Story by  Speed 51

Friday night at the Snowball Derby is always one of the most dramatic nights in short track racing. 

North America’s finest Super Late Model racers compete against the clock in single-car qualifying runs at Five Flags Speedway, looking for one of the 30 coveted spots in the field for the biggest event in asphalt racing.

This year, a new member of the Five Flags Speedway family of partners has stepped up to add to the excitement of the evening, providing cash bonuses for both the first and last driver to lock into the field during qualifying.

Country Meat Packers, the makers of Country Pleasin’ Sausage, Spices and Sauces, have sponsored “Country Pleasin’ Pole Nightâ€? on Friday, December 6.  The pole position for the 52^nd Annual Snowball Derby will pay $1,000 to the fastest qualifier.  New for this year’s race will be the “Cuttin’ it Closeâ€? bonus of $500, awarded to the 30^th fastest qualifier.

"It was at Blizzard Series race number two on June 21 when we first introduced the Country Pleasin' Sausage brand in the Five Flags Speedway fan zone,â€? said Five Flags Speedway promoter Tim Bryant.  â€œOur fans went crazy over the sausage dogs and we've been serving them up ever since. The Country Pleasin' folks were already into racing and we're glad to have them as part of the Snowball Derby Experience."

Country Meat Packers owner Henry Cooper has been involved in motorsports for many years, and is excited to be a part of the Snowball Derby.

“We’ve been knowing about the Snowball Derby since the 1970s, my family used to run down there,â€? Cooper said.  “I’m pretty happy about it, I think it’s going to be awesome.  I’m excited about Country Meat Packers being involved in short track racing.â€?

Dirt Late Model fans may remember seeing the Country Pleasin’ brand as a long-time sponsor in the sport, with several notable drivers formerly driving for Cooper.

“I just sold out, but I owned a two-car Dirt Late Model team.  I’ve sponsored Shane Clanton, Ronny Lee Hollingsworth, a bunch of them.â€?

Tickets for the Snowball Derby can be purchased by calling the Five Flags Speedway ticket office number at 850-944-8400. Be sure to stay with Speed51.com for much more on the Snowball Derby and visit the Five Flags Speedway website at www.5FlagsSpeedway.com.