Posted on by Brandon White

PENSACOLA, Fla. — Before Monday, in 14 previous attempts at the Snowball Derby, Stephen Nasse was met with 14 years of frustration.

Nasse had lost the Super Late Model equivalent to the Daytona 500 in nearly every manner conceivable, from running out of laps to being collected in a crash. In 2019, what appeared to be Nasse’s breakthrough victory was taken away by a post-race technical infraction.

Each loss only motivated Nasse to finally take home the prestigious Tom Dawson Trophy. He even had to wait longer for his 15th Snowball Derby attempt than he originally anticipated, as a persistent mist Sunday pushed the race to Monday.

On that cold, overcast day in Pensacola, Florida, destiny finally arrived for Nasse under improbable circumstances. After Ty Majeski, the dominant car of the afternoon, was penalized for a restart violation, Nasse inherited the lead and a cathartic victory that had eluded him for more than a decade.

MORE: Results from the 58th Snowball Derby

Even Nasse, long known for his colorful, hard-nosed personality on and off the track, was stunned over how his overdue Snowball Derby triumph came together.

“With the Derby, you’re going to take them however you can get them,” Nasse said. “I was looking forward to racing against [Majeski] on the restart. I thought I’d be able to put up a decent fight, but he surprised me by jumping two times in a row like that. You wouldn’t think something like that out of Ty. Definitely unfortunate for them, but we’ll take it.”

Nasse had long blocked out the discussion surrounding his Snowball Derby drought and whether he would ever win it. There was never any doubt in Nasse’s mind he could accomplish the milestone, and his resumé in Super Late Models more than supported that belief.

With two victories in the Winchester 400 and another in the All American 400, among other accomplishments, Nasse has long thrived in scenarios where pressure is at its maximum. In those events, Nasse often gave no quarter to his competition, never afraid to do what was necessary to stay up front.

The tenacious, intrepid driving style Nasse crafted over the years garnered him a nickname amongst his fellow drivers and fans: “The Honey Badger.”

Nasse’s adventures attracted plenty of admirers and his fair share of critics, but he never let any noise rattle him. What mattered to Nasse was figuring out how to win the next race, especially a Snowball Derby.

Stephen Nasse
(Photo: Ted Malinowski/NASCAR Regional)

Regardless of what he tried at Five Flags Speedway in December, none of Nasse’s strategies ever translated to a perfect weekend. One issue that repeatedly hindered Nasse was qualifying speed, as eight of his past 10 Snowball Derby attempts saw him start worse than 25th in the main event.

As time went on, Nasse slowly turned a weakness into a strength, as his car would be one of the quickest on race day. Since 2021, Nasse has not finished worse than eighth in the Snowball Derby. Last year’s edition saw Nasse place second to Kaden Honeycutt after he started 30th.

When Nasse had to time his way into this year’s Snowball Derby through the Last Chance Qualifier, he was not perturbed in the slightest. He was ready to get to work.

“Of course you have a little bit of worry on what could happen, [given] I started outside on the second row [in the Last Chance Qualifier],” Nasse said. “Once that race got going, I knew I’d be better than those guys, and I’d be able to race around them. I’ve put in thousands of laps around [Five Flags], and in race trim, we’re very good.”

Just like the year before, on Monday, Nasse did not stay buried in the running order for long. Using pit strategy and the raw speed of Anthony Campi Racing’s No. 51 Super Late Model, Nasse picked off the competition one-by-one, finding his way to the outside of the front row for the final restart.

All that stood in the way of a Snowball Derby win for Nasse was Majeski, who consistently put together stellar lap times regardless of whether he was on old or new tires. Having battled against Majeski plenty of times over the years, Nasse knew he could not pull any punches if he wanted to overtake a fellow seasoned veteran.

In his bid to stay in front of Nasse, Majeski’s stellar afternoon unraveled before him. After being warned by race control for jumping the first attempt at the restart, Majeski was assessed a black flag for a second infraction. He ended up finishing 23rd after leading nearly the entire day.

Majeski, a two-time Snowball Derby winner, has now endured two consecutive years of coming away empty in the crown-jewel race following a dominant afternoon. This time a restart penalty denied Majeski a third victory, a decision with which he vehemently disagreed long after the checkered flag.

“I got a little bit of chatter over the radio that Nasse was going to maybe try and jump,” Majeski said. “I was trying to anticipate that a little bit and clearly jumped. I knew they were going to call the next one close, so I decided to gradually increase my speed to the line, fire in the box. Obviously it was close and wanted to be right at the line. Felt that I was.

