BDI Racing has a successful record in the short track ranks, quickly becoming one of the top development programs in Super Late Model racing.  Likewise, Bobby Gill is one of the most successful short track racers in the sport's history, earning two Snowball Derby victories, four Pro Cup Series Championships and race wins throughout the Southeast and beyond in several different Super Late Model series.

But both driver and crew feel that there is something left unfinished as the calendar moves into December 2009.  Gill may have two Derby victories, but a third was snatched away in post-race technical inspection in 2006 and the veteran racer had a strong, but not quite Championship-worthy season in Pro Cup in 2009.  BDI Racing has been accustomed to challenging for victories in the Super Late Model ranks in years past, but bad luck hovered over the team and kept them out of victory lane so far in 2009.

That's why when BDI Racing team owner and SPEED NASCAR television broadcaster Bob Dillner tabbed Bobby Gill to pilot the Beef ‘O' Brady's #51 Chevy in the 42nd Annual Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola on December 6th, both sides saw it as a chance for redemption in the race that the driver and team consider the most important one on their schedule.

“I'm excited for the Snowball Derby,” said Gill, who hopes to make his 20 th career Snowball Derby start.  “Last year I didn't get to race, but Bob and I got together about a month ago and we got to work re-building this Beef ‘O' Brady's Chevy.  It's pretty much a brand-new car now so I'm really looking forward to it.  I heard there's a lot of good competition going down there, so hopefully we'll go out there and be on top.”

BDI Racing has had several young and talented drivers behind the wheel of the #51 in recent seasons, including Michael Pope during much of 2009 and NASCAR Modified driver Ryan Preece in the Beef ‘O' Brady's Chevy in the 2008 Snowball Derby, where the team finished 14th after contending in the top-10 during the 300-lap event.  But for the 42nd Annual Snowball Derby, Dillner looked towards a cagy veteran to help steer the #51 towards Derby success.

“I'm extremely excited to have someone with the talent and credentials of Bobby Gill behind the wheel of our Beef ‘O' Brady's Chevy in this year's Snowball Derby,” said Dillner, who will be attending the Snowball Derby after covering the NASCAR Sprint Cup banquet in Las Vegas that weekend on SPEED.  “We're proud to have a two-time Snowball winner drive our car and his knowledge and stories have been great for the guys in the shop.  We'll go out there and give it the best we can give it to put ourselves in position to win and we'll do it stuffed on some great Beef ‘O' Brady's food throughout Snowball week.” 

For many drivers in the Snowball Derby field, success in the Snowball Derby could go a long way towards making a name for themselves in the racing industry.  But for Gill, who is on the Derby record books with Rich Bickle, Wayne Niedecken, Dickie Davis, Freddy Fryar, Gary St. Amant, Gary Balough and Augie Grill as the only multiple-time winners of the race, this year's edition of the event is another chance to claim the one thing that drives him – the Snowball Derby winner's trophy.

“I love to win,” added Gill.  “That's all that matters is getting trophies.  I just like racing.  That's all I've done all my life, so it's hard to change that now.  Everybody's excited to go down there.  You're down there for about five days, so you're able to sit back, relax, have fun and race.”

Fans of Bobby Gill, BDI Racing and short track racing in general have responded to the team's efforts for putting fans' names on the hood of the Beef ‘O' Brady's #51 during Snowball Derby Weekend.  Fans and businesses from across the country have added their names to the #51 Chevy, including many industry insiders and NASCAR personalities.

Fans, racers and locals attending the Snowball Derby events are welcome to join the BDI Racing team each night during Snowball Derby week at Beef ‘O' Brady's restaurant for some great wings, burgers, steaks, drinks and more.  Beef ‘O' Brady's is located on 2101 West Nine Mile Road in Pensacola, just a few minutes down the road from Five Flags Speedway. 

Based in Concord, North Carolina, BDI Racing is a full-service short track development team that offers a “total package” approach to building strong racers both on the track and off.  BDI Racing has a full fleet of cars from Quarter Midgets, Bandoleros, Legends Cars, Pro Challenge Series cars and Pro and Super Late Models.  Several house drivers including make up the core of the BDI Racing development program, but opportunities are available in all facets of BDI Racing's organization for the 2010 season.

Marketing opportunities for the BDI Racing team and its driver development program are currently available for the 2010 season.  For more information on how partnering with BDI Racing can provide a multitude of benefits for companies of all sizes, contact the Matt Kentfield, BDI Racing Director of Racing Operations at (704) 788-2134 ext: 2 and visit the team online at www.bdiracing.net .