Odds for the Snowball Derby – Who Would You Bet on?
It’s a Crapshoot, but 51 Pairs the Field Down
By Elgin Traylor - Twitter @ElginTraylor
The oddsmakers in Las Vegas are not going to bite on rating the drivers for the 44th Annual Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway (FL), so we here at Speed1.com will. The staff didn’t all agree with each other, but after averaging things out, this is what we’ve come up with.
And remember, this is for entertainment purposes only. At no time were we thinking of this as a way to disrespect anyone. So enjoy the odds and make your comments on our Facebook page.
50 to 1 - Allen Karnes, Cecil Chunn, Junior Niedecken, Matt Smith, Tim Martin, Bobby Knox, Tyler Miles, Cade Dillard and Tony Clark.
These drivers are the long-shots. They hope to make the show and then see what they can do. Karnes did have a top-three finish at Mobile Int’l Speedway, so don't count him out.
40 to 1 – Michael Lance, David Odell, Brandon Odom, Jeremy Pate, Thomas Praytor, and Stephen McCurley
These drivers have some wins in recent years and/or have run a bunch of laps at Five Flags Speedway. They would pay good money in the old two dollar bet.
30 to 1 – Randy Gentry
Randy Gentry is in the mix here because he’s one of those veterans you cannot dismiss. He’s a former winner on the old NASCAR All Pro circuit and had a fifth place finish recently in the North South Shootout in NC.
25 to 1 - Jerry Artuso
Jerry knows how to put a car together, just ask Augie Grill, who won in his Outlaw Super Late Model at the Glass City 200 at Toledo Speedway this year.
24 to 1 - Dennis Prunty
Wisconsin native will look to improve again this year.
23 to 1 - Dwayne Buggay
The Georgia Pro Late Model regular has run well in 2011, this could be a sleeper under the right conditions.
22 to 1 - Scott Carlson, Ken McFarland
Here are two veterans who would have been a better bet a few years ago, but maybe, just maybe, the magic is not quite gone yet.
21 to 1 - Korey Ruble
In the Pro Late Models and Mods he'd be up the betting ladder, but we’re not quite sure if his SLM plans are finalized yet.
20 to 1 - Clay Alexander
We just hope to see the second generation racer after a wild wreck at the World Crown at Gresham Motorsports Park a few weeks ago.
19 to 1 – Steve Dorer
Steve Dorer has always been tough in the mainland of Florida, but this year he really burst on the scene with a big win in the Redbud 300 at Anderson Speedway (IN). He also won a CRA Super Series race at M-40 Speedway in Michigan. Dorer is always fast, but he has a lot to learn about the marathon that is the Snowball Derby.
18 to 1 – Dennis Schoenfeld, Chris Davidson and Mason Mingus
CRA Super Series regular Mason Mingus finished in the top-10 last year and has racer Chuck Barnes Jr. guiding the way. Schoenfeld battled back from several laps down last year to finish fifth in the Derby. As for Davidson, he’s either fast or just a tad off, so it all depends on how he is first time he hits the track.
17 to 1 - Kyle Benjamin
Kyle Benjamin still looks like he’s 13 years-old… wait, he just turned 14. Benjamin is a double-duty driver during the Snowball Derby week. He will be a serious challenger for the Allen Turner Snowflake 100 on Saturday night. On Sunday, the Snowball Derby is scheduled to be his first-ever Super Late Model start.
16 to 1 - Kenzie Ruston
The 19 year-old was 11th in the Snowflake last year, but she burst into the spotlight by becoming the first woman to win in the CRA Super Series this year at Lucas Oil Raceway Park (IN). We think it might be one year too early to consider her a safe bet.
15 to 1 - Derrick Griffin
It’s a one-race deal for the CRA SS champ who was winless this year. He was a car length away from the Winchester 400 and ran well in his first Derby attempt last year, so don't write him off. He’s now 20 years-old and looking like the up-and-coming hotshoe we always thought he was.
14 to 1 - Andy Loden
The North Carolina short track veteran was 22nd a year ago in the Derby, but the PASS standout has been focused on this race for weeks. In fact, he put his own cars aside for the Derby and lobbied for a ride to compete in the PASS South finale last weekend even though he was in contention for that title; that’s how much the Derby means to him.
