PENSACOLA, FL :: The qualifying procedure for the Snowball Derby is both unique and elaborate. Like NASCAR’s Daytona 500, some teams will even have to race their way into Sunday’s starting lineup. Over 70 cars are poised to make qualifying laps on Friday night but only 37 of them will start the Super Bowl of Short Track Racing on Sunday.
Each driver will be given two timed laps with the 30 quickest times automatically qualifying for the race. Any driver that misses his or her turn in line can start no better than 11th.
Those outside of the top-30 will be entered into Saturday night’s 50-lap last chance race with the top-four finishers transferring into the field of 37.
The final three spots are reserved for a past winner of the Snowball Derby and the highest non-qualifying driver from Five Flag Speedway’s regular season and the Southern Super Series championship respectively. This ensures that everyone in the field is a proven winner and is capable of capturing the Tom Dawson Memorial trophy on Sunday afternoon.
READ MORE: Snowball Derby practice times from Thursday
Erik Jones, Bubba Pollard and Augie Grill are the only three drivers 100 percent guaranteed a starting spot based on their provisional status. They are locked-in to the Derby regardless of what happens on Friday night. Should they qualify on time, their provisionals will be offered to the next most recent Derby champion and third place in the Blizzard/Southern Super Series standings and so forth.
The pole-sitter for the Snowball Derby will also be crowned on Friday night, a prestigious honor in its own right.
“Snowball Derby Pole Night is one of the most intense few hours in short track racing,” Five Flags Speedway Track Promoter Tim Bryant said. “We receive a fantastic number of entries every year and only 37 of them make the race, sending everyone else home.
“So qualifying for this event is awfully dramatic and will keep everyone on the edge of their seat.”
It is a complex procedure but it is also part of what makes the Snowball Derby stand out on the motorsports calendar. Pole qualifying begins at approximately 6:00 p.m. CST when Jordan Sims is expected to be the first driver to turn his laps. The event, like the entire event, will be streamed on Speed51.com’s 51TV Pay-Per-View streaming service.
Chase Elliott is the defending pole sitter of the Snowball Derby and did so by setting a new track record of 16.133 seconds. Elliott was third-fastest in Thursday practice and will be the 57th driver t0 turn a lap in time trials. He was the 58th qualifier a year ago.
Qualifying will be followed by 50-lap feature races for the Super Stocks and popular Southern Modified divisions.
Here is the complete Snowball Derby qualifying order as determined on Wednesday night:
- Jordan Sims
- Daniel Hemric
- Paul Shafer
- Scotty Ellis
- J. Haley
- Tim Martin
- Gus Dean
- David Rogers
- Travis Braden
- Mike Garvey
- Steve Dorer
- Austin Theriault
- Kyle Plott
- Garrett Jones
- Logan Boyett
- Corey LaJoie
- Johanna Long
- Stephen Nasse
- Bubba Pollard
- Bayley Currey
- Donnie Wilson
- J. VanderLey
- Erik Jones
- Jerry Artuso
- Augie Grill
- Anderson Bowen
- Harrison Burton
- Derrick Griffin
- Hunter Robbins
- Spencer Gallaher
- Kyle Grissom
- Derek Thorn
- Garrett Campbell
- Will Gallaher
- Clay Jones
- Dennis Schoenfeld
- Casey Smith
- J. Reaid
- Kyle Bryant
- Clay Rogers
- Chad Finley
- Josh Bragg
- Dennis Prunty
- Preston Peltier
- Jeremy Pate
- Casey Roderick
- John Hunter Nemechek
- Spencer Davis
- Dalton Sargeant
- Chris Fontaine
- Ross Kenseth
- Grant Enfinger
- Johnny VanDoorn
- Jacob Gomes
- Brian Hoar
- Jeff Choquette
- Chase Elliott
- Mason Mingus
- Cole Timm
- Mark Kraus
- Dwayne Buggay
- Ty Majeski
