It’s about that time again.
With just over two weeks remaining until the 51st Snowball Derby, Five Flags Speedway revealed on Tuesday the most recent entry list for the most prestigious Super Late Model race in North America.
The provisional list, with teams able to file an entry until the week of the race, includes 51 drivers from 18 different states and three Canadian provinces. In true Snowball Derby fashion, many of the pre-entered names are NASCAR stars, regional champions or major race winners.
Due to his 2018 track championship at Five Flags Speedway and his likely 2018 Southern Super Series title, Casey Roderick has a guaranteed spot into the 37-car main event and has pre-entered as a result. Bubba Pollard is the winningest Late Model driver of the past decade and has entered off the heels of victories in the Oxford 250 and Canadian Short Track Nationals.
CRA Speedfest winner Chandler Smith, Summer Showdown winner and reigning Snowball Derby polesitter Preston Peltier, Rattler 250 winner Harrison Burton and Winchester 400 winner Jeff Choquette have all committed to race in the Super Bowl of Short Track Racing.
Several NASCAR notables with short track backgrounds will also be accounted for on the first weekend in December.
READ MORE: Timothy Peters prepared for Snowball Derby debut with new FURY car
As revealed last month by Short Track Scene, Timothy Peters will make his Super Late Model debut in the event fresh off a victory in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Talladega. Peters is also a two-time winner of the Late Model Stock race at Martinsville Speedway.
Current NASCAR Truck Series championship contenders Noah Gragson and Grant Enfinger have entered the race seeking their first Tom Dawson Memorial Trophy.
NASCAR Cup Series veteran David Gilliland will drive his own equipment in his Snowball Derby debut.
Stewart Friesen, a Dirt Modified ace turned NCWTS driver, has entered the Snowball Derby after making a handful of Super Late Model starts this season. Friesen is a five-time winner of the prestigious Super DIRT Week Big-Block Modified race and is fresh off a big $40,000 victory in the Eastern States 200 at Orange County Fair Speedway in New York.
Currently, just one previous winner of the event is entered in the form of 2004 champion Steven Wallace.
Snowball Derby week runs from Nov.28 to Dec. 2. Race week includes practice, qualifying and racing for six different divisions including the premiere Super Late Models.
The pit party will take place on Nov. 28 and will include a pill draw to determine the qualifying order for the Derby. Practice day is Nov 29. Friday Nov. 30 is time trials and the most intense day in Super Late Model racing as over 70 teams are expected to battle for just 30 guaranteed starting spots.
Saturday, Dec. 1 is headlined by the Pro Late Model Snowflake 100 and the last chance race to determine the final four spots to make Sunday’s main event.
Sunday, Dec. 2 is race day for the prestigious Snowball Derby.
Read more Short Track Scene:
Paul E Richards
November 3, 2019 at 5:21 am
Hi Paul Richards here I was a spectator for for the first Snowball Derby in. 1969.it was the coldest Snowball Derby on record. I remember wearing 2 sweatshirt s and thermal underwear and also a Navy Peacoats. I have been absent from Racing now for 20 years lost interest when Davey Allison lost for his life in 1993.i hope to come this year and see the race. Sincerely yours Paul Richards.
Matt Weaver
November 3, 2019 at 10:58 am
That’s wonderful news, Paul. We hope to see you in the infield or in the grandstands.