Already in possession of the track record in qualifying since 2015, the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion displayed his typical precision around the half-mile oval, earning his second pole with a time of 16.175 seconds.
Majeski’s time Friday did not eclipse his previous record of 16.120 seconds, but he was more than satisfied to lay down the quickest lap of anyone in the 44-car field. Long familiar with the intensity surrounding Snowball Derby qualifying, Majeski was stoic and composed while waiting for his turn to hit the track.
“It’s more of a pride thing,” Majeski said. “Everyone talks about Friday qualifying. The atmosphere is just electric I feel like. It’s definitely the most exciting qualifying session we have as drivers.
“It feels good to sit on another pole, and it’s a testament to how great our Late Models are right now.”
The blistering lap Majeski set came after he had to overcome adversity during an abbreviated practice session Thursday.
While shaking down his car, Majeski hit a piece of track surface that had come loose, damaging the front end. Majeski, crew chief Toby Nuttleman and the rest of the crew worked diligently Thursday and Friday to repair the No. 91 iRacing Toyota in time for the all-too-important Friday evening qualifying session.
There was no evidence of any repairs on Majeski’s car as he rocketed around Five Flags to give himself optimal track position for Sunday’s 300-lap Super Late Model feature. It was Majeski’s first Snowball Derby pole since he set the track record nearly a decade ago.
Majeski had no idea his car could put down a lap that stellar, but he trusted Nuttleman and his crew to set everything up perfectly after Thursday’s misfortune. With how busy Majeski is with his Truck Series commitments now, he plans to cherish Friday’s accomplishment with the team before pursuing a third Snowball Derby checkered flag.
“I didn’t really expect this kind of raw speed,” Majeski said. “I’m really blessed to have the opportunity to drive these great late models. My guys have been together for like 13 years now, and we love coming down here.
“We don’t spend as much time as we use to together, so it’s a lot of fun to come down for Snowball and be competitive.”
Kaden Honeycutt, who will race full-time in the Truck Series in 2025 for Niece Motorsports, qualified on the outside pole alongside Majeski. NASCAR Xfinity Series competitor William Sawalich followed Majeski and Honeycutt in the running order with the third best time on the evening.
Majeski now has two days to regroup before the green flag waves for the Snowball Derby on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. CT/2 p.m. ET, which will be broadcasted live on FloRacing.
PENSACOLA, Fla. — For the Canadian-born Lapcevich brothers, life could not be any better than it is right now.
Not only has Cayden found his comfort zone as a crew chief, but his younger brother Treyten’s first full-time season of competition in the United States has been a successful one. The most recent accomplishment on Treyten’s growing resume was a South Carolina 400 victory at Florence Motor Speedway in November.
The brothers are now turning their attention toward Sunday’s Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway, their second attempt in the race. For Treyten, the buildup to Super Late Model racing’s most prestigious event carries a sense of serenity and confidence.
Treyten Lapcevich (Photo: Ted Malinowski/NASCAR)
“There’s a lot of momentum coming off the South Carolina 400 win,” Treyten said. “I’m really excited to go to the Snowball Derby with my family team. This is a Late Model we built last year actually for this race. We were able to test Sunday, get some laps in and shake the car down.
“I think I’m happy with our piece, so we have something to build on.”
Throughout their lives, all the Lapcevich brothers have known is racing. Their father Jeff enjoyed a solid career in the family’s home country of Canada and the United States, with his list of accolades including six victories in the CASCAR Super Series.
Jeff’s passion for motorsports carried on through Cayden and Treyten as they started their own paths in CASCAR’s successor, the NASCAR Canada Series. Cayden brought home a Canada Series championship at the end of the 2016 season; Treyten replicated that feat seven years later with his 2023 triumph.
While Treyten is developing a reputation as a rising prospect, the journey for Cayden after his Canada Series title has been slightly different. A sudden loss of funding after a strong 2017 season forced Cayden to step out of the driver’s seat and focus on different avenues in the motorsports industry.
While Cayden would love to compete more frequently than he currently does, he has enjoyed guiding other competitors to success atop the pit box. Being at Venturini helped refine his knowledge about crafting winning setups, which he plans to carry with him no matter where his journey takes him.