“They made a ball-and-strike call in the biggest race of the year. I’ve had some lows in my career, and this one probably takes the cake.”

Stephen Nasse
A runner-up in the 2024 Snowball Derby only fueled Stephen Nasse’s motivation to finally win the crown jewel event this year. (Photo: Ted Malinowski/NASCAR Regional)

Like Majeski, Nasse was trying to avenge a bitter defeat from 2024. If he had a few more laps or an overtime restart at his disposal, Nasse believed he could have overtaken Honeycutt and ended his Snowball Derby drought a year earlier.

The sting from 2024 stayed with Nasse, Campi and the team leading into this year’s Snowball Derby. Only one spot separated them from a winning formula in the previous Snowball Derby, so Nasse was certain they could replicate that success Monday.

As Nasse followed a penalized Majeski across the start-finish line, he was not thinking about coming up short to Honeycutt the year before, nor was he thinking about the crashes and mechanical failures that had hindered past Snowball Derby results or the disqualification that took away his victory in 2019.

Instead, Nasse embraced the relief he felt to finally add his name to the prestigious list of Snowball Derby champions, a sensation that was amplified when he formally passed inspection just a couple hours later.

“It’s been a long journey with a lot of ups and a lot of downs,” Nasse said. “I’m just fortunate that I’ve been in the position that I’ve been in to have a chance to win it. There’s a lot of people that come here for many years and have never been able to sniff the front. To be able to put the races in like we have and get the wins that we have, it feels very special.”

Now that he has his own Tom Dawson Trophy, the driver known as The Honey Badger is not content with just one. He is already thinking about how to defend his crown.

Qualifying could always be better for Nasse in the Snowball Derby, but he is hesitant to make any changes in that regard with how efficient he is in race conditions. The past few years have proved to Nasse he does not need a fast car in time trials to enjoy a great weekend on Super Late Model racing’s premiere stage.

There is always the chance Monday could be Nasse’s only triumph in the Snowball Derby given how competitive and frantic the weekend can be. That is not going to stop Nasse from doing everything he can to add on to his Snowball Derby legacy, one no longer marred by frustration.

“My name will be on [the Tom Dawson Trophy] next year, and that’s something to be very proud of,” Nasse said. “You have to work on making sure it’s not a one-and-done thing. I think I can do it multiple times. I’ve been in front the past few Derbys, and I got lucky today, but I’ve also gotten unlucky on other days.

“I’m going to try and put my name on it again. Who knows how many times we can get it? But we’ll keep trying.”

If Nasse keeps bringing cars to Five Flags in December like the one he drove this weekend, he is confident it will not take another 15 years to claim his second Snowball Derby.

Posted on by Staff Report

58th Snowball Derby

Five Flags Speedway

  • Official race results
Position Car No Name Laps Diff.
1 51n Stephen Nasse 300 –
2 26s Dawson Sutton 300 0.87
3 35 Jake Garcia 300 0.975
4 1 Kasey Kleyn 300 3.821
5 51f Jake Finch 300 5.141
6 44c Matt Craig 300 5.735
7 36 Ty Fredrickson 300 6.706
8 48 Preston Peltier 300 8.895
9 55 Haeden Plybon 300 10.394
10 96 Derek Thorn 299 -1
11 3 Michael Atwell 299 -1
12 98g David Gilliland 299 -1
13 89 Dylan Fetcho 298 -2
14 33 Dustin Smith 298 -2
15 28b Cole Butcher 298 -2
16 24 Gavan Boschele 298 -2
17 9 Derek Kraus 298 -2
18 14p Chase Pinsonneault 297 -3
19 51b Kyle Busch 297 -3
20 6 Brandon Lopez 297 -3
21 12g Derek Griffith 296 -4
22 16 Jacob Gomes 296 -4
23 91 Ty Majeski 295 -5
24 76 Kole Raz 292 -8
25 8 Jace Hansen 288 -12
26 21 Kaden Honeycutt 258 -42
27 26p Bubba Pollard 177 -123
28 96d Spencer Davis 155 -145
29 30t Treyten Lapcevich 146 -154
30 22 Buddy Shepherd 120 -180
31 81 Carson Brown 61 -239
32 30c Casey Roderick 58 -242
33 17 Hudson Bulger 51 -249
34 5m Tristan McKee 20 -280
35 18 Max Reaves 0 -300
36 60 Ryan Preece 0 -300

 

Posted on by Holly Cain

Editor’s note: This is the 16th in a series in which we review the top 30 drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in reverse order of the 2025 final standings.

