The provisional Snowball Derby entry list has been released and includes its usual mix of Super Late Model standouts and NASCAR regulars but the race continues to attract at least the broad curiosity of others who race at the highest level.
For example, Bubba Wallace stated throughout much of 2024 that it was his intent to return home to the Gulf Coast to compete in the signature pavement short track event. That start never came to fruition, and Wallace ultimately concluded that he just wasn’t prepared enough to compete in a way that would meet his standards.
Wallace has, within the past decade, won a Super race at Bristol so his familiarity with the platform isn’t zero.
“Maybe if I could run the full (Blizzard Series) season down there,” Wallace said. “That race seems so tough and stout. For me to show up, never even seen the place, and try to make the show is a tall task and you have to spend a week down there – and you talk about free time and I don’t have it.
“In the near future? No. Retired from Cup racing? Maybe. I would need a lot of time to devote and be really good and not look like a fool.”
And to his point, Brad Keselowski went to the Derby in 2022 but failed to make the show. He echoed the sentiment that it’s really tough given the relative parity and how much experience the regulars have on the Florida half mile.
Chris Buescher grew up racing Dirt Late Models but his friendship with the Roulos, where he first started racing pavement in ARCA, and their love of Super Late racing makes it worth the question too.
“They came out to Chicago again for the Street Race and we got to talking,” Buescher said. “They do have an itch to get back into racing, and if it makes sense to do it with me along the way, maybe in a Super, I think that would be a blast.
“We had so much fun ARCA racing back in the day. That is some of the most fun I had racing. We were working non-stop just to make it to the track, and drove to all the race, turn around and do it again … way different than flying everything like we do now.”
But a pavement Late Model race would be a brand new experience for him.
“I just didn’t do any of it,” Buescher said. “I have a Longhorn (Dirt Late Model) at the house and I’ve been thinking about maybe pulling it out and getting some laps but we’re just so busy right now.”
How about Carson Hocevar, who does own a car primarily driven by Chase Pinsonneault, and has made five attempts with two starts?
“I will be at the (Gateway Dirt Nationals) that weekend, so that’s a conflict,” Hocevar said. “Chase will for sure be in the car. I am going to race the Bigley so I’m excited about that. I’m not kicking Chase out of the car if he wants to do a race.”
Speaking of Chases, how about two-time Derby winner Chase Elliott, who hasn’t made an appearance since a podium finish in 2020 driving for Terry Senneker? He prefers to race with his childhood crew chief and great friend Ricky Turner, who is mostly racing with Jake Garcia right now.
“I’m not sure who is in the car but it’s not me this year.”
