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Five Flags gears up for lots more Action

Written by Chuck Corder News Journal Correspondent www.pnj.com

It ain't broke. 

 

 

 

But that doesn't necessarily mean it ain't worth fixing either.

Five Flags Speedway experienced another banner year in 2010, capped in December by a memorable 43rd Snowball Derby that was named the top short-track event of the year.

But like the Friday night kings and queens who seek out challenges on the half-mile asphalt oval, Five Flags isn't content to spin its proverbial wheels

"First off, I think the current short-track racing environment is more competitive than it has ever been," Five Flags general manager Tim Bryant said. "But because of a little bit of a downturn in NASCAR's popularity, we've suffered somewhat of a trickle-down effect as we are asphalt racing. Even though for folks that come see us firsthand, they know it's a different animal."

That's why when the green flag drops on the upcoming season with the first of five Super Late Model races Friday, Five Flags loyalists will notice several new procedural and scheduling tweaks that track officials hope will inject more excitement.

One of the biggest changes will be putting the fastest qualifiers in any of the six divisions toward the middle of the pack for the feature event. It's not penalizing the fast car, but creating more competition.

"We had races in the past where the fastest guy virtually led every lap of race," Bryant said. "Most of the better racers love competition. That's why they do it. The better racers would just as soon rather pass a few guys than lead every lap. And certainly, the fans want to see it that way as well."

The fans are sure to also like seeing double-file restarts, another new wrinkle for this season.

"The track is already pretty tight quarters," Bryant said, "so this should make restarts rather exciting."

Excitement is something that Five Flags hasn't lacked, especially come Derby time.

With hometown girl Johanna Long's emotional first win in December, it came as no surprise when the nation's track promoters voted the Derby the top short-track event of the year last month.

"It's very rewarding for the Snowball Derby to be recognized," Bryant said. "But that award comes on behalf of the entire racing community from competitors to fans. They're the ones that make the Snowball Derby what it is."

The reigning Derby winner will be back at her old stomping grounds come Friday. In another first, Five Flags is opening the season with a Blizzard Series race.

Long & Co. like the extra attention so early in the season.

"Anytime you can put us on a pedestal, it makes us feel good," two-time Derby winner Augie Grill joked.

Grill was in Pensacola last Saturday when Five Flags opened the track for testing. However, he wasn't here testing his familiar No. 112.

Rather, Grill was helping Five Flags newcomer Bobby Good Jr. learn the ropes about the speedway's affinity to gnaw tires.

"At New Smyrna, you can drive as fast on 30-lap tires as you could on 80-lap tires and not see the chewiness," the Sanford driver said. "Out here, you can run a good time, then the second time just have a good race pace. You can feel it coming outta the corners."

That's something that will never change about Five Flags.

The track will experiment with a Hoosier tire this season that allows competitors to run 100-lappers on one set of tires. Those will come in handy for both the Blizzard Series and the Pro Late Model division, which for the first time will go to five 100-lap events.

Still, the harsh surface is what makes Five Flags so unique and challenging.

"The competition is what drives most of these guys. What keeps bring them back," Bryant said. At the end of day, they'll tell you, they want to be in a closely-contested event."

That's something that will never need fixing.

 

 

 

 

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