Steve Kaminski The Grand Rapids Press
West Michigan stock car drivers Mike Garvey and Johnny VanDoorn barely qualified for Sunday’s 43rd annual Snowball Derby, but the two sure had an impact once the green flag dropped.
Garvey, a 48-year-old Muskegon native, finished 12th in the prestigious Super Late Model 300-lap race at 5 Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla., while VanDoorn, of Coopersville, took 18th.
Johanna Long, an 18-year old high school student from Pensacola, won the race on the half-mile short-track after surviving a series of late-race cautions.
Garvey, whose career includes stints in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck divisions, started 35th in the 37-car field after receiving a provisional starting spot. Garvey led the race with 70 laps to go when Bubba Pollard slipped by him, and he never regained the lead.
Garvey, who grew up racing at Muskegon tracks as well as Berlin Raceway in Marne, now resides in McDonough, Ga. He eventually dropped out of the top 10 Sunday after becoming involving in a number of late incidents.
VanDoorn, 22, started 34th, and he had to race his way into the field via Saturday’s 50-lap last chance race. Saturday’s top-four finishers advanced to Sunday’s main, and VanDoorn passed Stephen McCurley with two laps to go to qualify for his first Snowball Derby.
VanDoorn who won his second consecutive CRA Super Series championship this fall, drove his way up to 17th in Sunday’s first 80 laps. VanDoorn continued to climb. He was running 11th near the halfway point when he was forced to the pits due to mechanical problems. VanDoorn eventually returned to the race but lost a number of laps on pit road.
Past Snowball Derby winners include Kyle Busch, Darrell Waltrip and Donnie Allison. Long became the second female to win the race and the first since Tammy Jo Kirk took the checkered flag in 1994.
Long took the lead away from Landon Cassill with two laps to go.
"It is absolutely amazing,” Long said on Speed51.com’s post-race coverage. “I can’t believe I did it. We worked so hard for this and we did it.”
Long made contact with Cassill when making the late-race pass. The two said after the race that there were no hard feelings.
Cassill eventually finished second.
“I was on old tires and she was on new tires, so I have nothing to be mad about,” Cassill said. “She did a great job, and I’m just real proud to be in the top five here.”
Monday, December 6, 2010
Garvey Survives Snowball Demolition
Crashes snarl race
Jamie Secola • jsecola@pnj.com •
December 6, 2010
The 43rd Annual Snowball Derby started with a field of 37 cars.
When Johanna Long took the checkered flag, there were just 12 left.
But that's the treacherous nature of the Derby, the most prestigious and competitive short-track race in the country.
Wreck after wreck, breakdown after breakdown, drivers were picked off one by one in a race that saw 16 cautions. Some, like former Derby champ Dave Mader III, fell victim to faulty equipment. Some, like 2005 champion Eddie Mercer, saw their title chances wrecked with a totaled vehicle.
Some, like Mike Garvey, were outdone by aggressive driving. "It was a rough race, to put it mildly," said Mike Garvey, who led the Derby twice for a total of 55 laps and was involved in a handful of cautions. "To win, I think you should pass people and not run over them."
Even so, Garvey was one of the lucky ones. He actually finished the race at the half-mile track, where the field of 37 covers about half of the available real estate.
One of the most heartbreaking wrecks occurred on Lap 298. Chase Elliott, the 15-year-old Super Late Model phenom and son of NASCAR legend Bill Elliott, had fallen toward the middle of the field after leading for 63 laps. He slowly was making his way back toward the front when Landon Cassill spun him into a wall. Elliott — who won the Snowflake 100 on Friday — didn't return.
The same thing happened to Augie Grill, another favorite and two-time Derby champion, when he slowed for a wreck and was hit from behind.
"It's a 300-lap race, and drivers have to manage their equipment and their cars, and most of them did in the beginning," said Tim Bryant, owner of Five Flags. "But when the laps start winding down, there's a little less caution and drivers bear down a little more."
That showed in the final 38 laps, which saw seven cautions that slimmed the field from 18 down to its final 12. Bubba Pollard, who was second in laps led with 59, was one of the drivers who wrecked toward the end when he was spun out by Donnie Wilson, who finished second.
