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Aramendia Captures 2nd Mods Win on Demolition Derby Night; Babb Parties to Demo Derby Crown

By Chuck Corder

At the beginning of every year, Five Flags Speedway fans near and far circle the date of the Demolition Derby.

Texan Joe Aramendia has quickly become a part of that group, albeit for a different reason.

The veteran Modifeds driver came to the famed half-mile asphalt oval last August and came away with a 50-lap feature win.

Aramendia made a triumph return to Victory Lane on Friday night at Pensacola’s high banks almost a year to the date by winning the Modifieds of Mayhem 50 lapper in front of a near-capacity crowd.

“All I had to do was ride and guide,� Aramendia said. “I don’t have a home racetrack these days, so I’m calling this my home now.�

Aramendia, 53, took the lead on Lap 41 in Turn No. 1, passing Donnie Hamrac, who had led for much of the race. Hamrac finished as the runner-up.

Before Hamrac, Aramendia dealt with Modifieds of Mayhem points leader Jeff Letson. Aramendia grazed Letson going into Turn No. 1 on Lap 33, but showed class by backing off and not wrecking Letson.

A lap later, Aramendia got the second spot from Letson and made his charge toward Hamrac. Letson took home third.

“Donnie and Letson, they’re fast, boy,� Aramendia said. “I need that Snowball Derby win. We’ve been close several times. But I’ll take a win anytime I can get it.�

Hamrac’s problem once again was not saving enough at the end. A past former track and Modifieds Snowball Derby champion, Hamrac failed to charge back once Aramendia pulled ahead for good.

“We burned the tires off of it,� he said. “We freed it up, but went a little too far with it.�

Okie Mason started on the pole, but couldn’t repeat the success he enjoyed last month at Five Flags.

The last time the Modifieds of Mayhem came to Pensacola, Mason led wire to wire. This Friday, Mason led the first 13 laps until Hamrac got around him.

 

Demolition Derby

The annual crash fest never disappoints. This year’s edition was no exception.

Ten clunkers and junkers, all painted up with elaborate schemes made mince meat out of each until Justin Babb stood above them all.

After putting the finishing touches to Kurtis Bailey, Babb climbed out of his car and enjoyed a rooftop celebration.

Babb won the Demolition Derby and the $1,500 first prize that came with it. Bailey was awarded $500 for second and John Burks of Milton took home $250 for third.

“I like to party!� Babb said in providing his key to victory. “I’ve been doing this for five years. Each time, it’s awesome.�

 

The Dock on Pensacola Beach Sportsmen

Steve Buttrick knows races aren’t always won in the opening laps.

The four-time Sportsmen Snowball Derby king and two-time series track champion has made trips to Victory Lane in a variety of ways at Five Flags Speedway.

On Friday, he watched Jonathan Langham battle Jim Pokrant for the lead early until Langham cleared Pokrant on Lap 5.

The hard racing between those two paved the way for Buttrick, who shadowed Langham around the oval until getting the lead on Lap 8 and never looking back.

It marked Buttrick’s fifth 25-lap The Dock on Pensacola Beach Sportsmen victory of the season. Langham and Pokrant rounded out the podium, respectively.

“Jim and Jonathan got together, and it opened the door for me,� Buttrick said. “Jonathan did a good job. We were battling a long while.�

 

Butler U-Pull-It Bombers

Their budding rivalry aside, B.J. Leytham and Robert Balkum know how to put on a show.

The two Butler U-Pull-It Bombers drivers drove each other hard and clean Friday night at Five Flags Speedway.

Leytham scored his fourth consecutive 20-lap Bombers feature win, an eye-popping seventh of the season, but not before he and Balkum waged one of the best battles of the year.

The pair were side by side for the opening seven laps until Leytham pulled in front of Balkum on Lap 8 in Turn No. 1.

Balkum, who led early from the pole, finished second and Tommie Blocker took away third.

“That was a lotta fun,� Leytham said. “It was a good close race. Once I started hitting my marks, we seemed to get him. My team is just phenomenal, from the sponsors to everybody that helps us.�

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