Quincy, MI – Template Late Model drivers from all across the United States are preparing to converge on Pensacola, Florida for the biggest weekend of racing for that discipline – the 57th Snowball Derby at 5 Flags Speedway. The current entry list for both the Pro Late Models and the Super Late Models sits at over 50 entries; among those are several drivers and teams with ties to the Midwest short track scene.
Allen Turner Snowflake 100: The Pro Late Model portion of the weekend unfolds on Saturday, December 7th for the Allen Turner Snowflake 100. Currently, 51 cars are entered to compete for a 34-car starting field on Saturday night. Of those include 2024 JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance Rookie of the Year, Chase Pinsonneault. The Carson Hocevar Racing driver has three top 10 finishes at 5 Flags Speedway this season, plus nine top 10s, five top fives, and a Big O Classic 100 win with the JEGS Tour.
Chris Munson is taking his No.3 machine down to 5 Flag Speedway again this year. Last season, Munson was in the running for the best appearing car award. Musnon put together a solid season at Owosso Speedway in 2024, with two top 10 finishes and a 6th place finish in the overall Championship Standings.
Rockford, Illinois driver, Jeremy Miller is making the trip to Pensacola this season as well. The former Big * Late Model champion has been seen in the past with the ASA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS and most recently finished third with the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour in the finale at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.
Multitime Masters of the Pros winner and Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway track champion, Cole Williams will challenge for the Snowflake 100 win. Williams was spotted around the Midwest this season at Berlin Raceway and Owosso Speedway with the JEGS Tour and finished 6th in the final race of the season at Nashville.
Evan Shotko is taking some star power to Florida in a partnership with Scott Melton. Former Snowball Derby Champion and ASA/CRA Super Series Champion, Travis Braden will pilot the Shotko Motorsports No.69 in the Snowflake 100 according to a press release from the team last week.
57th Annual Snowball Derby: Qualifying for the 57th Snowball Derby will take place Friday night locking in the fastest 30 cars with the final cars on the grid locking in from the Last Chance Qualifier Saturday night. The 2023 ASA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS Champion, Gio Ruggiero is headed down south in the Wilson Motorsports No.22. He’ll have Wilson Motorsports teammate in the No.2 with Chandler Smith, and No.28 with Cole Butcher.
2024 Masters of the Pros 185 winner at Owosso Speedway, Dawson Sutton will try to make the field for the Snowball Derby on Sunday, December 8th. Sutton comes off a season that resulted in a Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway Championship.
Even more Canadian flavor will be at the Snowball Derby alongside Pinsonneault and Butcher – Milverton, Ontario’s Kyle Steckly is set to take on 5 Flags. Steckly had a great season that included a runner-up finish at Owosso Speedway in the Big O Classic 100 with the JEGS Tour, and his first Redbud 400 Championship.
Former ASA/CRA Super Series Champion, Ed VanMeter is returning to the track, but it won’t be Ed behind the wheel. Billy VanMeter will close out the 2024 season with the Snowball Derby. Perhaps one of his most successful seasons for Billy VanMeter included his first career Super Late Model win this summer at Owosso Speedway. VanMeter has focused mostly on the ASA STARS National Tour throughout the season with four top 10s and two top 5 finishes.
Names You Know: Several other notable names from the region are headed down to 5 Flag Speedway December 5th-8th but they won’t be holding a steering wheel. Butch VanDoorn, Kyle Crump, and Jimmy Tucker will all be helping Billy VanMeter try to get to his first Snowball Derby victory.
Former Owosso Speedway track champion, Jon Beach will accompany Chris Munson alongside Jeff Vrsek who will be in the spotter’s stand and Guy Fire who will help turn the wrenches.
Albert Francis is expected to make the trip as well to help crew with the Wilson Motorsports team.
The 57th Annual Snowball Derby is December 5th-8th with the 57th Annual Snowball Derby on Sunday, December 8th. Pre-Race Ceremonies are scheduled for 12:00 PM with the green flag set to fly for the 300 lap race at 1:00 PM. For more information on the Snowball Derby weekend, log onto 5FlagsSpeedway.com.