“I was at the point where I needed to progress somewhere, whether it was as a driver or a crew chief,” Cayden said. “I’ve been surrounded by a lot of really good people and have been given a lot of great opportunities. I think I’ve been able to prove myself a little bit in the crew chief role, and I think it’s showing, because I’ve got a lot of opportunities next year.
“I wanted to make a career in racing somehow, but being a crew chief is the next best thing.”
Cayden Lapcevich won the NASCAR Canada Series championship in 2016; Treyten Lapcevich won the same title in 2023. (Photos: Getty Images)
Sunday’s Snowball Derby will only be the fourth race Cayden has competed in this year aside from a brief substitution stint for Toni Breidinger at Watkins Glen International. It is also the first time Cayden has seen Five Flags as a driver since finishing 16th during his lone Snowball Derby start in 2020.
Cayden wanted to bring his own equipment for the 300-lap Super Late Model feature, but he was not able to amass the necessary funding before December. He instead worked out a deal with Holdaway McWhirter Racecars, who previously fielded a car for Cayden when he was racing in Canada earlier in the season.
Although he is not officially a teammate to his brother, Cayden has been more than happy to assist Treyten in the days leading up to the Snowball Derby. Cayden knows Treyten is in good hands driving the family car, but said any bit of information obtained can only help both cars as they log laps throughout the week.
“I tested Saturday and we learned some stuff on [the car] we used on Treyten’s car Sunday,” Cayden said. “It’s been a lot of fun going back-and-forth with both cars, seeing what one likes and what one doesn’t. Treyten’s smart, but my dad is about as good as they come. The family car is really good, but I feel like my car is pretty good.
“Hopefully we can put both in the show and run up front.”
Sunday’s Snowball Derby is a rare on-track appearance for Cayden Lapcevich, who has spent the past couple of seasons as a crew chief for Venturini Motorsports. (Photo: Ted Malinowski/NASCAR Regional)
Treyten’s debut in the Snowball Derby last year saw him qualify inside the top 10 before a crash ended his evening with fewer than 20 laps remaining. Despite the poor finish, Treyten considered the outing to be a success, adding the input provided by Cayden all week was pivotal in helping him quickly adapt to Five Flags’ layout.
With a healthy notebook curated from 2023, Treyten is eager to give the Snowball Derby another shot Sunday afternoon, especially since Cayden is also on the entry list. Neither brother gets a chance to race the other on a regular basis, which is why Treyten is taking time to appreciate the circumstances.
“It was cool when Cayden ran the Snowball Derby in 2020, and it was cool when I ran the Snowball Derby last year,” Treyten said. “I don’t think either of us thought we’d get to a point where we ran the Snowball Derby together.
“It’s cool we’re able to come and do this as a family, and it’s nice to have someone else to rely on for feedback.”
A full year of racing in Late Model Stocks has given Treyten Lapcevich confidence ahead of his second Snowball Derby appearance. (Photo: Ted Malinowski/NASCAR Regional)
Cayden is fulfilling multiple roles with Treyten this weekend as a teammate, crew chief and big brother. He is carefully studying Dartfish video analysis with Treyten to figure out where they need to gain ground on the competition and is also working closely with Treyten’s Late Model Stock car owner Chad Bryant with the setups.
A full year acclimating to short tracks in the U.S. is another factor Cayden knows will help Treyten in his second Snowball Derby. Cayden has been elated to see the progress Treyten made with Bryant in the southeast by defeating tough fields for marquee victories at Florence and North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Cayden hopes 2024 is the first of many stellar years for Treyten on U.S. soil. Circumstances may have prevented Cayden from taking a similar path, but he intends to support his brother any way he can while fostering his own success as a crew chief.
“I’m happy to see [Treyten] has gotten the opportunities and the backing from some really good sponsors to be able to progress his career into the States,” Cayden said. “I don’t get to go to a lot of his races, but when I do, it’s always cool to be there and have some input. Going forward, it’s going to be big for him.”
Treyten looks forward to spending so much time with Cayden during a hectic week at the Snowball Derby. The field will be one of the toughest either brother has faced all year, yet Treyten remains optimistic they can both be frontrunners if each of them perfects the setup ahead of the main event.
