Go-Kart Racing Allows Fans To Race Drivers, Win Money & Prizes
Not all of the racing in Pensacola, FL will be going on at Five Flags Speedway this coming weekend. In fact, some of the most competitive and "hardcore" racing will be going on a few miles away from the track on Thursday night, when Fast Eddies Fun Center hosts the annual Snowball Showdown, an event which gives fans the chance to race against racers, crew members and car owners, as well as the Speed51.com staff and other media members, all in hopes of winning some big cash and some cool prizes.
“I’ve got two drivers here who couldn’t even make the feature race,” joked Wauters. “I might as well drive my own car in the Derby.”
“I had a good crew chief out there today – that was myself. I had good teammates and I was driving
Uncle Rusty’s car."
This year, registration begins at 7:15p.m. with the “Snowball Showdown” starting at 8:30p.m.
Car owner Richie Wauters (center) is the defending winner of the Snowball Showdown at Fast Eddie's Fun Center in Pensacola.
The sixth running of the Snowball Showdown will be held on Thursday, December 1, at Fast Eddies Fun Center, located at 505 Michigan Avenue in Pensacola.
The “Snowball Showdown” is an annual go-kart race held at Fast Eddies in conjunction with the Snowball Derby.
Festivities include a media-only race, a Snowball (and Snowflake) drivers-only event and the Snowball Showdown.
Last year, Richie Wauters (Steve Wallace's car owner) was the mean to beat in the Showdown.
Wauters drove the #2 Rusty Wallace look-alike to the easy victory. Ironically, neither of Wauters' drivers, Wallace or JR Norris (in the NASCAR Southeast Series) qualified for the feature.
The entry fee is $10.00 plus $5.00 for each race entered. There will be 15-lap heat races, semi-finals and a 20-lap feature race.
Cash prizes will be awarded to the top four finishers with SPEED51.COM adding an additional $51.00 to the winner’s purse.
The winner of the “Snowball Showdown” receives $151.00, second place $75.00, third place $50.00, and fourth place $25.00.
All participants must be at least 16 years of age with a valid I.D.
JR Norris (center) won last year's Snowball Drivers only race. Jason Hogan (background) did not.
In addition to the “Snowball Showdown”, there will be a celebrity race and Snowball Derby driver's race. The “Media Showdown” begins at 8:15p.m. with 15-lap heat races. Top finishers will advance to a 20-lap Celebrity feature race.
Snowball Derby drivers will also compete in a 20-lap “Driver Showdown” at 8:15p.m.
“Tattoo” wristbands will also be on sale to help Charlie Southard, a member of the Pensacola racing community, win his race against cancer. All proceeds will go to the Charlie Southard Benefit Fund.
