When every short track season begins in the United States, the one event most competitors prioritize takes place at the end of the year: the prestigious Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida.
More than 50 years of history to lean on, this race is widely considered one of the most important short-track events in the United States. With a week of anticipation that begins on Tuesday evening, the pre-race atmosphere for the Snowball Derby comes close to rivaling those of other notable racing events in the country.
Among the reasons the Snowball Derby is so prestigious are those who have made the trip to Five Flags in December. Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip, Rusty Wallace and David Pearson are among the NASCAR legends to make at least one Snowball Derby start during their careers, with Waltrip being the only one of that group to earn a win.
Whenever the top names of NASCAR venture to Five Flags, they always face stiff competition from seasoned short track competitors. Rich Bickle holds more victories than any other driver in race history with five, while other multi-time winners included Bobby Gill, Augie Grill and 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Ty Majeski.
The group of drivers hoping to participate in the 300-lap Super Late Model feature include short track legends and a handful of names from NASCAR’s top levels. They’ll share Five Flags Speedway with drivers looking to make their own mark on Snowball Derby history with a victory in one of several support features.
Tickets to the 57th annual Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway can be purchased here. Below is everything you need to know before drivers chase the Tom Dawson Trophy along with a race-winning purse of $50,000.
Snowball Derby TV channel, live stream
The 2024 Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway will be shown exclusively on FloRacing, the official streaming home of all NASCAR Regional properties.
The race will not broadcast on a traditional TV channel/network.
FloRacing is covering nearly every aspect of the Snowball Derby starting with the Kickoff Show on Tuesday evening. Following this will be five straight days of on-track coverage that includes every practice leading up to the 300-lap Super Late Model main event on Sunday.
Below is the complete broadcast schedule.
| Date | Event | Start time | How to watch |
| Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 | Kickoff Show | 8 p.m. ET | FloRacing |
| Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 | Day One | 10 a.m. ET | FloRacing |
| Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024 | Day Two | 10:45 a.m. ET | FloRacing |
| Friday, Dec. 6, 2024 | Day Three | 10:45 a.m. ET | FloRacing |
| Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 | Day Four | 10:45 a.m. ET | FloRacing |
| Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 | Day Five | 12 p.m. ET | FloRacing |
Event schedule
On-track activity for this year’s Snowball Derby encompasses five days from Dec. 4-8.
Qualifying carries nearly the same amount of hype and notoriety as the main event, as the top 30 in time trials lock into Sunday’s 300-lap race. Those who do not time in are relegated to a heat race on Sunday afternoon, where only the top four finishers transfer into the main event.
Accompanying the Super Late Models will be seven different support divisions. The most notable of these is the prestigious Allen Turner Snowflake 100 for Pro Late Models, which takes place Saturday night before the Snowball Derby at 7 p.m. ET.
Like the Snowball Derby, the top 30 from Snowflake 100 qualifying and the top four from the accompanying heat race earn a starting position in the event.
Pro Trucks, Sportsman, Pure Stocks, Crown Stocks, Modifieds of Mayhem and Outlaws round out the stacked docket with features of their own on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Below is the complete schedule of events for the 2024 Snowball Derby.
(All times CT)
- Wednesday, Dec. 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, Dec. 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, Dec. 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, Dec. 7
| Time | Event |
| 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, Dec. 8
| Time | Event |
| 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) |
Entry list
The current Snowball Derby and Snowflake 100 entry lists include 45 Super Late Models and 47 Pro Late Models, respectively.
Headlining the group of NASCAR-affiliated drivers heading to Five Flags Speedway is full-time Cup Series competitor Noah Gragson. Gragson, who is driving the No. 30 for Rette Jones Racing, won the Snowball Derby back in 2018, which he accomplished after passing Harrison Burton with six laps remaining.
Ty Majeski returns to defend his Snowball Derby crown only a few weeks after securing his maiden NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship. Should Majeski win on Sunday, he will become only the second driver who has more than two Snowball Derby victories, joining only Rich Bickle in that category.