Neither Treyten nor Cayden are overly concerned with besting the other on Sunday. The primary goal is to work together with one another so that they can proudly represent their family and Canada in Super Late Model racing’s premier stage.
“I think we’re both just excited to be here,” Treyten said. “We’re going to try and put on a good show. At the end of the day, maybe we can finish one-two. That would be the best circumstance. We’ve both got really good cars with great teams and supporters, so anything can happen.”
Tretyen and Cayden have had plenty to celebrate in their own respective fields over the past two years. A strong performance for either in the Snowball Derby would reflect their ongoing progress towards building sustainable motorsports careers in the U.S.
PENSACOLA, Fla. — He may only have one Snowball Derby start to his name, but David Gilliland has never felt more confident in his ability to win the prestigious event.
The No. 98 Vertical Acres Farm Toyota that Gilliland and his team unloaded Wednesday at Five Flags Speedway was built specifically for Sunday’s Snowball Derby. With his passion project now complete after months of hard work, the 48-year-old is eager to test his equipment against the best of the Super Late Model discipline.
Gilliland wants to enjoy his first Snowball Derby attempt as a driver in five years, but he is keeping expectations high given the number of resources and level of energy exerted into building his car.
“[We’re here to] win,” Gilliland said. “We’ve put a lot of effort into [this car]. Steve Leavitt and a lot of guys I’ve worked with for a long time all put our heads together and went ahead and built our own car. Super Late Model racing has been part of my life for a long time, so [the Snowball Derby] is something I’ve always dreamed of winning.
“We’re excited to come out here, have a little fun and hopefully get the job done.”
David Gilliland’s Super Late Model (Photo: Ted Malinowski/NASCAR)
The catalyst behind Gilliland’s decision to compete in the Snowball Derby again was simple: He misses being behind the wheel.
Overseeing Tricon Garage’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series program takes up most of Gilliland’s daily life. Under Gilliland’s leadership, Tricon Garage has burgeoned into a championship-caliber organization; Corey Heim has guided the team to the Championship 4 in each of the last two years.
Each triumph brings more notoriety for Tricon Garage, but the increased business means fewer opportunities for Gilliland to make an occasional Truck Series appearance. He last competed in 2023 at Talladega Superspeedway, where he placed 35th after being collected in an early crash.
Not being in the seat is a net positive for Gilliland and Tricon Garage, as it means every race across all five full-time teams has some form of financial backing. The status quo will remain in place for Tricon Garage in 2025, but Gilliland admits he has been looking for an avenue to satisfy his racing urge.
A busy week at Five Flags will give Gilliland an opportunity to scratch that itch and simultaneously figure out what he needs to make his car better. Being perfect in practice, qualifying and race conditions will be imperative for Gilliland if he wants to solidify himself as a contender for Sunday’s 300-lap feature.
Gilliland has long been familiar with the mental strain the Snowball Derby presents, but he says the allure of overcoming so many obstacles to obtain a Tom Dawson Trophy is one reason why the event is so revered.
“This race brings out the best of the best, and that’s what motivates the best guys in Super Late Models all around the country to come out here,” Gilliland said. “It’s a challenge, but when you do good here, it means something. So we’re going to see what we can do.”
David Gilliland waves during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Love’s RV Stop 250 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sept. 30, 2023. (Photo: Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
One crucial step to success Gilliland has learned during his previous Snowball Derby attempts as an owner and driver is that patience is needed throughout the entire week.
Before formally unloading Wednesday, Gilliland shook down his No. 98 alongside several other teams during test sessions for the Snowball Derby. The lap times Gilliland displayed were promising, but evolving track conditions and other programs finding speed emphasizes a need to constantly adapt.
“This place is tricky,” Gilliland said. “You come and test, and it will fool you into thinking you’re better than you are [as opposed to] when you have 50 cars on the track and so much rubber laid down. We have to keep up with the race track. This track changes as much as anywhere throughout these four days of being here.”
Gilliland is also still trying to shake off some rust from being out of the car for more than a year, but he does plan to get advice from other Tricon Garage drivers in the field. The group includes ARCA Menards Series East champion William Sawalich along with Gio Ruggiero, who was announced to a full-time Tricon Garage ride earlier this week.
