Sylas Ripley, Dawson Sutton, William Sawalich and Nicholas Naugle to Drive for the Team; Ripley makes Team and Derby Debut
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: news@rackleywar.com
Centerville, TN (Nov. 26, 2024) – Rackley W.A.R. confirmed its team lineup today for the 57th running of the Snowball Derby weekend at Pensacola, Florida’s 5-Flags Speedway beginning Dec. 4 and running through Dec. 8.
Rackley W.A.R. will field three Super Late Models in the Snowball Derby and welcome Sylas Ripley from Warren, Maine as the newest Rackley W.A.R. Racing Development driver, set to make his debut at 5 Flags in the Pro Late Model Snowflake 100.
The Super Late Model lineup will include Dawson Sutton – Lebanon, Tenn., William Sawalich – Eden Prairie, MN, and Nicholas Naugle – Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. Sawalich previously ran with the team at ACE Speedway in a Pro Late Model with a 4th-place finish and at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway with a 6th place Super Late Model finish. Naugle competed with the team earlier this season in a Super Late Model falling victim to an accident.
Sutton, making his second Derby appearance, was the 2024 Pro Late Model champion at Nashville Fairgrounds Raceway, and got his toes wet in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series for 2024 highlighted by a 5th place finish at Kansas Speedway. It was announced that Sutton will make a full-time run in the Truck Series in 2025 running the No. 26 for Rackley W.A.R. under the direction of veteran crew chief, Chad Kendrick.
Ripley, the youngest team member for Rackley W.A.R. is 15 years old and already finding remarkable success in his young driving career.
For 2024 in his Pro and Super late model rookie season, he won his first career Super Late Model race at Oxford Plains Speedway and won his first-ever Modified race at Wiscasset Speedway in his first Modified start at the track at age 14. He finished fourth in the Oxford 250 right after his 15th birthday. In doing so, he became one of the youngest drivers in the history of the event to finish inside the top 5.
During the Pro All Star Series 400 Weekend at Oxford Plains Speedway (PASS 400), Sylas won Segment one and Segment three of the event, ultimately finishing in 3rd place of 35 competitors.
“What a great opportunity to be able to drive one of the best in the short track business; the No. 25 car in the Snowflake 100,” said Ripley. “I can’t wait to work with a new team and run a new track. This couldn’t be possible without Team Hornaday Development, my sponsor Maine-ly Concrete Pumping, my mom, dad, and Ryan Ripley as well. I must also thank my whole team back home for being behind me.”
Dawson Sutton confirmed Rackley Roofing Co, Inc. and W.A.R. Shocks as his event sponsors. Sawalich will be flying his familiar Soundgear and Starkey Hearing brands, and William Naugle will be sponsored by Brycon Construction Racing.
Team president, Willie Allen, said this is a big step for Rackley W.A.R.’s late model program and that the shop members have worked tirelessly to get all four cars competition ready.
“This is a huge event for us. We have some great drivers, and the entire crew is working around the clock to get these cars fast and ready to go. We tested there a week or so ago with really good results, and everyone is super-pumped to get back there and race. I’m very proud of everyone’s hard work and dedication going into this event.”
Rackley W.A.R. will continue to release information leading up to this headliner event, including car paint scheme reveals for all its drivers.
Action gets underway Dec. 4th at 5 Flags Speedway as teams move-in to the half-mile paved oval. The Snowflake 100 will be Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7:00 p.m. CST and the Snowball Derby will take the green flag on Sunday, Dec. 8 at 1:00 p.m. CST for 300 laps. For complete schedule information, please visit 5flagsspeedway.com. FloRacing has been announced as the broadcast partner for this year’s events.
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ABOUT RACKLEY W.A.R.:
Rackley W.A.R. offers motorsports competition, development, marketing, management, and a suite of other industry-related services for professional race car drivers, race teams and industry sponsors. Rackley W.A.R. competes nationally in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series as well as operating a driver development program based at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway and in regional Super and Pro Late Model events. Rackley W.A.R. is headed and co-owned by Curtis Sutton (Rackley Roofing, Inc.) and Willie Allen (Willie Allen Racing and W.A.R. Shocks).
