Nasse wins Snowball Derby after dominant Majeski was penalized for jumping restart
PENSACOLA, Fla.—The 58th annual Snowball Derby presented by FloSports has been plagued by awful weather.
Pesky rain lingered off and on Thursday through most of Saturday before the first race was run at Five Flags Speedway. Mother Nature had another card up her sleeve with a blanket of fog spoiling the Derby’s traditional Sunday afternoon start. The Derby will officially end Tuesday with local divisions vying for their chance at immortality.
Monday came, though, with a bucket of sunshine splashed across Five Flags Speedway. It shined brightest for a Sunshine State son.
In his 15th Derby start, Stephen Nasse—a Pinellas Park, Florida, native—hoisted his first career Tom Dawson Trophy and finally won the ever-elusive crown jewel of short-track racing.
“It means everything,” an emotional Nasse said in Victory Lane. “This win is really important to me, my family, my whole crew—everybody. I’m happy to get it done. There have been some long, hard fought years, but we pulled through.”
This one was hard, too. Especially since there was a car ahead of him in Victory Lane, protesting the checkered flag.
Ty Majeski was black flagged on Lap 289 while leading the race for jumping consecutive restarts. However, the two-time Derby winner refused to leave the track and remained in front of Nasse and what was left of the 36-car field even though his laps went uncounted.
“I thought the rule was for the driver to pick up the pace to the line, and I thought I did that,” Majeski explained. “I acknowledge we jumped the first one. We thought (Nasse) was going to jump it. We got a mulligan, but the rule is not black and white. It leaves a lotta questions.”
It was a confusing spectacle. Nasse holding up a No. 1 outside the window as he crossed the start-finish line behind the No. 91.
Majeski had been majestic for most of the afternoon. He led 226 total laps and would’ve led more if not for the black flag. Track officials stopped scoring Majeksi at Lap 292.
“We had a fast car, the dominant racecar,” he said. “I thought we won the race. We had the best car all day.”
The post-race scene was equally entertaining. Nasse, who had his own Derby controversy six years ago, celebrating a $50,000 payday with hugs, photos and the Derby championship ring, which he proudly showed off. Just beyond a guardrail that separated fans from Victory Lane, a stoic Majeski spoke with race officials about the ruling.
“I hate it for Ty. He had a really good car,” said Nasse, who had the 2019 Derby stripped from him for an equipment infraction. “But I’ll take it. I never thought I’d get back here. It feels damn good.”
Not to be overshadowed, 19-year-old Dawson Sutton brought home a runner-up finish in just his second Derby. Jake Garcia finished third for his second podium finish in seven career starts.
Sutton’s second place gives him two top-10s in two appearances.
“We had a really up-and-down day,” Sutton said, sporting a University of Tennessee black-and-orange firesuit. “I’m thankful to have climbed my way back up and finish second.”
The green flag dropped at exactly 1 p.m. Monday with polesitter Preston Peltier leading the opening laps until Majeski took his first lead of the afternoon.
He has owned the Derby over the last decade. In 12 starts, Majeski has four other podium finishes in addition to his two wins (2020, 2023). He has now led 795 career laps. His average finish coming into Monday was seventh.
There were eight cautions and five different drivers led laps. Nasse was the last despite never reaching clean air because of Majeski’s protest.
Nasse didn’t care. He stuck his index finger out as the checkered flag flew and left it there around the famed half-mile asphalt oval, following behind Majeski until he reached Victory Lane.
“I’m sure there’s gonna be a party,” a relieved Nasse said. “We’ll hit up the Ruby Tuesday and have a little celebration."
SNOWBALL DERBY RESULTS
1 51 Stephen Nasse, Pinellas Park, FL
2 26 Dawson Sutton, Lebanon, TN
3 35 Jake Garcia, Eatonton, GA
4 1 Kasey Kleyn Quincy, WA
5 51 Jake Finch, Lynn Haven, FL
6 44 Matt Craig, Mooresville, NC
7 36 Ty Fredrickson, Webster, MN
8 48 Preston Peltier, Kimberly, ID
9 55 Haeden Plybon, Spokane, WA
10 96 Derek Thorn, Bakersfield, CA
11 3 Michael Atwell, Naples, FL
12 98 David Gilliland, Troutman, NC
13 89 Dylan Fetcho Lebanon, TN
14 33 Dustin Smith, Mobile, AL
15 28 Cole Butcher, Porteers Lake, NS, Canada
16 24 Gavan Boshele, M ooresville, NC
17 9 Derek Kraus, Stratford, WI
18 14 Chase Pinsonneaul Belle River, ONT. Canada
19 51 Kyle Busch, Las Vegas, NV
20 6 Brandon Lopez, Atlanta, GA
21 12 Derek Griffith, Litchfield,NH
22 16 Jacob Gomes, Manteca, CA
23 91 Ty Majeski, Neenah, WI
24 27 Kole Raz, Lake Oswego, OR
25 8 Jace Hansen, Berthoud, CO
26 21 Kaden Honycutt, Aledo, TX
27 26 Bubba Pollard, Senoia, GA
28 96 Spencer Davis, Dawsonville, GA
29 30 Treyten Lapcevich, Grimsby, ONT, Canada
30 22 Buddy Shepard, Bakersfield, CA
31 81 Carson Brown, New London, NC
32 30 Casey Roderick, Pulaski, MS
33 17 Hudson Bulger, Ft. Valley, GA
34 5 Tristan McKee, Williamsburg, VA
DNS 18 Max Reaves, Trinity, NC
DNS 60 Ryan Preece, Berlin, CT
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