Both Sawalich and Ruggiero bring plenty of accolades to the Snowball Derby despite three combined starts. Sawalich won the All-American 400 at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in 2023, the same year Ruggiero prevailed in the Winchester 400.
David Gilliland celebrates with Corey Heim after winning the weather-shortened NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Long John Silver’s 200 at Martinsville Speedway on April 14, 2023. (Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Given how much Super Late Model racing has evolved since his last Snowball Derby appearance in 2019, Gilliland wants to procure as much information as possible from Sawalich and Ruggiero before Sunday’s green flag. He expects both to be favorites alongside usual stalwarts like Bubba Pollard, Ty Majeski and Derek Thorn.
He does not have as much track time as many others on the entry list, but Gilliland considers himself more than capable of winning the Snowball Derby. Devoting so much time to constructing a car for this one race is indicative of that belief, as is his commitment toward remaining involved in racing at his age.
Gilliland doesn’t know how many more chances he’ll get to race himself with Tricon Garage continuing to grow every year, so he intends to cherish every moment of Sunday’s drive, which he hopes culminates in his hoisting the Tom Dawson Trophy.
“This is a marquee event,” Gilliland said. “It’s on every racer’s bucket list. Obviously, I don’t have that box checked yet, so if we could do that, it’d be special, but extra special to do it in our own car.”
Gilliland is no stranger to pulling off a surprise. His upset victory in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Kentucky Speedway in 2006 with Clay Andrews Racing laid the foundation for the success he and his son Todd Gilliland have enjoyed in motorsports through the present day.
Now older and wiser, Gilliland looks to deliver another iconic drive and cement his own No. 98 Toyota into the Snowball Derby’s storied lore.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 4, 2024) — NASCAR today announced an expanded long-term technical partnership with Stratasys making the company the official 3D printing partner of NASCAR. NASCAR will now exclusively use Stratasys 3D printing technology for the design and production of parts and tools across NASCAR, replacing previous technologies used alongside Stratasys solutions.
The official partnership cements Stratasys’ role as a critical technology provider for NASCAR, with a new state-of-the-art 3D printing lab set to open at the NASCAR Research & Development Center in Concord, North Carolina. The facility features multiple Stratasys technologies, including F370, 450mc, F900 (FDM printers) and a NEO800 (SL printer) to support research and development, parts production and tooling for NASCAR’s three national series. NASCAR engineers will benefit from the agility of 3D printing, which allows for faster design cycles and on-demand production of custom components, keeping them at the cutting edge of performance and safety.
“Partnering with Stratasys allows NASCAR to push the boundaries of performance and accuracy like never before,” said John Probst, executive vice president, chief racing development officer at NASCAR. “Their 3D printing technology empowers us to quickly iterate and optimize components, ensuring that our staff has the best possible machines to stay ahead in this high-stakes environment. Stratasys has proven to be a valuable partner, and this agreement represents our commitment to staying at the forefront of motorsports innovation.”
As part of the expanded partnership, Stratasys will increase the existing FDM® (Fused Deposition Modeling) capabilities within the NASCAR R&D center, allowing for larger-scale part production. In addition to FDM technology, NASCAR will now integrate Stratasys NEO® stereolithography (SL). These technologies will support a variety of applications, from aerodynamic testing, prototyping and production parts with high-precision tooling, further enhancing the design and manufacturing flexibility that 3D printing brings to the sport.
Engineers at NASCAR worked with Stratasys on solutions for NASCAR Cup Series cars, with every vehicle on the track currently using 3D printed parts. For example, working with Stratasys Direct Manufacturing for on-demand production parts using the H350 SAF printer with plant-based Nylon11 material to produce a cold air inlet vent at the top center of the windshield to force air into the car to cool the driver. FDM printers used in the NASCAR R&D Center using ULTEM® 9085 black material to produce a NACA duct located on the lower engine panel, to vent hot air out from the engine bay.
“Our partnership with NASCAR allows Stratasys to showcase the unique advantages of 3D printing in motorsports,” said Rich Garrity, chief business unit officer at Stratasys. “From on-demand manufacturing of custom components to speeding up the design cycle, we’re helping NASCAR with faster production times and enhanced part performance. Furthermore, our work in high-performance environments like NASCAR spurs innovation in the production of commercial vehicles, demonstrating the broader impact of additive manufacturing across the automotive industry.”
