Monday, December 5, 2011
‘Twenty-Thousand Dollar’ Chase, Elliott Edges VanderLey at Line to Win 44th Snowball Derby
‘Twenty-Thousand Dollar’ Chase, Elliott Edges VanderLey at Line to Win 44th Snowball Derby
By Chuck Corder
It just keeps getting better.Few thought the Snowball Derby would ever live up to the drama and excitement created in 2010. And while the storybook ending of hometown girl Johanna Long racing to Snowball glory might never be topped, the 44th running’s finish was unparalleled
Sunday at Five Flags Speedway.Chase Elliott stood alone. Barely.The 16-year-old racing prodigy fought door-to-door in the closing laps with Five Flags stalwart D.J. VanderLey to win the nation’s most prestigious short-track race by less than a quarter of a second. The 0.229 margin of victory was the closest in Snowball history.
“I think I’m going to carry it forever,” Elliott said of the Tom Dawson trophy he held close to his body. Elliott, who runs on NASCAR’s K&N Pro Series, earned the right to do whatever he wants. He outlasted VanderLey in a similar finish to the green-white-checkered theatrics last year.
VanderLey, just 19 himself, actually put his No. 4 in front of Elliott’s No. 9 for the first four laps following a late restart as the pair of teenagers raced side-by-side. VanderLey’s problem was he was on the outside. He never managed to clear Elliott. Instead, VanderLey fell in line behind Elliott between turn Nos. 3 and 4 with an eighth of a mile remaining. VanderLey was content on etching his name in Snowball lore another year.
“Anytime he wanted to, he could’ve turned us,” he said of Ellliott. “Running with Chase was a lotta fun. No one makes the outside work.”VanderLey nearly did. Ross Kenseth, whose father Matt is a current NASCAR star, took third. Kenseth is 18. So you’re your top three goes 16, 19 and 18. Just a bunch of teenagers dragging Main on a Sunday.
“I’m not gonna stop coming until I win one of these things,” Kenseth said after his third appearance produced the best finish. “Chase is one heck of a wheelman. I thought I could’ve given him a run for his money.”
Instead, Elliott accomplished something his famous father never did. Bill Elliott, part of NASCAR’s Mount` Rushmore, raced two Snowballs in the early 1980s with meager results.
“Million Dollar” Bill’s boy took home close to $23,000 on Sunday. The prize money seems only a parting gift compared to the immortality drivers deposit for winning the Snowball. Chase Elliott broke the bank Sunday.
“This is indescribable,” he said. “It’s unreal, not only to win this thing, but to win it with Ricky Turner on as crew chief, now that’s awesome.” Turner snatched Derby nirvana in 2002, beating five-time Derby king Rich Bickle. He watched his young driver Sunday get back up front after recovering from an early crash. Elliott passed cars on the outside, thought to be taboo at the famed half-mile, asphalt oval. But there he was sixth by Lap 163. Outside again, this time waving to Hunter Robbins as he passed him for third on 202. Elliott humbled Casey Smith for second on Lap 219 with VanderLey leading.
“Nerves, man, I can’t describe that,” Elliott said. “New tires with a whole lotta fresh on them, it was a great advantage helping me catch back up after the wreck.”
The irony to Sunday was he got out front without having to pass a single car. When a caution came out around Lap 220, the leaders decided to pit. Elliott, he with the Hendrick Motorsports pit team, enjoyed a perfect stop and beat everyone back to the speedway.
“Everybody worked so hard,” he said. “My guys did a great job.” A great job for a great driver in a great race to create a great result. Can it get any better?
Official Results for the 44th Annual Snowball Derby44th annual Snowball Derby
Super Late Models
Sunday at Five Flags Speedway
Pensacola, Fla.
