45th Annual Snowball Derby Finishing Results

[ScottyMac]

1 4 J Erik Jones 300
2 29 C Jeff Choquette 300
3 51 Kyle Busch 300
4 67 Jeff Fultz 300
5 9 Chase Elliott 300
6 36 Grant Enfinger 300
7 71 Kyle Benjamin 300
8 77 David Ragan 300
9 41 Chris Davidson 300
10 8 John Hunter Nemechek 300
11 25 Ross Kenseth 300
12 45 Dwayne Buggay 300
13 2 D.J. Vanderley 300
14 10 Johanna Long 300
15 2 W Donnie Wilson 300
16 22 Hunter Robbins 299
17 7 Chuck Barnes Jr 299
18 84 Clay Alexander 297
19 21 J Kyle Jones 283
20 29 T Austin Theriault 249
21 99S Casey Smith 228
22 66 Steven Wallace 226
23 11 David Rogers 226
24 96 Ben Kennedy 221
25 0 Brad Rogers 201
26 41 R T.J. Reaid 164
27 26 Bubba Pollard 158
28 5 Nelson Piquet Jr 125
29 98 Daniel Hemric 125
30 11 B Logan Boyett 125
31 1 Mike Garvey 123
32 51 Stephen Nasse 117
33 4 Jeremy Pate 116
34 20 Brian Campbell 112
35 10 K Paul Kelley 45
36 49 Augie Grill 38
37 10 D Steve Dorer 1

[Mark Keeler]

Result are OFFICIAL. All cars just cleared tech.

[Jane]

Good job by Jeff Choquette but alot of people were hoping that this was David Rogers's year to win. Maybe next year. But not sure what I think of Kyle Busch in the Snowball Derby. Maybe NASCAR drivers should let the other guys just run the derby and they stay home. But it was a good race.

[carolwicks]

Wtg Jeff!!

So proud of you. Look at that list of drivers you beat!!! Awesome. And I do agree with Jane. NASCAR racers should not race the Snowball... i also agree KB s&^%$s! ;-) Thank you for posting the results Scotty
!
!
I still wish Jeff would get a chance to compete in NASCAR... maybe one day!
Carol

[elmer]

Most Nascar drivers have class. Neither of the Busch brothers do. He's next to lose his ride. Racing is one thing. Bulldozing is another.

[oneoff]

Don't know what TJ Reaid thought would happen. But when I saw TJ door slam Kyle at the end of the front straight to slow him down, and then run him to the wall coming off two, I was quite sure that Kyle was going to hit him in turns three and four. I was right.
Why would you do that to someone like KB in the middle of a 300 lap race? doesn,t make much sense to me.
Feel bad for Bubba, and a few others that were innocent bystanders that got caught up in their mess, but not for TJ.

[fred23]

David had worked his way into the top 5 at one point and got caught up in about 3 incidents of others doing.......there were about 6 wrecks that were all caused by guys going 3 wide......just stupid driving......
Choquette ran a good race....if he would had KB's pit crew he probably would have won.......I don't like the fact the pit crews have that much influence in a SLM race but that is part of it I guess......
Ben Kennedy was actually running well until , from what I could gather, he broke a rear end.....

[racnphotos68]

Ladies,

I usually agree with you both but I don't on this one. If we keep the Cup Drivers out then people like David Ragan don't race. He is straight up the nicest guy and took time for everyone that wanted to say hi or get a photo. He and Joe Nemechek are what is right with this sport. And David was like that the last time he ran there as was Joe at Speedweeks at NSS when he was there with his son.
Unfortunately you can't ban stupid.

[Frasson118]

Cup drivers in the field at the Snowball has been happening pretty much all 45 years. There is no reason at all to ban them.

In fact, it puts a real stamp on your driving career to go out and BEAT those guys. It makes Erik Jones win a LOT more significant that he was able to battle door-to-door with one of THE most talented racers in the country, and come out on top.

On another note, facings biggest meathead, Steven Wallace, pulled yet another idiotic move. It was reported that he threw a hammer at Busch's car.

I'm a big fan of both Jones and Choquette... and both share this in common... They each won the Governors Cup in their first try. And I was lucky enough to have some real good conversations with each on the day of their wins. It was GREAT to see them finish 1-2.

