12/3/2013
Five Flags Speedway
The 51 Staff Makes Their Snowball Derby Picks
The Experts Take a Stab at Who Will Win This Weekend
By Speed51.com Snowball Derby Staff
Keep in mind, none of our staff chose Erik Jones to win the Snowball Derby last year, so clearly these are just for some fun and we, like you, can't wait to see who ends up in JEGS Victory Lane at Five Flags later this week.
Bob & Angie Dillner
Snowball Derby: TJ Reaid - We were going to pick Ross Kenseth like we did last year, but he's superstitious and thinks we may have jinxed him, so...We'll go with TJ Reaid, who we hope isn't as superstitious. Read has one of the best rides and had a great shot at last year's Derby victory until a bump from Kyle Busch took him out of the race.
Snowflake 100: Kyle Benjamin - The youngster has a lot of talent.
Ally Fulson
Snowball Derby: Hunter Robbins - He's a former Snowflake 100 winner driving a car owned by a former Snowball Derby winner. The couple of years of hard work between Robbins and Ronnie Sanders could pay off in this year's Snowball Derby.
Snowflake 100: RS Senter - He runs only the big shows and has put a lot of effort into the Snowflake this year. He ran well at Five Flags in PLM events earlier in the season.
Matt Kentfield
Snowball Derby: Daniel Hemric - Hemric laid it all on the line in last year's Snowball Derby, racing up front with a shot to win before a hard crash that ended his day before the work could pay off. He rolled right into 2013 without missing a beat with his Carswell Motorsports team, winning the Southern Super Series title and the Blizzard Series championship with a victory at Five Flags. With a full, strong season under their belts, look for "Hotshoe" to be a contender once again in the Snowball Derby.
Snowflake 100: Spencer Davis - The kid has more than 60 starts in Late Model competition this season. What better way to cap off the year with a win in the biggest Pro Late Model race of the season? He's already proven he can be a winner in the Pro cars, so it's time to score one of the big wins.
Mark Keeler
Snowball Derby: Augie Grill - Lately he looks as strong as ever. After seeing how genuinely happy he was following the Governor's Cup (at New Smyrna Speedway, Florida) it's like he is cherishing his opportunities and wins in big races instead of it just being "another day at the office."
Snowflake 100: Chase Elliott - It's like he can drive the big Pro races with his eyes closed. He is just way too comfortable in them. He is also extremely confident in his Pro Late Model program and rightfully so considering his previous success at Five Flags.
Mikayla Kugler
Snowball Derby: Erik Jones - Coming off two big wins in the last two months including the Winchester 400 and the Camping World Truck Series at Phoenix. Driving for Kyle Busch, Jones will have great equipment and will be ready to take on a very stout field of cars.
Snowflake 100: Daniel Hemric - He had a strong championship season in JEGS/CRA in 2012 and is ready to put on a great show to take home the win.
Adam Mackey
Snowball Derby: Ross Kenseth - Ross has won a lot of big races over the last two years but the Derby has eluded him. All American 400, Redbud 300, and Winchester 400 victories all in the same year is pretty impressive but he needs the Derby to complete the short track resume. In four precious Snowball starts, Kenseth has complete all 300 laps. That in itself, gives him a chance at victory.
Snowflake 100: Kyle Benjamin - He struggled in his first two Snowflake starts in 2010 and 2011 with finishes worse than 20th. Last year, though, he took 3rd and with enough experience under his belt, look out.
Bruce Nuttleman
Snowball Derby: Kyle Benjamin - It hasn't been the greatest year, but he has been strong and has notched some big wins - including becoming the youngest ARCA winner in series history.
Snowflake 100: Kyle Benjamin - He will be the first to win both the Snowflake and the Snowball Derby.
Brandon Paul
Snowball Derby: Erik Jones - Back-to-back victories in the Snowball Derby is not a feat that will come easy, but he has the pieces in place to make it happen. Jones has shown he has tremendous talent at the Super Late Model level. Mix that talent with some of the best equipment out there in the KBM No. 51 ride and you have a driver capable of going back to back.
Snowflake 100: Austin Theriault - Theriault had a great run from 30th to fourth in the Snowflake 100 last year and he has proven to be a consistent threat in the Brad Keselowski Racing No. 29.
Matt Prieur
Snowball Derby: Mike Garvey - This is the second year in a row in deciding on Mike Garvey, even though he's had somewhat of a down season. Still though he's the pick for the same reasons as last year; He's long overdue for a win in the most prestigious short track race in the country. He's somewhat of a hometown favorite now driving for Tracy Goodson. He's a crafty veteran who knows what it will take to score the win in the Snowball Derby and after many seasons of coming close, leading laps, and being in contention, this will be the year that Garvey puts it all together.
Snowflake 100: Chase Elliott - It's hard to go against perhaps the most successful driver in Pro Late Models competition in recent memory. Elliott has already won just about everything there is to win in PLM racing, some of those twice or more. He's won the Snowflake 100 twice and is tied with Augie Grill for most Snowflake wins at two apiece. In what more than likely will be his final PLM start, look for the now 18-year-old Elliott with the brightest of futures ahead of him to go out on top and become the first three-time Snowflake 100 winner.
Tim Quievryn
Snowball Derby: Kyle Benjamin - Winning the Derby is one of the few big checkboxes left for him in Late Model racing so I believe he'll be focused. Has the talent and previous FFS success to do it.
Snowflake 100: Bubba Pollard - Never won the Flake nor the Derby. Too good of a driver for that 0-fer record to remain intact for another year. Never lacks for speed and 100-lap races are his bread and butter.
Kevin Ramsell
Snowball Derby: Landon Cassill - He came close in 2010 and is partnering with the team that finished second that year.
Snowflake 100: Chase Elliott - He will be the class of the field again.
Elgin Traylor
Snowball Derby: Augie Grill - There is an extra spring in his step this year and he contended at Winchester and the All American 400 with solid finishes. Grill knows he needs to be around at the end of the race and that's there goal. If that's the case and he's around at lap 280 then he could be getting his third win in seven years.
Snowflake 100: Justin South - Call me crazy, but it's long overdue for an upset winner in the Snowflake 100. We have seen some major dominance from Elliott and Grill in the past few years, but this year that will change. Justin South will get the monkey off his back and win the Snowflake 100.