Bubba Wallace Hopes to Compete in Snowball Derby This December

If all goes according to plan, Bubba Wallace will be adding a new race to his 2023 schedule after the NASCAR Cup Series season is over.

On Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway ahead of qualifying for Sunday’s Yellawood 500, Wallace announced his intentions to make his first appearance at the Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway, the biggest race in pavement Super Late Model competition.

While the deal is not finalized yet, Wallace is excited for the opportunity to take part in the marquee event should it come to fruition.

"Trying to run the Snowball Derby for the first time this year," said Wallace. "That is not relaxing at all, and a little more work. I'm looking forward to that if it can all work out."

Wallace was not a frequent competitor in Super Late Models during the formative years of his racing career. His most notable accomplishments before moving on to what is now known as ARCA Menards Series East came in Legends cars, although he did win a UARA STARS Late Model Series event at Caraway Speedway in 2008.

In 2017, Wallace competed in the Super Late Model portion of the inaugural U.S. Short Track Nationals at Bristol Motor Speedway. Driving for Fat Head Racing, Wallace took the win ahead of Jake Crum and Chandler Smith in one of his few Super Late Model appearances.

Bubba Wallace won the Super Late Model portion of the inaugural U.S. Short Track Nationals at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2017.

The Snowball Derby is a 300-lap Super Late Model race held every December at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida. The event draws racers from across the United States and Canada in hopes of winning one of the biggest events in all of short track racing.

Along with the top Super Late Model drivers in North America, the prestigious event often draws NASCAR competitors looking to get on track during the offseason, such as Kyle Busch when he won the event’s 50th running in 2017.

Last year’s Snowball Derby entries included NASCAR Cup Series competitors William Byron, Erik Jones and Brad Keselowski.

The 56th Annual Snowball Derby is scheduled for November 30-December 3. This year’s event will boast a record purse, with $35,000 going to the winner. Second place will pay $20,000, with third place taking home $10,000 and every driver who qualifies for the field making at least $2,000.

-Featured photo credit: Tyson Gifford