Official resultsName Laps Difference
1 Chase Elliott 300 —
2 D.J. VanderLey 300 0.229
3 Ross Kenseth 300 0.528
4 Landon Cassill 300 1.159
5 Heath Hindman 300 1.163
6 Cale Gale 300 1.771
7 Boris Jurkovic 300 2.433
8 Grant Enfinger 300 2.643
9 David Rogers 300 2.701
10 Casey Smith 300 3.266
11 Hunter Robbins 300 3.442
12 Bubba Pollard 300 3.598
13 Ben Kennedy 300 3.928
14 Stephen Nasse 300 4.332
15 Dillon Oliver 299 1 lap
16 Donnie Wilson 298 2 laps
17 Stephan McCurley 298 0.368
18 David Ragan 298 0.983
19 Derrick Griffin 298 1.272
20 Jeremy Pate 298 7.136
21 Jeff Fultz 298 7.703
22 David Odell 297 3 laps
23 Josh Hamner 295 5 laps
24 Johnny Van Doorn 295 0.452 - Accident
25 Ken McFarland 291 9 laps
26 Jerry Artuso 280 20 laps
27 Dennis Prunty 220 80 laps
28 Chris Davidson 182 118 laps
29 Andy Loden 182 3:06.473
30 Kenzie Ruston 145 155 laps
31 Augie Grill 142 158 laps
32 Jeff Choquette 141 159 laps
33 Mike Garvey 134 166 laps - Steering Failure
34 Steve Wallace 131 169 laps
35 Erik Darnell 99 201 laps
36 Johanna Long 97 203 laps
Cautions: 12 for 107 laps.
Lead changes: 12 among seven drivers.
Margin of victory: 0.229 seconds, a Derby record.
Laps leader: Casey Smith led twice for a total of 73. Elliott led twice for a total of 72
By Chuck Corder
It just keeps getting better.Few thought the Snowball Derby would ever live up to the drama and excitement created in 2010. And while the storybook ending of hometown girl Johanna Long racing to Snowball glory might never be topped, the 44th running’s finish was unparalleled
Sunday at Five Flags Speedway.Chase Elliott stood alone. Barely.The 16-year-old racing prodigy fought door-to-door in the closing laps with Five Flags stalwart D.J. VanderLey to win the nation’s most prestigious short-track race by less than a quarter of a second. The 0.229 margin of victory was the closest in Snowball history.
“I think I’m going to carry it forever,” Elliott said of the Tom Dawson trophy he held close to his body. Elliott, who runs on NASCAR’s K&N Pro Series, earned the right to do whatever he wants. He outlasted VanderLey in a similar finish to the green-white-checkered theatrics last year.
VanderLey, just 19 himself, actually put his No. 4 in front of Elliott’s No. 9 for the first four laps following a late restart as the pair of teenagers raced side-by-side. VanderLey’s problem was he was on the outside. He never managed to clear Elliott. Instead, VanderLey fell in line behind Elliott between turn Nos. 3 and 4 with an eighth of a mile remaining. VanderLey was content on etching his name in Snowball lore another year.
“Anytime he wanted to, he could’ve turned us,” he said of Ellliott. “Running with Chase was a lotta fun. No one makes the outside work.”VanderLey nearly did. Ross Kenseth, whose father Matt is a current NASCAR star, took third. Kenseth is 18. So you’re your top three goes 16, 19 and 18. Just a bunch of teenagers dragging Main on a Sunday.
“I’m not gonna stop coming until I win one of these things,” Kenseth said after his third appearance produced the best finish. “Chase is one heck of a wheelman. I thought I could’ve given him a run for his money.”
Instead, Elliott accomplished something his famous father never did. Bill Elliott, part of NASCAR’s Mount` Rushmore, raced two Snowballs in the early 1980s with meager results.
“Million Dollar” Bill’s boy took home close to $23,000 on Sunday. The prize money seems only a parting gift compared to the immortality drivers deposit for winning the Snowball. Chase Elliott broke the bank Sunday.
“This is indescribable,” he said. “It’s unreal, not only to win this thing, but to win it with Ricky Turner on as crew chief, now that’s awesome.” Turner snatched Derby nirvana in 2002, beating five-time Derby king Rich Bickle. He watched his young driver Sunday get back up front after recovering from an early crash. Elliott passed cars on the outside, thought to be taboo at the famed half-mile, asphalt oval. But there he was sixth by Lap 163. Outside again, this time waving to Hunter Robbins as he passed him for third on 202. Elliott humbled Casey Smith for second on Lap 219 with VanderLey leading.
“Nerves, man, I can’t describe that,” Elliott said. “New tires with a whole lotta fresh on them, it was a great advantage helping me catch back up after the wreck.”
The irony to Sunday was he got out front without having to pass a single car. When a caution came out around Lap 220, the leaders decided to pit. Elliott, he with the Hendrick Motorsports pit team, enjoyed a perfect stop and beat everyone back to the speedway.
“Everybody worked so hard,” he said. “My guys did a great job.” A great job for a great driver in a great race to create a great result. Can it get any better?
