Few races in short track history deliver the drama, intensity, and heartbreak of the Snowball Derby. Over the years, the crown jewel of Super Late Model racing at Five Flags Speedway has produced unforgettable moments of both triumph and shattered dreams. 

From last-lap crashes to penalties that erased victories, these are the stories that have left drivers stunned. Here’s a look back at the top 10 heartbreaks in Snowball Derby history — moments that prove just how cruel one of racing’s biggest stage can be.

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1968 - Red Farmer Dominating The First

It was a story of what could have been. Red Farmer was a big-time racer in the late 1960’s and when the announcement came up for the first Snowball Derby, he was more than ready.  However, a crash on Saturday in practice left him without a ride momentarily. A quick deal came together, and Farmer had a new ride and won the pole for Sunday’s race. He was leading the race when he crashed out of the then 100-lap race.  

Farmer was never a major threat to win the race again until the 1987 Snowball Derby when he finished second to Butch Miller. That was the closest he got to winning, other than the inaugural race in 1968. Farmer still holds the record for most starts in a row and most starts without a win.  

1978 - 19-Year Old Mark Martin Nearly Wins The Snowball 

Mark Martin was just 19 years old when he won the ASA Championship and the Redbud 300 in 1978. But what stands out most from that year for Martin isn’t a victory — it’s the one that got away at the 1978 Snowball Derby.

Martin went wheel-to-wheel with fellow young star Dave Mader III in a thrilling duel over the final laps. Mader made the decisive move in Turn 3 coming to the white flag, passing Martin to take the win.

Martin handled the loss with grace, but even decades later, it’s a finish he likely wishes he could replay.

1990 - Junior Niedecken’s Near Miss

At the time, Junior Niedecken was the biggest Late Model driver in Pensacola. A dominant force at Five Flags Speedway and the undisputed king of Gulf Coast Late Model racing, he had done it all — except win the Snowball Derby, a feat his father had accomplished twice.

The 1990 season began slowly, with Niedecken going winless at Pensacola until July. From there, he caught fire, winning six of the final seven races, including two 100-lap events, setting the stage for what felt like his year.

When Snowball Derby weekend arrived, Niedecken started 24th — hardly a favorite. But as the race passed the 200-lap mark, he took the lead, prompting Bob Harmon of All Pro to radio that Junior’s wife should head to the grandstands or tower because her husband was about to win the Derby. Moments later, Rich Bickle passed Niedecken and went on to take the victory, snatching away what seemed like destiny.

The loss was crushing, and it took Niedecken months to move past the heartbreak.

1991 - Jeff Purvis Dominates, But Bickle Wins Again

You could point to nearly any Snowball Derby race Jeff Purvis lost in the 1990s and call it a heartbreak. Time after time, he led more than 100 lap but the trophy always slipped away.

The 1991 Snowball Derby stands out most. Purvis started fourth and dominated, leading a race-high 194 laps before a flat tire dropped him out of the top 10. He managed to recover from a spin, but never regained the form that made him the class of the field earlier in the day.

Afterward, Purvis admitted the loss was hard to swallow, saying it made him “sick to think about.”

1994 - Eddie Mercer Finishes Second to Tammy Jo Kirk 

Ask any Eddie Mercer fan, and they’ll tell you she was a lap down. It’s water under the bridge now — Mercer earned his Snowball Derby victory in 2005 — but the loss still stings for many, including Mercer himself.

The 1994 Snowball Derby was memorable for several reasons. It marked the first year Five Flags Speedway had walls surrounding the entire track. The race featured 21 cautions, with 133 laps run under yellow, adding to the confusion.

With late pit stops, an advertised distance of 327 laps, and no electronic scoring system in place, the stage was set for chaos. When officials in the tower cleared and confirmed Tammy Jo Kirk as the winner, the Mercer and Purvis teams were left shocked and heartbroken.

1999 - Bobby Gill And The Scoring Issue 

The toughest part about the $100,000 Snowball Derby might have been that Bobby Gill, like a few drivers after him, went through the full victory lane celebration before having the win taken away. 

Gill, along with Gary St. Amant and Rich Bickle, had a shot at the $100,000 bonus if they could win the race.

St. Amant dropped out early and later joked that he was nearly home by the time the race ended, following lengthy delays and a scoring dispute. Initially, it appeared Bickle had finished second to Gill, but a review of the scorecards revealed that Bickle had actually completed one more lap, giving him the victory.

Gill took the setback in stride, but having to return the trophy after celebrating made the moment especially painful. The win would have been his third Tom Dawson Trophy.

2011 VanderLey Goes Toe-To-Toe With Elliott

For a moment, everything was perfect for DJ VanderLey. For four and a half laps, he went door to door with one of motorsports’ brightest young stars, Chase Elliott, as the crowd stood and held its breath, waiting to see who would prevail.

The duel was an instant classic until Turn 3 on the final lap, when VanderLey drove in a little too deep. Elliott slipped ahead and took the victory, claiming the Snowball Derby. After the race, VanderLey showed his sportsmanship, congratulating Elliott in a memorable exchange between the two.

VanderLey returned to the Derby a few more times, but his car was never quite as strong as it was that season. Still, fans will never forget that incredible finish, which will go down as one of the most thrilling in Snowball Derby history.

2015 - Zane Smith And The Yellow That Didn't Wave

What makes Zane Smith’s 2015 Snowball Derby heartbreak so painful is how close he came — and how quickly it slipped away.

With only a few laps remaining, John Hunter Nemechek was leading when his car caught fire under the hood. Christopher Bell took over the top spot as Nemechek limped around the track with smoke pouring from his machine. The smoke was so thick that many — including Smith — expected a caution flag to fly.

Anticipating a yellow, Smith lifted off the gas, allowing Chase Elliott to pass him for second. Moments later, Nemechek pitted, Bell took the checkered flag, and Elliott crossed the line in second.

But the drama wasn’t over. In post-race inspection, Bell was disqualified for a left-side weight infraction, handing the win to Elliott. That left Smith to face a harsh realization: if he hadn’t slowed, he would have been the 2015 Snowball Derby champion.

2017 - Pollard Gets Beat By The Long Run

Bubba Pollard had the car to beat at the 2017 Snowball Derby. Starting from the outside pole, he led 157 laps and looked poised to claim his first Tom Dawson Trophy. But the second set of tires proved troublesome. Jeff Choquette charged hard, battling Pollard for the lead and forcing him to push earlier than planned.

That early pressure opened the door for Kyle Busch, who had been saving his tires for a late run. As the leaders waited for a caution that never came, for the first time in 11 years the race went green to the finish over the final 80 laps. 

In the end, both Pollard and Choquette were left heartbroken, outfoxed by a NASCAR Cup Series champion when they had the better cars that day. 

2021 - The Late Race Yellow Thorn Didn't Need

To win the Snowball Derby, you often have to lose one first. Derek Thorn knows that better than anyone. When he climbed from his car after the 2021 Snowball Derby, the sting of defeat was unmistakable.

Thorn had dominated the race, winning the pole and leading 287 laps. It appeared his long-awaited Tom Dawson Trophy was finally within reach. But on the final restart, Chandler Smith seized the moment, making an aggressive move to take the lead and the eventual victory. Thorn closed the gap in the final laps but ran out of time to reclaim the top spot.

A year later, Thorn got his redemption by returning to Five Flags Speedway and capturing the Snowball Derby victory that had eluded him for so long.