The Snowball Derby is more than a race for stock car fans—it’s a proving ground where drivers from all across the country come to see if they have what it takes to become a short-track legend. Each December at Pensacola’s Five Flags Speedway, the best in the business clash for motorsport glory. This year, fan-favorite and veteran short track hero Bubba Pollard, still chasing his elusive Derby win, joined forces with rising Dale Earnhardt Jr‘s 20-year-old NASCAR star Sammy Smith.

Their pairing—mixing Pollard’s hard-earned expertise with Smith’s raw talent—had all the ingredients for success. However, the important question to ask is—would their combined efforts pay off under the spotlight?

Bubba Pollard the lone wolf and Sammy Smith, a rising star

For Bubba Pollard, the Snowball Derby has been a frustrating puzzle. He’s dominated Five Flags Speedway for years—26 wins, two Snowflake 100 victories, and four Blizzard Series titles—but a Derby win remains agonizingly out of reach. In his 18 previous attempts, he’s come close but never crossed the line first. This year, Pollard added another dimension to his Derby preparation: running a second car for Sammy Smith. The pairing was no random act. Smith revealed that his new crew chief, Philip Bell, is Bubba Pollard’s cousin, and the connection opened the door for collaboration.

“I was planning on running it from the start of the year and then I had my crew chief change middle of the year. He’s Philip Bell. He’s cousins with Bubba. So it kind of all came together and he’s down here with me and some of my Xfinity guys.”, Smith told Frontstretch Grassroots.

Bubba Pollard, who usually flies solo, admitted the partnership has had its perks. “It’s good having someone to bounce ideas off,” he said. “Sam’s a good kid, [he’s] just very respectful and fun so we’ve had a great time and hopefully we continue and both can have good runs tomorrow.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr‘s mentee Sammy Smith, meanwhile, embraced the opportunity to learn from one of short-track racing’s best. “Working with Bubba has been great,” he said. “He knows this track inside out. So working through today, I felt really happy yesterday we made a lot of progress and felt like we need to work on it a little bit. Still after final practice, not the happiest with the car, but it’s a long race tomorrow, so you gotta keep working at it.” Pollard also faced a packed schedule, fielding cars for both the Snowflake 100 and the Derby while managing his family’s Senoia Raceway. “It’s been hectic,” he admitted. “Bringing a second car made things tougher, but we wanted to give it everything we’ve got.”

Snowball Derby drama and results

When race day arrived, the 2024 Snowball Derby delivered its usual dose of high-octane drama. Kaden Honeycutt emerged as the hero, claiming his first Derby victory in a nail-biting finish. Honeycutt grabbed the lead with 19 laps to go, fending off a determined Stephen Nasse, who made a daring last-lap move that fell just short.

For Bubba Pollard and Sammy Smith, the day didn’t unfold as they’d hoped. Smith finished 7th, a respectable effort but far from the podium. Pollard, meanwhile, struggled with late-race handling issues and ended up 14th. It was another year without the coveted trophy for Pollard, but have no worries he’ll be back.

While they didn’t conquer the Snowball Derby this year, the Pollard-Smith pairing showcased potential. Pollard’s expertise and Smith’s raw talent created a dynamic mix that could pay dividends in future races. For Pollard, the dream of winning the Derby remains alive. For Smith, the experience was another step in a promising career that continues to build momentum.