Official Results for the 44th Annual Snowball Derby44th annual Snowball Derby
Super Late Models
Sunday at Five Flags Speedway
Pensacola, Fla.
Official resultsName Laps Difference
1 Chase Elliott 300 —
2 D.J. VanderLey 300 0.229
3 Ross Kenseth 300 0.528
4 Landon Cassill 300 1.159
5 Heath Hindman 300 1.163
6 Cale Gale 300 1.771
7 Boris Jurkovic 300 2.433
8 Grant Enfinger 300 2.643
9 David Rogers 300 2.701
10 Casey Smith 300 3.266
11 Hunter Robbins 300 3.442
12 Bubba Pollard 300 3.598
13 Ben Kennedy 300 3.928
14 Stephen Nasse 300 4.332
15 Dillon Oliver 299 1 lap
16 Donnie Wilson 298 2 laps
17 Stephan McCurley 298 0.368
18 David Ragan 298 0.983
19 Derrick Griffin 298 1.272
20 Jeremy Pate 298 7.136
21 Jeff Fultz 298 7.703
22 David Odell 297 3 laps
23 Josh Hamner 295 5 laps
24 Johnny Van Doorn 295 0.452 - Accident
25 Ken McFarland 291 9 laps
26 Jerry Artuso 280 20 laps
27 Dennis Prunty 220 80 laps
28 Chris Davidson 182 118 laps
29 Andy Loden 182 3:06.473
30 Kenzie Ruston 145 155 laps
31 Augie Grill 142 158 laps
32 Jeff Choquette 141 159 laps
33 Mike Garvey 134 166 laps - Steering Failure
34 Steve Wallace 131 169 laps
35 Erik Darnell 99 201 laps
36 Johanna Long 97 203 laps
Cautions: 12 for 107 laps.
Lead changes: 12 among seven drivers.
Margin of victory: 0.229 seconds, a Derby record.
Laps leader: Casey Smith led twice for a total of 73. Elliott led twice for a total of 72
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Chase Elliott Wins; VanDoorn 24th Garvey 34th at Snowball Derby
More Details Monday
Unofficial Results of 44th Annual Snowball Derby
1 Chase Elliott 300
2 D.J. VanderLey 300
3 Ross Kenseth 300
4 Landon Cassill 300
5 Heath Hindman 300
6 Cale Gale 300
7 Boris Jurkovic 300
8 Grant Enfinger 300
9 David Rogers 300
10 Casey Smith 300
11 Hunter Robbins 300
12 Bubba Pollard 300
13 Benjamin Kennedy 300
14 Stephen Nasse 300
15 Dillon Oliver 299
16 Donnie Wilson 298
17 Stephan McCurley 298
18 David Ragan 298
19 Derrick Griffin 298
20 Jeremy Pate 298
21 Jeff Fultz 298
22 David Odell 297
23 Josh Hamner 295
24 Johnny VanDoorn 295
25 Derek Thorn 294
26 Ken McFarland 291
27 Jerry Artuso 280
28 Dennis Prunty 220
29 Chris Davidson 182
30 Andy Loden 182
31 Kenzie Ruston 145
32 Augie Grill 142
33 Jeff Choquette 141
34 Mike Garvey 134
35 Steve Wallace 131
36 Erik Darnell 99
37 Johanna Long 97
Unofficial Results of 44th Annual Snowball Derby
1 Chase Elliott 300
2 D.J. VanderLey 300
3 Ross Kenseth 300
4 Landon Cassill 300
5 Heath Hindman 300
6 Cale Gale 300
7 Boris Jurkovic 300
8 Grant Enfinger 300
9 David Rogers 300
10 Casey Smith 300
11 Hunter Robbins 300
12 Bubba Pollard 300
13 Benjamin Kennedy 300
14 Stephen Nasse 300
15 Dillon Oliver 299
16 Donnie Wilson 298
17 Stephan McCurley 298
18 David Ragan 298
19 Derrick Griffin 298
20 Jeremy Pate 298
21 Jeff Fultz 298
22 David Odell 297
23 Josh Hamner 295
24 Johnny VanDoorn 295
25 Derek Thorn 294
26 Ken McFarland 291
27 Jerry Artuso 280
28 Dennis Prunty 220
29 Chris Davidson 182
30 Andy Loden 182
31 Kenzie Ruston 145
32 Augie Grill 142
33 Jeff Choquette 141
34 Mike Garvey 134
35 Steve Wallace 131
36 Erik Darnell 99
37 Johanna Long 97
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Garvey 21st, Jones 25th in Caution Filled Snowflake 100
Tonight's 100 lap event was more of a marathon than a sprint. After two hours and ten minutes it was Augie Grill winning the Snowflake for the second consecutive season. Grill was right where he needed to be all night leading 89 laps. The action behind could have been mistaken for a Demolition Derby. Fifteen cautions flew on the night. Fourteen yellow flags were waved in the second 50 laps of the race and six in the last 10 laps. To say there was a lot of carnage would be an understatement.
