Doss Hopes to Clinch First Blizzard Title at 5 Flags’ Night of Champions Weekend

All bets are off when Jeremy Doss is racing for checkered flags. Typically.

The 26-year-old Super Late Model driver encountered one driver earlier this year that gave him pause over his late-race strategies. That competitor was Mike Doss, Jeremy’s father and former Late Model driver himself. The two competed against one another in a touring Legends series this year in their native California.

They battled nose-to-tail for much of the season and Jeremy learned a valuable lesson about where an aggressive style will get him with his dad.

“I’ve been through those situations with him where I had to move him late in the race to earn the win,” Jeremy said of his father. “I’ll definitely hesitate if the opportunity presents itself again because he didn’t like that.”

Jeremy eventually won the championship with Mike finishing second. Instead of being rivals, the pair will team up once again this weekend at Five Flags Speedway in hopes of securing another crown. Jeremy Doss carries a nearly 30-point lead into the Night of Champions doubleheader weekend where the Deep South Cranes Blizzard Series SLMs will compete in two 100-lap races to decide a track champion.

“We’ll have the same gameplan as normal,” Doss said. “We’ll go out and do our best and hopefully come home with a win.

“(Five Flags) is one of the toughest places I’ve ever been to. It can throw you for a loop because it’s not the same each time. There are so many characteristics to it and it can be weather sensitive.”

Weather was a major factor the last time the SLMs raced at Pensacola’s high banks during the PepperJack Kennels Twin Blizzards in July. The second night was rained out, meaning Friday’s feature serves as the makeup race. The best average finish from the Twin Blizzards opener this summer, which Doss won, and the America Welding 100 on Friday wins a Snowball Derby prize package that is valued at $7,000. The Story & Bleich Crown Stocks share the famed half-mile asphalt oval Friday.

The SLMs return Saturday night for the Deep South Cranes 100 and will be joined by the Allen Turner Hyundai Pro Late Models as both series close the Five Flags regular season alongside the Modifieds of Mayhem.

Gates open at 5 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday. The green flag drops at 8 p.m. Friday night, 7 p.m. Saturday. Admission is $20 for adults each night or $30 for both nights; $17 for seniors, military and students; $5 for children ages 6 to 11; and free for the little kids.

Doss has enjoyed a banner season at Five Flags. He was awarded the Kioti Tractor 100 victory in July after NASCAR Cup star William Byron had the win stripped in post-race technical inspection. Doss finished second to Casey Roderick in the Blizzard Series season opener in March as the ASA STARS National Tour made its debut.

“We’re getting more comfortable at (Five Flags),” Doss said. “It has been a real confidence boost for us this year. We’re going in the right direction. The nice thing about racing there is every time you go, you’re running against guys that you will see at the Derby.”

Doss leads Gio Ruggiero by 28 points, but there are several other drivers within striking distance.

“It’d be real special,” Doss said of winning a track title at Five Flags. “This is our first year to run the full (Blizzard Series) program. It’s cool to be on top against the best racecar drivers in the world. Plus, locking it down makes December a lot stress free.”

-Story by: Chuck Corder/Five Flags Speedway
-Photo credit: Will Bellamy/Racing America