What to watch for in the Snowball Derby this week

Few things in motorsports require as little explanation as ‘Snowball Derby.’

It’s the most prolific event in pavement short track racing and an event attended by NASCAR stars, short track aces and racing devotees alike. More than a marquee singular race, this next week is a celebration of the discipline.

Once again, the Snowball Derby has produced a stout entry list with no shortage of storylines and the Snowflake 100 is just as interesting from a narrative standpoint. This is going to be a tremendous one-two punch of marquee Super and Pro Late Model races.

Here are some storylines to look out for this week.

FloRacing

It’s a new era for the Snowball Derby in some regards with the move to FloRacing this week.

Speed51 was a pioneer in grassroots motorsports streaming and carried the broadcast rights to the event through its transformation into the Race Team Alliance owned Racing America from 2021 to 2023. But Five Flags Speedway and FloSports struck a deal this summer that moves to the Snowball Derby onto the same broadcast platform as the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, USAC, NASCAR Regional, CARS Tour, Lucas Oil Dirt Late Models and the High Limit Sprint Car Series.

Either under the annual or monthly payment structure, consumers get the Snowball Derby along with all these other events at no extra cost. There’s no subscribing to the platform and then being asked to pay additional pay-per-view fees for marquee events.

That isn’t a slight at the Speed51/Racing America model, one that was designed as a revenue split for promoters but the consumer rejected it frequently every year. Now, fans have the option to either pay $39.99 a month or $13.25 a month when subscribed to the annual plan to get the Derby and no shortage of other marquee events.

FloRacing has also invested in the purse and is the singular reason the race pays $50,000-to-win on Sunday. It’s an investment model the streamer has employed towards its other racing properties as well.

READ MORE: News and notes from Snowball Derby testing over the weekend

New tire

The rollout of the new Hoosier ST line of tires has been a work in progress over the past calendar year.

ASA started the year on ST1 left sides and ST2 right sides but have made the decision to run the harder ST3s on the right side after they were used at Nashville and Winchester in the marquee races held there this fall.

These are much more durable right sides and fall off will be less prevalent, meaning this will likely be a track position race compared to those held on F45s over the past forever, but it could also make for an attrition race if passing is difficult and drivers get desperate while side-by-side.

“It’s going to throw a loop into things,” Ty Majeski said. “It’s going to be a much harder right-side tire — the same tire we run at Nashville and Winchester, those places. That’s going to be the biggest difference this year. I don’t think you’re going to see as much falloff, or I should say, as much wear.

“The fall off will be more heat related as opposed to the tire wearing out. I’m excited to get down there for sure. It’s going to be a much different race. You’re not going to see as many comers and goers. You’re going to see the cars that have raw speed run good all day.”

Bubba vs Nasse

It’s a cliché at this point, and Bubba Pollard doesn’t want this to be a narrative either, but this marks the 19th year that he has shown up to Five Flags Speedway seeking the only trophy missing from his Hall of Fame resume.

His best finish, remarkably, is just third in 2017 and two fifth places finishes in 2008 and 2015. He hasn’t posted a top-10 since 2017. Pollard will likely qualify near the front, he will be in the mix at some point, and it’s just going to come down to what setup decisions he and Jason Stanley make alongside the Senneker Race Cars chassis they’ve entered into the race.

Fresh off the sting of last year, taking the lead from Stephen Nasse but getting pinched in the process sending them both into the Turns 1 and 2 wall, the 37-year-old is as motivated as ever.  

https://twitter.com/RacingAmerica/status/1731453496937918517

It’s inevitable that the No. 26 will win this race at some point. He has to … right?

Should he make the race, this will be his 17th start, which is the same number of green flags it took Eddie Mercer to finally win this race back in 2005. Like Pollard now, Mercer had won everything at Pensacola except for the big one until his 17th attempt.

“We just want to win the race,” added Pollard. “If we do it this year and we match Eddie then it’s a cool story with the numbers and knowing how long he had to wait. All we can do is try our hardest this year and hope we are there at sundown on Sunday. It takes a lot of effort to be the best and that’s what everyone is chasing.”

Meanwhile, Nasse calls himself the unofficial 2019 Snowball Derby champion, having taken the checkered flag first that year but being denied the check and trophy in post-race technical inspection for an unapproved brake package.

Both are absolutely driven to win this race and one of them seemingly at any cost.

The standard

Ty Majeski already has two Tom Dawson Trophies from the past three years, and after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship last month at Phoenix Raceway, can truly establish himself as one of the all-time greats with another Snowball Derby win.

He and car builder Toby Nuttleman have a really special thing going and even as Majeski has taken more of a prominent NASCAR role in recent years, continues to win practically everything they target.

Majeski and Nuttleman will again be in the mix and are currently the standards that everyone else measures themselves by.

Other contenders

Derek Thorn is still driving the Campbell Motorsports No. 43 that absolutely dominated this race from 2019 to 2022 its just now entered as the Paul Shafer Motorsports No. 7. The car that led 846 of 918 laps over a three year stretch continues to be as fast as ever in Pensacola.

