Chandler Smith reunited with Donnie Wilson and a special car at Snowball Derby

It’s like nothing has changed at all.

Chandler Smith is back at the Snowball Derby with Wilson Motorsports for the first time since winning it in 2021. Surrounded by the likes of team owner Donnie Wilson, general manager Bond Suss, crew chief Dennis Dean and car chief Gere Kennon, Smith is even driving the same chassis that led him to the Tom Dawson Trophy.

Hamke Race Cars chassis No. 74.

That was the number company founder Robert Hamke raced under and it was the company house car when he ran a team out of his shop. Suss said from the onset that he wanted chassis No. 74 to be special and put a great deal into its development.

It’s a special car.

Smith hadn’t run a Late Model race since April 2022, when he and that car was crashed in a Southern Super Series race by Derek Thorn, leftover baggage from how the 2021 Snowball Derby was decided amongst them. Their reunion was in August where Smith took chassis No. 74 to a ASA STARS victory at Owasso Speedway in Michigan.

They clearly have a good thing going so Wilson Motorsports, Smith and QuickTie is running back this weekend in the Super Bowl of Super Late Model racing.

“I’m excited to be back, and to have such a great relationship with Donnie, Bond and everyone at Wilson Motorsports to where if I want to come back and run a Super Late Model, their arms are open wide,” Smith said. “It’s definitely extra meaningful being in Chassis 74 again.

“I was watching the onboard from that race a week or two ago and I’m not really an emotional person, and I don’t cry a lot but I got pretty emotional watching that one back and it just shows how important winning that race was to me.”

When he went back and watched it, and remembered that he had to move Thorn to win the race, was there any second guessing what it took to win?

“If I didn’t do it, I wouldn’t have won,” Smith said. “So yes, I don’t regret it at all. I still have the trophy and I wouldn’t have slept well until I raced the Derby the next year and gotten that trophy. I did what I felt was necessary.

“There was nothing egregious but I did what I did, did what I felt needed to be done to win the Snowball Derby, and it was meant to be that day. I don’t have any regrets. That isn’t to say it was right, wrong or indifferent but it’s the Snowball Derby and it happened the very next year and I don’t recall anyone pitching a fit about it either.”

Smith is referencing an absolute slugfest that sent Thorn to Victory Lane over Ty Majeski.

Smith has been fast all week, from testing to his official practice sessions, and it did not take the now NASCAR national touring regular long to get back to speed after two years away from driving a Super at the Pensacola half mile.

With that said, he hopes he is able to qualify well because even if he had to drive back through the field to win the race in 2021, its dangerous place to be in especially with a new right side tire that has closed the gap across the field.

“The good cars are still really good but the cars that typically aren’t up front, that threshold has closed up a lot. It’s good for the sport but not selfishly us because Wilson Motorsports brings hot rods every weekend.”

Ultimately, Smith just missed this race and he is excited to come back in a different place, established as a NASCAR regular, with a wife and kids, a new home and just a more well-rounded perspective.

“I have missed this place a lot,” Smith said. “I wanted to come last year but we just got through building a house on December 1 and the timing didn’t work out. All the stars aligned this year for us to do it and I’m just grateful that Donnie and Bond made room for us and has faith in me to come here without the reps that some other guys might have had.”