51.com. Today, we take a look back at the top 10 stories coming out of the 51st Annual Snowball Derby.
If these 10 stories aren’t enough for you, visit Speed51.com’s Snowball Central presented by Schaeffer’s Specialized Lubricants for a full list of stories from the event.
1. Gragson Leaves KBM With Another Snowball Derby Trophy
Noah Gragson came to Pensacola, Florida with unfinished business, looking for a win in the Snowball Derby to complete his tenure with Kyle Busch Motorsports. Gragson finished that business at Five Flags Speedway, winning the 51st Annual Snowball Derby and continuing KBM’s success at the event.
Bonus: Time to Take Gragson Seriously After Snowball Derby Victory
2. Pollard, Majeski Tangle in Snowball Derby
A pair of Super Late Model heavyweights tangled during the 51st Annual Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway (FL). Georgia ace Bubba Pollard and Wisconsin native Ty Majeski collided with 14 laps remaining, forcing Pollard to the sidelines and relegating him to a 26th-place finish.
3. Burton’s Hail Mary Attempt Comes Up Short at Derby
Harrison Burton had perhaps the fastest car during the 51st Annual Snowball Derby, but at the end of the night he only had a 10th-place finish to show for it.
4. Hurricane Victims Finding Relief at the Snowball Derby
For short track racing fans, Five Flags Speedway (FL) is a mecca of speed playing host to the premier asphalt late model race in America: the Snowball Derby.
It can be lost in the ceremony and celebration that Pensacola is part of a region that was devastated earlier this year by Hurricane Michael. Michael was the strongest storm on record to hit the Florida panhandle, and it left insurmountable damage in its wake.
5. Purdy Produces Pivotal Snowflake 100 Victory
With an uncertain future ahead of him, Chase Purdy closed out the 2018 season on a positive note, winning a hectic Allen Turner Snowflake 100 at Five Flags Speedway.
6. Tears Flow After Bryant’s Derby Dreams Become Reality
Kyle Bryant just couldn’t help it. As soon as he found out he was officially in the 51st Annual Snowball Derby, the tears began to flow. He fought to keep them to a minimum, but the emotion of the moment was just too much.
7. Four Disqualified in Snowball Derby Pure Stock Race
A quartet of Pure Stock drivers felt the wrath of the “The Room of Doom� during the opening night of the 51st Annual Snowball Derby.
8. Snowball Derby Modified Driver Recovering After Surgery
A frightening crash with four laps remaining in Sunday’s Modifieds of Mayhem race at Five Flags Speedway sent a pair of drivers to the hospital. Billy Melvin, one of the racers involved in the crash, remains in the hospital and is currently recovering from surgery.
9. Grill Earns Seventh Career Snowball Derby Weekend Win
After waiting nine days to run their portion of the Snowball Derby, the Modifieds of Mayhem Tour finally waved the checkered flag on the 2018 season Sunday afternoon at Five Flags Speedway.
Through a race marred by multiple yellow and red flag periods, the front runners shined all race long, with Augie Grill chasing down early dominator Derrick Griffin and holding off Kyle Purvis for his second straight win at the Snowball Derby in a Modified.
10. Late Black Flag Dashes Lessard’s Derby Chances
Raphael Lessard stood on the cusp of winning the 51st Annual Snowball Derby late Sunday evening at Five Flags Speedway (FL). However, what appeared to be the makings of an epic duel between Lessard and Kyle Busch Motorsports teammate Noah Gragson faded with a late-race mechanical issue.
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