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Ruston's First Snowball Derby Ends With Overheating Issues

Posted by Kenzie Ruston PR in News

Pensacola, FL (December 4th, 2011)

Kenzie Ruston and the famed Five Flags Speedway have had their good days and bad days. Last year Ruston turned heads with her performances on the half-mile track located in the Panhandle of Florida, while this year the track hasn't been as nice to the 20-year-old stock car driver.

Ruston started the 44th Annual Snowball Derby weekend out right with putting her name and the No.39 MelMark Pipe & Supply, Kenworth of Mississippi & Alabama, Racing Electronics Toyota in the top-15 fastest throughout the practice sessions.

"The car was great on Thursday. We felt we knew exactly what we needed to make it in the show and to have a solid performance." said Ruston.

Friday would be the toughest challenge of the entire derby weekend for the female driver. There were 57 cars attempt to make the 44th Annual Snowball Derby and she must qualify inside the top 30 to make the field.

It's nerve racking to know you must out qualify some of the best names in the business. For this race to send over 20 cars home is insane."

The time was here and Ruston stepped up to the plate and put her No.39 machine in the show by qualifying 26th for the Snowball Derby

"It's a huge weight lefted off of my shoulders. We made the derby in our first attempt and thats a huge accomplishment."

Once the green flag dropped for the toughest race of the year, Ruston would quickly discover how hard it was going to be to survive this race. On lap 14, she would get a bump from another driver that would send her spinning and on pit road for minor repairs.

"We were just riding trying to save our stuff when we get spun around. That's part of racing and I felt we could rebound from this."

After fighting her way back inside the top 25 around lap 140, Ruston would start to experience overheating issues after a caution flag period that would end her day.

"We fought the car for most of the day and it's a shame that we didn't get the shot to make many adjustments to get the car handling better" said Ruston. "My guys worked very hard this week and we made the derby in our first attempt which says a lot. We have made every big show that we have attempted this year and we will return in 2012 stronger than ever."

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