The most prestigious race in pavement late model racing will take place for the 57th time, December 4-8 at Five Flags Speedway. Throughout the history of the Snowball Derby, many of the biggest names in motorsports have found success in the event. Today, we take a look at the top 15 drivers in Snowball Derby history at Five Flags Speedway. 

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1- Rich Bickle 

Starts: 12 | Wins: 5 | Top Fives: 8 | Top 10s: 9 | Poles: 0 | Laps Led: 412  

When it comes to the Snowball Derby, there has been no one better than Rich Bickle. The only five-time winner had a decade where he was pretty much unbeatable. Not only did he win the race five times, but he recorded back-to-back victories on two occasions. 

He also added runner-up finishes in 1989 and 2002, which could have added even more to his win total on the half-mile track. His last win was perhaps his most memorable as he won an extra $100,000 for the victory. Overall, he posted eight top-five finishes, all of which were on the podium.

2 - Jody Ridley

Starts: 27 | Wins: 1 | Top Fives: 12 | Top 10s: 16 | Poles: 1 | Laps Led: 338

The number of times that Jody Ridley finished in the top five is higher than most drivers' total number of starts in the Snowball Derby. One of the best ever at finishing the Snowball Derby, Ridley has records that may never be broken. 

His lone win in 1985 highlights his Snowball Derby career, but he had six overall podium finishes and three second-place runs. He led the race eight times for 338 laps and won the pole in 1979. He had a run of six consecutive top-fives in the 1980s.

VIDEO: Jody Ridley discusses his win in the 1985 Snowball Derby. 

3 - Eddie Mercer 

Starts: 22 | Wins: 1 | Top Fives: 9 | Top 10s: 10 | Poles: 4 | Laps Led: 782  

Only three one-time winners made our list of the top 15 drivers in the history of the Snowball Derby.  Eddie Mercer has statistics that are better than those of several two-time winners. He was a contender at the Snowball Derby for a long time, even if he only got the one win in 2005. 

From his four pole awards to his four runner-up finishes, Mercer has some of the most impressive numbers in the December race. His lap leader total of 782 is second to only Derek Thorn, but Mercer has led the race on 12 different occasions.  

4 - Freddy Fryar

Starts: 20 | Wins: 2 | Top Fives: 7 | Top 10s: 11 | Poles: 1 | Laps Led: Unknown

There were several two-time winners before Freddy Fryar, but he was the first to contend for the win for a decade or more. He posted a runner-up finish in 1971 and finally came back to win in 1979.  He tacked on a second win in 1981 and did so from the pole. 

His quest wasn’t done there as he was second in 1982 and weather conditions could have made it a possible third win. In 1983 he was fourth, marking four top-five runs in five years.  

5 - Bobby Gill 

Starts: 20 | Wins: 2 | Top Fives: 6 | Top 10s: 8 | Poles: 3 | Laps Led: 657

Bobby Gill factored in more Snowball Derby wins than most of us realize in his generation. The 1993 and 1997 winner sat on the pole for the race three times and led nearly 700 laps during the December race.  

Gill was flagged the winner in 1999 before a scoring error was discovered. He had another one almost in his pocket in the tech line in 2006, but he was DQ'ed from second. He joke once that he won the race four times, but only got to keep it twice.  

6 - Gary St. Amant

Starts: 14 | Wins: 2 | Top Fives: 4 | Top 10s: 7 | Poles: 0 | Laps Led: 101

The moment he came on the scene Gary St. Amant was in love with the Snowball Derby. A winner in his first attempt in 1992, St. Amant was always in the mix at the Derby. In his next two seasons. He added a pair of top-10 finishes before he was second in 1998. 

In 1999 he was going for $100,000 to win, but saw his race come to an end before lap 50. He returned the next year to win the race in 2000 for his second win in the December race. In 2003 St. Amant had a near miss with a close finish with Charlie Bradberry. 

7 - Ty Majeski

Starts: 10 | Wins: 2 | Top Fives: 5 | Top 10s: 6 | Poles: 1 | Laps Led: 377

Majeski won two of the last four Snowball Derby races and has posted three other podium finishes in the race. His five top-five finishes have all come in the last nine years.  He’s led the race seven times for 377 laps, putting him among the race's elite. 

The 2015 polesitter has had a few near misses and is a member of the club of drivers who had to finish second before winning their first Snowball Derby. Overall, he’s been on the front row three times in his career. 