[carolwicks]

maybe so...

i agree about Ragan. i have never heard anything but good about him... but you cant say one can race and not another. maybe you are right about them being able to race the snowball but i think we have enough great racers in the state wishing for a chance. we dont need to bring NASCAR drivers in. im sure scouts go to the snowball looking for talent.... we sure have plenty of that. they just dont seem to get the opportunities... maybe im wrong. ;-) AGAIN... lol
carol

[Frasson118]

Carol... think about it this way. If Tony Stewart wanted to enter next year, would you still think he shouldn't be allowed to? A big part of the prestige of this race is that the cream of the crop is always there, and the winner, every year, had to beat THE BEST racers around.

They don't consider a drivers personality when accepting Official Entries. Otherwise, Steven Wallace would have been banned several years ago.

[Jimmy McKinley]

NASCAR racers should not race the Snowball...
Carol

So, what did you think of guys like Bobby Allison, Neil Bonnett, Butch Lindley, Darrell Waltrip, Rusty Wallace, Steven Wallace (*that's* a whole 'nother story in itself...LOL), Gary Balough, Lake Speed, David Pearson, Dick Trickle, Red Farmer, Jack Ingram (and still more, I'm sure) - all former or current "NASCAR" Cup/Busch/LMS drivers - when they competed at the Derby?

I see it as bringing in "name" drivers to compete against the best of the Late Model world. With those "names" at the race, the fans come - whether they're die-hard short track fans and want to see their local hero whoop up on the "NASCAR" guys...or the "casual" Sprint Cup fan that wants to see his hero that he sees on TV every week *in person* take the checkers ahead of the "local yokels".

I love to see Kyle get his butt whooped in a Late Model (i.e., Nashville).

[Frasson118]

Just to make a distinction here, there is a difference in 'bringing the stars' out to your track (which is a paid appearance to show up), and this race. The Derby doesn't (to my knowledge), pay ANYONE to show up. The Cup drivers that come, know that they are just any other racer at these shows. They aren't stars, they aren't paid to be there.... they come because it's an awesome & prestigious race to win.

Using David Ragan as an example, if he were to win the Derby, THAT fame would last far longer than anyone remembering he won at Daytona in a Cup car.

It's a race that ANY self-respecting racer would cherish in his career. It... is... HUGE in the racing world.

[Mark Keeler]

I agree 100 % with Jerry on these points. The Derby does NOT pay a single driver to appear. Tim Bryant and Family even arranged (free) for Kyle to spend some time with a local Autistic child (behind the scenes with no lime-light) on Wednesday. I'm not a Kyle fan but to talk to Erik after the race, winning the Derby for him meant one thing... Beating Kyle and Choquette to do it took it to a whole new level.

As for the Derby as a whole... Two words... BUCKET LIST. I have been to cup races and sporting events in every level and this tops them all. There is not a single event like it. I was fortunate to be here in 2010 just for two days and enjoyed it, but to be here this year with Speed51 and take in the whole event beginning with the kickoff party on Tuesday and experiencing the ENTIRE event, all I can say is WOW. Watching and hearing the track announcer call out each hauler one by one as they enter the track on Wednesday, watching all the practice, the stress just to make the show... It's amazing.

This was by far an experience I will NEVER forget.

And thankfully this won't be my last. I will be covering Speedfest with 51 and have been invited back by Bob Dilner for next years Derby... I'm already counting down.

And lastly Jerry, not just any self-respecting driver, but anyone who calls themselves a race Fan should have this on their short list of DON'T MISS!

As a side note: I was very impressed with the amount of talk I heard all week about the Governor's Cup and Speedweeks. There were a LOT of driers talking about it. There were a lot that are looking forward to the Gov Cup now that it will be earlier in 2013. Even the PA announcers talked a lot about the Governors Cup. And I personally think it's pretty damn cool that the last two Governors Cup winners are also Snowball Derby Champs. The whole thing gives me a lot to look forward to in 2013. Who knows... Maybe we'll have a "Last Chance Race" for the 48th Gov Cup! Guess we'll see in October!!!

[backrow]

Love that the G Cup got alot of discussion. Please put it back to a true 200 lap race with no 10 minute break... All the drama was pulled out when you knew when the they would all pit.