13 to 1 - Johnny VanDoorn
We had to give Johnny VanDoorn the unlucky 13 number because his luck has been MIA all season. He’s a two-time CRA Super Series champion and he skipped the Winchester 400 just for another shot at the Snowball Derby. After a bout with mono earlier this year, VanDoorn is healthy and ready to go. He has struggled in a few Derby attempts, but his bound to breakout this year. VanDoorn’s only start in the race resulted in an 18th place finish.
12 to 1 - Josh Hamner and Casey Smith
Both of these guys, who are still relatively young (both in their 20s), are always fast no matter where they race in the Southeast. Hamner has been on the sidelines for a few weeks so we know he's hungry and the Snowball Derby means a lot to his family, led by veteran engine builder Jeff Hamner. Casey Smith was so strong at the World Crown that we might have him too low in the odds. His hurdle will be getting to the finish of the 300-lap race and not get in another fight in the infield during the closing laps of the race like he did with David Stremme last year.
11 to 1 - Stephen Nasse, Jeff Choquette, TJ Reaid, and Erik Jones
This is a dynamite group of speedsters. Stephen Nasse is a Derby rookie, but the teenager is fast and strong no matter where he races his Super Late Model. TJ Reaid looks to make the show with the family effort after competing for the Kyle Busch Motorsports team last year. Jeff Choquette at 12 to 1 could be a steal if they hit the set up. The reason we say “if” is because Choquette missed the show a couple years back; that’s how tough the Derby is. As far as Jones, word is he will not be able to run the Derby after a stellar victory in the Gov Cup partly due to the fact of the limited time to put his engine back together after it was torn down after his win at New Smyrna Speedway.
10 to 1 - Cale Gale, Ben Kennedy, and David Rogers
Cale Gale has two poles at the Derby, but nothing to show for it at the end of the race. We think Gale will focus more on surviving the fight than just being fast this year. Ben Kennedy took a top three finish last week at the Gov Cup and could be ready to challenge in his Super Late Model. Veteran David Rogers is always prime to pick off a victory… this Derby will be number-27 for him.
9 to 1 - Donnie Wilson, Hunter Robbins, DJ VanderLey
Donnie Wilson has not yet won this season, but after being second last year and fourth at the Gov Cup; he's got a good chance. Hunter Robbins will be tough if he can avoid trouble and DJ VanderLey is the Five Flags Speedway Pro Late Model champ.
8 to 1 - Ross Kenseth, Jeff Fultz, and Mike Garvey
It’s simple… Kenseth was second at the World Crown and always tough, Fultz won the North South Shootout as a Derby tune-up and Garvey is due. Some might argue that these guys could receive better odds, and honestly, we couldn’t agree more.
7 to 1 - Grant Enfinger, David Ragan, Steven Wallace
NASCAR driver David Ragan is taking this race very seriously in his own equipment this year. He raced for Richie Wauters last year, but was involved in a mess just past the halfway point. This year fellow NASCAR racer Steve Wallace returns behind the wheel of the Wauters machine, the very same team he won the Derby for back in 2004. Grant Enfinger has been strong all year at Five Flags in his infamous #82 machine. He has won the Derby pole and has recorded a runner-up finish in the Derby, but he wants the win this time around.
6 to 1 - Boris Jurkovic, Landon Cassill
Boris Jurkovic won the Winchester 400 with some thrilling late race heroics. The former CRA Super Series champ will be racing for Kyle Busch Motorsports at Five Flags Speedway. NASCAR driver Landon Cassill was a “nudge” away from winning the Snowball Derby one year ago. He was leading before getting the boot from Johanna Long with just a handful of laps to go. At 7 to 1 both are good picks and would pay off well in a horse race.
5 to 1 - Johanna Long and Chase Elliott
Both of these former Blizzard Series Champion are just a tick off the best bets. Chase Elliott's Late Model program was a little behind about a month ago, but they have rebounded quickly. His father Bill, a NASCAR Cup champion, had planned on racing the Derby with Chase until they destroyed a car in the North South Shootout. Last year’s Derby winner Johanna Long has struggled a little this year at the panhandle track, but she reminds us that they were just a “little off” going into the race one year ago as well.
4 to 1 - Bubba Pollard, and Augie Grill
The house says the best bets are with these two drivers. Augie Grill is a two-time winner of the Snowball Derby and this year’s Buddy’s Home Furnishings Blizzard Series champion. Bubba Pollard won more races in the Southeast Late Model scene this year than any other driver. In fact, two of those triumphs came in Blizzard Series races. Pollard led the Derby late in the going last year until being involved in an accident not to his own doing. Nobody would argue with you if you put your money on either one of these two guys.
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