Driver Seeks Redemption One Year after Fiery Crash
Mooresville, North Carolina (Monday, November 30th , 2015) The 2015 racing season has seen many challenges and obstacles for the Chad Finley Racing team. Strings of bad luck have occurred with promising runs being derailed by tire failures or uncontrollable circumstances. Through it all one thing has not changed for the DeWitt, Michigan driver who now calls Mooresville, North Carolina home; the shot at redemption at Five Flags Speedway for the 48th Annual Snowball Derby.
Last year Chad Finley was battling with Bubba Pollard inside 90 laps to go when Pollard made contact with the left rear quarter panel of Chad’s Auto Value Certified Centers Ford resulting in one of the scariest crashes in Snowball Derby history, as Finley’s car burst into flames after hard contact with the turn one wall. As Finley’s Ford burnt to the ground, Chad sat up against the turn one in severe pain and could only watch as the safety crew tried to extinguish the fire. This year the CFR team looks to change their luck around at prestigious half mile located in Pensacola, FL.
“I am really looking forward to getting down to the Snowball Derby and getting this week started. After what we went through last year at the Derby with losing our car it really set us back to begin 2015. One thing comes to my mind after last year when I think about the Snowball Derby – redemption. It would be a great comeback story after last year to be holding the Tom Dawson Trophy up on Sunday night.” The 23-year-old stated.
Earlier in the year, Chad and his CFR/Rette Jones Racing crew made their return to the prestigious Five Flags Speedway for a Southern Super Series race. The standing room only crowd on hand would see the Great Lakes driver set fast time for the evening. It looked like Finley’s luck was going to turn around at the home of the Snowball Derby as he led in dominate fashion until unfortunately a right front tire would go down as he was leading the race just short of the finish. Armed with notes from that race and the same racecar he believes that his team has what it takes to have a chance to win the Snowball Derby.
“To have a tire go down the way it did there back in the spring was heart wrenching, but it was encouraging to run as well as we did and build a good notebook for the Snowball Derby. The track goes through so much change from the time we unload till the time we race so the weekend really comes down to execution. To keep up with the changing track conditions and to execute on pit road. If we can do those things this weekend we should be in good shape when they wave the black and white” explained the Michigan Driver. “There is nothing in the world like the Superbowl of short track racing that is the Snowball Derby and we can’t wait to pull into the racetrack and get to work.” The DeWitt native stated.
Snowball Derby week begins on Wednesday night with the qualifying pill draw and pit party. Time trials for the event are on Friday night with the race itself kicking off on Sunday at 3 p.m. EST. Speed51.com will provide a live Pay-Per-View broadcast.
In the 48th Annual Snowball Derby Finley’s familiar black #42 CFR / Ford will carry sponsorship decals from Auto Value Parts Stores & Certified Service Centers. In addition more support from AutoParts2020.com, The Air Lift Company, XLT Engineering, NorthsideTowing.net, Driven Racing Oil, Five Star Racecar Bodies, Bassett Racing Wheels, Affordable Tire & Service, Bosch Spark Plugs, Hyperco Suspension and Rette Jones Racing.
For more information about Chad Finley Racing and to inquire about the CFD Driver Development program as well as sponsorship opportunities for the rest of the 2015 racing season, please go to the CFR website located at: www.chadfinley.com You can also follow CFR on Facebook and Twitter by going to the following links: www.facebook.com/
