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The 51 Staff Makes Their Snowball Derby Picks

The Experts Take a Stab at Who Will Win This Weekend

Snowball Derby

Bob & Angie Dillner - There could be history made this weekend. If Ross Kenseth should win, he's going to be the first driver to win three of Super Late Model racing's biggest races in the same season - the All-American 400, the Winchester 400 and perhaps the Snowball Derby. Ross is on top of his game right now and has a ton of momentum that means a lot come Derby week.

Matt "Duke" Kentfield - Steve Wallace - Of all the Speed51.com staff, I was the only one who picked Chase Elliott to win last year, so there’s some pressure to pick a winner this time around. I know, people are quick to knock this guy based on his Nationwide Series statistics. But anyone who has ever seen Steve-O on a short track knows he’s a hell of a Late Model racer. He’s always fast, whether it’s a straight-rail Super Late Model or a Late Model Stock Car in the past few years. He’s a Snowball Derby winner. He and his longtime crew chief Blake Bainbridge have put a lot of time and effort into a brand-new car to take down to Pensacola and it would not surprise me at all if Wallace becomes a two-time Snowball winner.

Elgin "Stat Boy" Traylor - Kyle Busch - It amazes me that this guy didn't get more votes. When Kyle shows up for a Late Model race he is the man to beat. 2012 has been an awful season for the NASCAR star and it would not shock me if he won his second Snowball Derby come Sunday.

Ryan McCollough- Bubba Pollard - Yea, I know it is the easy way out, but I have had the chance to see every Blizzard race this year and no one was as consistent as Pollard. The 100 lappers at Five Flags are vastly different from the Derby, but Pollard's team has shown they can knock out live pit stops as well, with top fives in all of the "majors" this season. The 26 is always fast down on the Gulf Coast and i think this year Bubba will finally hoist the Tom Dawson Trophy.

Bruce Nuttleman - Ross Kenseth - He's won his share of big races this year and is poised to win the biggest race of the year.

Matt Prieur - Mike Garvey - He's long overdue for a win in the most prestigious short track race in the country. Now he's somewhat of a hometown favorite driving for Tracy Goodson and he's had a fantastic 2012 racing season after picking up the Track Championship in the Pro Late Models division. 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 season is the year that Garvey puts it all together and enjoys the accolades of winning the Snowball Derby.

Mark Keeler - Jeff Choquette - Reason = Redemption! Choquette came so close last year and he definitely has the talent and equipment to get it done. A think another year "wiser" and probably wants it more this year than last after being so dominant last year. I wasn't there, but from listening to your coverage it sure sounded like he had the car to beat. Plus who knows how many more SLM races he has left as he is venturing into the Truck scene more, and with success.

Adam Mackey - DJ VanderLey - He came close to winning last year and I think he will return and win the whole thing this year. Coming that close to winning is just pure motivation.

Tim Quiveryn - Jeff Choquette - Team pulled out a dominant piece for the last Blizzard race and walked away with the victory there. By running on select SLM shows this year, this team has truly focused on getting the car ready for the big show. Choquette is definitely a talent as well and a Derby win would cement a legacy as one of the best short track drivers of his generation.

Kevin Ramsell - Ross Kenseth - Guy is on a roll winning the big events this year. Snowball will be the icing on the cake.

Mike Twist - Casey Smith - The safe pick for the Derby would be Kyle Busch. He's got the best car, the most talent and this isn't exactly a fuel mileage race. But picking Rowdy would be too easy. Landon Cassill could be the forgotten Cup driver to score a surprise victory and Jeff Fultz has the experience and the will to get the job done. Both would be worthy picks. But when it comes down to it, I'm going with another hard luck driver who knows his way around Five Flags Speedway to get the big victory - that would be Texan Casey Smith. A victory for this underdog driver would be a feel good story indeed.

Jamie Williams - Daniel Hemric - he is smooth and stays out of trouble.

Snowflake 100

Bob Dillner & Angie Dillner - Kyle Benjamin - A winner and a champion in Super and Pro Late Model racing this year, Kyle Benjamin could be the biggest threat to win the Snowflake 100. This 15-year-old has shown a ton of maturity this season and has more promise at his young age than may other teenage racers that have come through the ranks in recent seasons. Plus with short track legend Freddie Query calling the shots, Benjamin could pick up another huge win Saturday night at Five Flags.

Matt "Duke" Kentfield - Kyle Benjamin - This was a tough one. I had to use a tiebreaker formula. My choice came down to either Benjamin, who was a Speedweeks Super Late Model champion and a winner on the JEGS Tour and CRA this year, and 2011 CRA winner Kenzie Ruston, who happens to be driving the same Augie Grill car that won last year’s Snowflake 100. The tiebreaker came down to who has had the better 2012 season overall, and that goes to Benjamin. I think either driver could win, but KB71 could pull off a pretty cool finish to a season full of victories throughout Midwest and Southeast.

Elgin "Stat Boy" Traylor - Anderson Bowen - It's time to think outside the box and a hot young rookie is the best pick. No one planned on Ryan Crane, Brandon Carlson or Hunter Robbins landing in victory lane so it's only fitting that the "favorites" get beat out by an upstart.

Ryan McCollough - Mike Garvey - Garvey and the entire Tracy Goodson Racing team have been the most consistent Pro Late Model team in the Deep South in 2012. It didn't matter what track the team went to, they were up front. Garvey already snatched up the Allen Turner Hyundai PLM title at Five Flags, and i believe he is the man to beat on Saturday night.

Bruce Nuttleman - Kyle Benjamin - This kid is very talented.

Matt Prieur - Erik Jones - It's been a year of learning to say the least for the Byron, Michigan driver after running in 10 events for Venturini Motorsports in the ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards. He's also made limited appearances in the ARCA/CRA Super Series as well as the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance where he was the 2011 Champion. Amazingly he's gone winless in 2012 but now that he's reunited with Crew Chief Rich Lushes, expect Jones to pull into victory lane after winning the Snowflake 100 and to also be in contention for the win in the 45th annual Snowball Derby as well.
Mark Keeler - Daniel Hemric - After watching him follow Chase from the back of the pack to the front in 2010 he certainly knows how to get around that track and how to save his tires. Honestly, I would almost pick him to win any race he enters, at any track, at this point. He certainly is a contender everywhere he goes. The kid can flat drive!

Adam Mackey - Bubba Pollard - He's been strong and his Pro Late Model effort will land him in victory lane.

Tim Quiveryn - Chase Elliott - It's Chase Elliott. At Five Flags Speedway. Do I need to say more? He may not win as this race in particular has a wild side that eliminates a few of the best drivers to wrecks or flats. But it's not like he's going to ride around 7th or 10th or so. He'll be a factor for sure.

Kevin Ramsell - Augie Grill - Chase Elliott and Kyle Benjamin are also entered but Augie knows how to get around that place.

Mike Twist - Austin Theriault - On paper, it is hard to bet against Kyle Benjamin, Augie Grill, Chase Elliott or D.J. VanderLey to win the Snowflake 100, but the race isn't run on paper and I hate making easy picks. So I'm going with somewhat of a dark horse. He's the driver of the Brad Keselowski-owned Pro Late Model and he has posted solid finishes in big races from SpeedFest to the Oxford 250 this year. Now it's time for Austin Theriault to go beyond just being a consistent threat to being the big winner of a major short track event. He's my pick to win the Snowflake 100.

Jamie Williams - Chase Elliott - Has a lot of experience and a great team.

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