Jake Johnson made the 21-hour trip from Rehoboth, Massachusetts to Pensacola, Florida pay off big on Saturday night.
The 17-year-old was declared the winner of the Pro Late Model Allen Turner Hyundai Snowflake 100 at Five Flags Speedway when race officials negated Stephen Nasse’s unofficial victory for “avoidable contact.”
Nasse got into the back of then-leader Bubba Pollard between turns 3 and 4 on the final lap as the pair raced for the checkered flag.
“This feels pretty good,” said a stunned Johnson, who started 31st and only got into the feature by winning the last-chance race earlier Saturday afternoon. “I don’t know what to say. Luckily, I had a bad fast racecar and we were able to bring this thing to Victory Lane.”
Nasse was still in Victory Lane, celebrating with his Jett Motorsports teammates and wrapping up his on-track interview, when the announcement came over the public address system. A year after having his apparent Snowball Derby win stripped from him because of an equipment infraction, Nasse was numb and speechless after hearing the ruling.
The controversial decision was met with a mixture of cheers and jeers from the sold-out crowd, but race director Nicholas Rogers explained to Speed51 that rules must be enforced despite the stage of the race.
“Anytime there’s contact causing a caution condition,” Rogers said, “even though it was coming to the checkered, anyone in it creating the caution goes to the tail. Coming to the checkered is no different than a caution coming out.
“(Nasse) was DQ’d and sent to the rear of the lead lap cars.”
Jake Finch finished runner-up and Jarrett Butcher came home third, with Derek Thorn fourth and Matt Craig fifth.
Nasse ended up 22nd, but not without an appeal. His team flooded the technical inspection area and positioned his No. 51 behind the scales as they called for Rogers’ call to be thrown out.
Following the conclusion of the Outlaws feature race, Nasse privately spoke with Rogers and race officials in the tech shed. Rogers stood firm with his call.
“(Nasse) got into the leader of the event, spinning him out in the end,” Rogers continued with Speed51. “Due to that, we had to move to the tail. If not, you’d just have people running through people with no recourse. You’d never have the initial winner down the backstraightaway win a race if they are within five car-lengths going into three. That’s just not good short track racing.”
It soured what had been an exceptional race. Polesitter Derek Thorn was as smooth as silk for the first half of the race.
Things began building following a restart with 66 laps in the books. Nasse took the long way around in attempting to pass Thorn, but the California driver fought back. They swapped paint for the next five laps, trading nose-length leads with the distance between the two cars paper thin.
Nasse finally took the lead from Thorn on lap 80 in turn 2, but it was short-lived. Pollard flexed his muscles two laps later and passed Nasse on the high side following another restart.
Just when it appeared that had the win in hand, building a two-tenths lead, Nasse closed with five laps remaining. The duo took the white flag and the stage for the finish.
Nasse made his move in turn 3 when Pollard’s car got out of shape. As the pair came off turn 4, Pollard slightly slid up the racetrack and couldn’t get back into the side of Nasse before the Nasse sped off to the flagstand and crossed the start-finish line first.
“What a finish,” Nasse said before the decision was made. “We were racing hard at the end. I hope it was a good show for the fans.
“When I was able to run good in the corners, we were able to get out front. What a ride. It’s unbelievable. I do it for all my guys.”
Meanwhile, Johnson stampeded through the field from his starting position near the tail end. He was set for a podium finish in third before the Pollard-Nasse dust up.
“I was focused on hitting my marks and keeping it wide open,” Johnson said.
Dylan Fetcho, Chris Davidson, Dakota Stroup, Connor Okrzesik and Justin Bonnett rounded out the top 10.
Outlaws
Jay Jay Day qualified on the pole and turned in a near-flawless performance en route to the Outlaws Snowball feature win on Saturday night, despite the demolition derby that occurred behind him for 50 laps.
The Theodore, Alabama, race won in commanding fashion, getting the better of past Derby winner Bubba Winslow on restart after restart following the eight cautions that flew on the night.
“I can’t believe it,” said Day. “Beside the birth of my two kids and marrying my wonderful wife, this is the best moment in my life. Snowball freakin’ Derby!”
Winslow, the division champion at Five Flags this season, settled for runner-up honors and Cameron Henderson rounded out the podium.
