Snowball Derby

History

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. 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. 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).

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.

Snowflake 125

The Allen Turner Snowflake 125 is a 125-lap pro late model race held the Saturday before the Snowball Derby. Held since 1999, notable winners include multi-year winners Kyle Busch, Erik Jones, and Chase Elliott. Other notable NASCAR winners are Darrell Waltrip, Donnie Allison, Noah Gragson and John Hunter Nemechek. Originally 100 laps, the race went to 100 green flag laps in 2007 (eliminating all safety car laps from the count), and increased to 125 laps in 2025.

Keelan Harvick, son of Kevin Harvick, is the youngest winner of the event and the latest winner of the event, having won it in 2025.

Snowball Derby 75

The Snowball Derby 75 is a 75-lap modified race held since 2018.

Past Snowball Derby winners

Multiple winners (drivers)

References

References

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2. Twist, Mike. "Five Different Groups of Drivers Hope to Hoist Their Flags Over The Snowball Derby".
3. Panure, Matt. "Midwestern Cinderella Preps for the (Snow)Ball". Racing Online.
4. "Snowball Derby Past Winners".
5. Belcher, Cameron. (December 4, 2024). "Here Are The Past Snowball Derby Winners At Five Flags Speedway".
6. (2024-10-18). "Bobby Gill, Former NASCAR Competitor, Short Track Standout Dead at 65".
7. "Tammy Jo Kirk".
8. "Snowball Derby Rewind: December 3".
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10. "Pro Cup, Snowball Derby Champion Bobby Gill Passes Away Following…".
11. (December 7, 1998). "Dec 07, 1998, page 30". [[Pensacola News Journal]] (via Newspapers.com).
12. Vilona, Bill. (November 30, 2017). "Bickle is Snowball Derby's greatest racer, and now he's back". [[Pensacola News Journal]].
13. "DECADE-BY-DECADE LOOK AT THE SNOWBALL DERBY: 2000S".
14. "Dec 03, 2001, page 19 - Pensacola News Journal at Newspapers.com".
15. Weaver, Matt. (2023-01-26). "Chase Elliott, Ricky Turner Reunite for Speedfest Run – Short Track Scene".
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17. "Dec 12, 2004, page 45 - Pensacola News Journal at Newspapers.com".
18. "Dec 31, 2005, page 31 - Pensacola News Journal at Newspapers.com".
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20. Demmons, Doug. (December 6, 2007). "Dolomite native Augie Grill wins Snowball Derby". [[The Birmingham]].
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22. "TRUCKS: Johanna Long Wins Snowball Derby".
23. "Chase Elliott wins Snowball Derby". [[Pensacola News Journal]].
24. "Erik Jones wins Snowball Derby". [[Yardbarker]].
25. Inabinett, Mark. (9 December 2013). "Erik Jones gets second straight Snowball Derby victory after Chase Elliott disqualified". Alabama Media Group.
26. (8 December 2014). "John Hunter Nemechek rallies to win 47th Snowball Derby". [[NBC Sports]].
27. (December 6, 2015). "Chase Elliott Wins Snowball Derby After Christopher Bell DQ'd". Frontstretch.
28. (2016-12-06). "Christian Eckes wins Snowball Derby".
29. (2017-12-03). "NASCAR star Kyle Busch wins 50th Snowball Derby Late Model race".
30. (2018-12-03). "Noah Gragson wins Snowball Derby".
31. Staff Report. (2019-12-10). "Travis Braden inherits Snowball Derby win following Nasse DQ".
32. Marquis, Andy. (2020-12-06). "Ty Majeski Wins the 53rd Annual Snowball Derby – Short Track Scene".
33. Corder, Chuck. "Five Flags Speedway: Chandler Smith wins 54th Annual Snowball Derby".
34. White, Brandon. (2022-12-05). "Two-time West Series champion Derek Thorn finally wins Snowball Derby".
35. Srigley, Joseph. (December 3, 2023). "Ty Majeski Emerges from Late-Race Drama with Second Snowball Derby Victory".
36. Walters, Shane. (2024-12-08). "Snowball Derby Results: December 8, 2024 (5 Flags Speedway)".