For the primary time in 5 years, two-time NASCAR Cup Sequence champion Kyle Busch is returning to 5 Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida, to participate within the Snowball Derby on Dec. 4-7.
Busch will drive the No. 51 Lucas Oil-sponsored entry for Bryson Lopez Racing within the annual Tremendous Late Mannequin crown jewel occasion. The staff will likely be led by Danny Stockman, who guided Jesse Love and the Richard Childress Racing No. 2 staff to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Components Sequence championship in 2025.
“It‘s been just a few years since I‘ve been to Pensacola, however I haven‘t forgotten the best way to get round 5 Flags,” Busch mentioned. “The Snowball Derby is a kind of bucket-list races you at all times wish to win many times, and I‘m fired as much as be again with the No. 51 Lucas Oil staff and FloRacing. We‘re displaying as much as take that trophy residence.”
Busch isn’t any stranger to 5 Flags Speedway and the Snowball Derby, as he has made 5 earlier begins within the occasion since 2002.
After ending thirty third in his first begin within the occasion in 2002, he returned for his second Snowball Derby begin in 2009, the place he led a race-high 91 laps to say the Tom Dawson Trophy for the primary time. He returned to the Snowball Derby once more in 2012, main 15 laps and ending third.
Busch’s subsequent begin got here in 2017, which noticed him begin fifteenth, lead 28 laps and safe his second triumph within the prestigious race. Throughout his most up-to-date Snowball Derby look in 2020, Busch began ninth and completed in seventh.
The Snowball Derby, first held in 1968, has an extended historical past of NASCAR involvement.
Among the many early winners of the Snowball Derby who’ve additionally loved success in NASCAR are 1970 Daytona 500 winner Pete Hamilton, 10-time Cup Sequence winner Donnie Allison and three-time Cup Sequence champion Darrell Waltrip.
Extra not too long ago, many NASCAR drivers have used the occasion as a launching level for his or her careers. They embrace present stars like Busch, Chase Elliott, Erik Jones, John Hunter Nemechek, Christian Eckes, Noah Gragson, Ty Majeski, Chandler Smith and Kaden Honeycutt.
All of them are Snowball Derby winners.
This 12 months, a number of lively NASCAR opponents will once more be among the many greater than 50 drivers trying to earn beginning positions within the Snowball Derby.
Becoming a member of Busch on the entry listing are Jones, Gragson and Ryan Preece. As well as, a number of drivers within the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Components Sequence and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Sequence are additionally entered.
Amongst them are Honeycutt, Majeski, Jake Garcia, Dawson Sutton and Bayley Currey. Johnny Sauter, the 2016 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Sequence champion, and David Gilliland, the 2007 Daytona pole winner and proprietor of Tricon Storage, have additionally filed entries.
Snowball Derby weekend begins with observe on Thursday, December 4. Groups will qualify on Friday, December 5, with the highest 30 qualifiers locking into the race. The rest of the sector will likely be set on Saturday, December 6 by way of a final probability race and a pair of provisionals.
The 58th working of the Snowball Derby goes inexperienced at 1 p.m. CT / 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, December 7. Motion all week at 5 Flags Speedway airs reside on FloRacing, with Friday‘s qualifying session additionally scheduled to be broadcast reside on the NASCAR Channel.
A full schedule occasions could be discovered right here.