Donnie Wilson Motorsports will always be contenders for this race thanks to their talented roster and legendary crew chief and engineer support cast fielding cars for Xfinity Series contender Chandler Smith, World Series of Asphalt champion Brent Crews, 2023 Winchester 400 winner Gio Ruggiero and perennial contender Cole Butcher this year. Smith is driving the same car, chassis No. 74, that won this race in 2022.

Sammy Smith is driving a car out of the Bubba Pollard Motorsports shop and crewed by his Xfinity Series team and crew chief Phillip Bell.

Noah Gragson and Kyle Steckly are driving for Rette Jones Motorsports and cases can be made for this team as well.

They kind of have a blue collar underdog vibe about them now but it’s hard to ever count out either Johnny Sauter or Richie Wauters considering all the Stock Car smarts that go into that Wauters Motorsports operation.

Preston Peltier is one of the smartest racers in the infield. David Gilliland has an experimental in-house chassis but there are a lot of smart folks at Tricon Garage that have touched this car as well.

Qualifying Friday

It’s the most exciting time trials show in all of motorsports.

The best way to describe Snowball Derby qualifying is Indianapolis 500 Bump Day during the heyday of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. Only 30 drivers, of the 52 on the entry list, will lock into the main event from time trials, with everyone else who doesn’t have a provisional being forced into a last chance race.

There are only three drivers for sure locked into the main event: Defending winner Majeski, second in Southern Super Series points Matt Craig and second in Five Flag points Stephen Nasse. Casey Roderick would have had a guaranteed spot as Southern Super Series and Five Flags Speedway champion but he’s not entered.

If Craig or Nasse drive into the field via time trials, those free passes will be passed throughout the top-10 in both standings should anyone need it like Pollard, Michael Hinde, Billy VanMeter, Jake Finch or Butcher.

Stout Snowflake

On one hand, the Snowball Derby is missing some obvious entries that would have made the Sunday show better but instead they’re entered on the Snowflake 100 roster in addition to many of the stars pulling double duty in a Super Late and Pro Late Model.

For example, ASA champion Casey Roderick couldn’t pull together the funding to race a Super but is going to tackle the Snowflake 100 in a FURY Race Cars Pro Late Model crew chiefed by Doug Stevens.

CARS Tour owner’s champion Spencer Davis came up a few points short in the drivers championship but is taking his decades worth of Pensacola experience down to the Snowflake 100 this year.

Nashville and Montgomery monthly racers Cole Williams, Jim Wall and two-time Derby champion Augie Grill are all entered in the $10,000-to-win Pro Late Model race.

Pulling double duty in both the Super and Pro race are Bubba Pollard, Stephen Nasse, Matt Craig, Derek Thorn, Jake Finch, Conner Jones and John Bolen.

This is a really good field.

Snowball Entry List

07	Derek Thorn
08	Jace Hensen
1	Kasey Kleyn
2	John Bolen
2	Chandler Smith
4	Luke Fenhaus
v5	Vito Cancilla
5	Jonathan Knee
7	John DeAngelis
8	Carson Kvapil
8	Sammy Smith
9	Derek Kraus
14	Connor Okrzesik
16	Jacob Gomes
21	Kaden Honeycutt
22	Gio Ruggiero
22	Buddy Shepherd
23	Billy VanMeter
24	Brent Crews
25	Nicholas Naugle
26	Bubba Pollard
26	Dawson Sutton
28	Cole Butcher
28W	Timothy Watson
30	Noah Gragson
30	Kyle Steckly
32	Caden Kvapil
32	Treyten Lapcevich
33	Dustin Smith
35	Jake Garcia
43	Nick Loden
44	Jeremy Doss
44	Conner Jones
51	Jake Finch
51	Stephen Nasse
53	Boris Jurkovic
54	Matt Craig
54	Conner Sutton
55	Haedon Plybon
55	Johnny Sauter
62	William Sawalich
69	Michael Hinde
76	Cayden Lapcevich
76	Kole Raz
82	Michael Scott
89	Dylan Fetcho
91	Ty Majeski
98	David Gilliland
121	Joseph Meyer
123	Ed VanMeter
48	Preston Peltier

Snowflake Entry List

00	Jimmy Renfrew Jr.
2	John Bolen
3	Chris Munson
4	Elliott Massey
v5	Vito Cancilla
5	Jeremy Miller
5	Ryan Phipps
6	Brandon Lopez
7NY	Luke Baldwin
11	Dylan Cappello
11	James Patrick
11	Brian Reeves
14	Chase Pinsonneault
15	T.J. DeCaire
16	Derek Thorn
17	Hudson Bulger
18	Jake Finch
22	Dylan Courtney
24	Gavan Boschele
25	Mike Faulk
25	Kirk Hennefer
25	Sylas Ripley
26	Bubba Pollard
29	Spencer Davis
32	Stuart Dutton
33	Dustin Smith
40	Dylan Caldwell
43	Augie Grill
43	Nick Loden
44	Conner Jones
45	Seth Christensen
46	Cole Williams
47	Kaden Honeycutt
47	Mamba Smith
50	Jett Noland
51	Anthony Bello
51	Stephen Nasse
54	Jarrett Butcher
54	Matt Craig
54	Clayton Green
55	George Phillips
62	Casey Roderick
67	Colin Allman
67K	Zack Dixon
69	Michael Hinde
81	Carson Brown
82	Grant Thompson
88	Boston Oliver
89	Jeremy Williams
91	Jim Wall
407	Jason Vail