McAnally-Hilgemann Racing announced Tuesday that it signed Connor Mosack for the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.
Mosack, 25, will pilot the No. 81 Chevrolet for his first full-time season at the NASCAR national series level. Prior to joining MHR, Mosack made 11 starts in the Truck Series with a career-best result of third at Homestead-Miami Speedway last October. Blake Bainbridge will serve as crew chief for Mosack, who comes off a playoff berth in 2024 with Daniel Dye and the No. 43 MHR team.
RELATED: 2025 Truck Series schedule | Latest Silly Season news
“I’m ecstatic to start 2025 with everybody at MHR and want to continue this team’s success in the playoffs,” Mosack said in a release. “All four MHR teams had great performances this past year, so this was a big opportunity to race with a winning organization. It’s great to continue being part of Team Chevy and appreciate NAPA Nightvison and everyone at MHR for making this a reality. I’m looking forward to working with Blake, and we want to become one of the weekly contenders, compete for wins, and lock ourselves in the playoffs.”
Outside of the Truck Series, Mosack has made 28 starts in the Xfinity Series with Sam Hunt Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing and most recently JR Motorsports. Mosack also owns two career victories in the ARCA Menards Series.
“I was impressed with the job Connor did last season and wanted him to be part of our lineup in 2025,” team owner Bill McAnally said. “He showed he has the talent and commitment to compete and win at this level, and we’re excited about the potential that he has joining our group. He and Blake will make a great pair and create opportunities for us to win races.”
With vendors selling NASCAR merchandise as far as the eye could see alongside the crowded roads leading into São Paulo, Brazil’s world-famous Interlagos racing circuit this August, Daniel Suárez knew it was going to be a significant day — for him as a competitor, for the tens of thousands of international fans eager for a day of stock car racing, and for NASCAR in general.
“I cannot remember the last time I was stuck in traffic for so long — hours — heading into the race track,’’ said a smiling Suárez, the Trackhouse Racing NASCAR Cup Series driver who spent one of his summer off-weeks racing in the NASCAR Brasil Series. “It was unbelievable; unbelievable in a good way.
“I only wish that every driver in the Cup Series and even the media had the opportunity to experience that because the amount of racing culture that is down there in Brazil is unbelievable.
“I feel like there is so much opportunity. The sport of NASCAR is very big and some people, I don’t think, have really realized that and I had the opportunity to see that in Brazil. I have known that for many years in Mexico. And I’m really excited; excited that NASCAR is thinking outside the box.”
NASCAR has been doing just that for years, and as the sport’s Vice President, Chief International Officer Chad Seigler promises, this is part of a continued emphasis on introducing and growing the stock car scene internationally. It’s been met with exactly the kind of reception Suárez describes with four major series — NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR México Series, NASCAR Canada Series and NASCAR Whelen Euro Series all thriving and growing — both internally and externally.
“We kind of look at our international focus from three silos,’’ Seigler explained. “We have the individual series and our philosophy has always been, we know we can’t take the Cup Series and have it travel around like Formula One does, so if we can go into a market and create local stars, local heroes, local team owners, local track infrastructure, that’s good for us.
“Focus number two is, if you have that driver that says, ‘although I love racing in Mexico, my dream is to go racing in the U.S.,’ then we’re providing a path,’’ he added, noting NASCAR’s upcoming race weekend in Mexico.
“And the third focus is taking one of the [NASCAR] national series outside the U.S.’’
The 2000 NASCAR Cup Series champion Bobby Labonte competed multiple times in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series in 2018 and, like Suárez, was duly impressed with the enthusiasm from the fans and his fellow competitors.
He recalls racing at England’s renowned Brands Hatch circuit and the festival-like scene that characterized the event — American flags, American muscle cars on display, track walks and even country music on the speakers — with tens of thousands of people typically showing up each summer for the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series events at the famed road circuit.
Labonte sees the potential of developing drivers from the various international series and thinks the popularity of NASCAR’s style of competition in the various markets – something he experienced first-hand — will prove a huge asset.
“It’s already very popular and they want it to get bigger and bigger and are sticking to it to have it grow — and I’m sure it will,” Labonte said. “NASCAR going to Mexico [for 2025 NASCAR Xfinity and NASCAR Cup Series points races] will grab more potential interest internationally, too. They are building a great overall foundation and it just has to get to the next level.’’
