Snowball Derby
| Venue | Five Flags Speedway |
|---|---|
| Location | Pensacola, Florida |
| First race | 1968 |
| Distance | 150 Miles |
| Laps | 300 |
| Most wins (driver) | Rich Bickle (5) |
| Circuit information | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 0.5 mi (0.80 km) |
| Turns | 4 |
The Snowball Derby presented by Bayou Fox Hooters is a 300-lap super late model stock car race held annually at the Five Flags Speedway, a half-mile paved oval track in Pensacola, Florida, United States. The race has been contested every year since 1968 and is typically run on the first Sunday in December, although in some years it has been run on the second Sunday.
The Snowball Derby has a reputation for attracting some of the bigger names in short track racing, including top series NASCAR drivers. For example, the 2009 event was won by NASCAR driver Kyle Busch, and also featured Steve Wallace, Bobby Gill, Chase Elliott, Matt Kenseth's son Ross Kenseth, David Stremme, and Cale Gale.[1] The popularity of the race forced NASCAR to move their annual national series prizegiving banquet in 2017 to a date as to not conflict with the Snowball Derby.
Because of the "all-star" nature of the race, the Snowball Derby is considered by many to be the most prestigious race in super late model racing.[2] Though most drivers entering the race are from nearby states, some drivers travel across the United States to compete, mainly because of the posted awards and super late model rules, which are very similar to each other regardless of track or tours (the United Super Late Model Rules Alliance).[3]
The Snowball Derby has been won by past and future stars of NASCAR, including five national series champions (one Cup Series, two who won both a Cup and Xfinity Series championship, two Truck Series, total ten national championships), five Cup Series, two Xfinity Series, and seven Truck Series race winners. Tammy Jo Kirk became the first female winner of the race in 1994 which led to her becoming a future NASCAR competitor. Johanna Long would become the second female driver to win the Snowball Derby in 2010. From 2011 until 2014, the Snowball was won by teenage drivers who have since won in NASCAR's national series. In the 2010s, only two drivers (2015, 2019) were in their 20's and one driver (2017) was in their 30's.
Over the years, the race format has varied between 100 laps, 200 laps, and a unique 300 laps plus additional laps equalling the number of runnings of this race. The format has settled into a straight 300 lap event, though a late yellow flag can create a green-white-checkered finish that extends the race beyond 300 laps.
The Snowball Derby is an independent event, meaning that it is not officially sanctioned (for a fee) by a racing organization. However, it is associated with both the United Super Late Model Rules Alliance and the Southern Super Series, a series of Super Late Model races in the region including Five Flags Speedway, with officials from that series, most notably Ricky Brooks as chief steward, officiating the race. Most Super Late Model races are run with the USLMRA package, regardless of tracks or regional series (although the track requires Continental AG tires, while some tracks may use American Racer or Goodyear), various series will encourage drivers to attend the event (PASS North and South, Southern Super Series, ARCA JEG'S/CRA, Spears Southwest). In the past the Snowball was sanctioned by Bob Harmon's All Pro organization, and for one year by NASCAR when it acquired All Pro.
The Snowflake 100 is a 100-lap pro late model race held the Saturday before the Snowball Derby. Held since 1999, notable winners include Chase Elliott and John Hunter Nemechek.
The Snowball Derby 75 is a 75-lap modified race held since 2018.
List of Snowball Derby winners
[edit]- 1968 – Wayne Niedecken Sr.[4]
- 1969 – Friday Hassler
- 1970 – Wayne Niedecken Sr. (2)
- 1971 – Dickie Davis
- 1972 – Ed Howe
- 1973 – Dickie Davis (2)
- 1974 – Pete Hamilton
- 1975 – Donnie Allison
- 1976 – Darrell Waltrip
- 1977 – Ronnie Sanders
- 1978 – Dave Mader III
- 1979 – Freddy Fryar
- 1980 – Gary Balough
- 1981 – Freddy Fryar (2)
- 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 (2)
- 1992 – Gary St. Amant[5]
- 1993 – Bobby Gill[6]
- 1994 – Tammy Jo Kirk (First female driver ever to win the Snowball Derby)[7]
- 1995 – Jeff Purvis[8]
- 1996 – Rich Bickle (3)[9]
- 1997 – Bobby Gill[10]
- 1998 – Rich Bickle (4)[11]
- 1999 – Rich Bickle (5)[12]
- 2000 – Gary St. Amant (2)[13]
- 2001 – Wayne Anderson[14]
- 2002 – Ricky Turner[15]
- 2003 – Charlie Bradberry[16]
- 2004 – Steve Wallace[17]
- 2005 – Eddie Mercer[18]
- 2006 – Clay Rogers[19]
- 2007 – Augie Grill[20]
- 2008 – Augie Grill (2)[21]
- 2009 – Kyle Busch[22]
- 2010 – Johanna Long[23]
- 2011 – Chase Elliott (Youngest winner in Snowball Derby history)[24]
- 2012 – Erik Jones[25]
- 2013 – Erik Jones (2)[26]
- 2014 – John Hunter Nemechek[27]
- 2015 – Chase Elliott (2)[28]
- 2016 – Christian Eckes[29]
- 2017 – Kyle Busch (2)[30]
- 2018 – Noah Gragson[31]
- 2019 – Travis Braden[32]
- 2020 – Ty Majeski[33]
- 2021 – Chandler Smith[34]
- 2022 – Derek Thorn[35]
