Photo courtesy of Speed51.com
Delayed two days due to weather, the 49th annual Snowball Derby was worth the wait for Christian Eckes. The 15-year-old added his name to the list of winners of the prestigious super late model race.
The 300-lap event was scheduled for Sunday, but delayed until Monday due to rain and then again to Tuesday night. Eckes, who drives a late model for JR Motorsports — although not in this event — bested runner-up John Hunter Nemechek on the 5 Flags Speedway half-mile oval in Pensacola, Florida.
Thrilled for @christianeckes and the Eurys on the #SnowballDerby win! The two Tonys know how to get it done.
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Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr)
December 7, 2016
Eckes joins recent winners including Kyle Busch (2009), Chase Elliott (2011, 2015) and Erik Jones (2012, 2013). Nemechek himself won the event in 2014.
Ty Majeski, a member of the NASCAR Next class and a development driver for Roush Fenway Racing, finished third. Others in the top 10 with NASCAR connections were Grant Enfinger (seventh) and Noah Gragson (ninth).
MORE: Learn more about Majeski