Five Flags Speedway | |
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Race Information | |
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Number of times held | 54 |
First Race | 1968 |
Most Wins (drivers) | |
Most Wins (constructors) | |
Most Wins (manufacturers) | |
Circuit Length | 0.500 mi (0.804 km) |
Race Length | 150.00 mi (241.40 km) |
Laps | 300 |
Last Race (1968) | |
Pole Position | |
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Podium | |
1. · () | |
2. · () | |
3. · () |
The Snowball Derby is a 300-lap super late model stock car race held annually at Five Flags Speedway, a half-mile paved oval track in Pensacola, Florida, United States. The race has been contested every year since 1968 and is typically run on the first weekend in December, although in some years it has been run on the second weekend. For the first nine years of its existence, it was the season finale event for the National Stock Car Series. It was later the season finale of the World Stock Car Lites through the 1979 Lites season, after which it moved to independent sanctioning. The NASCT Super Series began sanctioning the event in 2013.
The Snowball Derby continues to have a reputation for attracting some of the bigger names in short track racing, including top series World Stock Car Championship and North American Stock Car Tour drivers (when not in conflict with their year-end banquets) because it is run after most tracks and touring series have concluded their season.
Because of the "all-star" nature of the race, the Snowball Derby is considered by many to be the most prestigious race in super late model racing. Though most drivers entering the race are from nearby states, some drivers travel across the United States to compete, mainly because of the posted awards and super late model rules, which are very similar to each other regardless of track or tours (the United Super Late Model Rules Alliance).
History[edit | edit source]
The Snowball Derby's origins can be traced back to the Reform Era of stock car racing; with the announcement that all tracks under one-half mile would be dropped from the schedule starting with the 1968 season, Jack Crawford needed a new host for the series finale, which had traditionally taken place at Riverside Park Speedway. Wanting a location in the south to avoid the logistics of planning a championship race around New England winters, he worked with officials at Five Flags Speedway to develop a new event for the series, which would reportedly pay among the top purses of the season to attract drivers from around the country.
Over the years, the race format has varied between 200 laps, 300 laps, and a unique 300 laps plus additional laps equalling the number of runnings of this race. The format has settled into a straight 300 lap event, though a late yellow flag can create a green-white-checkered finish that extends the race beyond 300 laps.
The Snowball Derby has traditionally been an independent event, meaning that it is not officially sanctioned (for a fee) by a racing organization. However, it is associated with both the United Super Late Model Rules Alliance and the Southern Super Series, a series of Super Late Model races in the region including Five Flags Speedway, with officials from that series officiating the race. Most Super Late Model races are run with the USLMRA package, regardless of tracks or regional series (although the track requires Continental AG tires, while some tracks may use American Racer or Goodyear), various series will encourage drivers to attend the event. Under NASCT super series sanctioning, it has maintained the USLMRA rules package.
Qualifying Procedure[edit | edit source]
Pole Winners[edit | edit source]
Year | No. | Driver | Manufacturer | Time | Average Speed |
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Race Winners[edit | edit source]
Year | Date | No. | Driver | Sponsor | Manufacturer | Distance | |
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Laps | Miles (km) | ||||||
National Stock Car Series/World Stock Car Championship sanctioning | |||||||
1968 | 15 December | 200 | 100.00 (160.93) | ||||
1969 | 14 December | 200 | 100.00 (160.93) | ||||
