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Snowball Derby Starting Spots on the Line in SSS Finale

The Snowball Derby is most prestigious Super Late Model race in the county.  Just making the field for the event, which will celebrate its 47th annual running on Sunday, December 7 at Pensacola, Florida’s Five Flags Speedway, is a career highlight for most drivers.  For some, one of those coveted starting spots could be on the line in the final two races of the Southern Super Series presented by Sunoco, September 19 at Five Flags and September 20 at Mobile International Speedway in Alabama.

A Snowball Derby provisional starting spot will be awarded to the highest non-qualifying driver from the top-10 in both the Southern Super Series and from the four-race SSS mini-series at Five Flags, the Buddy’s Home Furnishings Blizzard Series.

In the Blizzard Series, John Hunter Nemechek is in 10th place in the standings, however he will not be attending the final race at Five Flags Friday because he is scheduled to compete in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway Saturday.  That will leave Kyle Bryant, Johanna Long and Allen Karnes to fight for the final spot in the top 10.   Any of those drivers could jump to ninth if current ninth-place points runner Kyle Grissom finds trouble at Five Flags.  Long could also fall back on a former Snowball Derby Past Champions provisional if needed. Both Bryant and Karnes would be making the Derby for the first time if they make the race.

On the Southern Super Series side it’s a little different.  Casey Smith holds the final spot and plans to be racing that weekend.  If he has trouble, that would open the door for Will Gallaher, Mike Garvey and Harrison Burton to potentially make the top 10 in the final points.

The Southern Super Series presented by Sunoco will end the season with a Gulf Coast weekend doubleheader beginning at Five Flags Speedway on Friday, September 19 for the Buddy’s Home Furnishing Blizzard Series finale.  The final race of the year will be run the next night on Saturday, September 20 at Mobile International Speedway, which will be a race to decide the 2014 Southern Super Series championship.

- 51 Sports, Southern Super Series press release.

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