Cole Butcher: Aiming for a Checkered Flag at The Snowball Derby
Cole Butcher in his Family owned Butcher Racing #53, Photo Courtesy of: Tanya Everett Photography
November 26th, 2023,
Introduction
Cole Butcher, renowned for his meticulous approach and unyielding resolve, prepares for the pinnacle event in Super Late Model (SLM) racing – the Snowball Derby, where he will pilot his #28 Donnie Wilson machine. Held at Five Flags Speedway, this event is a true test of skill and endurance for any driver. There has been so much coverage of this influential race over the years, and deservedly so, that it feels appropriate to suggest an internet search, or better yet a trip to the Panhandle of Florida: Pensacola, on the first weekend of December to learn more about the Snowball Derby and it's rich history first hand, in a more immersive manner.
Snowball Derby: The Apex of Super Late Model Racing
Regarded as the zenith of SLM races, the Snowball Derby stands apart. This year's entry list boasts over 52 drivers, with late surprises often elevating the competition to unparalleled levels.
With some exceptions, for example, some Northeast drivers who may consider the Oxford 250 to be the biggest race of all for them, it is fairly universally accepted that The Snowball Derby is the best of the best SLM race, with no need for hyperbole. From attracting guys like Chase Elliot & Kyle Busch fresh off of NASCAR Cup Series Championships, to playing a huge role in talent discovery for future NASCAR Cup Series drivers, such as Erik Jones who first won The Derby at age 16, as a then relatively unknown driver outside of Michigan, in only his first attempt. He followed this up with a second win, only the third driver to win back-to-back, after Rich Bickle & Augie Grill both did it. Sharing the podium with him in his first victory, was Kyle Busch who finished 3rd. It wasn't long after, that Erik Jones found his way into the NASCAR ranks, racing for Kyle Busch Motorsports, on his way to the top series, and this was no coincidence.
The number of elite drivers from all over that show up every year for The Derby are exceeded only by the number of stories in it's competitors and witnesses have to share. Throughout each race season, The Derby serves as a gold standard to be compared to. You will hear things like "This is almost a Derby calibre field" about a particularly strong marquee race line-up. This year's special circumstance ASA STARS National Tour race at North Wilksboro Speedway truly did have an incredible entry-list that really may rival this year's Derby with Chandler Smith, Erik Jones, Noah Gragson, Carson Hocevar, Stephen Nasse, Jeremy Doss, William Sawalich, Ty Majeski, Derek Thorn, Cole Butcher, Casey Roderick, Daniel Suarez, Sammy Smith, Chase Elliot, William Byron, Bubba Pollard, and another dozen or more top drivers who could have easily won that race. To be compared at this level, this bodes well for the Derby, which has a similarly strong line-up, and one which is not yet final. Add in the unfortunate rain delay in all odds influencing some of ASA race drivers at the North Wilksboro race to go home early before the Last Chance Race, and the Derby may still get the edge in driver line-up strength when it is all said and done.
Ultimately, the Derby victory is what many in a SLM want above all else, showcasing the best talents in the discipline each year, with too many entries and not enough starting spots, the high stakes and intense competition begin on qualifying night, and don't let up until the notoriously strict tech shed, Ricky Brooks' "Room of Doom" process is complete. Upon a declared official winner, this is a time when legends are made, and dreams are realized.
Butcher's Stellar Derby Record
Cole Butcher's Derby history is a montage of consistent top-tier performances, marked by three top-five finishes. His track record since his debut in 2017 - 15th, 9th, 3rd, 6th, 3rd, 5th - speaks volumes of his racing acumen. Butcher’s ability to maintain such high consistency sets him apart as a serious contender for this year's crown. Though he has been scored with 2 laps led - both in the 2019 running, he has been knocking on the door year after year.
Derek Thorn's Record-Breaking Streak
While not as overall consistent over that 6 previous race stretch as Butcher, comparatively, Derek Thorn's recent Derby performances have rewritten records. Even with his historic run, in the same 6 most recent races as Butcher span (Thorn ran 2016, and not 2017), Thorn, who had pre-2016 finishes of: 25th, 9th, 3rd, and 9th, had finishes of: 12th, 12th, 15th, 2nd, 2nd, 1st. Thorn's last three years, though, have been the definition of historic, culminating in a commanding win last year. Thorn, who will be back again this year, though for the #7 team instead of his more familiar #43 team, led: 252 lap, 287 laps, and 312 laps respectively over the last 3 Snowball Derby races. Not only has Thorn now led the most laps of any driver cumulatively in The Derby, but his 312 is the most for one Derby ever. If you're wondering how the number exceeds 300, it is because the race must end under a green-white-checkered flag - at least 2 consecutive laps run under green. In fact, it was only #26c Chandler Smith 3 years ago that was able to keep up with him enough to give him the bumper at the end of the race, and make a late pass, and only #91 Ty Majeski 2 years ago who was able to keep up with him late, and make the move to take the win. Last year, there would be no such competition for Thorn.
Endless Talent Vying for the Trophy
Speaking of Majeski, in the time that he has run the Derby, he has easily been one of the very best. You could argue that he lost more than one Derby on pit road, during the live pit stop era. In his 9 starts, he has 4 podiums, mixed in and around 5 finishes of 10th, or in the teens. While you may be able to point to a select few drivers who have been better than Butcher at the Derby over the past half decade, it is very hard to argue, outside of maybe Thorn on the strength of the past 3 years, that anyone has been as consistent, if not more consistent. Empowered by the Donnie Wilson Motorsports team, Butcher has been inching towards leading laps, or even taking the win. Standing in his way, will be drivers like #26 Bubba Pollard who has won virtually everything there is to win in a Pro/Super Late Model, and has the most wins at Five Flags Speedway, with well over 20 SLM wins there. Pollard will be making his 16th attempt at the Tom Dawson Trophy, along with many other elite talents vying for their first.
Sunday, December 3rd, 2023 The Motorsports World at large will be watching about 34 cars take to green, the stage is being set for a fiercely contested race, and soon, it will all be down to the race itself… and who even manages to qualify for it. Qualifying, set to take place Friday, December 1st, is for many the most stressful, high tension night in racing, and the most challenging, too. Routinely seeing small fractions of a second separating the 1st place from the 30th place driver (the last driver to make it on time), the competition is extremely tight, and mistakes cannot be afforded, big or small.
