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PRESS RELEASE: Monday,
July 16, 2007
Contact: Tim Bryant, 944-8400
3rd Super Late Model Blizzard Series race set for Friday
From speed51.com
Every December, when Super Late Model stars from around the country converge
on Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida for the Snowball Derby, each driver
and team knows that just getting into the race is going to be an daunting task.
With one of the single best fields of Super Late Models anywhere at the Snowball
Derby, likely half of the drivers that attempt to qualify for the race will have to watch
from the grandstands because of the top-notch competition just for starting spots
in the historic race.
But for two lucky drivers, there is the potential for a little less sweating during
qualifying for this year’s 40th Annual Snowball Derby. The top two in the final
Blizzard Series Super Late Model standings at Five Flags receive guaranteed
starting spots in this year’s 300-lap event.
With two events in the record books already, Panama City, Florida-native Ryan
Crane and Birmingham, Alabama’s Ken McFarland are currently tied atop the
Blizzard Series point standings. When the Blizzard Series returns to Five Flags on
Friday, July 20th, both drivers will not only be looking for victory in the 100-lap
race, but both will be hoping to put themselves in position for one of those
guaranteed spots in the 40th Annual Snowball Derby.
“That spot means a lot because you never know what can happen at the Derby,”
said Crane, who is tied with McFarland with 275 points each. “There’s so much
competition, so being able to run good in these Blizzard races and finish the year
well, at least it gives you a guaranteed spot. We had to rely on it two years ago
because we had a motor go bad in qualifying, so it really pays off having that spot
to fall back on.
“These Blizzard races have had some of the best fields of any race during the
year. The guys that run up front are good; a few of them have even won Snowball
Derby. There’s some tough competition to say the least, so running well in these
races means you’ve beaten some really good cars.”
Crane would know of all the competition, of course, because the young driver
finished third in last year’s Snowball Derby and won a Blizzard Series race at Five
Flags last season.
On the flip side, Ken McFarland has two starts in the Snowball Derby, with a best
finish of seventh in 2004. The veteran SLM racer has seen Five Flags Speedway
throw him a few curveballs over the years. That’s why he’s out in these Blizzard
Series races; to make sure he has a car capable of contending in the Derby so he
hopefully does not need to rely on that guaranteed spot.
“We’ve struggled from time to time (at Five Flags),” said McFarland. “That track is
difficult to get a hold of. We’ve had two good, solid finishes in the Blizzard Series
so far, so we’re hoping to go back there feeling pretty confident. We should have
another solid run. Winning is a bonus, but solid finishes are what we’re looking
for. I don’t want to say I’m point’s racing, but I am looking to get good finishes for
the points.
“The guaranteed starting spot is more important to me than someone who runs well
consistently there. I’ve been there several times and struggled to get into the
race. The way I really feel about it is if you’re not fast enough to get into the race
in the first place, you’re just spinning your wheels anyway. You’re not going to find
the magical solution overnight. To have a respectable finish in the Derby is what
we all want. I’m not looking for the provisional as much as I’m looking to just run
good and hone our skills and our car for the Snowball Derby.”
Both McFarland and Crane head into round three of the Blizzard Series on the
heels of strong runs in the first two Blizzard events of the year that have put them
in a first-place deadlock atop the points.
“The first race, we were there and we had a good night going, but at the end of the
race, Scott Carlson and Eddie Mercer got together and we came up to finish third,”
said McFarland. “It was a good, solid night, but both races there have been good,
solid finishes.”
“The first race we finished third with a real good racecar,” said Crane. “We started
way back in the field and couldn’t make it to the front fast enough. That kind of
plagued us there. Overall it was a pretty good race for us. The last time there, we
finished eighth. We had to keep coming in and out of the pits, so it was a pretty
rough night. We had a good car that could’ve been in contention, but it didn’t work
out. Now I’m looking forward to the next time we go there.”
In addition to the 100-lap SLM feature, fans will be treated to action from the Super
Stocks, Sportsmen and Bombers.
Adult grandstand admission is just $15, while Military personnel and Seniors are
14. Kids ages 6-11 are only $5, while ages 5 and under are admitted free.
Grandstand gates open at 5 p.m. with qualifying events scheduled for 6:45 p.m.
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