8 - Derek Thorn 

Starts: 11 | Wins: 1 | Top Fives: 4 | Top 10s: 6 | Poles: 4 | Laps Led: 1049

We are in the middle of watching Thorn’s legacy on the Snowball Derby, and to this point his numbers are staggering. In an era where competition is so much tighter, Thorn has surpassed the all-time lap leader mark for the event.  He’s also sat on the pole four times and the front row in each of the last five seasons. 

When he hasn’t won the race he’s been second twice and he’s added a third for four overall podium finishes. Thorn could be among the best if he keeps this pace going.

9 - Dickie Davis 

Starts: 6 | Wins: 2 | Top Fives: 4 | Top 10s: 4 | Poles: 0 | Laps Led: Unknown

He was the second driver to win the race twice and the first driver to have four podium finishes in his first four starts. We can only dream about what more could have been with this driver as he ended his racing career at the end of the 1970’s.  

The last big thrill from Davis came when he started the 1977 race on the outside of the front row.  Ed Howe was the polesitter and it was the first time in the race's history that former winners led the field to the green flag. That feat would not happen again until 2023. 

10 - Chase Elliott

Starts: 8 | Wins: 2 | Top Fives: 4 | Top 10s: 5 | Poles: 1 | Laps Led:411

Before the age of 21, Chase Elliott had done things at the Snowball Derby that most people could only dream of. Elliott was a winner at 16 and then again at the age of 20. Elliott has two front-row starts and three overall podium runs at the Derby. 

Elliott had led over 400 laps in the race and has completed 94% of the laps he’s run at Five Flags in the Snowball Derby. 

11 - Kyle Busch

Starts: 5 | Wins: 2 | Top Fives: 3 | Top 10s: 4 | Poles: 0 | Laps Led: 134

In only five starts Kyle Busch has made his legacy at Five Flags Speedway with two wins in the Snowball Derby. He’s been inside the top 10 on four of his five starts with only one DNF. 

His win in 2009 added his name to the Tom Dawson Trophy, but his return win in 2017 at the 50th running was all the more special as he came from behind to seal the deal in the final 15 laps.   

12 - Augie Grill

Starts: 16 | Wins: 2 | Top Fives: 3 | Top 10s: 4 | Poles: 0 | Laps Led:280

For a short stretch, Augie Grill was the man to beat at the Snowball Derby. He will even tell you he might not have had the best cars in the years he won. In 2007 he skillfully avoided trouble and took a semi-damaged car home to victory lane. A year later he came from 38th to win the race after post-race technical inspection. 

His quest for three in a row in 2009 was cut short when he got caught up in a wreck coming back to the front. Many felt he was a class above the field at the time and could have been the first three-peat winner.  

13 - Gary Balough

Starts: 8 | Wins: 2 | Top Fives: 2 | Top 10s: 3 | Poles: 2 | Laps Led: 297

It was all or nothing with Gary Balough at the Snowball Derby. The two times he won the Snowball Derby he did it from the pole and led the most laps in each race. Balough was strong in 1985 and got mixed up in some late pit stops in 1983 that cost him another shot.  

Balough led the race only a handful of times and tallied 268 laps led. Remember, he won his races at distances of 200 and 250 thus making his lap leader total smaller than what one would see today. It could easily be over 300.  

14 - Erik Jones

Starts: 6 | Wins: 2 | Top Fives: 2 | Top 10s: 3 | Poles: 0 | Laps Led: 142

Erik Jones captured the heart of the racing world with his tearful victory lane celebration after beating Kyle Busch in 2012. Jones, a young upstart at the time, went toe-to-toe with Busch and never backed down. A year later he would return to drive for Busch and score a second win after a disqualification in the tech line.  

He has since returned to run 10th, but we know he’s got some more solid Snowball Derby runs left in his tank. 

15 - Wayne Niedecken Sr. 

Starts: 8 | Wins: 2 | Top Fives: 3 | Top 10s: 4 | Poles: 0 | Laps Led: Unknown

Wayne Niedecken, Sr. was the inaugural winner and won not only the first race but the third running of the Snowball Derby as well. In 1968 he outlasted Bobby Allison for the win. A year later he came back to defend the title and finished third.  

In 1970 Niedecken returned and won the race again, this time over Denis Rewins. The 1970 race was the first at the 200-lap distance.  Niedecken was the first two-time winner. Despite only managing to post one more top 10 in his Snowball Derby career, Niedecken left his mark.