Gresham Takes Aim At Strong Finish In First Snowball Derby Start
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Griffin, GA (December 2, 2009) – After a big year of firsts for Max Gresham, the talented young driver will experience another career milestone when he takes the green flag in the 42nd-Annual Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL this Sunday.
“This will be my first time running the Derby,” said Gresham. “We ran really well in the Snowflake 100 at Pensacola last year and turned in a strong seventh-place finish. Honestly, about the only thing that’s different between the two races is the increased horsepower in the Super Late Model car and the longer distance of the Derby. I know my Gresham Motorsports team has gone all out to give me the best opportunity to do well this weekend. Now it’s just up to me to do my best.”
The last time Gresham visited the Five Flags half-mile oval, the racing fates weren’t on his side as a Lap 1 crash eliminated him from the Blizzard 100 September 25.
“That was my first-ever attempt at a Super Late Model race and needless to say, it didn’t turn out too good for us,” said Gresham. “We took the green and everything felt good coming up off Turn 2. I ran up on the guy in front of me through Turns 3-4 before someone five or six cars in front of me got loose. The guy in front of me also got way loose and in an effort to miss him, I turned left down the banking. The car just got out from under me and I slid into the inside retaining wall pretty hard. The impact tore up the left front suspension pretty bad and we were done for the night.”
While his initial Pensacola Super Late Model effort got short-circuited, the rest of Gresham’s 2009 season has been electric. The 16-year-old high school Junior student at Woodward Academy in College Park, GA won a pair of American Speed Association Southeast Asphalt Tour events early in the year and then followed it up with four solid showings in the Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR Camping World Series East division. Gresham ran third at Iowa Speedway and notched an outside pole and eighth-place run at New Hampshire Motor Speedway to highlight the Gibbs’ association.
Last time out, the Griffin, GA teenager raced his way from a lap down to lead late and eventually finish second in the World Crown 300 at Gresham Motorsports Park. The November 15 effort was later erased when a post-race technical violation dropped him to 38th in the final running order.
“We had a great effort there,” said Gresham. “We were good at the end of that race and I know that we will be good at the end of the race Sunday. With a little luck, we’re going to be up there racing for it at the end of the day. To win the Snowball Derby would really be something for me and my Gresham Motorsports team. If you win that race, you are the Top Dog for a whole year.”
The 42nd-Annual Snowball Derby Park will take the green flag at 10 a.m. Central Time on Thursday, December 4 with alternating rounds of Super and Late Model Stock Car practice. Friday’s action will be highlighted by qualifying for the Snowball Derby at 6 p.m. to be followed by feature event action in the Modified and Super Stock divisions. Saturday’s bill of events includes a last-chance race for the Snowball Derby, qualifying for the Snowflake 100, two last-chance races for the Snowflake 100, and the Snowflake 100 itself beginning at 7 p.m.
Sunday’s 42nd-Annual Snowball Derby will roll off at 2 p.m. Central Time Sunday. The event can be heard live on the Internet on www.Speed51.com.
To learn more about Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please log on to www.greshammotorsports.com.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.