Jared Tilton | Getty Images
And that’s exactly what Seigler and his team of more than a dozen executives have been doing for years now, promising the upcoming 2025 season will again showcase that work and motivation.
“With all our international series, I wish I could just pack people up and let them come see it,” Seigler said. “When you have 50,000 people at a place like Interlagos and 43,000 at a place like Brands Hatch, it tells you there is a passion for this style of racing outside the U.S.’
“I tell people about our international team and try to educate the fanbase that NASCAR is bigger than only the Cup Series,’’ Seigler said. “When I’m out giving presentations, I ask, ‘what are the four biggest cities NASCAR races in’ and they may say a city like Chicago or Dallas.
“And I remind them we race in Mexico City, São Paulo, London and Toronto. We race in cities in some form or fashion that have 20-30 million people and that’s a big story for us.’’
Not only is developing the venues and crowds important but, obviously, the racing itself is vital to progress – from the officials to the teams to the competitors.
The foreign exchange works both ways and is critical to progress. Longtime NASCAR official Joe Balash, for example, is serving as the Sporting and Technical Director of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series and has moved to France in his new role.
The competitors hold a deep, unmistakable belief in the sport’s potential across multiple continents.
“Most of the people, when they see NASCAR in the U.S., they think it’s crazy in a good way because they are used to Formula One, which can be boring,’’ five-time NASCAR México Series champion Rubén García Jr. explained before receiving his newest trophy at the NASCAR Awards banquet last month in Charlotte.
“Those [Formula One] races are very simple. Most of the races are decided a couple of laps after the start. But when people see NASCAR, they think it is crazy good and now they will get the chance to watch the sport I fell in love with. Having a race in Mexico City will help a lot and people will realize how fun it is, how great the atmosphere is, and they will fall in love with the sport.’’
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Newly crowned NASCAR Whelen Euro Series champion and Italy product Vittorio Ghirelli agrees that the stock car form of racing has gained important footholds overseas. It competes in race-loving locales like England’s Brands Hatch and even an oval – a short track, no less – in the Netherlands.
Its event at Valencia, Spain’s famed Circuit Ricardo Tormo is second in attendance to only the MotoGP race there each year. And as the competitors gain experience, not only does it improve the racing in Europe but it presents opportunities for those drivers to be noticed and test their growth in the United States.
“Every race, there are kilometers of queues [people waiting in lines for entry],’’ said Ghirelli, a former open-wheel and sportscar driver who has adapted to stock cars so well he won the pole position for all races in the series during the 2024 season.
“It is very nice because this is what NASCAR is, leaving it open to everyone compared to other series where the tickets are so high [priced], but NASCAR makes it accessible to everyone. They push it a lot in marketing, and you see families come and camp with small kids who ask for autographs.
“It’s really what makes this series so special and I love this connection is growing even more in the U.S. because my dream would be to have a chance in the U.S. and maybe some races.’’
That is certainly a goal for the various series, all enjoying concrete signs of progress.
In Canada, the NASCAR Canada Series has welcomed a new general manager, Alan Labrosse, who expects to have a larger imprint on the 2025 season, including a schedule that will feature both equal parts ovals and road courses.
“I definitely come in optimistic,” Labrosse said. “I spent most of my [first] year observing, analyzing and evaluating where we need to improve, whether it be our organization or third parties, the venues, the teams. I think people are going to notice, as of 2025, the improvements.
“There is more energy, a positive energy, and it’s important for NASCAR to develop this product and what it has to show beyond the boundaries of the USA. They know that, and I think everybody is putting in the correct efforts to reach new heights.’’
It’s a familiar theme across the four series. They are all better established and now in the enviable position of generating consistent interest off-track and producing stars on-track.
Important milestones were reached. Not only did the NASCAR Brasil Series introduce its first oval – at the season finale, no less – but having Suárez compete only helped substantially raise the profile of the two-year-old series.
The NASCAR México Series anticipates some high-profile time in the upcoming season, competing alongside the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity series for a tripleheader weekend during the June 14-15 inaugural race there.
