The 2024 Snowball Derby saw a multitude of mishaps. First, the race faced an unexpected rain delay, and drivers could not hit the tracks for an hour. Then Ty Majeski’s car was damaged by a piece of debris at Five Flags Speedway. However, something that drew raised eyebrows from all competitors was a Hoosier innovation. The tire company decided to use the ST3 right sides alongside the ST1 left sides. And the results were not so appealing to many, including Chandler Smith.

That right side featured a harder sidewall. Yet before the final race, drivers were actually commending Hoosier. Late Model racing sensation Bubba Pollard said the brand did not compromise quality and consistency. Eventual race winner Kaden Honeycutt also commented on its better falloff nature. However, Smith and others changed their minds after the race.

Chandler Smith confesses Hoosier’s dislike

The Xfinity Series star left a trailblazer record this season. Gathering twin victories, 22 top-tens, and 17 top-fives, Chandler Smith was on a roll. He did not stop that passion for speed when the Superbowl of Late Model Racing rolled along. As the 2021 Snowball Derby winner, Smith was looking forward to his return to Five Flags Speedway. He drove the same chassis, Hamke Race Cars chassis No. 74, that brought him glory three years ago under Wilson Motorsports. Smith turned a lap of 16.498 in practice, landing a 2nd-place result alongside Derek Thorn.

However, race day reserved a new tire experience for him. Even defending race winner Ty Majeski faced problems. Running from the pole, the 2022 and 2023 Snowball Derby winner led for 192 laps. But Hoosier’s tires betrayed him with 18 laps left, as Majeski’s crew chief said. Chandler Smith also adopted a similar view following the race, where he finished 8th.

He confessed to Frontstretch: “I wasn’t a huge fan. I’ve had this problem since we started testing on Sunday… Some sets I put on were great, felt okay…Other sets I put on, I had vibration until we took the damn things off. And had that today, had a really, really bad vibration with one set of tires, took them off, out another set on.”

Chandler Smith had not run a Late Model race since April 2022, when Derek Thorn wrecked his car in a Southern Super Series race. He took chassis No. 74 to an ASA STARS victory at Owasso Speedway in Michigan. So despite holding onto his disfavor, Smith also conceded he does not have the expertise to say much. “I don’t know, I’m not really a fan of that and don’t remember having that on what we used to run. But I don’t really do this enough to have a good say or good influence on what they should or shouldn’t do.”

Despite the tire situation, Snowball Derby holds some precious memories for Smith.

An action which he did not regret

Trending

NASCAR Lawsuit: Both Parties Reach an Agreement as One Loses the First Bout

Rick Hendrick’s Company Drops a Surprise Christmas Gift for Chase Elliott & Co

“Gotta Do Better”: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Drops a Sad Christmas Realization With Heartfelt Wish

Amy Earnhardt Clears Up Dale Jr.’s Confusion With a “Protocol” for Meeting Her Needs

‘Old-School’ Drivers’ Stance Against Michael Jordan & Co Exposed as NASCAR Veteran Sends a Strong Message

The Snowball Derby race is the most awaited Late Model race in a year. Here, racers from various disciplines unite – ranging from dirt series to NASCAR. Legends like Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, and Dale Jarret have competed here – only Jarrett owns a victory though. So Chandler Smith’s determination to win the event in 2021 was unmatched.

For him, it came down to the age-old short-track question of doing what you needed to do versus doing what you wanted. So when Smith found that a bump-and-run on a restart with 11 laps to go was what he needed for the win, he went for it. Smith followed Thorn down the backstretch and gave him a shot into corner entry.

As a result, Thorn’s No. 43 spun up the track and Smith’s No. 26 got a lead that he did not relinquish. Although this action earned him a spot in Derek Thorn’s bad books, Chandler Smith was glad. Even recapitulating his victory this year, Smith said he still feels no regret. “I don’t cry a lot but I got pretty emotional watching that one back and it just shows how important winning that race was to me…If I didn’t do it, I wouldn’t have won. So yes, I don’t regret it at all. I still have the trophy and I wouldn’t have slept well until I raced the Derby the next year and gotten that trophy. I did what I felt was necessary.”

Although Chandler Smith could not replicate that emotional victory this year, he still finished in the top ten. If not for Hoosier, he could have performed better.