For years dating back to the 1970s, Chris Nielsen and young brother, Frank, dominated demolition derbies at Five Flags Speedway and across the Gulf Coast.
With a pair of station wagons, the Nielsen boys struck fear in the hearts of their rivals.
“For a couple years we won ’em all,” said Chris Nielsen, who raced in multiple local divisions at Five Flags all the way up to Late Models. “We could make more money at demolition derbies than in a racecar.”
At 76, the Pensacola native is passing his passion for these unique crash-fests onto the next generation.
Chris Nielsen and grandson Jack will compete in the annual Five Flags Speedway Demolition Derby on Aug 8. They will battle against others for a shot at a winner-take-all $1,500. If grandfather and grandson are the last two cars remaining, one wonders how it will play out.
“Let Paw Paw win,” said Alix Nielsen, Chris’ wife, jokingly instructed her grandson. “I’ll pray for both of them.”
The Demolition Derby is all part of Michles & Booth Back 2 School Bash on Aug. 8 at the famed half-mile asphalt oval.
The Modifieds of Mayhem (50 laps), Sportsmen (25), Pure Stocks (25) and Crown Stocks (25), who will also compete in a 10-lap non-winners’ feature, are all precursors to the Derby.
Gates open at 5 p.m. Aug. 8; qualifying begins at 6:15; and the opening green flag will drop at approximately 8 p.m. Admission is $10 for all fans except children ages 6-to-11 ($5), and 5-and-under, who get in free.
Chris Nielsen last raced in a Sportsmen at Five Flags Speedway more than a decade ago. His distinguished career includes track championships at both Pensacola’s high banks and South Alabama Speedway in Opp, including at both one year.
He continued his pursuit of Demolition Derby immortality until five years ago. Back now, Chris welcomes the opportunity to relieve some stress from behind a steering wheel.
“You can take a lotta frustration out in a Derby car,” he said, only half-kiddingly. “I can wreck as many as I want and you ain’t gotta run from the law.”
Instead of his venerable station wagon, Chris Nielsen will be a in a Lincoln Town Car.
“We’ve gone over everything,” Nielsen said. “The damn fuses in that thing. My last Derby, I asked a guy working with me to undo two wires to the fuel pump. But he ended up undoing another set of wires. The first time I was hit, I was out.”
But he’s not one to give up lightly. Still, he and grandson Jack are tickled to be driving against each other Aug. 8.
“I just wanted to run it with him again,” said Jack Nielsen, who competed against grandad five years ago at Five Flags. “They’re a lot of fun.”
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Five Flags Speedway to host annual Demolition Derby on Aug. 8
Reporting by Chuck Corder / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