The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series cars will have updated dashboards and a rebranding of their championships with a PRO Division for professional drivers and an OPEN Division for “young talents and gentlemen drivers” with four races per weekend: two each for Pro and Open competitors.
It all speaks to the vitality these series are enjoying and the increasing worldwide popularity of NASCAR.
“What we’ve been working with our partners over there is developing drivers, and they are big on this,’’ Seigler said. “So the goal is, if you’re a young kid racing a kart and your dream is to race at Monaco, that’s great. But there might be some kids whose dream is to go to Daytona, but they don’t know the path.
“What we’re trying to do is give them some “road maps” …and it shows that from the time you’re five [years old] this is what you do and what that step might cost you. This is a way to show if you want to race in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, here are the logical steps you would take to get there if you want to do it. Obviously, there’s no guarantee, but you’re laying out a road map of how you get there.
“What’s unique that we have going for us in the international series, the drivers that race for us, they are shocked to race in front of fans. I know that sounds crazy. But in go-karts, even sports car races there, there aren’t a lot of fans. So that’s a lot of excitement they don’t normally get.
“We want them to see this, touch it and feel it and also understand, you are the face of NASCAR for us in Europe and to make sure they understand how important their role is.”
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.
(Photo: Susan Wong/NASCAR Regional)
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.
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.
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)
Stephen Nasse is among the many notable Super Late Model veterans who have yet to win a Snowball Derby. (Photo: Susan Wong/NASCAR Regional)
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
Ty Majeski earned his second Snowball Derby victory last year at Five Flags Speedway. (Photo: Susan Wong/NASCAR Regional)
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.
Tyler Allen will crew chief the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing team with driver Ty Gibbs in the NASCAR Cup Series starting in 2025, JGR announced Monday.
Allen advances to the Cup Series after a fruitful rookie campaign in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2024, collecting eight wins as crew chief for JGR’s No. 20 program before a late-season swap to the No. 19 team.
A native of Bellevue, Washington, Allen replaces Chris Gayle on the pit box for Ty Gibbs. Gayle had worked with Gibbs since 2021 dating back to Xfinity competition, but Gayle will move to the No. 11 team with driver Denny Hamlin for the 2025 campaign.
While he has yet to serve as crew chief in the Cup Series, Allen’s resume is stacked with experience at NASCAR’s top level, serving as a race engineer for crew chief Adam Stevens for seven seasons. Together, they won the Cup Series championship in 2019 with Kyle Busch and totaled five Championship 4 appearances — three with Busch and two with Christopher Bell.
“Only being a year removed, I still remember what it was like to be working on the Cup cars and the schedule and all of the details that are important,” Allen said Monday in an interview on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. “So it’s really just about getting settled in, getting people in place and trying to hit the ground running. I think Ty’s really excited. I’m really excited to work with him.”
In a team release, Allen also said: “This opportunity has been a dream of mine since starting here at JGR 10 years ago, and I’m thankful for the support and guidance I’ve received from my mentors, teammates, and everyone along the way. Ty has shown a lot of speed and potential the last two years, and I look forward to building on that experience to get the 54 car in Victory Lane.”
Gibbs and Allen worked together once during the 2024 Xfinity season at Charlotte Motor Speedway, winning the pole for the BetMGM 300 and leading 27 laps for a ninth-place finish.
“It’s a relatively fresh start, and I think that’s kind of what he was looking for and I’m certainly excited about it,” Allen told SiriusXM. “This is work. We met (Monday) and talked about a bunch of things, but these are our careers and it’s definitely a professional relationship. And I think over time, that will grow into a more personal and good friendship overall. But we’re here to go work. We’re here to win races, and I think we’re both on the same page with that.”
The 2025 season will mark Gibbs’ third at the Cup level. While still searching for his first career win, Gibbs doubled his top-five total between his rookie and sophomore seasons, leaping from four in 2023 to eight in 2024 in addition to collecting his first two career Busch Light Pole Awards. The 22-year-old qualified for the NASCAR Playoffs for the first time in 2024, finishing 15th in the final season standings with a 17.4 average finish and 417 laps led.
