Highest Finishing Snowball Derby Rookie; Chad Finley Brings Home A 13th Place Finish
First Derby Experience Proves Beneficial for the Future (Special from Chad Finley Racing)
December 11, 2013
DeWitt, Michigan (December 11, 2013) – Chad Finley knew that going into the 46th annual
Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida on December 3-8th that not
only the best short track drivers in the country would be on hand competing for the win in
the most prestigious short track race in the country, but that all eyes of the motorsports
industry would be squarely on the Panhandle watching everyone's every move.
Task number one for the Chad Finley Racing Team would be simply to make the show.
With 55 of the best in the business on the property, the 21-year-old knew he'd have his
work cut out for him in Pole Qualifying on Friday, December 6th. So Finley went out and
timed in 17th quick and with the top 30 locking in, he was safely locked into the show and
would not have to run the dreaded 50-Lap Last Chance Race.
"Going into qualifying Friday we were really confident in our race car. We had shown great
signs of speed through Thursday and Friday." The DeWitt, Michigan driver remarked.
"However we only managed to qualify 17th, we made the show and that's great but I really
thought we had a shot of being in the top five there and the car just wasn't as good under
the lights as it had been during the day." He added.
So Saturday, December 7th was spent working on race runs in the lone 75 minute Practice
Session to see what could be learned to apply for the main the next afternoon. "We made a few race runs with our AirLiftCompany.com / AutoParts2020.com / Chevrolet and the car was pretty sporty. We didn't put up a really fast lap, but on lap averages we were one of the top five cars we felt like." Finley continued. "We were pretty happy with the way the car turned the center and drove off, but under clouds and cooler conditions we knew that we would need to be a little better under the sun and slick conditions."
In the 300-Lap Snowball Derby on Sunday, December 8th, Finley would be the highest finishing rookie in the Snowball Derby as he would cross the stripe in 13th, the first car one lap down. A good accomplishment for running in his first Derby, but Finley was hoping for much more against the talent-laden field that made up the 37 starters in Pensacola, Florida.
"When the race got started there we drove our way from 17th up to the top 10. Before the first pit stop, we didn't make any big changes to the car and we came down pit road and took four tires, but we didn't have a great stop and lost some spots." Finley continued. "Once we got back going the car drove fairly decent and we worked our way up to sixth. That was the highlight of our race. We were running up in the top six the whole race there and just got behind on pit road and then our strategy for pitting early didn't work either and would be shown 13th in the running order." He added.
"It's a shame because I feel like we had a top four car easily and just got too far behind on pit road. I hate it for my team they worked so hard all week and we as a team deserved a better finish." Finley offered "We will take what we learned and come back next year knowing what we need to do and give it another run." He said. For his efforts, Finley was the highest finishing rookie of those making their first career Snowball Derby start.
The 2013 racing season is now over for Finley and CFR as in 16 appearances, Finley collected two Wins, both in the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance with those trips to victory lane coming at Columbus Motor Speedway (OH) on May 25th and at Springport Motor Speedway (MI) on September 14th. He also scored five top five finishes and eight top 10 showings. In addition, 11 of the 16 events resulted in at least a top 15 showing.
In addition to his race statistics, he also picked off two Track Records and three overall Fast Qualifier Awards during the year. His record breaking laps came at South Alabama Speedway (AL) on March 16th in his Super Late Model during the 37th annual Rattler 250 and at Columbus in the JEGS/CRA race which resulted in a clean sweep of that weekend. He also has a FQ Award in ARCA/CRA Super Series competition at Lucas Oil Raceway (IN) back on July 26th.
"I feel throughout the year, and especially as of late, our program has gotten better. We have had speed at many race tracks just haven't had the luck to go with it." Finley continued. "We were fortunate enough to be in position to win a couple of races this year and capitalized with two trips to victory lane. Now we start preparing for 2014 and that begins as soon as we unload the Derby car." He stated.
Tentatively, the first event of the 2014 racing season for Finley and the CFR crew will be a return trip to Alabama for the 38th annual Rattler 250 back at South Alabama Speedway in Opp, Alabama on Friday-Sunday, March 14-16th. After the Rattler, plans are for Finley to make select appearances in several high-profile Super Late Model races throughout the country with a primary focus on the ARCA/CRA Super Series while also racing in select events within the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour.
During the 2013 racing season, Finley's black & red #42 Port City Racecars Chevrolets carried sponsorship decals on each entry from Auto Value Parts Stores & Certified Service Centers as well as AutoParts2020.com, The Air Lift Company, XLT Engineering, NorthsideTowing.net, McGunegill Engine Performance, Five Star Racecar Bodies, Bassett Racing Wheels, Affordable Tire & Service, Bosch Spark Plugs, Hyperco Suspension, Maurer’s Textiles, Superior Racing Images and M.P.H. Promotions.
For more information about Chad Finley Racing and driver Chad Finley and to inquire about sponsorship opportunities for the fast approaching 2014 racing season, go to the CFR website located at: www.chadfinleyracing.com You can also follow CFR on Facebook and Twitter as well by going to the following links: www.facebook.com/chadfinleyracing and: www.twitter.com/chad_finley and clicking on the “Like” and “Follow” buttons.
