3/12/2026
Five Flags Speedway
5 Flags Kicks Off 2026: Locals Friday Night, ASA STARS Saturday Afternoon
By Chuck Corder
5flagsspeedway.com reporter
A lot has gone into making the Snowball Derby a crown jewel of motorsports racing.
The annual class of hotshoes and collection of elite cars, unquestionably, drive racing fans from all over to Five Flags Speedway. The unique date of the first Sunday in December is also appealing. As is the early afternoon start, traditionally at 2.
Hoping to create a similar Derby buzz, the Appalachian Sucker Punch ASA STARS National Tour will help Five Flags kick off a season-opening weekend with Saturday afternoon racing. The famed half-mile asphalt oval plays host to SLM’s upper echelon this weekend for the Sunshine State 200. This event also serves as the opening round of the Deep South Cranes Blizzard Series, Five Flags’ SLM division, and the Southern Super Series.
The green flag will drop at 1:05 p.m. Saturday with pole qualifying at 11 a.m. and an autograph session set for 11:45 a.m.
Track officials hope the early start Saturday will accommodate fans that want to attend opening night at Mobile International Speedway. MIS is encouraging fans who attend the Sunshine State 200 to bring their ticket stubs across the bay and receive half-price general admission for the 8 p.m. show.
The racing season officially begins Friday night at Five Flags with three local classes. The Faith Chapel Outlaws (40 laps), Story and Bleich Roofing Crown Stocks (25) and the Legacy Series (20) usher in 2026 at Pensacola’s high banks beginning at 8 p.m. Friday. Qualifying begins at 5:35 p.m. Gates open at 3 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday.
Discounted advance tickets are available now through the Ticket Hoss platform at https://tickethoss.com/event/1418.
The Sunshine State field, 28 drivers had entered through Wednesday, will attempt to dethrone two-time defending champion Cole Butcher. The Canadian, who now resides in North Carolina, has been dominant at Five Flags recently. Butcher won the Blizzard Series last year thanks to three wins in four features of 100 laps or more.
Casey Roderick promises to be a primary contender to Butcher and the Sunshine State checkered flag Saturday. Roderick has won four career Blizzard Series titles and also owns two Allen Turner Pro Late Models Series championships.
Carson Brown also figures to be in the mix and a thorn in Butcher’s side Saturday. The 2024 Allen Turner PLM champion, Brown has started 2026 with a bang thanks to his victory in the Clyde Hart Memorial at New Smyrna Speedway. The 17-year-old was on the pole for last year’s Sunshine State 200 and led nearly to the halfway point before running into troubles.
Others to watch include defending Stephen Nasse, fresh of his Derby championship in December; the formidable Bubba Pollard, a five-time Blizzard Series champion; young hotshoe Tristan McKee; former Derby champion Derek Thorn; Matt Craig; and Jake Garcia.
On Friday, Timothy Watson will look to pick up from where he left off in 2025. The 22-year-old from Panama City captured his third career Outlaws track championship last year and finally won the Outlaws Derby 50 title after several attempts. Since 2021, Watson has won 13 Outlaws features.
Adam Salter and his Bare Minimum Racing teammates hope to continue to stampede their way to checkereds and championships. Salter collected his first Five Flags track championship last year by winning the Story and Bleich Roofing Crown Stocks Series courtesy of five feature wins. He also won the Crown Stocks Invitational at the Derby to cap his magical season. He now has eight victories since December 2024.
The Samson Performance and Restoration Legacy Series (Allison Legacy Series) will feature scaled-down chassis of 1990s NASCAR Cup Series feature Chevrolet Monte Carlos and Ford Thunderbirds pumping a Mazda B2200 truck engine. Drivers follow a stringent rule book that equals the playing field.
Nearly 30 years ago, the sons of motorsports legend Donnie Allison left their own mark on the sport.
Donald, Kenny and Ronald Allison wanted to create an affordable stock car class that didn’t require a ton of maintenance and appealed to average racing fans. Enter the Legacy Series.
Last summer, Mobile driver Justin Reeves won the 20-lap exhibition race at Five Flags.
Article Credit: Chuck Corder
