Mr. Perfect: Stickler Caps Magical Season with 3rd Straight Modifieds Derby Victory

12/2/2023

Five Flags Speedway

Mr. Perfect: Stickler Caps Magical Season with 3rd Straight Modifieds Derby Victory

By Chuck Corder
5flagsspeedway.com reporter

To paraphrase racing icon Ricky Bobby: Cody Sticker is just a big, hairy, winning Florida machine.

The 29-year-old Pinellas Park wheel man showed his flair for the dramatic on the biggest stage Friday night at Five Flags Speedway and capped a perfect, seven-race Modifieds of Mayhem season with a wad full of cash.

Stickler chose to start dead last in a 24-car field and captured the 75-lap Modifieds edition of the 56th annual Snowball Derby presented by Hooters and Safe Locator. It’s his third Mods Derby title in a row, joining third-place Augie Grill (2017-2019) and Donnie Hamrac (2013-2016) as fellow ground pounders who won three consecutive Derby crowns. Stickler hasn’t lost a Modis feature at Five Flags since 2021. Jaxon Bishop finished as runner-up.
“(Car owner) John Sarppraicone makes it fun,” Stickler said. “I can put it anywhere I want and do whatever I want with it.”
Stickler’s decision to start tail end proved lucrative after it nearly cost him at the drop of the green flag. Stickler earned the winner’s purse of $3,000 and a $5,000 bonus from Phoenix Water Solutions for the victory. He avoided near-disaster on the opening lap when a wreck collected a third of the field in front of him.

“Anything can happen when you start in the back,” Stickler said. “Luckily, I had no damage. I just woah-ed up as quick as I could and didn’t get in it.”
From there, he tore through the field and took the lead from the aforementioned Grill on Lap 32. Stickler quickly stretched his lead and continued to pass his fellow ground pounders. By Lap 45, there were just eight cars on the lead lap.
“Everybody knew (Stickler) was gonna be good tonight,” Grill said. “He’s been hard to beat all year. We haven’t got ourselves where need to be.”

Bromley’s Bold Move Earns Him First Crown Stocks Invitational 25 Title
You must be bold and make courageous moves to earn a Snowball Derby championship.

Tony Bromley understood the assignment Friday night at Five Flags Speedway. The Jacksonville driver made a daring late pass and won the inaugural Story & Bleich Crown Stocks Invitational 25 at the 56th annual Snowball Derby presented by Hooters and Safe Locator.
“I’ve got no words right now,” Bromley said. “There are no racetracks in Jacksonville. The closest one to me is New Smyrna. To come here and win a Derby feels amazing.”

Pensacola’s Ryan Maxwell and Chuckie Herne of Homasassa finished second and third, respectively.
On Lap 20, Herne was trying to maintain his lead while fending off Mike Stacy and Bromley. As Stacy looked to pass Herne on the back straightaway, Bromley saw his opportunity to slide under the pair and claim the lead. The move paid off.

Bromley darted to daylight and held off Maxwell down the stretch.
“This is just so much fun,” Maxwell said. “I’m 46. I’m too old to be getting out in these cars.
“We had our hands full tonight. I overheated and had to change the pan. Everything worked out well, though. Good, clean racing tonight.”

Article Credit: David Kranak Photos