December 6, 2024 | By Chuck Corder

Snowball Derby support classes headline Thursday action

PENSACOLA, Fla. — Kaden Honeycutt has high hopes and a demanding schedule ahead of him at the 57th annual Snowball Derby presented by FloSports.

The Texan driver—living these days in Mooresville, N.C., and driving for Niece Motorsports in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series—arrived at Five Flags Speedway with a lofty goal of achieving immortality four times on short-track racing’s biggest stage.

Honeycutt hopes to pack his trophy case with Derby championships by pulling quadruple duty this week. His quest began with the Gulf Real Estate Group Pro Trucks 50 on Wednesday night. He looks to qualify for both the 300-lap main event Sunday afternoon and the Allen Turner Snowflake 100 for Pro Late Models on Saturday while taking a swing at the Modifieds of Mayhem 75-lap Derby on Thursday.

Honeycutt is a quarter of the way to accomplishing his mission after Opening Night. The 21-year-old captured the Pro Trucks Derby after the unofficial winner was disqualified.

Unofficially, Honeycutt finished runner-up to Steven Davis, of Theodore, Ala., in a caution-plagued race that saw nine yellows and the 25-truck field get decimated with damage. But Davis, who was looking to not only repeat as Pro Trucks Derby champion but collect his third title in the race, failed post-race technical inspection and the waist-high trophy was awarded to Honeycutt.

“I hated seeing all those yellows,” Honeycutt said. “We were trying to set up for a long run. But the weather made everybody antsy. Unfortunately, there were a lotta crashes out there.”

Mother Nature tried its best to spoil Night 1 of the Derby, but after group qualifying, the Pro Trucks finally fired off at 9:20.

Davis earned the pole with a fast lap that was just short Grant Thompson’s four-year-old track record of 18.234 seconds. Honeycutt started third behind Davis and Thompson.

Davis, whose other Pro Trucks Derby championship came in 2015, dominated Wednesday night. Just like he did en route to last year’s Derby win, Davis led every lap. This time, though, he couldn’t make it out of the tech shed.

“We’ve put a lotta work in this thing in the last month or so,” Davis said in Victory Lane before his truck was inspected.

Honeycutt’s win meant Jared Maupin moved from third to runner-up and Thompson vaulted to third to round out the podium.

“This is my first Derby, and I’ve only had a handful of asphalt races,” Maupin said. “It’s a different animal. It’s awesome to compete with these guys. We’ve got nothing to hang our heads about.”


The Dock on Pensacola Beach Sportsmen

Chad Robinson knew it was time to right a wrong. Wounds from 15 years ago have healed. Even if it was the Snowball Derby.

Robinson had a Sportsmen championship taken away from him in 2009 after the Room of Doom swallowed him hole. But despite Billy Hoover being declared the eventual winner and walking away with the Derby hardware, Robinson drove back to his native Mobile with the checkered flag.

On Wednesday, he delivered it to Hoover, its rightful owner, as the 57th annual Snowball Derby presented by FloSports kicked off at Five Flags Speedway.

The racing gods smiled upon the gesture, as Robinson was the class of the 11-car field in The Dock on Pensacola Beach Sportsmen edition of the Derby.

Robinson set a new track record in qualifying (19.354 seconds), led all 50 laps and was rarely tested all night.

“It’s been a long time coming,” he said. “I’ve been trying to win this race for 10 years. Something always bites me. This race has been my nemesis. I’d have spectacular years and, then, I’d come here and something happens.

“But I got the monkey off my back now. It feels good to get one in the bank.”

Maddox Langham finished second and two-time Sportsmen Derby champion James Patrick (2020, 2023) came home third.

“I’ve always wanted to finish in the top-3 at the Derby,” Langham said. “We’ll see what we can do next time.”


Lloyd’s Glass Pure Stocks

Grandfather and grandson shared a powerful hug in Victory Lane at Five Flags Speedway on Wednesday.

