11/30/2014
Five Flags Speedway
Rogers Eyeing Second Snowball Derby Tom Dawson Trophy
No race means more to short track racers than the Snowball Derby. Clay Rogers is one of the best short track racers in the business, but no trophy in his collection means more to him than the Tom Dawson Trophy that he received after winning the Snowball Derby in 2006.
“That’s one of my most prized possessions from my racing career is that trophy,� Rogers told Speed51.com powered by JEGS. “Every time I look at it I read through all the names and I realize how important and how big of an event that is every year.�
This year Rogers will be one of the 67 registered drivers that will attempt to qualify for the 47th Annual Snowball Derby and it all can be seen live on 51 TV.
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Rogers won in 2006 in the 39th edition of the race, but he wasn’t the first driver to take the checkered flag that day. He actually wasn’t even the second to cross the finish line.
Johnny Brazier had the dominant car that day and took the win from the pole. Roger’s teammate, Bobby Gill, finished second with Rogers coming just behind in third. Two hours after the race ended, chief technical inspector Ricky Brooks announced that both Brazier and Gill had been disqualified for failing post-race technical inspection, which handed the win over to Rogers.
“It wasn’t how we wanted it, because we won it in the tech area but it was still very special,� said Rogers.  “We had a car that was very capable for that race. I dominated that race early and the pit strategy just didn’t work out for us.�
This year Rogers will be racing for LAW Motorsports, which will be bringing a brand new car down for Rogers to wheel around Five Flags Speedway.
“It’ll be the first time I’ve had a new car at the Snowball since the year we won it so I’m looking forward to it,� said Rogers. “We’ve got a new piece here and hopefully we’ll put a good show on.�
The 47th Annual Snowball Derby kicks off on Wednesday, December 3 with the Cat Country/WEAR TV3 Green Flag Party. As the teams unload and begin the tech process, from 5-9 p.m. fans can meet the drivers and see the cars that will compete during Snowball Derby Weekend.
The first on-track activity of the week comes on Thursday, as practice for the Super and Pro Late Models commence. Later that evening, qualifying and feature action for the Five Flags Speedway Butler U-Pull-It Bomber and Beef O’Brady’s Sportsmen divisions will take place.
On Friday, December 5, it is NASH 102.7 Pole Night, as the top 30 in Snowball Derby qualifying will be locked into Sunday’s 300-lap feature. More practice for the Snowball Derby and Snowflake 100 cars will take place, as well as a full card of Super Stock and Modified action.
Then on Saturday, December 6, it’s the Allen Turner Hyundai Snowflake 100 time trials, qualifying races and the 100-lap feature, plus final practice for the Snowball Derby cars, a 50-lap Pro Trucks feature and a 50-lap last-chance qualifying race to lock the final cars into the Snowball Derby.
Finally, the 47th Annual Snowball Derby will then go green on Sunday, December 7 at 2 p.m. ET at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL.
The full 47th Annual Snowball Derby weekend schedule is available at www.snowballderby.com.
Tickets and reserved camping spots are still available, but going fast. To order tickets or to reserve a camping spot, call the Five Flags Speedway box office at (850) 944-8400.
For more information about Five Flags Speedway and the 47th Annual Snowball Derby weekend, please visit www.5flagsspeedway.com, www.snowballderby.com or contact the track by calling (850) 944-8400.
-51 Sports/Snowball Derby Press Release. Photo Credit: Speed51.com
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