General

2013 Snowball Derby: The Qualifying Draw

Even though it’s completely random, the qualifying draw that took place on Wednesday night for the Snowball Derby has its own implications for Friday’s ever important qualifying session. Drawing late versus early could perhaps make the difference in making the top thirty or being forced to compete through Saturday’s last chance race.

by Aaron Creed

Dec 5, 2013, 6:07 AM UTC

Streeter Lecka

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- In 2012 Snowball Derby pole sitter David Ragan went out 36th in the qualifying order, a position near the middle of the session and around the time when the sun has gone down after the 5:00pm start. What do the drivers want when they draw for their order?

“I don’t want to be first and don’t want to be last,” echoed Ragan as well as a handful of other competitors.

Ragan drew a 19 for this year’s session, while Johanna Long drew around Ragan’s order last year with a 37. Long reunites with Freddie Query, her crew chief when she was fast qualifier in 2009.

One driver was not as lucky. 2013 Southern Super Series champion Daniel Hemric drew the number one from the selection of Jack Link’s bags, ironically his sponsor in addition to the sponsor for the qualifying draw this year.

Historically, going out early in the session has not proved to be as advantageous. With the sun still setting at the five o’clock hour, the track is not always in optimal condition for faster speeds as it is late in the session when it has gone down.

Despite pulling a number for early in the session, defending Snowball Derby winner Erik Jones didn’t seem very concerned due to the weather conditions expected throughout the week.

“I wish it would have been a little later, but we’ll take it,” said. Jones. “I think with the way it’s been a little damp this year we’ll be alright.”

Perhaps the early favorite for the pole is 2013 All-American 400 winner Chase Elliott. Elliott was not in attendance, but Miss Snowball Derby Shailee Cole drew a 74 for him, the next to last car to go out to qualify. Elliott was fast qualifier for the Winchester 400 and did the same when he went out late in the session at Nashville.

Other notables pulling numbers for late in the session included 2012 outside front row starter John Hunter Nemechek, two-time Snowball Derby winner Augie Grill, and track record holder and former fast qualifier Bubba Pollard.

Continuing coverage of the Snowball Derby can be found on the Ranting and Raving short track blog. Visit our Facebook page for all the updates and links to our stories leading up to the Super Bowl of Short Track Racing.

The full qualifying order can be found below. Any additional or late entries will move to the beginning of the qualifying order.