"We had a real good car," said Pollard, a regular at Five Flags. "(Wilson) usually races me pretty clean. I knew he was good. I guess he just couldn't wait any longer to pass me. It's just disappointing."
In last year's Derby, only 13 drivers were still running at the race's completion. This year, even out of the 12 that did finish, not one car escaped damage.
"At this level, guys are racing hard," said race director Dan Spence. "A lot of times, a guy gets spun because he tries to block."
"In this race, we had guys competing from 18 different states and Canada," Spence added. "That has a lot to do with it (the wrecks) because the drivers aren't familiar with one another. Also, it's not a points race, and a win is strictly for the money and the glory."
Even Long caused some of the carnage, though not intentionally. When Long made a late move for third, she tried to get around Cassill at the same time as Grant Enfinger. Enfinger attempted to pass on the outside, while Long took the inside and clipped Cassill, spinning him on the back straightaway.
"She did a great job," said Cassill, who ended up finishing fourth. "I would have done the same thing. She had the faster car with newer tires. It was a good day. We were just trying to hang in there and be there at the end, and it almost worked."
Jamie Secola • jsecola@pnj.com •
December 6, 2010
The 43rd Annual Snowball Derby started with a field of 37 cars.
When Johanna Long took the checkered flag, there were just 12 left.
But that's the treacherous nature of the Derby, the most prestigious and competitive short-track race in the country.
Wreck after wreck, breakdown after breakdown, drivers were picked off one by one in a race that saw 16 cautions. Some, like former Derby champ Dave Mader III, fell victim to faulty equipment. Some, like 2005 champion Eddie Mercer, saw their title chances wrecked with a totaled vehicle.
Some, like Mike Garvey, were outdone by aggressive driving. "It was a rough race, to put it mildly," said Mike Garvey, who led the Derby twice for a total of 55 laps and was involved in a handful of cautions. "To win, I think you should pass people and not run over them."
Even so, Garvey was one of the lucky ones. He actually finished the race at the half-mile track, where the field of 37 covers about half of the available real estate.
One of the most heartbreaking wrecks occurred on Lap 298. Chase Elliott, the 15-year-old Super Late Model phenom and son of NASCAR legend Bill Elliott, had fallen toward the middle of the field after leading for 63 laps. He slowly was making his way back toward the front when Landon Cassill spun him into a wall. Elliott — who won the Snowflake 100 on Friday — didn't return.
The same thing happened to Augie Grill, another favorite and two-time Derby champion, when he slowed for a wreck and was hit from behind.
"It's a 300-lap race, and drivers have to manage their equipment and their cars, and most of them did in the beginning," said Tim Bryant, owner of Five Flags. "But when the laps start winding down, there's a little less caution and drivers bear down a little more."
That showed in the final 38 laps, which saw seven cautions that slimmed the field from 18 down to its final 12. Bubba Pollard, who was second in laps led with 59, was one of the drivers who wrecked toward the end when he was spun out by Donnie Wilson, who finished second.
"We had a real good car," said Pollard, a regular at Five Flags. "(Wilson) usually races me pretty clean. I knew he was good. I guess he just couldn't wait any longer to pass me. It's just disappointing."
In last year's Derby, only 13 drivers were still running at the race's completion. This year, even out of the 12 that did finish, not one car escaped damage.
"At this level, guys are racing hard," said race director Dan Spence. "A lot of times, a guy gets spun because he tries to block."
"In this race, we had guys competing from 18 different states and Canada," Spence added. "That has a lot to do with it (the wrecks) because the drivers aren't familiar with one another. Also, it's not a points race, and a win is strictly for the money and the glory."
Even Long caused some of the carnage, though not intentionally. When Long made a late move for third, she tried to get around Cassill at the same time as Grant Enfinger. Enfinger attempted to pass on the outside, while Long took the inside and clipped Cassill, spinning him on the back straightaway.
"She did a great job," said Cassill, who ended up finishing fourth. "I would have done the same thing. She had the faster car with newer tires. It was a good day. We were just trying to hang in there and be there at the end, and it almost worked."
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Johanna Long Wins Snowball Derby!
