PENSACOLA, FL – For days, race teams, drivers and fans have waited out the weather as Mother Nature refused to let up in Pensacola. Finally, in the wee hours of Sunday morning, Keelan Harvick took home the Allen Turner Snowflake 125 win at Five Flags Speedway. Harvick became the youngest winner in event history in his first attempt at the race.
“It’s really special,” Harvick told Matt Weaver. “Like I said, just to win it for my guys that put in a lot of hours for me to be able to do this. All my family, my sponsors, it just wouldn’t be possible without all of them.”
The day was set to start around 12:00 p.m. CT on Saturday, with Snowball Derby qualifying up first on the docket. After persistent rain throughout the afternoon pushed Snowball qualifying festivities well into the evening, Pro Late Model drivers were set up with a late night for their Snowflake portion of the day.
After 59 cars attempted to qualify, 30 were locked-in in on time with four more coming from a pair of 20-lap Snowflake LCQ’s (two per LCQ), and the final three spots handed out via provisional.
The Snowflake went green just past 1:30 a.m. CT Sunday morning, with polesitter Luke Baldwin leading the field to green. Defending Snowball Derby winner Kaden Honeycutt quickly jumped out to the early lead, seemingly having the dominant car early in the running. Meanwhile, Harvick quickly began working through the field after qualifying down in 15th. Harvick cracked the top-five for the first time on lap 39 and continued his march forward from there.
At the front, Honeycutt continued to lead all the way to the mid-race break at lap 75. The mid-section of the race was marred by several multi-car accidents both before, and after the halfway break that took out several big names including Jade Avedisian and Casey Roderick.
Just past halfway, Harvick stole the lead away from Honeycutt on a lap 78, but gave the lead right back after a mistake on a restart shortly after. While Harvick faltered, Honeycutt briefly reassumed the lead before Tristan McKee took the top spot away on lap 83. McKee held that spot while Harvick worked from fifth back to the rear bumper of the No. 7, eventually muscling his way to the inside of McKee in turn one with just 25 laps to go.
Harvick led the final 25 circuits, holding the field at bay on a late race restart to secure the first Five Flags Speedway win of his career.
With the checkered flag flying right around 3:30 a.m. CT, fans, teams and many drivers now have just a few short hours to rest up before turning around and facing the biggest race in pavement short track racing, the 58th Snowball Derby. Green flag for the Derby is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. CT, with every lap streamed live on FloRacing.
