FANTASY NASCAR Racin

The typical mild weather on the beaches of Pensacola is what makes racing enjoyable, but that wasn’t the case heading into the opening weekend of Five Flags in 1953. The first track promoter of Five Flags, L. H. Williamson, faced an extended period of persistent rainfall delaying the paving of the track as the clock ticked down to the start of the inaugural race weekend. Since the paving had been delayed by the weather and the track had been sprayed with a preparatory coat of cut-back in preparation for the application of asphalt. Original promoters, Alf Knight and Ted Chester had dirt spread over the hastily prepared surface to cure it and soak up some of the moisture. When starting time rolled around, the sweeper was back-

flagged to the pits and the action began. The result was a 14-car pileup caused by the dusty conditions on the first lap of the first feature. Thus ended the first day of racing. When weather finally relented, the paving was able to be completed two weeks later on June 13, 1953. The following day, Five Flags’ only NASCAR Grand National Series (now Sprint Cup Series) race was held at the speedway. The race failed to complete its 200 scheduled laps, though, as a result of rain once again putting a damper on the track’s day. After the running of 140 laps, Herb Thomas became the first and only driver to collect a Cup victory at Five Flags. Lee Petty had led much of the race but fell back as it

started to rain because he didn't have windshield wipers and couldn't see. Dick Rathman would finish second and Petty third. A handful of others promoted the speedway before Williamson sold it to Ohio businessman Tom Dawson in 1968. One of those was Frank Bielarski, the grandfather of NASCAR Craftsman Truck driver, Rick Crawford. In a surprise move, Dawson declared that full-bodied Stockers would replace the Supermodifieds, figuring that the dwindling fields of cars could be beefed up with the cheaper Stock Cars. His intuition proved to be correct, and the Late Models have been the premier class at the sweeping half-mile oval every since. A long-distance event run in December of his first year proved to be Dawson’s most rewarding promotion. The first Snowball Derby was only a 100-lapper compared to today’s 300 circuits, but it

set the stage for one of the Nation’s most successful and prestigious events. Ageless Red Farmer claimed the pole for the inaugural Derby but perennial track champ, Wayne Niedecken came home the winner. The Derby was only televised once: 1995, as a part of the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Late Model Series. Currently, for many race fans, the stock-car racing season ends in mid November: snow blankets the northern tracks throughout the offseason, and top-level stock-car racing in America is put at a halt until the engines are fired back up at Daytona in February. But, on the mild-weathered beaches of Pensacola, Florida, stars from all levels of racing — Cup Series included — take to the green flag at Five Flags Speedway’s half-mile oval once more in early December, where up to 37 of the most talented short-track drivers around battle it out for 300 laps in arguably the most prestigious event in Super Late Model racing: the Snowball Derby. Except for eight years when the race was ru n under the NASCAR All Pro series banner; the Snow Ball Derby has been run as an unsanctioned event. Despite the Derby’s status as an unsanctioned event, competitors and fans aren’t discouraged from flocking to Pensacola every December. Every year since 1968, the Derby has been run on the first weekend of December and draws competitors from every racing background imaginable. One Cup driver who has claimed a win in the prestigious event is Rich Bickle

Fantasy NASCAR Racing

FIVE FLAGS SPEEDWAY - PENSACOLA FL