1970 | 6 December | 200 | 100.00 (160.93) | ||||
1971 | 5 December | 200 | 100.00 (160.93) | ||||
1972 | 3 December | 200 | 100.00 (160.93) | ||||
1973 | 2 December | 300 | 150.00 (241.40) | ||||
1974 | 8 December | 255 | 127.50 (205.19) | ||||
1975 | 7 December | 300 | 150.00 (241.40) | ||||
1976 | 5 December | 300 | 150.00 (241.40) | ||||
World Stock Car Lites sanctioning | |||||||
1977 | 4 December | 250 | 125.00 (201.13) | ||||
1978 | 3 December | 250 | 125.00 (201.13) | ||||
1979 | 2 December | 200 | 100.00 (160.93) | ||||
Independent Sanctioning | |||||||
1980 | 7 December | 28 | ![]() |
Chevrolet | 200 | 100.00 (160.93) | |
1981 | 6 December | 14 | ![]() |
Chevrolet | 200 | 100.00 (160.93) | |
1982 | 5 December | 84 | ![]() |
Chief Auto Parts | Buick | 200 | 100.00 (160.93) |
1983 | 4 December | 3 | ![]() |
Ford | 200 | 100.00 (160.93) | |
1984 | 9 December | 96 | ![]() |
Pontiac | 200 | 100.00 (160.93) | |
1985 | 8 December | 8 | ![]() |
Anson Towing and Trucking | Ford | 205 | 102.50 (165.03) |
1986 | 7 December | 8 | ![]() |
Anson Towing and Trucking | Ford | 250 | 125.00 (201.13) |
1987 | 6 December | 15 | ![]() |
Publix | Buick | 250 | 125.00 (201.13) |
1988 | 4 December | 42 | ![]() |
Buick | 304 | 152.00 (244.72) | |
1989 | 6 December | 7 | ![]() |
Chevrolet | 300 | 150.00 (241.40) | |
1990 | 2 December | 95 | ![]() |
Dodge | 332 | 166.00 (267.26) | |
1991 | 8 December | 18 | ![]() |
Bradford Farms | Chevrolet | 324 | 162.00 (260.82) |
1992 | 6 December | 18 | ![]() |
Bradford Farms | Chevrolet | 325 | 162.50 (261.63) |
1993 | 5 December | 11 | ![]() |
Pontiac | 326 | 163.00 (262.43) | |
1994 | 4 December | 49 | ![]() |
Kirk and Joseph Insurance | Oldsmobile | 327 | 163.50 (263.24) |
1995 | 3 December | 4 | ![]() |
Pepsi | Pontiac | 328 | 164.00 (264.04) |
1996 | 8 December | 83 | ![]() |
Sunoco | Ford | 336 | 168.00 (270.48) |
1997 | 7 December | 4 | ![]() |
Pepsi | Pontiac | 330 | 165.00 (265.65) |
1998 | 6 December | 4 | ![]() |
Pepsi | Pontiac | 308 | 154.00 (247.94) |
1999 | 5 December | 15 | ![]() |
Quaker State | Oldsmobile | 306 | 153.00 (246.33) |
2000 | 3 December | 27 | ![]() |
Lance Snacks | Dodge | 300 | 150.00 (241.40) |
2001 | 2 December | 30 | ![]() |
Lycos | Pontiac | 309 | 154.50 (248.75) |
2002 | 8 December | 4 | ![]() |
NAPA | Pontiac | 305 | 152.50 (245.53) |
2003 | 7 December | 90 | ![]() |
Bojangles | Ford | 303 | 151.50 (243.92) |
2004 | 11 December | 5 | ![]() |
Craftsman | Toyota | 300 | 150.00 (241.40) |
2005 | 4 December | 49 | ![]() |
Appleby Market | Buick | 300 | 150.00 (241.40) |
2006 | 3 December | 19 | ![]() |
Subway | Toyota | 300 | 150.00 (241.40) |
2007 | 2 December | 35 | ![]() |
Edison Trucking | Toyota | 300 | 150.00 (241.40) |
2008 | 7 December | 6CT | ![]() |
National MS Society | Chevrolet | 300 | 150.00 (241.40) |
2009 | 6 December | 60 | ![]() |
HW Recycling | Honda | 300 | 150.00 (241.40) |
2010 | 5 December | 6CT | ![]() |
National MS Society | Chevrolet | 300 | 150.00 (241.40) |
2011 | 4 December | 6CT | ![]() |
National MS Society | Chevrolet | 300 | 150.00 (241.40) |
2012 | 2 December | 10 | ![]() |
Fulller Machine Co | Toyota | 300 | 150.00 (241.40) |
NASCT Super Series Sanctioning | |||||||
2013 | 8 December | 13 | ![]() |
Ted's Takeout | Chevrolet | 300 | 150.00 (241.40) |
2014 | 7 December | 8 | ![]() |
McDonald's | Toyota | 323 | 161.50 (260.02) |
2015 | 6 December | 75 | ![]() |
Spinner Rotors | Toyota | 300 | 150.00 (241.40) |
2016 | 6 December | 2 | ![]() |
SunTrust Bank | Ford | 300 | 150.00 (241.40) |
2017 | 3 December | 99 | ![]() |
Keystone Light | Ford | 300 | 150.00 (241.40) |
2018 | 2 December | 16 | ![]() |
Shortman Hotels | Ford | 300 | 150.00 (241.40) |
2019 | 9 December | 3 | ![]() |
Carrington Construction | Toyota | 319 | 159.50 (256.80) |
2020 | 6 December | 24 | ![]() |
Monster Energy | Mercedes | 302 | 151.00 (243.11) |
2021 | 5 December | 6M | ![]() |
STP | Volkswagen | 300 | 150.00 (241.40) |
Trivia[edit | edit source]
- Youngest winner: Danny Stafford, 1982, 16 years, 8 months, 7 days
- Oldest winner: Cameron Yost, 1984, 62 years, 7 months, 10 days
- Most wins: Frank Stafford (4)
- First female winner: Lauren Savage, 1987
- First non-American winner: Nate Hubbard, 2000