Jaxon Bishop Takes Modifieds of Mayhem Win at Five Flags, Sets Sights on Derby

Jaxon Bishop may be a two-time Modifieds of Mayhem Tour champion, but he has sights set on a new target - the Modified feature during the 58th Annual Snowball Derby.

Bishop brought a brand new Modified to Five Flags Speedway for Friday's Modifieds of Mayhem event, and took the victory in the 50-lap feature. The Alabama native didn't mince words during his post-race interview, stating he hopes to leave Five Flags with another trophy in December.

"It's a brand new car," said Bishop. "This is the first race ever on it. We're not after just winning the regular Mayhem races. We're on the Road to the Derby.

"All of this is not possible without my dad. We build our own cars, do everything in-house, and we're starting to get faster and faster and faster. This is the best car I've ever drove down here."

To do that, Bishop will have to knock off Cody Stickler, who has won the last four runnings of the Snowball Derby Modified feature. While Stickler was not in Pensacola on Friday night, he was still top of mind for Bishop and those competing in the Battle at the Beach.

"We really worked hard," said Bishop. "Got some different ideas we've been working on here lately, and it's all starting to come together. We're all trying to chase the 46 car [of Stickler] when it's down here, so we've got to do something to get faster."

A last-lap incident dashed Jeremy Williams' hopes of a runner-up finish, as he was unofficially placed eighth, one lap down. Brad Bowman crossed the line in second place after the last-lap incident.

"First off, I've got to say sorry to the 81 [of Williams]," said Bowman. "They didn't deserve to be backed in the wall right there. They deserved a lot better finish than that. We've got to do something about these lapped cars. They're just tearing up a car without having to work on it. The lapped cars were right in the way. I think they helped me, but I know they hurt me a little bit in the long run and they definitely hurt the 81. It shouldn't have been like that. We should have settled it on the race track.

"We took third after that restart there, and then it started missing. It was the same way after that restart. On lap 50, I was just trying to be as smooth as I can on the outside. I was really hoping and praying for something to come. The 81 really got back by me, so I had to make it up on the entry there and it got a little ugly, and I'm sorry for that."

Bubba VanDevender led the first 12 laps of the race before Bishop gained control of the race, with VanDevender finishing third.

"I feel like we had the fastest car on the night," said VanDevender. "I knew the 81 and the 2 were catching me. I just tried to save as much as possible, and those restarts killed me. I think the clutch was slipping and it was tight center, loose off. I was barely hanging on to it."

Matthew Martin finished fourth, with Kevin Peel rounding out the top five.

The Modifieds of Mayhem Tour returns to Montgomery Motor Speedway on September 13 for the Fall Brawl 50. That marks the penultimate points-paying event for the Modifieds of Mayhe before the championship race at Montgomery on October 18.

-Photo credit: Reid Scott, Liberty Racing Review

Modifieds of Mayhem Battle at the Beach 50 Unofficial Results