Driver: Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Crew chief: Richard Boswell
Final 2025 ranking: 15th
Key stats: 1 win, 1 top fives, 5 top 10s, 119 laps led

How 2025 ended: As Dillon has proven able to do in his career, the 35-year-old North Carolinian again won in the clutch, claiming his only victory of the season at Richmond Raceway — the next-to-last race on the regular-season schedule. It was enough to propel Dillon to a playoff bid and boost an otherwise lackluster season. Unfortunately, the opening round of the playoffs was tough for the team, with Dillon finishing 23rd or worse in two of the three races and being eliminated from title contention early. His best finish in that final 10-race run was 13th at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Dillon would, however, go on to beat fellow title contender Josh Berry in that stretch of competition to finish 15th in the final points standings.

Best race: Undoubtedly, Dillon’s best single outing was his August victory in the Richmond night race — a high-profile event he’s now won in back-to-back years. Dillon’s famous No. 3 Chevrolet led 107 laps — second-most on the night and tenfold what he’d led previously on the season. Unlike his dramatic 2024 Richmond victory at the finish line, Dillon held the field off for the final 49 laps of a long green-flag stretch to end the race and hoist his sixth career Cup Series trophy.

RELATED: 2026 Cup Series schedule | Austin Dillon driver page

Other season highlights: In addition to delivering yet another clutch victory at the 0.75-mile Richmond track and earning his fifth career playoff bid, Dillon turned in a three-race stretch of top-10 finishes at three vastly different tracks – 10th place at the half-mile Bristol Motor Speedway and also at the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway the next week, followed by a seventh-place run at the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway. His diversity was impressive, earning him five top-10 finishes (including a 10th-place run at the 0.875-mile Iowa Speedway) across five different oval sizes.

Stat to know: Remarkably, Dillon’s final season statistics — one victory, one top five and five top-10 finishes — match his output in 2024 exactly. Dillon’s 119 laps out front are the most for him since 2020. And his average finish of 20.8 is his best mark in the category since 2022.

Quotable: “It’s funny. I think we come out swinging, we kind of take a dip and then we come back. I think RC [Richard Childress, team owner] has to yell at us at the right time, I guess, and then we get going again. I don’t know why that is. I’d really love to figure that out, solve for it, but at least we’re finding speed at the right time, because I think that’s key in this sport now and in every sport.” – Austin Dillon on his team’s typical season uptick toward the end of the regular season schedule.

Looking ahead: This season in particular, Dillon took on a more active role in leading the entire Richard Childress Racing organization. Not only has he led the driver charge on track, but the 35-year-old is devoting more time to the overall direction of his grandfather’s storied championship organization. Dillon’s Richmond victory ensured that RCR teams have had wins in the last four consecutive seasons. But the low number of top fives (only one for Dillon and only three for teammate Kyle Busch) and the relatively few laps led (119 for Dillon and 88 for Busch) illustrate the need for overall improvement at the multitime championship team. To that end, RCR has announced changes among both its technical and leadership teams. And of course, Dillon’s win, playoff bid and versatility in his season, paired with crew chief Boswell, bodes well for the future.

Posted on by Staff Report

Rick Ware Racing will field Chevrolets starting in 2026 as part of a multiyear partnership with the manufacturer and a newly formed technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing, the team announced Monday.

Cody Ware will return as driver of RWR’s No. 51 car in 2026 as the team transitions to a new manufacturer after spending the last four seasons fielding Fords.

MORE: 2026 Cup Series schedule

As part of its alliance with RCR, Ware’s entries will utilize engines prepared by ECR Engines.

“Chevrolet has always set a high bar with its people, its performance and its passion for racing, and partnering with them gives us the resources and support to make real progress on the race track,” team owner Rick Ware said in a press release. “Teaming up with RCR and ECR provides a foundation we can build on, not just for 2026, but for the future of our race team. We’re proud to be part of the Chevrolet family.”

Rick Ware Racing has owned entries across NASCAR’s three national touring series since a one-off debut at the Xfinity level in 1995. Ware fielded his first Cup entry in 2012 for Timmy Hill at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and has entered cars consistently at NASCAR’s top level since 2017. Until 2021, Ware fielded cars from multiple manufacturers, including Chevrolet for 268 starts.

RWR’s endeavors in other forms of motorsports have resulted in plenty of success, including the 2019-20 LMP2 championship in the Asian Le Mans Series as well as motorcycle titles in 2022 with Shane McElrath in the World Supercross 250cc class and 2024 in the American Flat Track 450 Singles class with Kody Kopp. Additionally, Clay Millican has collected five NHRA Top Fuel wins for RWR since late 2022, and its entry in the 2025 CARS Tour Pro Late Model series earned the 2025 owners’ title.

