Five Flags Speedway, auto race track
Five Flags Speedway is a paved oval motorsport racing track in Pensacola, Florida, in the southern United States. The track is roughly a third of a mile (about 530 m) long, with steeply banked turns that keep cars close together and speeds high.
The track opened in 1954, making it one of the oldest paved short tracks still in operation in the American South. Over the decades it went through several renovations but kept its identity as a traditional short-track venue.
Five Flags Speedway is best known locally for the Snowball Derby, a late-model race held each December that draws drivers from across the country. The crowd tends to be loyal and knowledgeable, and the event feels more like a community gathering than a standard race day.
The speedway sits on the outskirts of Pensacola and is easiest to reach by car. Parking is available on site, but arriving early on race days is a good idea since seating fills up quickly for popular events.
Despite being a short track, the speedway has attracted drivers who later became NASCAR stars, including Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Jeff Gordon, both of whom raced at the Snowball Derby early in their careers. The Derby is considered by many in racing circles to be one of the toughest short-track races in the country.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
