12/1/2017
Five Flags Speedway
DRAW SETS LINEUP FOR SNOWBALL DERBY QUALIFYING NIGHT
While the most intense qualifying session in Super Late Model racing is two days away, the lineup has been set for Snowball Derby qualifying following the draw at Five Flags Speedway (FL) Wednesday night.
The qualifying draw for the Snowball Derby and the Snowflake 100 closed out hauler parking and technical inspection day. Hometown driver Jeremy Pate drew the number one spot in Snowball Derby qualifying, while defending race champion Christian Eckes will be the last car to take the track during the qualifying session Friday evening.
While the qualifying order will be subject to dissection and analysis as fans place their bets on which driver will lead the field to the green flag for the 50th Snowball Derby, two drivers on both ends of the running order agreed that ultimately the cream will rise to the top.
Bubba Pollard drew one of the later positions in the lineup in both races, picking chip 52 for the Snowball Derby and 43rd for the Snowflake. Pollard hoped for an earlier draw, but still believes he has a strong enough car to lock himself into the Snowball Derby field.
“I think I would be much happier with an earlier draw,� Pollard said to Speed51.com Powered by JEGS. “All in all, it’s not bad. It’s late, but the fast cars are going to go fast. As far as when you get down to sitting on the pole and qualifying fifth, it does matter. When you talk about qualifying on the pole or making the race, it doesn’t really matter.�
Pollard added that he believes his car is strong enough to take the pole, which he would love to do in order to get primary pit selection for Sunday’s race.
“The draw does matter to a certain extent, but I’m confident in our car that we can make the show and have a good qualifying effort,� Pollard said. “I would really like to sit 26 on the pole and get that number one pit stall. That would be key for us. I think we’ve got a good shot at it.�
Casey Roderick landed near the middle of the pack for the Snowball Derby, ultimately slated to take time 24th. Roderick’s draw is earlier for the Snowflake, where he took chip number 15. He echoed Pollard’s sentiment, largely unconcerned with the draw and looking at the big picture.
“I ain’t too worried,� Roderick said. “People get worked up about it, but it doesn’t make a difference. If your car isn’t right at the end, it doesn’t really matter. It’s nice to get up front and get a good starting position and a good pit road selection.�
Click here to visit our Trackside Now coverage of Wednesday’s activity at the Snowball Derby, including hauler parking, technical inspection, and a 50-lap Pure Stock feature to open the racing slate for the week.
Race fans can also order the pay-per-view package and watch all of this week’s racing by clicking here.
-Story by Zach Evans, Speed51.com Southeast Correspondent – Twitter: @ztevans
-Photo credit: Speed51.com
Snowball Derby Qualifying Order
1 89 Jeremy Pate
2 22 Donald Crocker
3 7 John DeAngelis, Jr.
4 5 Jerry Artuso
5 33 Dustin Smith
6 99 Raphael Lessard
7 51N Stephen Nasse
8 48 Preston Peltier
9 51 Kyle Busch
10 20 Brandon McReynolds
11 01 Jake Crum
12 14 Connor Okrzesik
13 18G Noah Gragson
14 88 Garrett Jones
15 75 Jeremy Doss
16 58F Jeff Firestine
17 5S Johnny Sauter
18 92 Ron McDonald
19 53 Boris Jurkovic
20 2W Donnie Wilson
21 55 Brandon Oakley
22 58 John Coffman
23 43 Dennis Schoenfeld
24 18 Casey Roderick
25 11 David Rogers
26 00 Anthony Cataldi
27 81 Chase Purdy
28 32 Stuart Dutton
29 51A Michael Atwell
30 07 Corey Lajoie
31 11B Logan Boyett
32 9 Derek Kraus
33 64 Garrett Evans
34 55D Spencer Davis
35 12 Harrison Burton
36 13 Cassius Clark
37 5M Mason Mingus
38 112 Augie Grill
39 79A Joe Aramendia
40 26S Chandler Smith
41 46 Cole Rouse
42 91 Ty Majeski
43 26 Bubba Pollard
44 19 Kason Plott
45 9C Jeff Choquette
46 32D Tyler Dipple
47 8 Tate Fogleman
48 53B Cole Butcher
49 14D Chris Davidson
50 16 Steven Davis
51 79 Kyle Bryant
52 4 Kyle Plott
53 45 Rich Bickle
54 36 Dan Fredrickson
55 4R Ben Rowe
56 15 Christian Eckes
Snowflake 100 Qualifying Order
1 21 Brandon Johnson
2 15 Jake Johnson
3 11M Jordan McCallum
4 17 Kurt Guillot
5 89 Bobby Reuse
6 97 Cole Anderson
7 23 Dalton Grindle
8 2 Austin Wood
9 00A Anthony Cataldi
10 51 Eddie Fatscher
11 14H Carson Hocevar
12 18 Casey Roderick
13 24D Mason Diaz
14 14P Tyler Porter
15 21P Ryan Paul
16 24 Christopher Tullis
17 145 Billy Melvin
18 43 Justin South
19 30 Bobby Knox, Jr.
20 88 Trevor McCoy
21 51P Perry Patino
22 04 Corey Roper
23 112 Augie Grill
24 14 Connor Okrzesik
25 4 Elliot Massey
26 5 Spencer Davis
27 46 Cole Williams
28 54 David Hite
29 12L Dan Leeck
30 26P Bubba Pollard
31 00 Branden Curren
32 11WA Willie Allen
33 51SN Stephen Nasse
34 11 Stacey Crain
35 78 Corey Heim
36 33 Dustin Smith
37 26 Chandler Smith
38 22 Steven Davis
39 R7 Ryan Worsham
40 12 Joe Graf
41 95 Derrick Griffin
42 16 Scotty Tomasik
43 55 Brandon Oakley
44 99 J.R. Niedecken
45 9 Jeff Choquette
46 28 Gary Sutton
47 51K Zachary Knowles
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