Cars fielded by Ware in the NASCAR Cup Series have two top fives and 11 top 10s through 702 starts.

“The NASCAR Cup Series is the toughest and most competitive series in motorsports, and this is an important move for the long-term growth of our company,” Ware said. “We’ve won in NHRA, American Flat Track, World Supercross and the CARS Tour, and we want to elevate our NASCAR performance to the level of our other programs.”

Chevrolet teams combined to win 15 Cup races in 2025, including Austin Dillon’s triumph in August at Richmond Raceway for Richard Childress Racing. Chevrolet also earned the 2025 manufacturers’ championship, its 44th overall and fifth consecutively.

“Rick and his team have shown a real commitment to growing their program, and we’re proud to support that effort alongside our partners at Richard Childress Racing and ECR Engines,” Pat Suhy, manager, NASCAR Competition for GM Motorsports, said. “Bringing RWR into the Chevrolet fold is a win for all of us. Their drive to keep improving aligns with our dedication to performance and innovation.”

In his first full-time season since 2022, Cody Ware piloted the No. 51 to 36th place in the final 2025 standings, averaging a 30.4 finish and leading a total of 32 laps. Ware’s best finish of 2025 was 13th in July at EchoPark Speedway.

The 2026 season begins with the Busch Clash exhibition race on Sunday, Feb. 1 at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina at 8 p.m. ET on FOX, HBO Max, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Posted on by Brandon White

PENSACOLA, Fla. — For a brief moment, Keelan Harvick thought he let a victory slip away in his debut Snowflake 125 appearance at Five Flags Speedway early Sunday morning.

A bad restart with 45 laps remaining stymied a valiant charge the young Harvick had made from the 15th starting position, which forced him to play catch up against Tristan McKee and reigning Snowball Derby winner Kaden Honeycutt. Possessing the same poise as his father Kevin, Harvick did not waste the limited time at his disposal.

Not even 20 laps passed before Harvick found himself on McKee’s rear bumper to re-take the top spot. Harvick easily dispatched McKee and held him off in the closing laps to become the youngest Snowflake 125 winner at 13, surpassing the record previously established by a 14-year-old Hunter Robbins in 2005.

Battling his way to a Snowflake 125 victory was a mentally taxing experience for Harvick, who climbed out of his No. 62 Hunt Brothers Pizza Ford shortly before 4 a.m. CT. Yet he still made time to appreciate and reflect upon the journey that led him to prevailing on the Pro Late Model discipline’s premier stage.

“It’s just really cool,” he said. “[I’m thankful for] everything that everybody has sacrificed for me to get to this point. My dad took me to Italy when I was 10 to get the experience with all the other kids who are so much better. That helped me understand the value of racing and helped me get to this point.”

A full year’s worth of racing in Pro and Super Late Models alongside his dad was crucial toward preparing Harvick for everything the Snowflake 125 was going to bring.

The two Harvicks traveled across the United States, choosing races that would provide both stout competition and a chance for Keelan to properly develop. Seven of their starts together comprised a season-long competition between father and son called the Harvick Cup, with Keelan defeating Kevin in five of those races.

Racing against stellar fields in what is now the ARCA Menards Series West and NASCAR Southwest Series shaped Kevin into a driver that would later win the 2007 Daytona 500 and the 2014 NASCAR Cup Series championship. Kevin wanted to carve out a similar path for Keelan knowing he would benefit from both the highs and lows.

“We typically try to find the hardest races because you learn the most,” Kevin said. “This race is no different. Not going to find the best competition you can is detrimental to the kids. [Keelan] has done a great job, but Rackley [W.A.R.] has done a great job of preparing the cars all year and getting him used to driving the [Pro Late Models].”

Kevin’s beliefs were validated when he watched his son make a mistake on the Snowflake 125’s penultimate restart before ultimately gathering himself up to make a successful charge for the victory. There have been plenty of instances across all levels of racing where Kevin has seen other young drivers unravel in a similar scenario due to overall inexperience.

The younger Harvick could only linger on the botched restart for so long. He remembered everything his father, Rackley W.A.R., Ron Hornaday Jr. and everyone else in his corner had taught him about composure. All he needed to do was just drive.

“I thought I was in third gear, but I was in second gear,” Harvick said. “I just made a mistake, but I knew I had to fight back. [It would have been] a pretty embarrassing way to lose the Snowflake [125] after I had just got the lead.

“It was right at the top of my fingertips, but I really did not want that one to slip away.”