Muskegon Michigan Driver Mike Garvey ran in the top ten up until five to go. Garvey pulled into the pits for a fuel pickup problem under caution and was never able to get his car restarted. Garvey would finish 21st. For Byron Michigan young gun Eric Jones his 1st running of the Snowflake had its highs and lows. The 15 year old driver also worked his way into the top ten only to see his night ended after contact with Korey Ruble with 12 laps to go.
Sunday it will be Coopersville's Johnny VanDoorn and Garvey representing West Michigan in the prestigious Snowball Derby. Stay Tuned!
Unofficial Allen Turner Snowflake 100 Results presented by Racecar Engineering
1 Augie Grill
2 Brandon Odom
3 Brandon Johnson
4 Ben Kennedy
5 Tommy Rollins
6 Chase Elliott
7 Daniel Hemric
8 DJ VanderLey
9 Ross Kenseth
10 Matt Smith
11 Logan Boyett
12 Cody Coughlin
13 Willie Allen
14 Elliott Massey
15 Ryan Blaney
16 Justin South
17 Brandon Bendele
18 Bubba Pollard
19 Andy Loden
20 Jason Young
21 Mike Garvey
22 Korey Ruble
23 Kyle Benjamin
24 Chris Davidson
25 Erik Jones
26 Brandon Jones
27 Hunter Robbins
28 Dwayne Buggay
29 Kyle Bryant
30 Spencer Davis
31 Roger Lee Newton
32 Jerick Johnson
33 Jeff Choquette
34 Stephan McCurley
35 Dave Mader III
Muskegon Michigan Driver Mike Garvey ran in the top ten up until five to go. Garvey pulled into the pits for a fuel pickup problem under caution and was never able to get his car restarted. Garvey would finish 21st. For Byron Michigan young gun Eric Jones his 1st running of the Snowflake had its highs and lows. The 15 year old driver also worked his way into the top ten only to see his night ended after contact with Korey Ruble with 12 laps to go.
Sunday it will be Coopersville's Johnny VanDoorn and Garvey representing West Michigan in the prestigious Snowball Derby. Stay Tuned!
Unofficial Allen Turner Snowflake 100 Results presented by Racecar Engineering
1 Augie Grill
2 Brandon Odom
3 Brandon Johnson
4 Ben Kennedy
5 Tommy Rollins
6 Chase Elliott
7 Daniel Hemric
8 DJ VanderLey
9 Ross Kenseth
10 Matt Smith
11 Logan Boyett
12 Cody Coughlin
13 Willie Allen
14 Elliott Massey
15 Ryan Blaney
16 Justin South
17 Brandon Bendele
18 Bubba Pollard
19 Andy Loden
20 Jason Young
21 Mike Garvey
22 Korey Ruble
23 Kyle Benjamin
24 Chris Davidson
25 Erik Jones
26 Brandon Jones
27 Hunter Robbins
28 Dwayne Buggay
29 Kyle Bryant
30 Spencer Davis
31 Roger Lee Newton
32 Jerick Johnson
33 Jeff Choquette
34 Stephan McCurley
35 Dave Mader III
Radio Link for Snowflake 100 - Tonight 7:30
Catch the action from Speed 51 Radio. West Michigan drivers Mike Garvey and Eric Jones will be starting nose to tail mid pack in tonight's Snowflake 100.
Click on the Title to take you there.
Click on the Title to take you there.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Continous Coverage of the Snowball Derby by Speed51
As of 3:00 today Muskegon's Mike Garvey was a the top of the Speed Charts. Coopersville's Johnny VanDoorn and Byron's Erik Jones also are part of 66 other cars that have been getting their cars ready for the Snowball Derby and Snowflake events.Click on the Speed51 Banner to watch all of today's activities.
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