30th Annual Snowball Derby: Super Late Model Qualifying Report and Starting Grid
8 December 1997
Pensacola, FL - Today is 'Late Model Day' at the 30th Annual Burger King
Snowball Derby. With two qualifying sessions, two races and practice for
over 100 Late Models the day was a busy one. The action on the track got
underway early with practice and it was Gary Sullivan of Baton Rouge, LA
who lost it in turn four and backed into the outside wall. Rebounding
across the track, he collected the sliding car of Mark Gerke who was trying
hard to get stopped. Sullivan's car was not repairable, but fortunately he
had brought a backup and was soon back on the track. Gerke was able to make
repairs and he too returned to action.
Mike Harmon, who had spun coming off turn four in qualifying the
previous night, again spun in turn 4 and this time he hit the outside wall
hard. Severe damage to the left front and left rear of the car had the crew
working hard to get it ready to race tomorrow. Harmon will benefit from one
of four provisionals and will start the race from the 19th row of the grid.
"It seemed like something broke in the rear end," said the
Birmingport, AL driver afterwards. "We are replacing the rear axle and the
left front suspension so that we can race."
Following practice the first order of business was qualifying for
the Pete Moore Late Model 100. This race features the 'Saturday Night'
style of Late Models that race at local tracks on a weekly basis. Tony
Walls of Albertville, AL was the quickest in time trials and started the
108 lap race from the pole. This is the 8th Annual Pete Moore 100, and like
its big sister, The Snowball, one lap is added each year.
Next it was time for second round qualifying for the Snowball Derby
competitors and NASCAR All Pro driver Stephen Christian of Sugar Hill, GA
was the fastest of the 35 cars that made qualifying attempts. The fastest
twelve cars made the field for the Derby. Showing just how hard it is to
make this quality field, Gary St Amant, a previous Snowball Winner failed
to make it through on time and will be forced to run the Last Chance race.
Others who failed to make the field included Wayne Niedeken Jr, son of the
man who won the very first Snowball in 1968, 1996 and 1997 Southern All
Stars Series Champion Johnny Brazier, and ARCA and Southern All Stars
competitor John Wilkinson III.
Following the running of the Pete Moore 100 there was a 100 lap
'Last Chance" race for the Snowball cars, from which the first four
transferred to the 30th Annual Snowball Derby. Ronnie Couture of Pensacola,
FL won the race and took the 33rd starting spot on the Derby grid. Also
gaining transfers to the Snowball were John Wilkinson III, Wayne Niedeken
Jr, and Mike Arnold. Mike Harmon, Gary St. Amant, Johnny Brazier and Lloyd
Ritchie of Southampton, Ontario gained the four provisional starting spots
to make up the 40 car Snowball Derby starting field.
Tomorrow 30th Annual Burger King Snowball Derby will take the green
flag at 1:00 PM (CST). Prerace activities get underway at 11:00 AM.
John Kaiser -- The Auto Channel
Five Flags Speedway - Qualifying results for the
30th Annual Burger King Snowball Derby,
Super Late Models:
Ps.No. Driver , Car
-- ---- -----------------------------------------------------
Row 1
1 72 Eddie Mercer Eddie Mercer Auto/Fast Eddies Chev
2 54 Scott Carlson Advance Construction/Willie Rest Chev
Row 2
3 45 Rich Bickle Terminal Trucking Chev
4 5 Bobby Gill Terminal Trucking Chev
Row 3
5 8 Freddie Query W.J. Plemons Ins/Hamner Engines Chev
6 3 Tim Sauter Build-A-Mold/Trimplas Chev
Row 4
7 52 Scott Hansen AFCO/Victor Ford Ford
8 42 Brian Ross Ultra Tech/Royal Purple/Wade ConsChev
Row 5
9 14 Rick Crawford Hogan Lumber/Circle bar Motel Chev
10 53 Robert Burroughs Burroughs Motorsports Chev
Row 6
11 96 Greg Davidson W Side Performance/Davinci Carbs Chev
12 1 Tracy Goodson Lifestyle Vinyl/Southern LightninChev
Row 7
13 F97 Red Farmer K.C. Racing/Long Lewis Ford Chev
14 44 Derrick Gilchrist Drinkard Litho/Emerald Coast Chev
Row 8
15 84 Dave Mader III Hamner Engines/BRJ Racecars Chev
16 11 David Rogers TM Ranch/RC Dunn Chev
Row 9
17 111 Donald Long Group III Asphalt/Sam's Seafood Chev
18 1Y Keith Cahela Y-Mart/Big Ed's/Boaz Tax Serv Chev
Row 10
19 25 Scott Wimmer Lee Ceramic Tile/Kipley Perf Chev
20 58 Darrell Brown Gr.American Race Car/Veterans OilChev
Row 11
21 0 Steven Christian Bell South/Clements Engines Chev
22 51 Jeff Purvis Victor Ford/Phoenix Construction Ford
Row 12
23 40 Mike Garvey Coors Light/AFCO Chev
24 83 Joey Clanton Southern Linc/Racing Radios Chev
Row 13
25 77 Tom Hernly Sawyers Pontiac/Miller Racing Chev
26 71 Harold Fair Jr Left Hander/VP Fuel/Lane Auto Chev
Row 14
27 98 Jody Ridley El Puente/Pro Line Door Ford
28 24e Keith English Eagle Tire Serv/Matthews Roofing Chev
Row 15
29 61 Matt Hagens Eagle Creek Aviation/Port City Chev
30 81 Tony Walls Chandeleur Homes/Walls Accessory Chev
Row 16
31 181 Tim Bryant Harrington Elec/P'Cola Auto BrokrChev
32 65 Andy Kirby Bob Williams Auto/S&H Chrome Chev
Row 17
33 152 Ronnie Couture Pensacola Tractor/Hicks Ent. Chev
34 59 John Wilkinson III Quality Lube/City Auto/Hamner Chev
Row 18
35 99 Wayne Niedeken Jr Norwood marine/Everwood Chev
36 60 Mike Arnold Strickland Tire/AMC Trailers Chev
Row 19
37 7 Gary St Amant Wynns/Birk Transfer Chev Provsnl
38 24 Mike Harmon Lonesome PineTimber/S&N Products Pont Provsnl
Row 20
39 711 Johnny Brazier Frogg Toggs/Moody Monday's Ford Provsnl
40 62 Lloyd Ritchie Orange Blossom Special Chev Provsnl
Track Length : 0.5000 Miles
John Kaiser -- The Auto Channel