12/10/2022
Five Flags Speedway
Wait Worth it for Winslow: Cantonment Driver Captures 2nd Outlaws Snowball Derby
Wait Worth it for Winslow: Cantonment Driver Captures 2nd Outlaws Snowball Derby
By Chuck Corder
5flagsspeedway.com reporter
Seven days later didn’t remove any luster from the championship trophy in Bubba Winslow’s eyes.
The Cantonment driver found Victory Lane on Saturday afternoon at Five Flags Speedway, officially closing the 55th annual Snowball Derby presented by Hooters with a dominant performance in the Faith Chapel Outlaws 50-lap Derby. The race was postponed late last Saturday night, early Sunday morning following a five-hour rain delay and thick fog that made the track nearly invisible.
Winslow snatched the lead on Lap 8 on Saturday and had a stranglehold the remaining way despite Jay Jay Day’s best efforts. Winslow deftly maneuvered through lapped traffic to keep Day at bay, winning the 50-lapper by 1.5 seconds. It marked Winslow’s second career Outlaws Derby title (2017). He pumped his left fist out the window as he passed under the checkered flag before setting off a memorable celebration with family, friends and fellow drivers who offered their congratulations.
“These (wins) are hard to get, let alone a Derby win,” Winslow said. “That just makes this more special.
“I know it’s not ideal, running this a week later, but we’ve got two of them now.”
Day finished second, giving the Theodore, Ala., driver two runner-ups at this year’s Derby. He was one spot shy of the win at the Zoom Equipment Pro Trucks Derby on opening night last Thursday. Pensacola’s Conner Sutton recovered from an early incident to round out the podium.
The race saw just one caution, occurring before the field of 22 Outlaws made it to Turn No. 2 and after the opening green flag dropped. Polesitter Carter Taylor and Jake Finch battled for the lead as soon as they crossed under the flag stand. They got into each other as they exited Turn No. 1, setting off a chain reaction with five of the top-eight cars involved in the wreck.
Cameron Henderson took over the lead following cleanup but failed to keep it with Winslow bearing down on him.
“We’ve finally started to click on something, and this is (an amazing) rocket ship right now,” Winslow said. “We wouldn’t have been a top-four car last week. I gotta thank my spotter and a great crew that worked their butts off.”
Lapped cars made it interesting. Day closed Winslow’s lead midway through the race, but the 2020 Outlaws Derby champion could never stick his No. 42 under Winslow’s No. 92.
“Man, I thought we were gonna get us another one,” Day said. “We had the second-place truck and second place today without a scratch on either car. That’s a win at the Derby right there.
“We were running (Winslow) down, but we burned the right rear tire. Winslow is someone I cheer for when I’m not racing here, and I’m excited for him.”
Article Credit: Chuck Corder
