Two Young Guns Part of Ben Kennedy Racing Snowball Derby Effort

This year, Ben Kennedy Racing brings two cars to the Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway. Along with Daniel Dye, Kaden Honeycutt joins the team in a second car, giving the team two young drivers who both had a strong showing at last year's Derby.

"It's very encouraging and good to have two teams, doubling up on our opportunity to have a good weekend," said Ben Kennedy Racing General Manager Jimmy Kitchens. "It's encouraging to have two guys with the race experience and savvy they have to work with each other."

Last year, Daniel Dye was the highest finishing Snowball Derby rookie, coming home 14th after qualifying sixth. Meanwhile, Honeycutt scored a top-five finish after qualifying second.

Despite last year's success, neither drivers is overconfident entering the 54th Annual Snowball Derby presented by Hooters.

"It's the biggest competition that I'll face all year," explained Dye. "It's the Snowball Derby. I know I qualified sixth last year and ran pretty well, but it's the Snowball Derby. Some guys win the race and can't make it again. Noah [Gragson]'s won the race and missed it last year. Chase [Elliott]'s won it and had to run the LCQ. Bubba [Pollard] had to get a provisional.

There are these super-talented drivers who don't make the race. It's definitely nerve-wracking. It's the biggest two laps of your entire year, just to make the biggest race of the year."

"It's going to take a lot of things going into place to win," echoed Honeycutt. "In my opinion, Ty Majeski should have three or four wins to his name, but stuff just didn't fall the right way.

"You've got to have luck, a good race car and be able to make things happen. It's very hard to win these races. A lot of stuff can happen. You've just got to be on top of your game."

While Honeycutt has been no stranger to working with teammates, both in his previous Super Late Model endeavors and on the CARS Late Model Stock Tour this season alongside Justin Johnson, the dynamic will be a new one for Dye.

"It makes it easier to try more things. When you have two race cars, you can try things and figure out results quicker than usual," said Dye. "I'll race him a little bit nicer, not that I race anyone like a jerk. It's good to have someone to lean on a little bit, hear Kaden's thoughts on some stuff."

"Instead of competing against each other, lean on each other, confide in each other," added Kitchens. "If it comes down to the last five laps, all bets are off. But until then, build a bond, if one of you is struggling, we can talk about it."

With two cars and two quality drivers, Kitchens hopes this gives the team two solid chances to score the biggest win in pavement Super Late Model racing.

"It would be incredible for Ben Kennedy Racing to compete with two cars," said Kitchens. "Any time you can win a marquee race like the Snowball Derby, it's something that lasts a lifetime. It establishes your race team at a different level.

"We've always been competitive. Getting to the level to win a race like this, it would change the dynamics of where we are as a team, from being competitive to being a winner at the Snowball Derby, it changes the dynamics for everybody."