- 2023 – Ty Majeski (2)[36]
- 2024 – Kaden Honeycutt[37]
References
[edit]- ^ Kallman, Dave (December 6, 2009). "Rowdy, Prunty and the younger Kenseth". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 22 December 2009.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-12-01. Retrieved 2010-12-12.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Panure, Matt. "Midwestern Cinderella Preps for the (Snow)Ball". Racing Online. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
- ^ "Snowball Derby Past Winners". Five Flags Speedway. Archived from the original on November 25, 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
- ^ Belcher, Cameron (December 4, 2024). "Here Are The Past Snowball Derby Winners At Five Flags Speedway". FloRacing. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
- ^ "Bobby Gill, Former NASCAR Competitor, Short Track Standout Dead at 65". Racing America On SI. 2024-10-18. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
- ^ "Tammy Jo Kirk". Georgia Racing HOF. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
- ^ "Snowball Derby Rewind: December 3". Racing America. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
- ^ "Looking Back on Infamous Snowball Derby Races". Racing America. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
- ^ "Pro Cup, Snowball Derby Champion Bobby Gill Passes Away Following…". Racing America. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
- ^ "Dec 07, 1998, page 30". Pensacola News Journal (via Newspapers.com). December 7, 1998. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
- ^ Vilona, Bill (November 30, 2017). "Bickle is Snowball Derby's greatest racer, and now he's back". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
- ^ "DECADE-BY-DECADE LOOK AT THE SNOWBALL DERBY: 2000S".
- ^ "Dec 03, 2001, page 19 - Pensacola News Journal at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
- ^ Weaver, Matt (2023-01-26). "Chase Elliott, Ricky Turner Reunite for Speedfest Run – Short Track Scene". Retrieved 2024-12-08.
- ^ Dillner, Bob. "50 FOR 50: BRADBERRY GOES FROM SNOWSTORM TO SNOWBALL VICTORY".
- ^ "Dec 12, 2004, page 45 - Pensacola News Journal at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
- ^ "Dec 31, 2005, page 31 - Pensacola News Journal at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
- ^ "Snowball Derby Rewind: December 3". Racing America. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
- ^ Demmons, Doug (December 6, 2007). "Dolomite native Augie Grill wins Snowball Derby". AL.com. The Birmingham. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
- ^ Belcher, Cameron (2024-12-04). "Here Are The Past Snowball Derby Winners At Five Flags Speedway". FloRacing. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
- ^ "Kyle Busch wins Snowball Derby Super Late Model race - Sprint Cup Series | NASCAR Racing News - SceneDaily.com". Archived from the original on 2009-12-12. Retrieved 2010-12-12.
- ^ "TRUCKS: Johanna Long Wins Snowball Derby". Archived from the original on 2012-03-03. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
- ^ "Chase Elliott wins Snowball Derby". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
- ^ "Erik Jones wins Snowball Derby". Yardbarker. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
- ^ Inabinett, Mark (9 December 2013). "Erik Jones gets second straight Snowball Derby victory after Chase Elliott disqualified". Alabama Media Group. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
- ^ Bonkowski, Jerry (8 December 2014). "John Hunter Nemechek rallies to win 47th Snowball Derby". NBC Sports. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
- ^ Allaway, Phill (December 6, 2015). "Chase Elliott Wins Snowball Derby After Christopher Bell DQ'd". Frontstretch. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
- ^ "Christian Eckes wins Snowball Derby". NBC Sports. 2016-12-06. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
- ^ "NASCAR star Kyle Busch wins 50th Snowball Derby Late Model race". Autoweek. 2017-12-03. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
- ^ "Noah Gragson wins Snowball Derby". ESPN.com. 2018-12-03. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
- ^ Report, Staff (2019-12-10). "Travis Braden inherits Snowball Derby win following Nasse DQ". Official Site Of NASCAR. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
- ^ Marquis, Andy (2020-12-06). "Ty Majeski Wins the 53rd Annual Snowball Derby – Short Track Scene". Retrieved 2024-12-08.
- ^ Corder, Chuck. "Five Flags Speedway: Chandler Smith wins 54th Annual Snowball Derby". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
- ^ White, Brandon (2022-12-05). "Two-time West Series champion Derek Thorn finally wins Snowball Derby". Official Site Of NASCAR. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
- ^ Srigley, Joseph (December 3, 2023). "Ty Majeski Emerges from Late-Race Drama with Second Snowball Derby Victory". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
- ^ Walters, Shane (2024-12-08). "Snowball Derby Results: December 8, 2024 (5 Flags Speedway)". Racing News. Retrieved 2024-12-08.