“We take a lot of pride in our Xfinity Series program and the depth of talent that we have been able to maintain,” team owner Joe Gibbs said in a release. “Tyler Allen was successful at the Cup level with us while working under Adam Stevens and was impressive last season in the Xfinity Series leading that 20 team to eight wins while working with a number of different drivers. We have an exciting young and talented team on the 54 car.”
Allen’s promotion to the Cup Series left a vacancy in the Xfinity Series for JGR’s crew-chief rotation. In Allen’s place, Jason Ratcliff returns to the pit box and will lead the No. 54 Xfinity team with rookie driver Taylor Gray behind the wheel. Ratcliff has 72 combined victories between the Cup and Xfinity series in addition to the 2009 Xfinity championship.
“I’m thrilled to join Taylor and the 54 team for the 2025 season,” Ratcliff said in a release. “After a year away from the track, I’m eager to return to the pit box every weekend. Taylor has the talent and determination to excel in NASCAR, and it’s our mission to help him achieve that success.”
Ratcliff has crew-chiefed 253 Cup races and 548 Xfinity events, earning 15 Cup wins and 57 Xfinity victories.
“It is also exciting to have Jason Ratcliff back on the pit box in the Xfinity Series to work with Taylor Gray next season,” Joe Gibbs said. “He has contributed so much to our organization over his career.”
Tricon Garage announced Monday that it has signed Gio Ruggiero to pilot the No. 17 Toyota for the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.
The Toyota Racing Development prospect takes over for Taylor Gray, who drove for Tricon in 2023-2024 and will move to the Xfinity Series in 2025 with Joe Gibbs Racing.
It will mark the rookie season for the 18-year-old wheelman who spent time in the ARCA Menards Series before landing the gig with Tricon.
“I am super thankful to have the opportunity to run full-time with Tricon in 2025,” Ruggiero said in a statement. “I look forward to getting to work with all of the guys on the 17 team and contending for wins this season.”
Ruggiero collected seven top fives and nine top 10s in 10 starts in the ARCA Menards Series in 2024 and earned a victory in the ARCA Menards East Series at Five Flags Speedway. He also owns a decorated short-track resume that is highlighted by a Winchester 400 trophy.
“Gio has shown a lot of promise in his young career, and we are super excited to welcome him into our program,” said Tricon partner David Gilliland. “Jumping into the Truck Series is no small feat, but Gio has proven that he adapts quickly, and we have no doubt that he will have a successful rookie season with us as he takes over the 17 truck.”
Ruggiero’s signing fills out the Tricon lineup for 2025, which includes Corey Heim, Tanner Gray and Toni Breidinger.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 2, 2024) – NASCAR announced Monday that Craig Stimmel has been hired to lead all sales efforts for the sanctioning body as Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. In this role, Stimmel will oversee all sales aspects for NASCAR, including premier partner and official partner categories, race entitlements, track partnerships and media sales across owned channels such as Motor Racing Network (MRN) and NASCAR Digital Media. He will also work closely with NASCAR’s media partners, teams, and non-NASCAR tracks to cultivate commercial opportunities across the entire NASCAR ecosystem.
NASCAR
Stimmel comes to NASCAR with a wealth of experience from the property, media and consumer side of the business, having led global sales & partnerships for the WWE and a similar role at Snapchat. Before that, he also held a leadership role on the brand marketing side at Procter & Gamble. Most recently, Stimmel was Senior Vice President of Commercial for the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
“Craig’s proven track record of driving results and building billion-dollar brands in a multi-faceted environment like ours was one of several reasons why we felt he was an excellent fit for this role,” said Brian Herbst, NASCAR Executive Vice President, Chief Media and Revenue Officer. “NASCAR has the most brand-loyal fans and many of the most recognized sponsorships in professional sports, and Craig brings all the acumen to build upon our roster of tremendous partners and continue to deepen the engagement with our fans.”
“In recent years, NASCAR has taken some impressive and successful steps to grow the sport, authentically tell the brand story and build momentum for the future,” said Stimmel. “When you combine those factors with all the ways small and large brands alike can engage fans, new customers or new partners, it makes this opportunity extremely desirable, and I’m eager to continue building on the foundation already in place.”
Stimmel, who officially begins the new role Monday, will be based in NASCAR’s New York office and will manage employees across more than 20 office and race-track locations across the country. He will report to EVP, Chief Media & Revenue Officer Brian Herbst.