Keelan Harvick
Keelan Harvick joined a prestigious list of Snowflake 125 winners early Sunday morning that includes Chase Elliott, John Hunter Nemechek, Bubba Pollard and Derek Thorn, among others. (Photo: Ted Malinowski/NASCAR Regional)

The Snowflake 125 triumph gave Harvick his eighth victory in his first full season driving full-bodied stock cars. Among the places where Harvick has prevailed include Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway along with historic tracks such as Hickory Motor Speedway and North Wilkesboro Speedway.

More than 60 cars were entered in this year’s Snowflake 125, one of the toughest fields Harvick has encountered in his young career to date. It was not just other competitors Harvick dealt with, as persistent rainfall all day at Five Flags delayed the Snowflake 125 by several hours, further adding to the mental strain shared by everyone in the infield.

Yet there was not a single moment throughout Harvick’s maiden Snowflake 125 venture where Kevin did not think his son was ready for the task at hand. Every obstacle the younger Harvick faced was met with both a sense of calm and professionalism, which is why Kevin is confident his son will continue to accumulate marquee victories long after the Snowflake 125.

“I’m really proud of him,” Kevin said. “We all work really hard at trying to keep the evolution of how he races, what he races and when he races. The best part about [the Snowflake 125]] was watching him through traffic. The laps at the end were good and he kept his head on his shoulders with two good guys behind him.

“It’s great to see him win, but I like to see the progression of different things throughout the night.”

The race Keelan put together early Sunday morning embodied many characteristics that garnered Kevin his nickname as “The Closer.” While Keelan did not dominate statistically, he kept his car out of trouble all evening and pounced on the chance to take home a victory during the closing stages despite his mistake on the restart.

Now a part of a long list of Snowflake 125 champions, the younger Harvick plans to cherish his accomplishment as he prepares for 2026. One day, a chance at a Snowball Derby victory will come about, so Harvick wants to make sure he is ready to meet that moment when it arrives.

“Learning off [so many other drivers] helps me a lot,” Harvick said. “[It all comes down] to preparing and watching all the videos. All the hard work that goes into this pays off. My guys worked so hard for this and it’s really cool to see it pay off [with a Snowflake 125].

“[Now] I’m probably going to stay up and watch the Snowball Derby.”

Posted on by Staff Report

Snowball Derby

Five Flags Speedway

  • Starting lineup
Position Car No. Driver
1 48 Preston Peltier
2 91 Ty Majeski
3 17 Hudson Bulger
4 51f Jake Finch
5 96d Spencer Davis
6 3 Michael Atwell
7 08 Jace Hansen
8 98g David Gilliland
9 55 Haedon Plybon
10 1 Kasey Kleyn
11 89 Dylan Fetcho
12 26s Dawson Sutton
13 28b Cole Butcher
14 16 Jacob Gomes
15 96 Derek Thorn
16 21 Kaden Honeycutt
17 81 Carson Brown
18 5m Tristan McKee
19 18 Max Reaves
20 26p Bubba Pollard
21 9 Derek Kraus
22 30t Treyten Lapcevich
23 30c Casey Roderick
24 36 Ty Fredrickson
25 22 Buddy Shepherd
26 33 Dustin Smith
27 60 Ryan Preece
28 6 Brandon Lopez
29 76 Kole Raz
30 14p Chase Pinsonneault
31 51b Kyle Busch
32 51n Stephen Nasse
33 12g Derek Griffith
34 35 Jake Garcia
35 44c Matt Craig
36 24 Gavan Boschele

 

Posted on by Brandon White

PENSACOLA, Florida – After skipping last year’s Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway, veteran Preston Peltier reminded the fans and his fellow competitors just how fast he still is.

Peltier patiently waited out a persistent rainfall to put down a blistering 16.240-second lap, which earned him his second career pole in the crown jewel Super Late Model event. Besting more than 40 of the best Super Late Model competitors in the country was a cathartic feeling for Peltier, but now he is determined to replicate that speed on Sunday afternoon in his final Snowball Derby.

“I had a perfect car and a good crew,” Peltier said. “All the puzzle pieces are here. I’ve never had a problem going fast for a couple laps, but I’m trying not to get too excited. Let’s see how I feel after 300 [laps] on Sunday.”

RELATED: Snowball Derby starting lineup

During his career, Peltier has made 11 attempts at the Snowball Derby, successfully qualifying for 10 of them. The best performance Peltier has recorded in the event came in 2019, when he finished fifth. It’s a milestone Peltier believes he can improve upon if good fortunes continue to fall his way.