Many eyes will be on Super Late Model legend Bubba Pollard as he looks to finally earn his first Snowball Derby checkered flag. Pollard has won nearly every Super Late Model crown jewel during his storied career, but the prestigious Tom Dawson Trophy has eluded him during each of his previous 18 Snowball Derby attempts.
Pollard is one of several drivers competing in both the Snowball Derby and Snowflake 100 at Five Flags Speedway. Among those joining Pollard in the 100-lap Pro Late Model feature is Stephen Nasse, another short track stalwart who has also never prevailed in the Snowball Derby through 13 tries.
William Sawalich, the defending ARCA Menards Series East champion, is also on the Snowball Derby entry list as part of four-car effort for Rackley W.A.R. that encompasses Super Late Models and Pro Late Models. Dawson Sutton will serve as one of Sawalich’s teammates before embarking on a full Truck Series campaign with Rackley W.A.R. in 2025.
2023 NASCAR Canada Series champion Treyten Lapcevich will look to parlay his South Carolina 400 victory into a strong performance at the Snowball Derby. He will be joined in the field by his brother Cayden, another past Canada Series champion who now works as a crew chief for Venturini Motorsports.
Other notable names competing at Five Flags Speedway during Snowball Derby weekend include previous Snowball Derby winners Derek Thorn, Chandler Smith and Travis Braden as well as Brent Crews, Jake Finch, Kaden Honeycutt, Carson Kvapil, Sammy Smith, Jake Garcia and David Gilliland.
Below are the complete entry lists for the Snowball Derby and Snowflake 100.
- Snowball Derby
| Car No. | Driver |
| 07 | Derek Thorn |
| 08 | Jace Hensen |
| 1 | Kasey Kleyn |
| 2 | John Bolen |
| 2 | Chandler Smith |
| 4 | Luke Fenhaus |
| v5 | Vito Cancilla |
| 8 | Carson Kvapil |
| 8 | Sammy Smith |
| 9 | Derek Kraus |
| 14 | Connor Okrzesik |
| 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 |
| 54 | Matt Craig |
| 54 | Conner Sutton |
| 55 | Haedon Plybon |
| 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 |
- Snowflake 100
| Car No. | Driver |
| 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 | Will Mack |
| 11 | James Patrick |
| 14 | Chase Pinsonneault |
| 15 | T.J. DeCaire |
| 16 | Derek Thorn |
| 17 | Hudson Bulger |
| 18 | Jake Finch |
| 22 | Dylan Courtney |
| 25 | Mike Faulk |
| 25 | Sylas Ripley |
| 26 | Bubba Pollard |
| 29 | Spencer Davis |
| 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 |
| 55 | George Phillips |
| 62 | Casey Roderick |
| 67 | Colin Allman |
| 67K | Zack Dixon |
| 69 | Michael Hinde |
| 69 | Travis Braden |
| 81 | Carson Brown |
| 82 | Grant Thompson |
| 89 | Jeremy Williams |
| 91 | Jim Wall |
| 407 | Jason Vail |
Snowball Derby winners
Wayne Niedecken kicked off the proud tradition of the Snowball Derby by winning the inaugural running at Five Flags Speedway in 1968.
Many have tried to conquer Five Flags’ most prestigious event over the following five decades, but only a handful have succeeded. Rich Bickle proved to be the most efficient competitor in Snowball Derby history with his five triumphs, all of which occurred during the 1990s.
The Snowball Derby has rewarded both youth and experience during its existence. Kyle Busch, Jody Ridley, Jeff Purvis, Butch Miller, Gary St. Amant and Derek Thorn are among the seasoned veterans that have won a Snowball Derby, while Chase Elliott made history as the youngest winner at 16 years old back in 2011.
The event has also been won by a pair of female competitors. Tammy Jo Kirk became the first female Snowball Derby winner in 1994 and Johanna Long joined her in the exclusive club in 2010.
An even mix of veterans and young prospects are descending upon Five Flags this weekend with the goal of joining the prestigious group of competitors with a Snowball Derby triumph on their resume.
Below is the complete list of Snowball Derby winners.
| Year | Winner |
| 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 |