Jake Johnson did not lead a single lap in the Allen Turner Hyundai Snowflake 100 on Saturday night, but he was awarded the victory after Stephen Nasse was penalized when Bubba Pollard spun off his front bumper coming to the checkered flag.
Pollard got by Nasse on a late-race restart in the 100-lap Pro Late Model race at Five Flags Speedway, but Nasse was able to get to Pollard’s rear bumper on the final lap. Entering turn four, Nasse muscled Pollard out of the way, resulting in Pollard spinning and triggering a multi-car accident. After Nasse had been interviewed in victory lane, race control made the call to send him to the tail end of the lead lap in the finishing order, resulting in Jake Johnson inheriting the win.
https://twitter.com/speed51dotcom/status/1335445715103911943
After the race, an elated Johnson celebrated in victory lane after coming from a 31st place starting position.
“I really don’t know what to say,” Johnson said in victory lane. “I blew qualifying out the window but luckily, I got a badass fast racecar thanks to Chase Pistone and we were able to bring this thing to victory lane.”
For Nasse, who was disqualified in last year’s Snowball Derby after crossing the finish line first, it was dejavu. Prior to being penalized for what race control deemed excessive contact, he had told Speed51’s Wesley Outland, in victory lane, that his intent was not to wreck Pollard.
“I felt like I got the short end of the stick on the restart, felt like Bubba might have jumped on me a little bit, but I raced him hard trying not to wreck him,” Nasse said. “We got into it but, hope it was a good show for the fans.”
Jake Finch finished second while Jarrett Butcher rounded out the podium. Derek Thorn, who dominated much of the race before being passed by Nasse in the late stages of the race, finished in fourth.
After the race, Bubba Pollard tweeted, “Just a racing incident I guess. At the end of the day everyone is going for the win. I guess we’ll try again.”
Unofficial Results
- Jake Johnson
- Jake Finch
- Jarrett Butcher
- Derek Thorn
- Matt Craig
- Dylan Fetcho
- Chris Davidson
- Dakota Stroup
- Connor Okrzesik
- Justin Bonnett
- Dan Leeck
- Grant Thompson
- Steve Dorer
- John DeAngelis
- Wes Griffith
- Ryan Luza
- Jim Weber
- Jo Jo Wilkinson
- Bubba Pollard
- Johanna Long-Robbins
- Stephen Nasse
- Hudson Halder
- Stacey Crain
- Justin Marks
- Elliott Massey
- Dustin Smith
- Dylan Smith
- Steven Chunn
- Hunter Jack
- Mason Keller
- Josh Williams
- Colin Allman
- Jim Wall
- Josh Hicks
- Kyle Plott
- Mark Day
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C. G. Roper
December 5, 2020 at 10:28 pm
Déja vu all over again?! It’s becoming Groundhog Day. My only quibble with Official Intervention is the race fan often misses out. Last year’s Snowball Derby is my evidence.
Whether it is in Post-Race Tech Inspection or Deux Ex Machina from the officials, it becomes increasingly frustrating when the winner isn’t decided on the track before the eyes of the crowd. If the officials are trying to send a message to clean up on-track shenanigans, I suggest another method.
And, if anyone is surprised that Nasse is once again in the middle of this contretemps, they should read your previous article on his controversial past.