Joining Peltier on the front row for the Snowball Derby is Ty Majeski, a two-time Snowball Derby winner and the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion. Majeski led a race-high 192 laps in last year’s Snowball Derby and is looking to end 2025 on a positive note before taking over the No. 88 Menards Ford vacated by Matt Crafton at ThorSport Racing in 2026.

Of the four NASCAR Cup Series drivers entered in the Snowball Derby, Ryan Preece was the only one to lock into the main event with a top 30 qualifying run. Kyle Busch, a two-time Snowball Derby winner, earned a starting spot by winning the Last Chance Qualifier. Erik Jones and Noah Gragson, both former Snowball Derby winners, failed to qualify for the race.

Kaden Honeycutt, the defending Snowball Derby champion, will start 16th.

The green flag for the 58th Snowball Derby is set to wave at 12 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT on Sunday afternoon, with FloRacing providing live coverage of the on-track action.

Posted on by Brandon White

The long journey from Illinois to Pensacola, Florida, for the Snowball Derby is one Austin Nason has embarked on a handful of times during his career.

Nason’s arrival to Five Flags Speedway for the first time in three years brought about the usual excitement, but it also carries a bittersweet undertone. He knew that no matter what happened, it would be the last time he attempted the Snowball Derby.

Motorsports has long been synonymous with Nason’s life, from watching his father Fred accumulate numerous accolades at their home track of Rockford Speedway to earning checkered flags himself. Nason still possesses a strong passion for racing, but also wants to focus on more important priorities.

“It’s time to move on with life,” Nason said. “I’ve got a business to run, the kid’s racing and doing hockey. I’m busy with a lot of other things and don’t really have the time to do all this travel stuff anymore.”

With Sunday serving as his swan song in Super Late Model racing’s most prestigious event, Nason is hoping for a bit of luck. Nason has only qualified for the Snowball Derby twice in four attempts. In his two appearances in the 300-lap main event, Nason failed to finish both times.

RELATED: Watch the Snowball Derby live on FloRacing

Despite the Snowball Derby misfortune, Nason has more than proved himself as a consistent and reliable competitor Among Nason’s accomplishments are two victories in Rockford’s National Short Track Championships, along with a triumph at the historic Milwaukee Mile in 2019.

The environment Nason finds himself in now is almost unrecognizable compared to when he first started. Rockford closed its doors in 2023, the competition is much younger, and parity is more prevalent than ever in Super Late Models, which posed plenty of challenges for Nason each time he branched out to compete nationally.

“[Super Late Models have] changed a lot,” Nason said. “Everything kind of use to be conventional, then around 2015, everyone started getting crazy with everything. If you miss [the setup] by a little bit, you’re off. That’s what happened to us this weekend. We missed something little and it kills your speed.”

As a part-time competitor with limited resources, Nason knows the best way to beat the seasoned veterans and young prospects is to get creative. The past three years have given him plenty of opportunities to experiment as he’s competed in nearly every ASA STARS National Tour event since the series’ inception in 2023.

Many names from the ASA STARS National Tour are on the entry list for the Snowball Derby, along with drivers who are from Nason’s region. The competition does not concern Nason in the slightest, though he admitted finding a cadence around Five Flags Speedway has never been easy.

In seven starts at Five Flags, Nason’s only top 10 occurred in 2023 during a warm evening in March. The temperature is expected to barely exceed 60 degrees Fahrenheit prior to the green flag Sunday, which will lead to more dependency on downforce at a track where track position is imperative.

“This place is hard, this place is difficult,” Nason said. “You have to be able to turn and find grip at the same time. Those two things usually don’t go together. It comes down to finding the right balance in your car. Hopefully we can do that.”

Austin Nason
Having faced plenty of stout competition throughout his career, Austin Nason (No. 14, back) is ready to showcase his veteran expertise in his final Snowball Derby start on Sunday. (Photo: Ted Malinowski/NASCAR)

Unfortunately for Nason, being unable to turn with his tires has been an early hinderance to his final Snowball Derby outing.

Compounding that issue was the limited track time for Nason throughout the week, a problem shared by every other competitor at Five Flags. There has been consistent rainfall since teams first arrived at the facility, which has kept the track green and left drivers with questions about how their cars will handle in qualifying and the race.

One mistake in time trials could determine whether Nason qualifies top 10 in the Snowball Derby or has to fight his way into the race through the Last Chance Qualifier. Nason is optimistic his car can contend for the victory, though its inability to respond to most adjustments has been a frustrating process.

“We’re kind of struggling right now to find more speed in our car,” Nason said. “We’ve got really good race speed and I like the way it drives. When we put new tires on, it doesn’t go any faster, so we’re struggling with that. We kind of threw the kitchen sink at it. We tested on Monday and the other car was better, so we took everything off that and put it on this.