43rd Annual Snowball Derby Unofficial Results :
1. Johanna Long
2. Donnie Wilson
3. Scott Hantz
4. Landon Cassill
5. Dennis Schoenfeld
6. Derrick Griffin
7. Mason Mingus
8. Travis Kittleson
9. John Bolen
10. Jimmy Garmon
11. Bubba Pollard
12. Mike Garvey
13. David Stremme
14. Casey Smith
15. Dan Fredrickson
16. Casey Roderick
17. Chase Elliott
18. Johnny VanDoorn
19. Ross Kenseth
20. Grant Enfinger
21. Cale Gale
22. Andy Loden
23. Chris Davidson
24. Jeff Fultz
25. Josh Hamner
26. Ryan Sieg
27. David Ragan
28. Augie Grill
29. Jerry Artuso
30. Dennis Prunty
31. Clay Rogers
32. Korey Ruble
33. Brandon Carlson
34. Ryan Lawler
35. TJ Reaid
36. Dave Mader III
37. Eddie Mercer
1. Johanna Long
2. Donnie Wilson
3. Scott Hantz
4. Landon Cassill
5. Dennis Schoenfeld
6. Derrick Griffin
7. Mason Mingus
8. Travis Kittleson
9. John Bolen
10. Jimmy Garmon
11. Bubba Pollard
12. Mike Garvey
13. David Stremme
14. Casey Smith
15. Dan Fredrickson
16. Casey Roderick
17. Chase Elliott
18. Johnny VanDoorn
19. Ross Kenseth
20. Grant Enfinger
21. Cale Gale
22. Andy Loden
23. Chris Davidson
24. Jeff Fultz
25. Josh Hamner
26. Ryan Sieg
27. David Ragan
28. Augie Grill
29. Jerry Artuso
30. Dennis Prunty
31. Clay Rogers
32. Korey Ruble
33. Brandon Carlson
34. Ryan Lawler
35. TJ Reaid
36. Dave Mader III
37. Eddie Mercer
Listen to the Snowmobile Derby Live
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Dec 05, 2010 - Chase Elliot - Chases.. Catches... and WINS Allen Turnber Snowflake 100
Dec 05, 2010 - Chase Elliot - Chases.. Catches... and WINS Allen Turnber Snowflake 100
Chuck Corder
Watch closely. Chase Elliott is ready to amaze at any moment. A teenage sensation in every sense of the word, Elliott has only been racing for seven of his 15 years.
But each time he climbs into one of his trademark No. 9 cars, the improbable seems likely for the son of NASCAR legend Bill Elliott.
It happened again in the Snowflake 100 on Saturday night at Five Flags Speedway.
Elliott started 31st out of 36 cars. When it was over, he wildly swung the checkered flag above his head as water, Red Bull and the crowd’s roar washed over him.
“It really shows how hard we worked for this,” said Elliott, who assumed the lead on Lap 86. “To have as many problems today … and to comeback, I’m just thankful.”
Elliott started near the tail end of the field after winning one of two last-chance qualifiers earlier Saturday. That was only necessary after he was disqualified following qualifying because officials ruled the nose of his car was too low.
None of it mattered. In fact, some of Elliott’s rivals thought the afternoon race might have helped him.
“He saw what was working,” said Bubba Pollard, who moved from third to second after Landon Cassill was disqualified in post-race inspection. “He’s a good little race-car driver, though.”
The good little race-car driver methodically made his way from the back of the pack while Augie Grill comfortably led for more than 70 laps (7 to 78).Elliott began to lean on the throttle a little bit more at the midway point, as he cracked the top 10. Then, he just began embarrassing drivers, especially coming out of Turn 4 where he shined. He mowed down Pensacola’s Johanna Long, who finished a disappointing 13th after running in the top five early. He did away with today’s Snowball Derby polesitter Cale Gale. Before you knew it, Elliott was up to fifth by Lap 70.
“I don’t believe it. The longer it went, the better he got,” papa Bill said.
The younger Elliott caught a burst of speed on Dwayne Buggay for third on Lap 78. A lap later, Pollard past Grill for the lead, but the kid wasn’t far from making his final move.
“We had a good car; we just missed a little bit,” Pollard said. “I think I raced to hard at the beginning with Augie, but that’s how he races.” After being the class of the field early, Grill fell back to sixth by the Snowflake’s end.
