Of the 50 drivers entered in Sunday’s prestigious Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida, Cole Butcher’s 2025 season stands out as one of the most efficient.

The Porters Lake, Nova Scotia, native is just a month removed from his first championship in the ASA STARS National Tour. Butcher accomplished this by winning four of the 12 events on the schedule, including his second triumph in the Redbud 400 at Anderson Speedway.

All the success in 2025 has Butcher convinced his ninth Snowball Derby appearance could be his best opportunity to prevail in the crown-jewel event. Despite dealing with a pre-race setback, Butcher said he and Wilson Motorsports have everything they need to keep their momentum.

“We feel pretty good,” Butcher said. “The other day we tested; we blew up a motor in our primary car. We were able to get it swapped, but then we actually decided to race our backup car, which we raced at [the All American 400]. We’re pretty [good] with all our race cars, so hopefully we can put a solid lap down Friday night [in qualifying].”

Unlike many of his contemporaries, Butcher’s path to this point started on two wheels instead of four.

At the age of 5, Butcher started competing in motocross, a passion he maintained until he turned 15. In between motocross events, Butcher developed an interest in four-wheeled racing, methodically climbing the developmental ladder from Bandoleros to Super Late Models.

Butcher dealt with several learning curves during his transition to full-bodied cars. He struggled to manage horsepower and tires at first but gradually ascertained how to execute races, even as the tire compounds changed over the years.

Butcher also familiarized himself with a seasoned group of Super Late Model competitors such as Bubba Pollard, whose resumé includes victories in the All American 400, Oxford 250 and other noteworthy events. For as intimidating as someone like Pollard can be to a rookie, Butcher said every race shared with the veteran has made him a better driver.

“I’ve learned a lot from Bubba,” Butcher said. “Bubba is a very respectful racer and very quiet when it comes to his racing. You don’t know if he’s good or if he’s bad until the green flag flies. He’ll either pass you and leave you in the dust or you’ll have a good race with him. Bubba has taught me a lot of things about respect and how you need to race each other.”

It took Butcher some time, but his name, too, gradually became synonymous with efficiency in Super Late Model competition.

Butcher joined Pollard as an Oxford 250 winner in 2022 before defending his crown the following year. Some of Butcher’s other accomplishments in a Super Late Model include two wins in the Redbud 400, a Winchester 400 victory and a triumph in the Florida Governor’s Cup at New Smyrna Speedway last month.

Butcher’s accolades helped him earn an opportunity to compete in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this season. He made two starts in a second truck for Halmar Friesen Racing and finished 23^rd in both appearances, the second of which, at Phoenix Raceway, was cut short by seven laps due to a late-race crash.

What surprised Butcher the most about the trucks was how much heavier and downforce-dependent they were compared to Super Late Models. He wishes the two starts with Halmar Friesen had unfolded more favorably, but he credited Toyota and everyone in his support system for ensuring he was prepared.

Toyota’s influence has been a crucial component of Butcher’s continued improvement on short tracks, from their rigorous fitness program to the resources they provide to car owner Donnie Wilson. For Butcher, eight Super Late Model victories in 2025 alone highlight how much of a powerhouse Wilson’s team has become with Toyota by its side.

“It means that we’re doing our job personally and in the shop,” Butcher said. “Everyone at Wilson Motorsports does a great job, whether it’s the [No.] 28, 24 or 22 car. This is a testament to what we have going on at Toyota, the Performance Center and at the shop. We have a pretty good baseline wherever we go, and we’re able to unload and be confident.”

Nothing would thrill Butcher more than to end his stellar year with a sweep of the Snowball Derby and Snowflake 125. Although Butcher has not missed a Snowball Derby the last eight years, this weekend will be his first Snowflake 125 attempt since 2016.

Across his Snowball Derby starts, Butcher has finished inside the top five on four occasions and has not recorded a performance worse than 20^th. The closest Butcher came to winning the crown-jewel event was 2019, when he managed to lead two laps from the outside pole before settling for third.

The presence of numerous Super Late Model stalwarts, along with NASCAR Cup Series drivers and past Snowball Derby winners Kyle Busch and Noah Gragson, puts heavy emphasis on securing solid track position in qualifying. Butcher has overcome poor qualifying efforts in the past, but he admitted Sunday carries less stress with a starting position inside the top five.

For as much intensity as the Snowball Derby brings, Butcher has grown to enjoy the quieter moments throughout the week. He admires being able to strengthen the bonds he already shares with everyone on his team while simultaneously spending time with family like his brother Jarrett, who is also entered in the Snowflake 125.

Now that Butcher is a father to his young son Brody, the Snowball Derby carries a little more sentimental value. Butcher’s dad Darrin was a racer himself, so assuming a parenting role has provided him a fresh perspective on motorsports and how important it is to value family despite dealing with constant pressure.

Carrying on Darrin’s passion in racing required plenty of sacrifices and patience on Butcher’s behalf to hold his own with the established names in Super Late Model racing. Two more standout races this weekend in a year full of them would cement Butcher’s name in history while validating his efforts.

“A win would mean the world, not just for myself, but for my team and my family,” Butcher said. “My dad, my mom and my brother have been doing this for a long time together, and I’m fortunate enough to bring my wife and my child into the atmosphere I was brought up in. This is a big group, and it would be a big party afterwards.”

The 2025 season has been everything Butcher could have imagined as a driver. All that remains are two crown-jewel races at Five Flags, where everyone will be eager to see what Butcher has prepared to close his career year.