There was so much silently said in that embrace. It certainly celebrated Mason Johnston’s monumental milestone of winning the Lloyd’s Glass Pure Stocks 35-lap feature at the 57th annual Snowball Derby presented by FloSports. It also allowed Johnston another chance to thank the man who has taught him everything he knows about cars.

“He deserves it,” said Okie Mason, Johnston’s grandfather.

Mason was busting with pride over his grandchild’s accomplishment. Johnston led every lap and kept all challengers at bay.

“I’ve dreamed of winning one of these since I was a little kid,” Johnston said. “This is the biggest race of most people’s career. My grandfather won one 11 years ago. And I’m glad I get to hang this one next to his. He’s the reason the car is so fast.”

Adam Salter, who won twice in the Crown Stocks class this season, made the most of his move to Pure Stocks. He finished runner-up and Butch Harvell took third.

“We had a good night,” Salter said. “I wish we had a caution come out at the end. I was hoping to get closer to Mason and battle a little harder, but it never came through.”


Gulf Coast Real Estate Group Pro Truck 50

Note: Honeycutt declared winner after the truck of Steven Davis failed post race inspection.

1 47 Kaden Honeycutt, Bridge City, TX
2 95 Jared Maupin, San Antonio, TX
3 54 Grant Thompson, Mobile, AL
4 54 Seth Christensen, Pendergrass, GA
5 1 Maddox Langham, Irvington, AL
6 1 Treyce Capers, Moss Point, MS
7 14 Toro Rodriguez, Monterrey, Mexico
8 6 Okie Mason, Eight Mile, AL
9 33 Jake Moore, Mobile, AL
10 51 Carson Green, Dayton, TX
11 7 Larry Deal Jr, Hendersonville, TN
12 0 Mason Love, St. Petersburg, FL
13 21 Jason Welch, Mobile, AL
14 23 Carter Whalen, Cumming, GA
15 30 Don Duval, Port Orange, FL
16 41 Kyler Bean, Pascagoula, MS
17 14 Seasn Barnes, Pensacola, FL
18 99 Allen Alexander, San Antonio, TX
19 85 Michael Gamache, Tarpon Springs, FL
20 18 Zach Lopez, Atlanta, GA
21 82 Presley Johnson, Huntsville, AL
22 56 Darryl Rudd Chipley, FL
23 78 Howard Langham, Mobile, AL
24 3 Ray Herndon, Laurel, MS
25 79 Steven Davis, Theadore, AL


Dock on Pensacola Beach Sportsmen 50

1 32 Chad Robinson, Mobile, AL
2 1 Maddox Langham, Irvington, AL
3 11 James Patrick, Mobile, AL
4 0 Brannon Fowler, Molino, FL
5 19 Daryl McDonald III, Theodore, AL
6 14 Corey Bodie, Orlando, FL
7 51 Jonathan Langham, Theodore, AL
8 33 Chopper Stagner, Turnrville,AL
9 29 Parker McDonald, Theodore, AL
10 8 B J Leytham, Mobile, AL
11 7 Jim Pokrant, Pensacola, FL


Lloyd’s Glass Pure Stock 35

1 6 Mason Johnston, Eight Mile, AL
2 3 Adam Salter, Andalusia, AL
3 21 Butch Harvell, Saraland, AL
4 34 Cameron Leytham, Mobile, AL
5 14 Sean Barnes, Pensacola, FL
6 2 Connor Odom,
7 98 Payton Guy, Pace, FL
8 33 Ira Roberts,
9 24 Caleb Burkett, Pensacola, FL
10 15 Ely Loper, Irvington, AL
11 26 Colby McDonald, Mobile, AL
12 10 Mike Goraum, Pensacola, FL
13 80 Zack Jordan, Cantonment, FL
14 21 Thomas Norman, Semmes, AL
15 16 Rocky Boyd, Pensacola, FL
16 28 Dayton Sidner, Pensacola, FL
17 343 Ben Cranford, Cantonment, FL
18 30 Bobby Suarez, Pensacola, FL
19 24 Thumper Grice, Pensacola, FL
20 52 Tony Boyd, Pensacola, FL