4/9/2022
Five Flags Speedway
Classy Nasse Wins Rubber and Specialties 100; Thorn Retaliates Against Smith, Gets Parked
Classy Nasse Wins Rubber and Specialties 100; Thorn Retaliates Against Smith, Gets Parked
By Chuck Corder
Emotions ran hot on the first night of the Pepperjack Kennels Twin Blizzard weekend Friday at Five Flags Speedway.
Stephen Nasse was overcome with celebratory feelings in Victory Lane as he choked back tears after a triumphant win in the Rubber and Specialties 100, the season opener for the Super Late Models in the Deep South Cranes Blizzard Series.
Nasse has had his shares of lows at Pensacola’s high banks, but Friday night felt like an all-time high for the Pinellas Park driver who topped a stout field of 32 cars. He earned $10,000 for the win and put himself in an ideal position heading into tonight’s Zoom 100. The best average finish between the two races earns an elusive starting spot for the star-studded Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) season opener in June at Five Flags.
“It almost feels like a Snowball Derby win to me,” said Nasse, who has reunited with Jett Motorsports this weekend. “It has been a tough journey. I feel pretty stupid walking away from Jett. They are one helluva team and Pat Jett really knows how to orchestrate the setups to make these racecars go fast.
“This team is truly amazing. Plus, my dad has been putting his hard-earned time in. I’m super thankful to have my mom here, too. To do this here, I really appreciate the fans.”
Bubba Pollard finished a distant second and Alabama driver John Bolen impressed with a third-place finish.
The Faith Chapel Outlaws and the Dock on Pensacola Beach Sportsmen bookend tonight’s Zoom Equipment 100. Gates open at 3 p.m. today. Admission is $20 adults; $17 for seniors, military and students; and free for children ages 10-and-under.
While Nasse was overjoyed, Derek Thorn was still overheated from his Snowball Derby loss last year. Chandler Smith hoisted the Tom Dawson Trophy that first Sunday in December, but not without controversy when he moved Thorn for the lead eight laps short of the finish.
Thorn, who was fastest (16.257 seconds) in a wild qualifying shootout, got a modicum of payback against Smith on Lap 36. This time Smith led the race with Thorn filling up his rearview mirror. Thorn stalked Smith through each turn. When the pair got to the back straightaway, Thorn used his bumper to spin Smith and sent him careening down the middle groove of the track. Jett Noland blasted into Smith’s driver’s side door and the accident collected three other cars.
“It’s crazy how these guys are driving,” Pollard said after. “I don’t know what they’re thinking. We had a good racecar. We were able to make our way to the front, but we were just a little too tight there when we needed to go.”
Thorn’s theatrics weren’t over, however. After being sent to the tail end of the field for his role in the Smith crash, Thorn brought out another caution with 44 laps completed. He forced his No. 43 onto the apron and made it three-wide as he entered Turn No. 1. Unfortunately, Thorn didn’t have enough room and caused another accident.
That was the final straw for race officials. They parked Thorn for the remainder of the night.
Despite all the chaos, Nasse maintained his lead and didn’t have a scratch on his No. 51 as he embraced friends and family while posing for photos in Victory Lane.
“Everybody has been working so hard at the shop,” Nasse said. “We’ve got this car hooked up right now.
We’ve been focused so much on coming here and winning races. I hope we can do the same thing (today). Good things are coming.”
Pro Trucks
Jerry Goff achieved a taste of redemption Friday night at Five Flags Speedway following a miserable 2021 season where nothing went right.
He built a big lead and never looked back en route to a victory in the Pro Trucks 30-lap opener. Goff climbed out of his No. 10 truck with a huge smile plastered across his face.
“This setup was perfect,” he said. “We worked on this thing all offseason. All the hard work paid off.
This is what it’s all about.”
Goff took the lead on the opening lap when polesitter Darryl Rudd spun his tires and never broke a sweat. Rudd made a valiant charge, but settled for runner-up honors and Pensacola’s Logan Boyett came home third.
“I knew (Rudd) was coming because he’s always fast,” Goff said. “I thought I might’ve pushed it too much, but I was able to settle down.”
Lloyd’s Glass Pure Stocks
Robert Loper picked up where he left off last year.
The defending Lloyd’s Glass Pure Stocks track champion and Pure Stocks Snowball Derby winner was once again the class of the field in the season opener Friday night at Five Flags Speedway.
Loper outraced polesitter Caleb Burkett after the green flag dropped and never looked back to capture the 20-lap feature. It is Loper’s third straight victory at Pensacola’s high banks dating back to last year.
“What a great car tonight,” Loper said. “My team built a bad-fast car.”
Burkett finished second and Cameron Leytham rounded out the podium.
“Me and Robert race really well together,” Burkett said. “I thought we had him for a minute. No excuses. We just missed it tonight.”
Article Credit: Chuck Corder
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