Christopher Bell prevailed in a late race shootout to score the victory in the 48th Annual Snowball Derby at Pensacola, Florida’s Five Flags Speedway on Sunday after a fierce challenge from defending Snowball Derby winner John Hunter Nemechek.
Nemechek took the lead from Bell on a lap 277 restart but, as he did so, smoke was seen coming out of the right front of his car. Five laps later, Bell regained the lead from Nemechek to score the victory. After taking the lead, Bell pulled away from Zane Smith.
Despite the challenge from Nemechek late in the race, Bell was dominant in the final 100 laps, leading from laps 201 through 276 and again from laps 282 through 300.
“This one’s for my team,” Bell told Speed51.com television reporter Jana Wimmer in victory lane after his triumph. “This car’s just a dream machine to drive. I’m so lucky to be the guy behind the wheel of this no. 51. I’m just so blessed to be here. So fortunate.”
The weekend was not without adversity for the Kyle Busch Motorsports driver. Bell was disqualified after posting a track record qualifying lap on Friday, forcing him to race his way through in Saturday night’s Last Chance Qualifier. Bell started that race from the rear and raced his way to the lead and the win. Bell repeated that performance on Sunday in the Snowball Derby.
“It’s just a dream come true,” Bell said about winning the Snowball Derby and kissing the prestigious Tom Dawson trophy.
John Hunter Nemechek, who won the Derby in 2014 and won the Snowflake 100 on Saturday night, was forced to retire from the race with just a handful of laps remaining when the smoke from his brakes turned to flames.
Chase Elliott passed Zane Smith in the final laps to take the second position while Smith finished third. Pole sitter Ty Majeski finished fourth and Dalton Sargeant finished fifth.
UPDATE: Christopher Bell Disqualified after failing postrace technical inspection. Unofficially, Chase Elliott the winner.
RACE22.com will have more Snowball Derby postrace coverage.