“It hasn’t been working the same.”

Despite the challenges, Nason is still excited to experience the enthralling atmosphere of Snowball Derby weekend once again. For such a special occasion in his career, Nason felt it was appropriate to honor his own racing heritage.

The purple colors on Nason’s No. 14 closely resemble the scheme he utilized during his early days in a Super Late Model at Rockford. For Nason, it’s a reminder of a simpler time, one he hopes to bring back this weekend, if only for a moment.

With his racing future ambiguous after this weekend, Nason finds himself proud of everything he has accomplished both on and off the track. The landscaping company Nason and his dad own is thriving, all while Nason gets to watch his eldest son Levi as he embarks on his own racing career.

The transition in Nason’s life is something that brings him peace and satisfaction, but there is still a bit of business to take care of. He wants nothing more than to find an ideal setup on his car that will put him amongst the contenders once the Snowball Derby reaches its final moments.

Nason understands that Sunday could very well be the last time he visits Five Flags as a driver. If so, he intends to deliver a farewell performance that he can reflect on positively while making the long drive home to Illinois.

“[The Snowball Derby] would be number one in my trophy box,” Nason said. “You’ve got 45 of the best Super Late [Model drivers] in the country here and it’s one race everyone tries to come to and win. It’s tough, but that’s why we’re here.

“I wanted to come to do it one last time and we’ll see what we can do come Sunday.”

The green flag for the 58th Snowball Derby is scheduled to wave at 12 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. CT. FloRacing will provide live coverage of the event.

Posted on by John Crane

Editor’s note: This is a roundup in which we review the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. Check out our index of 2025 driver recaps. 

2025 Xfinity Series Champion: Jesse Love
2025 Regular Season Champion: Connor Zilisch
Full-time winners: 9 (Connor Zilisch, 10; Austin Hill, 4; Justin Allgaier, 3; Jesse Love, 2; Brandon Jones, 2; Taylor Gray, 1; Sammy Smith, 1; Sam Mayer, 1; Nick Sanchez, 1)
Wins by team: JR Motorsports, 17; Joe Gibbs Racing, 6; Richard Childress Racing, 6; Hendrick Motorsports, 2; Haas Factory Team, 1; Big Machine Racing, 1

How 2025 ended: Entering Phoenix Raceway, all signs seemingly pointed to JR Motorsports capturing its second driver championship in as many seasons. After all, three JR Motorsports wheelmen — Connor Zilisch, Justin Allgaier and Carson Kvapil — made up the 2025 Championship 4. The fourth title contender — Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love — had something to say about that. Though the Zilisch-Allgaier duo led a combined 111 laps and seemingly had the inside track to the title triumph in the 2025 finale, it was an inside maneuver by Love on Lap 176 that proved to be the difference maker, with Richard Childress Racing prevailing to capture its first driver title since 2019. For JR Motorsports, it was an emotional gut punch. For Love, it marked his first championship crown and completed a storybook year that saw the California native start the season with a victory (Daytona) and end with one, too.

RELATED: 2025 Xfinity Series standings

Best race: Collaboration comes in many shapes, and the summer race at Daytona International Speedway is one memorable example. Zilisch, who broke his collarbone two weeks prior at Watkins Glen International and was looking to ease back into action, began the race and, while under caution, switched out with part-timer Parker Kligerman on Lap 13. Being credited with the points would have been a victory in itself, but instead, Kligerman wheeled the No. 88 Chevy to Victory Lane, officially netting Zilisch the race win on top of it all. “I feel honored to have gotten the call to grace the seat that he’s been in, that Kyle Larson’s been in. … For me, it’s such a ‘me’ thing that this will not be on Racing Reference at all,” Kligerman said.

Other season highlights: Boy, there were plenty. A return to Mexico City for the first time since 2008 — and hometown hero Daniel Suárez winning after starting last — was plenty memorable. A bout at Pocono Raceway resulted in Zilisch — with team co-owner Dale Jr. filling in as crew chief — besting his good friend Love. How about Nick Sanchez triumphing in a thriller at EchoPark Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway) for his first career Xfinity win? Zilisch vs. Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma Raceway, anyone? Among many others.

Stat to know: Connor Zilisch tallied 10 wins, the most by a driver in the series since Kyle Busch in 2016. Zilisch really took off come the dog days of summer, winning seven of eight races — including four straight — spanning July to September. Such a season culminated with the Regular Season Championship, the first to be achieved by a series rookie.

