The Snowflake 100 Pro Late Model race at is paired up with the Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway as one of the most prestigious racing events of the year in the short-track racing world. Drivers from all across the country flock to the Florida racing facility to be one of the racers to qualify into the big events as well as etch their names in the history books as a winner.
19-year-old racer Jimmy Lang made the trip to Five Flags in an attempt to be one of the few that can say they won the Snowflake 100. While he came up a bit short, Lang showed his strength and let the competition know that he is a force to be reckoned with.
With close to 70 cars vying for 39 starting spots, Lang had to have his game face on when it came to qualifying. Timing in 10th overall, Lang locked himself into the field and prepared for the race.
During the event, Lang experienced many setbacks out of his control that tested his abilities as a driver, including trouble with a wheel stud, his transmission and fluids leaking from the motor that got on his tires, making his car slide through the corners.
“We started tenth,” said Lang. “We started coming through the field really good. My tires, I guess I drove the car way too hard at the beginning of the race, because the tires went away like a huge amount. Everybody else was passing me, and I thought there was oil on the track or something. We had a problem the last race with an oil leak and that was causing the car to get loose, so I thought that was the problem.
“We were just hanging on, you know.”
Not knowing he had a leak, Lang fought with the car the whole night trying to keep the car under him. Also, the transmission he used due to the series he usually races in put him at a disadvantage on the restarts.
“When we come back next year and we go to other non-ASA races where you can run different transmissions and are allowed to shift on restarts, we’re going to put a four speed in,” said Lang. “They were killing me and pulling me about three and a half car lengths every restart.”
By the end of the night, Lang felt his car could have been a contender for the win, but was happy with his ninth-place finish and the progress his team made during the event.
“There were a lot of goals met this weekend,” explained Lang. “Everybody worked great as a team. Everybody just worked how they were supposed to. I have to give huge thanks to Rusty with Performance Concepts. He helped us with the car, and that car was awesome this week. The motor was a strong so I have to thank Clay Turner as well as all the people that support me because without them I wouldn’t be here.”
Jimmy Lang’s 2007 season has come to a close. Stay tuned for more information on his 2008 racing schedule coming soon.