Schedule

Wednesday, December 4

Time	Event
9 a.m.	Hauler Parking
11 a.m.	Tech Opens For Late Models
Noon	Snowball Practice & Qualifying Tire Draw
1:30 p.m.	Snowflake Practice & Qualifying Tire Draw
6 p.m.	Snowball/Snowflake Qualifying Draw

Thursday, December 5

Time	Event
8 a.m.	Pits Open
8:30 a.m.	Track Services Meeting
9 a.m.	Driver’s Meeting
10 a.m.-4 p.m.	Late Model Rotating Practice (1 hour sessions)
4 p.m.	Pro Truck, Sportsman, Pure Stock Practice
6:45 p.m.	Pro Truck, Sportsman, Pure Stock Qualifying
7:45 p.m.	Pre-Race Festivities
8 p.m.	Pro Truck 50
To follow…	Sportsman 50
To follow…	Pure Stock 35

Friday, December 6

Time	Event
8 a.m.	Pits Open
9 a.m.	Late Model Drivers Meeting
10-10:45 a.m.	Snowball Derby Practice
10:45-11:30 a.m.	Snowflake Practice
11:30 a.m.	Modified Drivers Meeting
Noon-1 p.m.	Modified Practice
1 p.m.	Snowball Derby Practice
2 p.m.	Snowflake Practice
3 p.m.	Modified Qualifying/Snowball Derby Pre-Qualifying Tech Opens
5 p.m.	Crown Stocks Drivers Meeting
6 p.m.	Snowball Derby Qualifying (Lock Top 30)
7:45 p.m.	Pre-Race Festivities
8 p.m.	Crown Stock Practice/Qualifying
8:15 p.m.	Modifieds of Mayhem 75
To follow…	Crown Stock 25

Saturday, December 7

8 a.m.	Pits Open
9 a.m.	Late Model Drivers Meeting
9:30 a.m.	Snowball Race Tire Drawing
10-11 a.m.	Snowflake Practice
11-11:45 a.m.	Outlaw Practice
11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.	Snowball Derby Final Practice
1:30 p.m.	Outlaw Qualifying
3 p.m.	Snowflake 100 Qualifying (Lock Top 30)
To follow…	Snowflake 100 Last Chance Race (50 Laps, Transfer 4)
To follow…	Snowball Derby Last Chance Race (50 Laps, Transfer 4)
To follow…	Outlaw B-Main (if necessary)
7 p.m.	Allen Turner Snowflake 100
To follow…	Outlaw 50

Sunday, December 8

8 a.m.	Pits Open
9 a.m.	All Haulers Must Be Out of Infield/Snowball Derby Drivers Meeting
9:30 a.m.	Pre-Race Tech Inspection Opens
11:30 a.m.	All Cars Must Be Through Tech/Engine Warm-Ups/Cars To Grid
Noon	2024 Snowball Derby Class Photo
To follow…	Pre-Race Festivities Begin
To follow…	Driver Introductions
1 p.m.	57th Annual Snowball Derby (300 Laps)

All time winners

1968	Wayne Neidecken
1969	Friday Hassler
1970	Wayne Neidecken
1971	Dickie Davis
1972	Ed Howe
1973	Dickie Davis
1974	Pete Hamilton
1975	Donnie Allison
1976	Darrell Waltrip
1977	Ronnie Sanders
1978	Dave Mader, III
1979	Freddy Fryar
1980	Gary Balough
1981	Freddy Fryer
1982	Gene Morgan
1983	Mickey Gibbs
1984	Butch Lindley
1985	Jody Ridley
1986	Gary Balough
1987	Butch Miller
1988	Ted Musgrave
1989	Rick Crawford
1990	Rich Bickle
1991	Rich Bickle
1992	Gary St. Amant
1993	Bobby Gill
1994	Tammy Jo Kirk
1995	Jeff Purvis
1996	Rich Bickle
1997	Bobby Gill
1998	Rich Bickle
1999	Rich Bickle
2000	Gary St. Amant
2001	Wayne Anderson
2002	Ricky Turner
2003	Charlie Bradberry
2004	Steve Wallace
2005	Eddie Mercer
2006	Clay Rogers
2007	Augie Grill
2008	Augie Grill
2009	Kyle Busch
2010	Johanna Long
2011	Chase Elliott
2012	Erik Jones
2013	Erik Jones
2014	John Hunter Nemechek
2015	Chase Elliott
2016	Christian Eckes
2017	Kyle Busch
2018	Noah Gragson
2019	Travis Braden
2020	Ty Majeski
2021	Chandler Smith
2022	Derek Thorn
2023	Ty Majeski