Long felt the sting of defeat, too, because the handling of her car continued to get worse as the race rolled on. “It’s disappointing,” she said. “I expected so much.”
The expectations will culminate in today’s 43rd annual running of the Derby, America’s most prestigious short-track race. It has been, unquestionably, a messy weekend out at Five Flags with some vicious crashes.
The Pro Late Models, though, proved their mettle by running green for the opening 34 laps before the first yellow came out. Dillon Oliver nudged Pensacola’s Tommy Rollins into the Turn 2 wall. There was just one other yellow the rest of the way, as the race finished in a blazing time of right at an hour.
Nothing was as fast as Elliott, though. “I thought at one point we were too loose,” he said.
Too loose? Now, that’s amazing.
Snowflake 100 Results � 1. Chase Elliott; 2. Bubba Pollard; 3. Mike Garvey; 4. John Bolen; 5. Daniel Hemric; 6. Augie Grill; 7. Erik Jones; 8. Cale Gale; 9. Andy Pugh; 10. Kenzie Ruston; 11. D.J. VanderLey; 12. Johanna Long; 13. Matt Smith; 14. Brandon Bendele; 15. Cody Smith; 16. David Odell; 17. Jason Young; 18. Tony Clark; 19. Logan Boyett; 20. Shanna Ard; 21. Chuck Tuck; 22. Kyle Bryant; 23. Austin Kirkpatrick; 24. Dwayne Buggay; 25. Brandon Odom; 26. Hunter Robbins; 27. Kyle Benjamin; 28. Dillon Oliver; 29. Justin South; 30. Thomas Praytor; 31. Chris Davidson; 32. Scott Patton; 33. Tommy Rollins; 34. David Jones; 35. Robert Royce; DQ. Landon Cassill
Chuck Corder
Watch closely. Chase Elliott is ready to amaze at any moment. A teenage sensation in every sense of the word, Elliott has only been racing for seven of his 15 years.
But each time he climbs into one of his trademark No. 9 cars, the improbable seems likely for the son of NASCAR legend Bill Elliott.
It happened again in the Snowflake 100 on Saturday night at Five Flags Speedway.
Elliott started 31st out of 36 cars. When it was over, he wildly swung the checkered flag above his head as water, Red Bull and the crowd’s roar washed over him.
“It really shows how hard we worked for this,” said Elliott, who assumed the lead on Lap 86. “To have as many problems today … and to comeback, I’m just thankful.”
Elliott started near the tail end of the field after winning one of two last-chance qualifiers earlier Saturday. That was only necessary after he was disqualified following qualifying because officials ruled the nose of his car was too low.
None of it mattered. In fact, some of Elliott’s rivals thought the afternoon race might have helped him.
“He saw what was working,” said Bubba Pollard, who moved from third to second after Landon Cassill was disqualified in post-race inspection. “He’s a good little race-car driver, though.”
The good little race-car driver methodically made his way from the back of the pack while Augie Grill comfortably led for more than 70 laps (7 to 78).Elliott began to lean on the throttle a little bit more at the midway point, as he cracked the top 10. Then, he just began embarrassing drivers, especially coming out of Turn 4 where he shined. He mowed down Pensacola’s Johanna Long, who finished a disappointing 13th after running in the top five early. He did away with today’s Snowball Derby polesitter Cale Gale. Before you knew it, Elliott was up to fifth by Lap 70.
“I don’t believe it. The longer it went, the better he got,” papa Bill said.
The younger Elliott caught a burst of speed on Dwayne Buggay for third on Lap 78. A lap later, Pollard past Grill for the lead, but the kid wasn’t far from making his final move.
“We had a good car; we just missed a little bit,” Pollard said. “I think I raced to hard at the beginning with Augie, but that’s how he races.” After being the class of the field early, Grill fell back to sixth by the Snowflake’s end.
Long felt the sting of defeat, too, because the handling of her car continued to get worse as the race rolled on. “It’s disappointing,” she said. “I expected so much.”
The expectations will culminate in today’s 43rd annual running of the Derby, America’s most prestigious short-track race. It has been, unquestionably, a messy weekend out at Five Flags with some vicious crashes.
