On-track activities for the 57th Annual Snowball Derby officially kicked off on Thursday. Due to mother nature, Super Late Model teams had their practice cut by an hour, but were still able to make the most out of the two hours of track time.

Returning to the Snowball Derby for the first time since his win in 2021, Chandler Smith led the pack in overall practice speeds turning a lap of 16.498 in the Donnie Wilson-owned No.2 just ahead of 2022 and 2023 race winners Derek Thorn and Ty Majeski.

Smith was able to join Wilson Motorsports for a pair of test sessions last weekend and left feeling good about his chances at a second Tom Dawson Trophy.  

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“I feel like our Toyota Camry isn’t bad, it’s in the ballpark.  We came down here Sunday testing and had some mechanical failures, but we got them cleaned up for the Monday test.  We were really able to build a good notebook going into this weekend,” said Smith.  “I feel like track conditions were really good Monday so we were able to rely on those notes, as where most of the time you go test for the Derby and you take everything you learned with a grain of salt.  Everything that we learned from the test to apply to this weekend has paid off.”

It is Smith’s seventh appearance at the Snowball Derby, but this one just may be the most special one yet.  It’s his first Derby with his family, returning to Five Flags with the same team and in the same car he won with three years ago.

“It means a lot, especially now that I have two kids.  Being able to have a chance and being in a really good racecar, I’m in the same car that I won the Derby in 2021.  To be back in that car with these group of guys and racing for Wilson Motorsports with my family and kids here, I’m really excited.  It’s going to be an awesome week.”

Derek Thorn has established permanent residence at the top of the speed charts at the Snowball Derby over the past five years.  He once again found himself second on the overall speed charts after practice Thursday.

VIDEO: FloRacing caught up with Derek Thorn during the Drive to the Derby. 

The 2022 race winner has started on the front row of the Derby every year since 2019, which includes four poles in the five-year run.  He holds the all-time mark for laps led in the race.

“Everything’s so far, so good.  It’s been good since we unloaded it.  I can’t think the Shafer Motorsports guys enough.  Just to have the opportunity to come to the Derby is really awesome,” said Thorn.  “To unload and have good speed is also awesome as well.  There’s a stout field of cars, anytime you can sit near the top of the board, you’re in a good spot.  Tires will change, the track will change, but so far, so good.”

This weekend is Thorn’s second year partnering with Indiana-based Shafer Motorsports, culminating with another Snowball Derby run.  Last year’s maiden run resulted in a pole, and now they look to finish their second Derby attempt with a win.

“It’s a fun group.  We don’t get to race a whole lot throughout the year like everybody else, so I think our notebook’s not necessarily as thick.  We sure have a lot of fun and these guys work their butts off to make up for it and I think we’ve put ourselves in a good spot.  Keep making some changes and hopefully Sunday it means well for us.”

Reigning Spears SRL Southwest Tour champion Buddy Shepherd shot up the charts in his first official Snowball Derby practice session, finding himself third on the speed charts after practice one and ending the afternoon fourth.

“We brought a pretty good car with us.  It felt pretty good to go out there with the top guys in the country our first Derby and put down a lap like that.  We were pretty excited after the first run, so we worked on the balance the second practice and put some older tires on,” said Shepherd.  “We didn’t do a whole lot, we definitely need to find some speed there but I think our qualifying package is pretty close.”

Shepherd was able to make the cross-country trek from California to compete in the Blizzard Series finale in September to prepare for his maiden Snowball Derby attempt.  Not only did he earn a top-ten in the race, he also believes it has allowed him to speed up preparations for Friday night’s qualifying session and Sunday’s race.

“It was good to come out here and see the place in September before we came here for the Derby.  I feel like we’re a little bit more up to speed and instead of learning the racetrack, we’re working on the car.  It’s been working out really good for us.”

Full results from both Super Late Model practice sessions can be viewed below. 

On-track action for Super Late Models resumes at 10 a.m. CT on Friday morning as teams continue to prepare for Friday night's all-important qualifying session. 

Every lap of on-track action at the 57th Annual Snowball Derby can be streamed live on FloRacing. If you're not already a FloRacing subscriber, click here to sign up today. 

Snowball Derby Practice Results - #1

Snowball Derby Practice Results - #2