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‘Red Dog’, Fowler and Rest of Sportsman Field Look to Knock Off Buttrick with Big Bucks on Line at 35 Lapper

By Chuck Corder

It doesn’t take long to see the greatest gift the good Lord bestowed on Lee Reynolds was his ability to spin yarn.

Whether it’s the origins of his “Red Dog� nickname — let’s just say it has something to do with beer (lots of beer), and using the strangely-popular bitter beverage away to rustle up gas money to go race.

Or all the tracks he has seen come and go. Or the Sportsman races he has endured the past four seasons. Whatever the case, every one of Reynolds’ stories demands your eager attention from start to finish.

“You can buy the whole seat, but you only need the edge,� noted the renowned philosopher Mountain Main on a recent episode of “Duck Dynasty.� The red-haired Reynolds embodies that spirit.

But on Friday at Five Flags Speedway, the 49 year old from Theodore, Ala., is hoping to leave Pensacola with more than just another story to wax poetically about.

While the Buddy’s Home Furnishings Blizzard Series returns with the Super Late Models for the Pepsi Max 125, the Beef O’ Brady’s Sportsman Division believe they can hold a packed house’s attention, as well.

The Sportsman will battle for an extended 35 laps Friday night with the winner walking home with $1,000 to win. An additional $250 was added to the purse Thursday by Coastal Machine.

Additionally, Tracy Goodson — owner of several Beef O’ Brady’s franchises in Pensacola — will be offering gift certificates to the podium finishers.

Motorcycles and Bombers are also on Friday’s slate when the gates opening at 5 p.m. Admission is as follows: $15 adults; $12 seniors, military and students; $5 children 6-11; and free under-6.

“The money’s nice,� Reynolds said. “It actually works good for us, because we’re not racing Saturday (at Mobile International Speedway). The 750 don’t hurt either.�

It certainly does not.

Which is why Reynolds and a handful of other Mobile-area drivers will invade the famed half-mile asphalt oval Friday.

“It’s extra motivation,� said Cantonment driver Brannon Fowler, the series’ two-time defending track champion. “It’s one of those deals where on a typical Friday we get 25 laps and a normal purse. This always makes it a sweeter deal.

“Guys are coming over from Mobile to give it a shot. It makes you be on your game. “

And no matter where a driver hails from Friday, they all have the same dream: Knocking off three-time defending Sportsman Snowball Derby champion Steve Buttrick, who has been a sure thing in winning five times in Pensacola this season.

“That rascal is on his ‘A’ game,� Reynolds said. “We gotta go beat this guy at his hometrack. Get him while we can.�

Reynolds, who beat Buttrick and Co. in a 35 lapper last weekend at MIS, nearly had him in late April at Five Flags. He held a comfortable lead late. Or so he thought.

“I thought we had it won,� Reynolds said. “Buttrick came outta nowhere. My spotter told me ‘Buttrick’s sixth.’ Half a lap later, he’s beside me. I was like, ‘Holy crap!’

“That was really a good time. We were side-by-side for three or four laps.�

Until coming out of Turn 4 with just a few laps remaining, they began to swap paint. Both tried to slam on the brakes to avoid the inside wall along the front stretch, but Reynolds and his No. 32 had nowhere to go with Buttrick’s No. 33 leaning on his right side.

Reynolds’ night was done and Buttrick was sent to the back after officials decided he caused the incident. That opened the door for Mark Barnhill, another driver from across the Bay who’ll return Friday, to take the checkered flag.

“Everybody wants to beat Buttrick,� Reynolds said. “He’s the man right now. I know he can’t be happy that me and Barnhill are coming back over here.�

Buttrick might not be pleased. But storytelling fans certainly will be tickled to see ol’ Red Dog come through the back gate Friday.

And if Reynolds can get some redemption and finish the job against Buttrick, he will triumphantly head back to Alabama with another chapter to share and his pockets a little deeper.

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