Full Entry Lists as of 11/22/2024:
Allen Turner Pro Late Models:
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0 Jimmy Renfrew Jr. Candia, NH
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2 John Bolen, Jasper, AL
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3 Chris Munson, Chelsea, MI
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4 Elliott Massey, Lucedale, MS
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5 Vito Cancilla, Martinez, CA
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5 Jeremy Miller, Rockford, IL
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5 Ryan Phipps, Heyburn, ID
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6 Brandon Lopez, Woodstock, GA
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7 Luke Baldwin, Mooresville, NC
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11 James Patrick, Theodore, AL
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11 Brian Reeves, Enterprise, AL
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11 Dylan Cappello, Mooresville, NC
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14 Chase Pinsonneaut, Belle River, ONT, Canada
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15 Luke Baldwin, Mooresville, NC
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15 T J DeCaire, Land O Lakes, FL
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17 Hudson Bulger, Ft Valley, GA
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18 Jake Finch, Lynn Haven, FL
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22 Dillon Courtney, Citronelle, AL
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24 Gavan Boshele, Mooresville, NC
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25 Kirk Hennefer, Missoula, MT
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25 Mike Faulk, Denver NC
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25 Sylas Ripley, Warren, ME
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26 Bubba Pollard, Senoia, GA
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29 Spencer Davis, Mooresville, NC
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32 Stuart Dutton, Tallahassee, FL
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33 Dustin Smith, Mobile, AL
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40 Dylan Caldwell, Nampa, ID
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43 Nick Loden, Stanley, NC
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43 Augie Grill, Hayden, AL
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44 Conner Jones, Fredericksburg, VA
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45 Seth Christensen, Pendergrass, GA
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46 Cole Williams, Memphis, IN
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47 Kaden Honeycutt, Huntersville, NC
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47 Mamba Smith, Huntersville, NC
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50 Jett Noland, Groveland, FL
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51 Stephen Nasse, Pinellas Park, FL
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51 Anthony Bello, Newtown, CT
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54 Clayton Green, Marble Falls, TX
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54 Matt Craig, Concord, NC
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54 Jerrett Butcher, Dartmouth, NS Canada
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55 George Phillips, Charlotte, NC
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62 Casey Roderick, Pulaski, MS
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67 Colin Allman, Plant City, FL
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67 Zack Dixon, Lawrenceville, GA
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69 Michael Hinde, Hernando, FL
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81 Carson Brown, New London, NC
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82 Grant Thompson, Mobile, AL
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88 Boston Oliver, Murfreesboro, TN
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89 Jeremy Williams, Dora, AL
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91 Jim Wall, Madison, AL
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407 Jason Vail, Clermont, FL
57th Annual Snowball Derby:
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1 Kasey Kleyn, Quincy, WA
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2 John Bolen, Jasper, AL
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2 Chandler Smith, Talking Rock, GA
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4 Luke Fenhaus, Wausau, WI
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5 Vito Cancilla, Martinez, CA
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5 Jonathan Knee, Ft. Collins, CO
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7 John DeAngeles, Richfield, WI
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7 Derek Thorn, Bakersfield, CA
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8 Preston Peltier, Kimberly, ID
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8 Jace Hansen, Berthoud, CO
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9 Derek Kraus, Stratford, WI
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8 Carson Kvapil, Concord, NC
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12 Derek Griffith, Litchfield, NH
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14 Connor Okrzesik, Grand Bay, AL
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16 Jacob Gomes, Manteca, CA
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21 Kaden Honeycutt, Huntersville, NC
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22 Gio Ruggiero, Eatonton, GA
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22 Buddy Shephard, Bakersfield, CA
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22 TBA Senoia, GA
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23 Billy VanMeter, Indianapolis, IN
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23 Brent Crews, Cornelius, NC
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25 Nicholas Naugle, Dartmouth, NS, Canada
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26 Bubba Pollard, Senoia, GA
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26 Dawson Sutton, Lebanon, TN
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28 Cole Butcher, Mooresville, NC
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30 Noah Gragson, Mooresville, NC
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30 Kyle Steckly, Milverton, ONT
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32 Treyten Lapcevich, Grimsby, ONT
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32 Caden Kvapil, Mooresville, NC
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33 Dustin Smith, Mobile, AL
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35 Jake Garcia, Eatonton, GA
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43 Nick Loden, Stanley, NC
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44 Conner Jones, Fredricksburg,VA
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44 Jeremy Doss, Upper Lake, CA
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51 Stephen Nasse, Pinellas Park, FL
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51 Jake Finch, Lynn Haven, FL
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53 Boris Jurkovic, Ft. Myers, FL
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54 Matt Craig, Mt. Pleasant, NC
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54 Conner Sutton, Pensacola, FL
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54 Timothy Watson, Panama City, FL
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55 Johnny Sauter, Deforest, WI
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55 Headen Plybon, Spokane, WA
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62 Ryan Preece, Kannapolis, NC
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62 William Sawalich, Mooresville, NC
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69 Michael Hinde, Hernando, FL
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69 Travis Braden, Charlotte, NC
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76 Cayden Lapcevich, Mooresville, NC
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76 Kole Raz. Lake Oswego, OR
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82 Michael Scott, Cheyenne, WY
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89 Dylan Fetcho, Lebanon, TN
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91 Ty Majeski, Neenah, WI
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121 Joseph Meyer, Mt. Juliet, TN
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123 Ed VanMeter, Indianapolis, IN