Quotable: “I’m the champion now, right? I’m gonna try my best to do it like Justin has. Justin Allgaier is such a phenomenal person, and he can compartmentalize it really well, where he can go be the hardest competitor on the race track and still get out of the car and be a phenomenal human being first. I say I’m gonna try and be like Justin next year and represent the series like how he has. I’ve learned a lot from him, and he’s an amazing person. I actually lean on him a lot more than people probably realize, too, even in how to navigate the championship this year. He’s just a great person.” — Jesse Love on wanting to be a model champion like Justin Allgaier.

MORE: 2026 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series schedule | Buy tickets

Looking ahead: With the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series officially entering the fold, 2026 is expected to bring plenty of vibrancy. Branding — and fresh track venues — will not be the only change, though; Zilisch will transition to the full-time Cup Series ranks, immediately giving the 2026 driver field a different feel. Even still, expect a deep pilot pool next season, and Love will look to lead the way, attempting to go back-to-back in the title department. There is a pathway for it, but the question is: How will the rest of the field respond?

Posted on by Staff Report

Michael Annett, a past winner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, has died at age 39, JR Motorsports announced Friday in a social media post and confirmed to NASCAR.com.

A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Annett made 436 combined starts across NASCAR’s three national touring series, making a name for himself most prominently in the Xfinity Series where he made 321 starts, 158 of which came with JRM. Annett earned his career-best achievement in 2019, winning the series’ season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway in the No. 1 JRM Chevrolet for his first and only win at the national level.

Annett ascended to the Xfinity Series for his debut in 2008 before going full-time in 2009, entering with Germain Racing before transitioning to Rusty Wallace Racing and Richard Petty Motorsports. He spent three years at the sport’s top level in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving for Turner Scott Motorsports from 2014 through 2016 and making 106 starts across those three seasons. He then joined JRM in 2017, racing for the company through the remainder of his racing career before stepping away after a stress fracture in his leg sidelined him for parts of the 2021 season.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett,” JR Motorsports shared on social media via X. “Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today.”

Annett was also a two-time winner in the ARCA Menards Series, scoring a Talladega Superspeedway victory in 2007 before winning the 2008 series opener at Daytona.

“NASCAR is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former NASCAR driver Michael Annett,” NASCAR said in a statement. “Michael was a respected competitor whose determination, professionalism, and positive spirit were felt by everyone in the garage. Throughout his career, he represented our sport with integrity and the passion of a true racer. NASCAR extends its condolences to Michael’s family and many friends.”

JRM co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. believed in the journeyman driver’s ability when he signed Annett in 2017. Annett’s triumph in Daytona in February 2019 sparked a comparison for the third-generation Earnhardt, reminding him of Michael Waltrip’s 2001 Daytona 500 victory after being hired by Dale Earnhardt to drive for Dale Earnhardt, Inc.

“It reminds me of an Earnhardt giving a Michael a chance years ago to show his potential,” Earnhardt said.

Michael Annett celebrates his 2019 Xfinity Series win at Daytona.
Sean Gardner | Getty Images

Before making the leap to stock-car racing, Annett was working his way up the ladder in ice hockey, serving as a defenseman on the United States Hockey League’s Waterloo Black Hawks. His 2004 season with the team earned him a “Most Improved Player” award as he and his team prevailed to win the Clark Cup that year, alongside future NHL player Joe Pavelski, who played for 18 seasons with the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars.

YOUTUBE: Watch ‘The Michael Annett Story’

Annett’s late father, Harrold, previously served as CEO of TMC Transportation, which sponsored much of Annett’s racing efforts. Harrold Annett also co-owned a sprint-car team which fielded cars for famed dirt-tracker Sammy Swindell, collecting 35 wins in their four years together.

TMC Transportation and Pilot Flying J remain sponsors of JR Motorsports’ Xfinity endeavors through driver Sammy Smith, who pilots the team’s No. 8 Chevrolet donning the companies’ colors.

“Very sad to lose someone who meant so much to me and my family,” Smith shared on X Friday night. “Michael was a great person to so many, and we’ll miss him a lot.”

Noah Gragson, another former teammate of Annett’s at JRM, also shared condolences.

“Heartbroken,” Gragson wrote in an Instagram caption. “Going to miss you man. Love you Diesel Mike.”

Brad Keselowski, 2010 Xfinity champion and 2012 Cup champion, reflected fondly of his time shared with Annett as well.

“Michael was an up-and-comer at the same time I was and he was looking really good,” Keselowski, co-owner of RFK Racing, wrote. “In the end, life took us different paths and all of us who knew him and the talent he had are sad to see him go.”