Short Track Weekly: Previewing the 57th Snowball Derby

Short track racing’s biggest event is finally upon us.

The Snowball Derby is here.

While a cold snap has stretched across much of the Eastern United States, temperatures of up to 70 degrees are expected this weekend in Pensacola, Fl, as Five Flags Speedway hosts the 57th edition of the Derby on Sunday (Dec. 8) afternoon.

Joining the 300-lap Super Late Model event will be the annual Snowflake 100 on Saturday (Dec. 7) night, featuring a full field of Pro Late Models. Here’s everything you need to know about the biggest weekend in late model racing.

The Rich History Grows

The Snowball Derby already has arguably the richest history in all of short track racing.

Household NASCAR names like Donnie Allison, Darrell Waltrip and Ted Musgrave triumphed in this race back in the day. Cup Series stars including Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott and Erik Jones have all won multiple Tom Dawson trophies in more recent years.

This doesn’t even scratch the surface of the short track royalty who have claimed victory in the event: Butch Lindley, Rich Bickle, Clay Rogers, Eddie Mercer and more.

This year’s winner of the Snowball can make a claim no other winner of the events past can. They’ll be holding a $50,000 check along with their Tom Dawson trophy on Sunday night.

For the first time ever, the winner of the Derby will receive $50,000 in prize money, thanks to extra investment from new streaming partner FloRacing. The bump moves the winners payout up from $35,000 in 2023.

The Snowflake 100 is also receiving a pay bump, awarding $10,000 for the winner, exceptionally high for a Pro Late Model Event.

FloRacing will broadcast the entirety of Snowball weekend for the first time in the event’s history, taking over from prior broadcast partner Speed51/Racing America. This puts the Derby on the same streaming site as the ARCA Menards Series, zMAX CARS Tour, Chili Bowl Nationals, High Limit Racing and more.

Subscribers to FloRacing have full access to the event and will not be required to pay a pay-per-view fee like in previous years.

Super Late Model Stars Looking For Their First

A plethora of notable names in the Super Late Model world head to Pensacola this weekend looking to add their name to short track racing immortality. The most notable of those is none other than Bubba Pollard.

Pollard has won basically everything there is to win in late model racing – except the Derby.

For 18-years, Pollard has shown up to the Derby with the same goal in mind. Year 19 will be no different. The veteran was close to claiming the victory a year ago, nearly taking the lead from Stephen Nasse inside of 10-laps to go. But the two made contact entering turn 1, and it fell apart as quickly as it came together.

Pollard will likely make Derby start No. 17 on Sunday, the same number of starts it took Mercer to score his elusive Derby win back in 2005.

As for Nasse, he carries his own chip on his shoulder.

If you ask him, he’ll tell you he won the Derby back in 2019. But the result was thrown out in post-race inspection over an illegal brake package, giving the win to Travis Braden.

Nasse remains equally determined to score the Tom Dawson trophy as Pollard. The two could clash again in 2024.

Elsewhere on the entry list you’ll find Cole Butcher, who has skyrocketed to the top of Super Late Model racing in recent years. Butcher is a two-time winner of the Oxford 250, has claimed the Redbud 400 and picked up his first Winchester 400 earlier this year. But a Snowball Derby victory is still missing from his fast-growing resume.

The trio of Butcher, Nasse and Pollard should certainly be on everyone’s radar as some of the favorites to finally seal the deal.

NASCAR Regulars, Late Model Invaders

Along with the late model regulars, there are a plethora of NASCAR regulars slated to compete in the crown jewel event.

Leading the pack is recently-crowned NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion and defending race winner Ty Majeski. The Wisconsinite picked up his second Tom Dawson trophy in 2023 after winning his first back in 2020.

Majeski has been the benchmark of excellence in recent years. He’s also coming in red hot, fresh off of a win in the Bill Bigley Memorial 128 this past weekend.

Joining Majeski are a pair of fellow former Derby winners, Noah Gragson and Chandler Smith.

Gragson won the 51st edition of the Derby back in 2018 and returns to Five Flags driving for Rette Jones Racing, who he made limited NASCAR Xfinity stars with this past season.

Meanwhile, Smith, winner of the Derby in 2021, comes to Pensacola possibly using this race as an audition for onlooking NASCAR teams. He has no plans set in stone for 2025, but a Snowball Derby win looks nice on a potential resume.

Sammy Smith will also attempt the Snowball Derby, serving as a teammate to Pollard, who recently signed to Rising Star Management Group. The company is run by Smith’s father, Kurt Smith. Pollard’s cousin Phillip Bell also serves as the crew chief for Smith in the Xfinity Series.

Other names notable to the NASCAR world in attendance will be Carson Kvapil, Kaden Honeycutt, David Gilliland, Conner Jones, Derek Kraus and Dawson Sutton.

Notable Events Schedule

Friday

Snowball Derby qualifying (Top-30 lock-in): 7:00 p.m. ET.

Saturday

Snowflake 100 qualifying (Top-30 lock-in): 4:00 p.m. ET.

Snowflake 100 qualifier (50 laps, top-four transfer): Following Snowflake qualifying

Snowball Derby qualifier (50 laps, top-four transfer): Following Snowflake qualifier.

Allen Turner Snowflake 100 (100 laps): 8:00 p.m. ET.

Sunday

57th Annual Snowball Derby: 2:00 p.m. ET.

All events can be found live on FloRacing.