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Snowball Cubed: Buttrick Wins Third Straight Sportsmen Derby with Thrilling Finish

By Chuck Corder

Steve Buttrick completed the Snowball Derby hat trick.
But of his three consecutive Sportsmen series Derby wins, this was by far his most challenging.

Instead of playing his usual hunted role, Buttrick became the hunter Thursday at Five Flags Speedway, passing James Patrick late in the 50 lapper to etch his name in Derby lore.

“That was great!� the Cantonment driver exclaimed. “I developed a real loose condition, something in corners. I was able to get underneath and get the lead.�

Buttrick, the fast qualifier (20.882 seconds), led for much of the first half of the race until Patrick passed him on Lap 22.

Buttrick fell back as far as third before rallying on a restart to get by Patrick on Lap 31 with a bonsai move for the ages. He held on for a wild win, as Patrick tried to take back the lead on the outside coming out of Turn 4.

Patrick might finished as the feature’s runner-up, but was later DQed in post race inspection.

The race, which had spotless for the first half, became marred by cautions. There was a huge crash with 29 complete when Marty White barreled into Rob McLendon between turn Nos. 1 and 2.

McLendon already was spinning after a car got into his side and White didn't have time to check up, slamming McLendon in the driver’s door at nearly full speed.

“I didn’t have anywhere to go,� White told trackside reporter Dave Pavlock.

The popular co-host of 102.7 WXBM’s morning show has been a vital part of this class for the last few years. But the bumps and bruises and repairs seem to have taken their toll on White.

“This was my last race,� he said. “I hate to go out like that; dadgum it.�

McLendon is well known at the famed half-mile oval for his exploits on a motorcycle. In his first race on four wheels, he paid a costly price.

“I was just driving along, learning how to drive these things and all hell broke loose,� McLendon said. “Now, I have a bunch of scrap metal to take home.�

Such is racing.

Moments later another group of cars careened into the outside wall going into Turn 1, igniting a chain reaction with the rest of the 24-car field.

Bubba Winslow and Jimmy Goodwin where involved with the former taking exception to the latter’s brand of driving. Winslow drove around the oval, pulled alongside Goodwin to exchange some unpleasantries before track officials stepped in.

On the restart, the leaders went three wide with Buttrick’s daring maneuver paying off to perfection, passing Patrick on the inside.

Patrick did not fade quietly, but his timing in the turns was off just a touch.

IIt ended with Buttrick firwst, Brandon Fowler 2nd, Michael Couture 3rd, Randy Thompson 4th, and Gary Goodwin 5th.

Here is the rest of the finishing order:

6 Chad Robinson

7 Mark Barnhill

8 Steven Allday

9 Jimmy Greene, Jr

10 Howard Langham

11 Jonathan Graves

12 Jared Courtney

13 Kenny King

14 Shanna Ard

15 Jimmy Goodwin

16 Bubba WInslow

17 Jonathan Langham

18 Ethan Hardin

19 Michael Ledlow

20 Rob McLendon

21 Marty White

22 Jim Pokrant

23 Willie Kirchen

24 James Patrick

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