The good news for those still without their tickets is that there are still tickets available for purchase.  Racing fans wanting to taste the experience can punch their ticket to the Snowball Derby today by calling the track office at (850)-944-8400 or by printing out and mailing this year’s ticket form.

“Ticket sales are doing well, they have since we mailed out the renewal forms back in April,� said Five Flags Speedway promoter Tim Bryant.  “I think the Snowball Derby is something that a large contingent of people plan year-round and we’re grateful for that.  We still have some tickets left and still some choices for seats, but we’re a little ahead of pace from where we’ve ever been.�

Much of the reason people return each year is because of the great racing that is on display throughout the week, and specifically during the granddaddy of them all – the 300-lap Snowball Derby – on Sunday.

“We’ve been blessed with some really great racing the last few years so those folks that do come for the first time they find out what they’ve been told is true,� said Bryant.  “They then tell our friends and it has, no pun intended, a kind of Snowball effect on folks.  We’re grateful for that and once the green flag flies it’s all in the hands of the drivers as to what the race produces, but there’s been some great racing the past few years.�

As of Wednesday afternoon, the names of 66 drivers could be found on the entry list for this year’s race. That list includes names such as 2014 NASCAR XFINITY Series champion Chase Elliott, defending Snowball Derby winner John Hunter Nemechek and 2015 ARCA Racing Series champion Grant Enfinger.

“We have some NASCAR participation and those guys are all still great short track racers,� said Bryant.  “They join a huge group of what we see as the most outstanding short track drivers that are coming here from everywhere.�

When Bryant says “everywhere,� he means it.  Drivers from the Midwest, Northeast, Southeast and West Coast have already filed entries for the 48^th annual Snowball Derby, making it a true battle of the best Super Late Model drivers in the country.

“Derek Thorn, Ty Majeski, right down to Bubba Pollard and Cassius Clark.  We’ve kind of got all four corners of the country covered just with those four drivers,� Bryant stated.  “You take the other 60-plus drivers and it’s definitely going to be fun come Friday night at 6 p.m. when they’re all gunning for a top-30 starting spot.�

The 48th Annual Snowball Derby weekend kicks off with the Cat Country/WEAR-TV3 Green Flag Party on Wednesday, December 2. On-track activities start Thursday, December 3, for the opening practice rounds for the Snowball Derby Super Late Models and Snowflake 100 Pro Late Models. The Five Flags Butler U-Pull-It Bombers and Beef ‘O’Brady’s Sportsman divisions will also have feature events on Snowball Derby Thursday.

The top Snowball Derby starting spots will be set on Friday, December 4 during WXBM 102.7 Pole Night at Five Flags. The Five Flags Faith Chapel Super Stocks and Modifieds will also battle in their Snowball Derby features after Super Late Model qualifying.

The Allen Turner Hyundai Snowflake 100 takes center stage on Saturday, December 5 as the top Pro Late Model racers in the country qualify and battle for 100 laps at Five Flags. In addition, Saturday’s action features the final 50-lap qualifying event for Snowball Derby drivers to make one last effort to qualify for the 300-lap Super Late Model race. The Better Built Tool Box Pro Trucks will also have a 50-lap feature on Snowball Derby Saturday.

Then on Sunday, December 6, the green flag will drop on the 48th Annual Snowball Derby at 2 p.m. CT at Pensacola, Florida’s Five Flags Speedway.

For more information on the 48th Annual Snowball Derby weekend at Five Flags Speedway, visit www.snowballderby.com. All media credential requests and inquiries for the Snowball Derby can be sent to Matt Kentfield at matt@51sports.net and/or Pat Bryant at pat@snowballderby.com.

For more information on Speed51.com and the rest of the 51 Companies, contact Jana Wimmer (Director of Business) at 51 Sports via email through jana@speed51.com and visit Speed51.com. Speed51.com is on Twitter at @speed51dotcom and on Facebook by searching Speed51.com.

-51 Sports/Snowball Derby Press Release. Photo credit: Speed51.com