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The Quest for 12: ‘King of the Wing’ Sprints Return to Five Flags in Search of Historic Time

By Chuck Corder

The first time Davey Hamilton Jr. came to Five Flags Speedway his arm was in a cast.

That night just so happened to be the same evening the then-15-year-old jumped behind a winged sprint car for the first time.

“They still put me in the car even though I didn’t know what to expect,� said Hamilton Jr., the son of the Indy Car legend who he shares a name with. “I wasn’t very good. I was able to finish. That’s what the goal was, anyway.

“Come to find out later, though, that every time I turned in the corner, the cast was hitting the winged adjuster and tightened my car up.�

Junior’s tale defines what winged sprint car racing is all about: Daredevil drivers, who throw caution to the wind while whipping around tracks at breakneck speeds.

It all be on full display when the King of the Wing series returns to the famed half-mile asphalt oval Friday night. The winged pavement sprint cars will be kicking off not only their Southern Swing, but also their 2016 season.

On the line will be two shots at immortality. The most important one for drivers will be earning a victory at Pensacola’s prestigious and historic high banks.

But the second, and perhaps most intriguing, storyline for spectators and officials will be seeing if any driver can get under the track record of 13.046 seconds and hit the 12s during qualifying.

“I think it’s for sure gonna happen. No doubt, it will be beat,� Hamilton Jr. said of the record.

“I’m not necessarily saying I’m gonna get it, but somebody will. Hopefully, I could get it, but we’ll see.�

Friday night’s marquee will have an open wheel feel to it as the winged pavement sprints will be joined by the Modifieds of Mayhem and motorcycles. Additionally, The Dock at Pensacola Beach Sportsmen and the Butler U-Pull-It Bombers will whet the stock car enthusiast’s always insatiable appetite.

Gates open at 4 p.m. with racing slated for 8. The King of the Wings will get their shot at the record at 7 p.m. during qualifying. Admission is $20 for adults; $15 for seniors, military and students; $5 for children ages 6 to 11; and free for kids 5-and-under.

The current track record was set two Aprils ago when Indiana’s Brian Gerster lit up the racetrack with an average speed of more than 137 miles per hour. His time peaked at the 12-second precipice, but couldn’t quite get there.

Hamilton Jr. is so certain history will be made come Friday because of the King of the Wing’s talented lineup that features drivers willing to test the limits of a winged sprint car.

“This year is more competitive than any other year,� he said. “Years past, you might have had the top two guys take off from the rest of the field. This year, it’ll be better for the whole series.�

One of the top drivers that returns with the King of the Wing is Bobby Santos III, who won the feature race at Five Flags a year ago.

While nothing would make Santos happier than adding a track record to his already glowing sprint car resume, it’s not his sole motivation for making the long trek down from his native Massachusetts.

“The track record would be cool, but winning the race is what it should be all about,� said the 30-year-old Santos, a third generation driver who also drives Modifieds on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in the northeast. “There are a lot of capable teams that have been doing their homework and hope to bring a fast car to Pensacola.�

A full grandstands is expected to greet Santos, Hamilton Jr. and the rest of the King of the Wing drivers. The winged sprints are annually one of the hottest tickets Five Flags offers its adoring public and with a shot at history on the line, this year’s edition promises to be no different.

“There’s nothing better than going somewhere and getting a full house,� Santos said. “It’s the speed factor. That’s what racing is all about is going fast. The winged sprints are as fast as it gets. It’s exciting for fans.�

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