The Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway is more than just a race. While the 300-lap main event on Sunday may be one of the biggest grassroots motorsports races in the country, it's what takes place before the green flag that truly makes the event stand out. 

One of the biggest events that takes place leading up to Sunday's main event is the always intense Snowball Derby qualifying night on Friday. Snowball Derby qualifying is one of the most anticipated and most tense qualifying sessions in all of motorsports. Drivers hoping to compete in the race get two laps to turn in a time fast enough to lock themselves into the top 30 and guarantee themselves a starting spot in the 300-lap feature. 

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Over the course of Snowball Derby history, there are drivers who have consistently risen to the occasion when the green flag flies on qualifying night. Today, we take a look at a list of the best qualifiers in Snowball Derby history. 

1) Derek Thorn 

Races: 11 | Average Starting Spot: 10.82 | Poles: 4 | Top 5 Starts: 5 | Top 10 Starts: 5

Based on what he’s done the last few years, Derek Thorn is hands down the best qualifier in Snowball Derby history. His four pole awards are tied for the most in race history, and his five straight front row starts are also a record. While his overall average starting position is higher than some, his ability to improve and add to these totals is only going to aid him further. 

2) Mark Martin

Races: 8 | Average Starting Spot: 3.63 | Poles: 1 | Top 5 Starts: 6 | Top 10 Starts: 8

It’s hard to top eight starts inside the top 10 and six inside the top five in eight races, and that’s why Mark Martin is second on our list.  The 1983 Snowball Derby polesitter started on the front row four times from 1980 to 1986.  His best race effort came in 1978 when he was second to Dave Mader, III.  His average starting spot is the best of any driver with this many starts. 

3) Eddie Mercer

Races: 22 | Average Starting Spot: 9.59 | Poles: 4 | Top 5 Starts: 9 | Top 10 Starts: 14

Often times one driver puts up numbers that are better than the rest.  Eddie Mercer has the best qualifying numbers of any driver. Overall he’s tied for the most pole awards with four.  He is the only driver to start on the front row six times.  Nine times he’s been in the top five and 14 times in the top 10. 

4) Dave Mader, III

Races: 25 | Average Starting Spot: 15.39 | Poles: 1 | Top 5 Starts: 6 | Top 10 Starts: 10

He’s one of only two drivers to start the Snowball Derby inside the top 10 a total of 10 times.  The 1978 winner had to wait until 2003 to win the pole for the race.  He was on the front row three times in his career and six times he started inside the top 10.  

5) Butch Miller

Races: 11 | Average Starting Spot: 10.73 | Poles: 1 | Top 5 Starts: 4 | Top 10 Starts: 7

Despite only running the race 11 times, Butch Miller found the top 10 in time trials seven times.  The 1987 race winner won the event from the pole. However, he started on the front row again in 1991 and 1993.  Only twice in his career did he start outside the top 20. 

6) Mike Alexander

Races: 8 | Average Starting Spot: 11.17 | Poles: 2 | Top 5 Starts: 6 | Top 10 Starts: 8

Mike Alexander started every Snowball Derby from 1981 to 1988 inside the top eight.  Along that run he had two-pole awards and two other front row starts.  Six times he started inside the top five and he would have had more if not for a career setback with injury. 

7) Bubba Pollard

Races: 16 | Average Starting Spot: 13.25 | Poles: 1 | Top 5 Starts: 6 | Top 10 Starts: 8

After Bubba Pollard won the pole for the Snowball Derby in 2011, he really figured out how to have a good car in qualifying.  With eight top 10 starting spots and six in the top five, he knows how to get his car in the show.  In 13 of the last 14 races, he’s qualified for the race on time. 

VIDEO: Bubba Pollard reacts to the news that the 57th Annual Snowball Derby will be live on FloRacing and pay $50,000 to win. 

8) Jeff Purvis 

Races: 12 | Average Starting Spot: 13.92 | Poles: 1 | Top 5 Starts: 5 | Top 10 Starts: 7

With four front row starts, it was a fact that Jeff Purvis was one of the best qualifiers of the 90s.  Overall he had six top five starts and seven inside the top 10, which helped propel him to several solid Snowball finishes. He won the race from the outside pole in 1995. 

9) Bobby Gill 

Races: 20 | Average Starting Spot: 14.68 | Poles: 3 | Top 5 Starts: 8 | Top 10 Starts: 9

It was feast or famine with Bobby Gill in the Snowball Derby time trials.  A three-time polesitter, Gill had nine starts inside the top 10, and eight of those were inside the top five. He won the race twice, never from the pole and he also won three hard charger awards in the race.  

10) Jody Ridley

Races: 27 | Average Starting Spot: 16.26 | Poles: 1 | Top 5 Starts: 6 | Top 10 Starts: 6

Ridley was more of the finisher than a qualifier when it came to the Snowball Derby.  The one-time polesitter did manage to find the top five in the starting lineup on six occasions.  Even with 27 starts, you would think he had more, but he always found speed in the race. 

Bonus: Pete Hamilton

Races: 3 | Average Starting Spot: 1.33 | Poles: 2 | Top 5 Starts: 3 | Top 10 Starts: 3

We had to mention Pete Hamilton who ran the Snowball Derby three times and started on the front row all three times.  The two-time pole sitter was ahead of his time when it came to the race and he won the event in 1974. Hamilton could have done more and cars that he helped build also won the race down the road. 

The 57th Annual Snowball Derby will be broadcast live on FloRacing for the first time this year, and for the first time ever the event will not be available as a pay-per-view event. The Snowball Derby is available to all FloRacing subscribers with a yearly or monthly subscription. Race fans can subscribe to FloRacing by clicking here.

The 57th Annual Snowball Derby festivities will begin on Tuesday, December 3 with the annual Kickoff Party, being held this year at The Ticket Sports Bar in Pensacola. FloRacing will broadcast the Kickoff Party live at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT.

Festivities at Five Flags Speedway get underway on Wednesday, December 4 with the annual parking of the haulers and pit party. Late Model teams, both Pro and Super Late Model, will draw for qualifying positions at the stage on the front stretch. 

Thursday will see the first on-track action of the busy weekend when the Super Late Models and the Pro Late Models hit the track for a full morning and afternoon of practice. Later that night the Sportsman, Pure Stocks, and Pro Trucks will take to the track for their feature events.  

Fast Friday will see more practice for the Super Late Models and the Pro Late Models leading up to time trials for the 57th Annual Snowball Derby at 6 p.m. CT. The top 30 drivers will lock themselves into the field for Sunday’s main event. The nightcap will feature the Modified of Mayhem 2024 Championship Race, plus a Crown Stock Invitational.  

Saturday is by far the busiest day at the track with practice in the morning for the Late Models before the Allen Turner Snowflake 100 cars take to the track in the mid-afternoon. Following time trials the last chance races for the Snowflake 100 and the 57th Annual Snowball Derby will occur. The 21st Annual Allen Turner Snowflake 100 will roll at 7 p.m., followed by the Outlaw Division.

It all leads up to Sunday, the 57th running of the Snowball Derby. Green flag will be at 1 p.m. CT for the 300-lap Super Late Model event.  

Fans unable to attend the 57th Annual Snowball Derby in person will be able to watch the entire week of racing live on FloRacing. If you're not already a FloRacing subscriber, click here to sign up today. 

For more information on the 57th Annual Snowball Derby go to www.snowballderby.com.