Snowball Derby & Snowflake 100 To Wrap Up 2014 Racing Season For Chad Finley
Chad Finley Racing taking two cars down to Five Flags Speedway (FL) (Special from Chad Finley Racing)
November 25, 2014
DeWitt, Michigan (November 25, 2014) – Chad Finley has had an adventurous
and busy 2014 racing season to say the least. He's ran everything from a Template
and Outlaw Super Late Model to a Template and Outlaw Pro Late Model to a
NASCAR K&N Pro Series East car and even a Dirt Super Late Model. Overall in
2014, the DeWitt, Michigan driver has raced in over 30 total events and with two
more races left on the agenda, Finley would love nothing more than to end the year
on a high note, preferably in victory lane.
The 47th Annual Snowball Derby is set for Wednesday-Sunday, December 3-7th
at the 1/2 (0.500) mile high-banked paved oval of Five Flags Speedway in
Pensacola, Florida. This will be Finley's second attempt at one of the premier
Super Late Model races in the country. In the 2013 version of the Derby, he
qualified 17th out of a stellar 59-car field and advanced four positions to record
a 13th place showing. The highest finish of the race for a Snowball Derby rookie.
"Really looking forward to getting down to the derby this year. Last year we had a
really fast car and unfortunately some things didn't play out the way we wanted
and our strategy didn't come full circle. We have that experience behind us now
and we're more prepared this year."Stated the 22-year-old as he prepares for a full
week of racing in the Sunshine State. "I feel like our program is getting better and we have ran really well this year every time we have raced. We are excited to get down there and get started with our AutoParts2020.com/airliftcompany.com Chevrolet." He added.
Finley ran his Template Super Late Model primarily in the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS where he finished just outside of the top 10 in 11th in the final points standings despite missing several events. He recorded five top five finished including a season high finish of a third four times. Those occurred at Lucas Oil Raceway (IN) twice as well as the 2014 season opener at Toledo Speedway (OH) and at Columbus Motor Speedway (OH). Those finishes were also his five top 10s. He also grabbed two Fast Qualifier Awards which came at Toledo as well as in the 2014 CRA Fall Brawl at LOR.
He also collected an impressive third place finish with the ARCA Midwest Tour in the Howie Lettow Memorial 150 at the famed Milwaukee Mile (WI) back on June 8th. Finley recorded a career high fifth place showing. Finley also won the Fast Qualifier Award in one of the most prestigious Outlaw Super Late Model races in the country; Main Event XXVII at Sandusky Speedway (OH) on October 12th. He also timed in third quick and finished eighth in another high profile Outlaw SLM race, the 25th Running of the Glass City 200 on September 20th at Toledo.
In addition to the Snowball Derby, the DeWitt, Michigan driver will also be bringing a second car to compete in the Saturday, December 6th headlining event for Pro Late Models, the Snowflake 100. The most prestigious Pro Late Model race in the country. It will be Finley's first attempt at running in the race. "The plan for that is to gain more experience and be able to overlay information for Sunday. With both cars being relatively close it will only help us and benefit us. The pro race will be just as tough to make as the Derby. We're looking for a solid run in the flake to propel us Sunday afternoon." He explained.
In his last race, also in his Pro Late Model, the 30th Running of the All-American 400 Weekend was at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville in Nashville, Tennessee back on October 31-November 1st. Qualifying 19th after choosing the wrong gear for qualifying, he worked his way through the field to record a seventh place finish at the fast 0.596 mile high-banked paved oval in the Volunteer State.
"Nashville was a solid race for us. Unfortunately we chose the wrong gear for qualifying and that's my fault." The Great Lakes State driver offered. "With the race being formatted differently this year it really made track position more premium. We didn't have it all night until the checkered flag. Wish we could have had one more dash to the end as our car was very strong on shorter runs. We were able to charge up through the field there and run seventh. Which was respectable, but not where we wanted to be. Give’s us good momentum though going into the biggest race of the year." He ended.
In limited appearances in his Pro Late Model, Finley has enjoyed success in 2014. In the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance. In four total JEGS/CRA races, Finley scored a win at Owosso Speedway (MI) on September 6 in the Big 'O' Classic 100 Presented by JEGS.com. He also recorded three top five finishes and two Fast Qualifier Awards, both of which broke the Track Record at Auto City Speedway (MI) on August 9th and at Owosso.
He also recorded a victory in weekly Outlaw Pro Late Model action which also came at Owosso on May 31st while his best finish in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East came at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NH) in the Granite State 100 on July 11th. As for his dirt exploits, a fourth place showing at Tri-City Motor Speedway (MI) was his best result in limited appearances on the clay surfaces.
Both of Finley's #42 entries for the Snowball Derby Weekend will carry sponsorship support and decals from Auto Value Parts Stores & Certified Service Centers as well as AutoParts2020.com, The Air Lift Company, Great Lakes Helicopter, XLT Engineering, NorthsideTowing.net, Five Star Racecar Bodies, Bassett Racing Wheels, Affordable Tire & Service, Bosch Spark Plugs, Hyperco Suspension and M.P.H. Promotions.
For more information about Chad Finley Racing and driver Chad Finley and to inquire about additional sponsorship opportunities for the Snowball Derby and Snowflake 100, please 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 respectively.