The Pro Late Models, though, proved their mettle by running green for the opening 34 laps before the first yellow came out. Dillon Oliver nudged Pensacola’s Tommy Rollins into the Turn 2 wall. There was just one other yellow the rest of the way, as the race finished in a blazing time of right at an hour.
Nothing was as fast as Elliott, though. “I thought at one point we were too loose,” he said.
Too loose? Now, that’s amazing.
Snowflake 100 Results � 1. Chase Elliott; 2. Bubba Pollard; 3. Mike Garvey; 4. John Bolen; 5. Daniel Hemric; 6. Augie Grill; 7. Erik Jones; 8. Cale Gale; 9. Andy Pugh; 10. Kenzie Ruston; 11. D.J. VanderLey; 12. Johanna Long; 13. Matt Smith; 14. Brandon Bendele; 15. Cody Smith; 16. David Odell; 17. Jason Young; 18. Tony Clark; 19. Logan Boyett; 20. Shanna Ard; 21. Chuck Tuck; 22. Kyle Bryant; 23. Austin Kirkpatrick; 24. Dwayne Buggay; 25. Brandon Odom; 26. Hunter Robbins; 27. Kyle Benjamin; 28. Dillon Oliver; 29. Justin South; 30. Thomas Praytor; 31. Chris Davidson; 32. Scott Patton; 33. Tommy Rollins; 34. David Jones; 35. Robert Royce; DQ. Landon Cassill
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Garvey Puts on a Show at Five Flags But So Does Chase Elliot
Muskegon's Mike Garvey started 26th tonight in the Snowflake 100 at Five Flags Speedway and charged all the way to a fourth place finish. While Garvey's efforts were good, Chase Elliot the son of former NASCAR Champion Bill Elliot were better. Elliot started 31st tonight and took the lead on lap 86 and never looked back. At the tender age of 14 Elliot looks to be the next big name in racing.
Full Unofficial Allen Turner Hyundai Snowflake 100 Finishing Order :
1. Chase Elliott
2. Landon Cassill
3. Bubba Pollard
4. Mike Garvey
5. John Bolen
6. Daniel Hemric
7. Augie Grill
8. Erik Jones
9. Cale Gale
10. Andy Pugh
11. Kenzie Ruston
12. DJ Vanderley
13. Johanna Long
14. Matt Smith
15. Brandon Bendele
16. Cody Smith
17. David Odell
18. Jason Young
19. Tony Clark
20. Logan Boyett
21. Shanna Ard
22. Chuck Tuck
23. Kyle Bryant
24. Austin Kirkpatrick
25. Dwayne Buggay
26. Brandon Odom
27. Hunter Robbins
28. Kyle Benjamin
29. Dillon Oliver
30. Justin South
31. Thomas Praytor
32. Chris Davidson
33. Scott Patton
34. Tommy Rollins
35. David Jones
36. Robert Royce
Full Unofficial Allen Turner Hyundai Snowflake 100 Finishing Order :
1. Chase Elliott
2. Landon Cassill
3. Bubba Pollard
4. Mike Garvey
5. John Bolen
6. Daniel Hemric
7. Augie Grill
8. Erik Jones
9. Cale Gale
10. Andy Pugh
11. Kenzie Ruston
12. DJ Vanderley
13. Johanna Long
14. Matt Smith
15. Brandon Bendele
16. Cody Smith
17. David Odell
18. Jason Young
19. Tony Clark
20. Logan Boyett
21. Shanna Ard
22. Chuck Tuck
23. Kyle Bryant
24. Austin Kirkpatrick
25. Dwayne Buggay
26. Brandon Odom
27. Hunter Robbins
28. Kyle Benjamin
29. Dillon Oliver
30. Justin South
31. Thomas Praytor
32. Chris Davidson
33. Scott Patton
34. Tommy Rollins
35. David Jones
36. Robert Royce
VanDoorn and Garvey Make Snowball Lineup: Barely
Both Coopersville's Johnny VanDoorn and Muskegon's Mike Garvey are in the show for the 43rd Annual Snowball Derby. Both Drivers did it the hard way. Garvey received a provisional based upon his Blizzard Series Points while VanDoorn raced his way in by finishing fourth in the Last Chance 50 lap event this evening. Vandoorn's spot was the final one to be taken. Of the 50 drivers who tried to qualify Friday night Garvey ranked 32nd and Vandoorn ranked 39th. The event starts at 3:00 PM Sunday.
