After starting dead last in a 24-car field, Cody Stickler charged to the front and the win in Friday night’s Modifieds of Mayhem feature as a part of the 56th annual Snowball Derby weekend at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida.
It marked Stickler’s third Modified Derby title, joining Augie Grill and Donnie Hamrac (2013-2016) as three consecutive Modified Derby winners. Stickler hasn’t lost a Modifield feature at Five Flags since 2021.
Jaxon Bishop finished in second, with Grill in third.
“(Car owner) John Sarppraicone makes it fun,” Stickler said. “I can put it anywhere I want and do whatever I want with it.”
Stickler’s decision to start tail end proved lucrative after it nearly cost him at the drop of the green flag. Stickler earned the winner’s purse of $3,000 and a $5,000 bonus for the victory. He avoided near-disaster on the opening lap when a wreck collected a third of the field in front of him.
“Anything can happen when you start in the back,” Stickler said. “Luckily, I had no damage. I just woah-ed up as quick as I could and didn’t get in it.”
From there, he tore through the field and took the lead from Grill on lap 32. Stickler quickly stretched his lead, and by lap 45, there were just eight cars on the lead lap.
Bromley’s Bold Move Earns Him First Crown Stocks Title
Tony Bromley used a daring late pass to score the victory in the inaugural Story & Bleich Crown Stocks Invitational 25 on Friday night.
“I’ve got no words right now,” Bromley said. “There are no racetracks in Jacksonville. The closest one to me is New Smyrna. To come here and win a Derby feels amazing.”
Ryan Maxwell and Chuckie Herne finished second and third, respectively.
On lap 20, Herne was trying to maintain his lead while fending off Mike Stacy and Bromley. As Stacy looked to pass Herne on the back straightaway, Bromley saw his opportunity to slide under the pair and claim the lead. The move paid off.
Bromley darted to daylight and held off Maxwell down the stretch.
The 56th annual Snowball Derby weekend continues on Saturday, when the Snowball Derby last chance qualifying race is scheduled, along with Outlaw racing and the Pro Late Model Snowflake 100. That all leads to Sunday’s 300-lap Snowball Derby for the Super Late Models.
For more information, visit 5FlagsSpeedway.com.
Five Flags Speedway – Pensacola, FL
Snowball Derby Night 2 – December 1, 2023
Modifieds of Mayhem
1. Cody Stickler
2. Jaxson Bishop
3. Augie Grill
4. Jeremy Williams
5. Kyle Purvis
6. Matt Maurer
7. Joe Aramendia
8. Diogo Moscalo
9. Dodge Carlbert
10. Chuck Barnes, Jr.
11. L.J. Grimm
12. Brad Stell
13. J.J. Schafer
14. Kevin Peel
15. Larry Hughes
16. Donnie Hamrac
17. Jeff Letson
18. Jordan Key
19. Parker Pugh
20. Jody Anderson
21. Gary Tedder, Jr.
Crown Stocks
1. Tony Bromley
2. Ryan Maxwell
3. Chuckie Herne
4. Braeden Kitchen
5. Hunter Lambert
6. Ryan Bleich
7. Tyler Young
8. Daniel Lofton
9. Blaise Boykin
10. Steve Sidner
11. Dave Nolen
12. Heath Hual
13. Garrison Story
14. Mike Stacy
http://accesswdun.com/article/2023/12/1217008/stickler-scores-third-straight-modified-derby-victory