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The ‘Lil’ Snowball Derby: Kiddos Steal Spotlight, Shine on Annual Bike Night The ‘Lil’ Snowball Derby: Kiddos Steal Spotlight, Shine on Annual

By Chuck Corder

It happens once a year at Five Flags Speedway.

For certain groups, it’s the most coveted prize in all of short-track racing. Guaranteed trophies and ice cream. Who could ask for anything more?

Six months shy of the 49th Annual Snowball Derby, the famed half-mile asphalt oval played host to the wildly popular “Lil� Snowball Derby, otherwise known as the kids’ annual bicycle races, on Friday night.

Children from three different age groups and their bikes — your traditional two-wheeled; your Big Wheeled; your training-wheeled — in droves they descend upon Pensacola’s high banks for what has been a summer favorite for Pensacola, particularly the Five Flags faithful.

The competition is fierce. And, look out, if you’re an unwitting parent not paying attention to the mass of adorable humanity coming at you. Who needs brakes at a short track anyway, right?

The 5-and-unders was a heated battle. In single file, the tykes marched with their game faces on through the grandstands before taking their first steps onto sacred ground.

Trenton Sharp, 5, conquered on his big green machine.

“I’ve been doing stunts in the (infield) over there,� Trenton announced his recipe for success after a victorious, not to mention circuitous, lap through the pits.

Young Trenton seemed inspired by another act that shared the marquee on Friday night — freestyle Moto-X daredevil Tim Dyson.

“I love Pensacola,� Dyson said after his acrobatic airborne act with partner Mark Merrix. “This has been awesome. Underneath our helmets, we could hear the fans screaming.�

Dyson might have drawn the biggest “ooooh’s� for his mid-air backflip, but the little biddies got the biggest “awwww’s� for their sprint from the exit of Turn No. 4 to the start-finish line.

Rocky Boyd III is familiar with the start-finish line.

He stood around and played in Victory Lane numerous times when his father was wheeling a Bombers car. “R.B. 3� has also been at the start-finish line three consecutive years now to accept the 6- to 9-year-old winner’s trophy after his latest win Friday.

With 47 other drivers, R.B. 3 had a close battle on his hands this year. And, sure enough, it came down to the final hundred feet (the 6-9’s completed one full track revolution) before R.B. 3 prevailed.

“It was a good race. It was fun. You have to pay attention and give it all you got,� R.B. 3 said, dispensing advice for any driver at Five Flags, no matter the age.

The veterans of this spoked affair are the 10- to 12-year-olds.

With his big, fat tires guiding his way to a checkered-flag finish, 12-year-old Devin Blanchard was humble in victory.

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