43rd Annual Snowball Derby Unofficial Starting Line-up
1 83 Cale Gale Winston-Salem, NC
2 74 Ryan Lawler Colleyville, TX
3 2 John Bolen Jasper, AL
4 10 Johanna Long Pensacola, FL
5 82 Grant Enfinger Montrose, AL
6 97 Jimmy Garmon Hoschton, GA
7 82 Donnie Wilson Oklahoma City, OK
8 36 Dan Fredrickson Lakeville, MN
9 7 Landon Cassill Charlotte, NC
10 9 Chase Elliott Dawsonville, GA
11 47 Casey Roderick Lawrenceville, GA
12 51 TJ Reaid Acworth, GA
13 4 Derrick Griffin Indianpolis, IN
14 42 Dennis Prunty Knowles, WI
15 49 Josh Hamner Chelsea, AL
16 25 Ross Kenseth Spring Valley, IL
17 35 David Stremme Moorseville, NC
18 112 Augie Grill Hayden, AL
19 43 Dennis Schoenfeld Van Buren, AR
20 29 Andy Loden Stanley, AL
21 41 Chris Davidson Pearland, TX
22 72 Eddie Mercer Pensacola, FL
23 08 Bubba Pollard Senoia, GA
24 16 Korey Ruble Headland, AL
25 12 Travis Kittleson Marret Island, FL
26 21 Brandon Carlson Cantonment, FL
27 98 Mason Mingus Brentwood, TN
28 99 Casey Smith Austin, TX
29 5 David Ragan Unadilla, GA
30 18 Dave Mader III Irvington, AL
31 72 Scott Hantz Angola, IN
32 39 Ryan Sieg Tucker, GA
33 5 Jerry Artuso Sault Ste Marie, ON
34 61 Johnny VanDoorn Coopersville, MI
35 1 Mike Garvey McDonough, GA
36 67 Jeff Fultz Troutman, NC
37 2 Clay Rogers Troutman, NC
43rd Annual Snowball Derby Unofficial Starting Line-up
1 83 Cale Gale Winston-Salem, NC
2 74 Ryan Lawler Colleyville, TX
3 2 John Bolen Jasper, AL
4 10 Johanna Long Pensacola, FL
5 82 Grant Enfinger Montrose, AL
6 97 Jimmy Garmon Hoschton, GA
7 82 Donnie Wilson Oklahoma City, OK
8 36 Dan Fredrickson Lakeville, MN
9 7 Landon Cassill Charlotte, NC
10 9 Chase Elliott Dawsonville, GA
11 47 Casey Roderick Lawrenceville, GA
12 51 TJ Reaid Acworth, GA
13 4 Derrick Griffin Indianpolis, IN
14 42 Dennis Prunty Knowles, WI
15 49 Josh Hamner Chelsea, AL
16 25 Ross Kenseth Spring Valley, IL
17 35 David Stremme Moorseville, NC
18 112 Augie Grill Hayden, AL
19 43 Dennis Schoenfeld Van Buren, AR
20 29 Andy Loden Stanley, AL
21 41 Chris Davidson Pearland, TX
22 72 Eddie Mercer Pensacola, FL
23 08 Bubba Pollard Senoia, GA
24 16 Korey Ruble Headland, AL
25 12 Travis Kittleson Marret Island, FL
26 21 Brandon Carlson Cantonment, FL
27 98 Mason Mingus Brentwood, TN
28 99 Casey Smith Austin, TX
29 5 David Ragan Unadilla, GA
30 18 Dave Mader III Irvington, AL
31 72 Scott Hantz Angola, IN
32 39 Ryan Sieg Tucker, GA
33 5 Jerry Artuso Sault Ste Marie, ON
34 61 Johnny VanDoorn Coopersville, MI
35 1 Mike Garvey McDonough, GA
36 67 Jeff Fultz Troutman, NC
37 2 Clay Rogers Troutman, NC
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