Winslow was Day’s only real threat all night. For a moment on lap 24, Winslow stole the lead when Day spun his tires on a restart. But the caution flag flew before the 35-car field completed one lap. Rules dictate when that happens a complete restart occurs, and drivers get their spots back.
It was, perhaps, Day’s only flub Saturday.
“Man, we were fast,” Day said. “I can’t believe how good we were. The car was easy to drive.”
Cameron Henderson finished in third, with John Heil in fourth and Jason Welch in fifth.
For more information on Five Flags Speedway, visit 5FlagsSpeedway.com.
Five Flags Speedway – Pensacola, FL
Snowflake 100 – December 5, 2020
1. Jake Johnson Rehoboth, MA #15MA
2. Jake Finch Lynn Haven, FL #81
3. Jarrett Butcher #54B
4. Derek Thorn Lakeport, CA #43T
5. Matt Craig Kannapolis, NC #54
6. Dylan Fetcho Lebanon, TN #89
7. Chris Davidson Pearland, TX #14
8. Dakota Stroup Maceo, KY #43S
9. Connor Okrzesik Mobile, AL #14CO
10. Justin Bonnett Hueytown, AL #12JB
11. Dan Leeck Birch Run, MI #12L
12. Grant Thompson Mobile, AL #112
13. Steve Dorer Lakeland, FL #10D
14. John DeAngelis Hubertus, WI #7
15. Weston Griffith, Jr. Crown Port, IN #33G
16. Ryan Luza Cypress, TX #53L
17. Jim Weber Homer Glen, IL #3
18. Justin Marks Franklin, TN #99
19. Jo Jo Wilkinson Hueytown, AL #11W
20. Bubba Pollard Senoia, GA #26P
21. Johanna Long Robbins Cornelius, NC #18R
22. Stephen Nasse Pinellas Park, FL #51N
23. Hudson Halder Cumming, GA #9
24. Stacey Crain Brentwood, TN #11SC
25. Elliott Massey Lucedale, MS #4M
26. Dustin Smith Mobile, AL #33
27. Dylan Smith Charlotte, NC #23S
28. Steven Chunn Spring Hill, TN #84
29. Hunter Jack Auburn, IN #41J
30. Mason Keller Plainfield, IN #29
31. Josh Williams Concord, NC #6
32. Colin Allman Plant City, FL #67
33. Jim Wall #91
34. Josh Hicks McDonough, GA #38
35. Kyle Plott Marietta, GA #4
36. Mark Day Clarksville, TN #8
Outlaws
1. Jay Jay Day Theodore, AL #42
2. Bubba Winslow Cantonment, FL #92
3. Cameron Henderson #92H
4. John Heil Floresville, TX #96
5. Jason Welch Lancaster, NH #33W
6. Chase Oliver Rainbow City, AL #5C
7. Allen Carter Murfreesboro, TN #3
8. Logan Boyett Pensacola, FL #1L
9. Jason Loveday Huntsville, AL #51L
10. Brooke Storer Zephyrhills, FL #9
11. Nick Pressler Buchanan, MI #1
12. Robert Barker Boerne, TX #17RB
13. Rusty Sanford Seminary, MS #64S
14. Bill Tutchtone II Pensacola, FL #5
15. Kody Brusso Pensacola, FL #38
16. Paul Jean Cordova, AL #93
17. Stuart Dutton Tallahassee, FL #32
18. Justin Roos Andalusia, AL #9R
19. Mike Pollaro Floresville, TX #69
20. Todd Jones Pace, FL #4
21. Chris Cotto Milton, FL #91
22. Jake Finch Lynn Haven, FL #51
23. Chad Rutherford Hollywood, FL #5R
24. Conner Sutton Pensacola, FL #54
25. Jody Henderson Opp, AL #28
26. Marcus Elliott Greenbrier, TN #00
27. Wayne Niedecken Jr Milton, FL #31
28. Gary Goodwin Pensacola, FL #23
29. Kraig Hall Pace, FL #98
30. Ricky Harrelson Elba, AL #3H
31. Corbitt Moseley Youngstown, FL #26
32. Adam Briggs Lakeland, FL #14
33. Rocky Boyd, Sr. Pensacola, FL #25
34. Joe Bethea, Jr. Deatsville, AL #33
35. Chris Benson #51B
36. Zane Devault Plymouth, IN #21D
37. Doug Thorpe, Jr. Pensacola, FL #84
