Zachary Curtis Wins First Crown Stock Derby 40 at Five Flags

This year’s Snowball Derby Preview at Five Flags Speedway featured a new addition, a 40-lap feature for Crown Stock cars. It proved to be a popular addition, as more than 50 competitors showed up for the event.

However, none of those competitors had an answer for Zachary Curtis.

Curtis was fastest in all three practice sessions and set fast time in qualifying before leading all 40 laps of Saturday’s Crown Stock Derby 40, collecting $1,250 with the victory.

Despite the payday, Curtis was most excited about taking home a Snowball Derby trophy.

“It feels amazing,” said Curtis. “I’ve been racing for years and I’ve always wanted a trophy this tall. I had seen how cool this thing was, with the snowball on it, being four feet tall. I said, damn, we ain’t got a shot to win tonight with how cool this trophy is. We pulled it off.”

Curtis is a regular at Citrus County Speedway in Inverness, Florida, and recently won the King of the Vic’s enduro at that bullring. However, he said the sensation of speed at Five Flags Speedway was an exhilarating experience.

“This track is freaking awesome. We’ve got some speed up here. It was so much fun running this hard. We’ve got to be doing almost 100 miles per hour, I reckon, in this old cop car.

The Crown Stock Derby 40 drew drivers from all over the southeast, and even some points beyond. One such driver was Mike Stacy, who finished second after making the trip from Springfield, Ohio.

“I got lost. I don’t know how I did that,” joked Stacy. “I came down for the seafood, if nothing else. I took the first leg and made somebody else drive the rest.

The veteran racer is no stranger to Five Flags Speedway, as he had previously scored a podium finish in a Modified race at the half-mile.

“I finished third here one year in the Modified. I thought I was going to win it and thought I had the car to go to the lead. I told my spotter I was going to the lead and he said, ‘We’re alright, let’s ride.’ Then the rain came with 15 laps to go and we were screwed.”

Another Citrus County Speedway local, Charles Herne, rounded out the podium.

“I appreciate y’all putting this race on. It was awesome. You definitely haul butt here compared to our home track at Citrus.”

The Crown Stocks will be on track during the Snowball Derby weekend on Friday, December 1. That night's program will include a Crown Stock Invitational 25-lapper, along with a 75-lap feature for the Modifieds of Mayhem, following the conclusion of Snowball Derby qualifying.

-Photo credit: Daniel Vining

CROWN STOCK DERBY 40 UNOFFICIAL RESULTS