After an intense five-day battle at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida, the Snowball Derby and most prestigious 300-lap short track race finally has a winner. 21-year-old Craftsman Truck Series driver Kaden Honeycutt took home the Tom Dawson Trophy after a three-year hiatus. Honeycutt is no stranger to Super Late Model racing and has competed in the CARS Tour “Late Model Stock Car Division” since 2021.
During his stint with the tour, he secured two wins, 12 top-tens, 7 top-fives, and Late Model Stock Tour Rookie of the Year. Sunday’s win was the icing on the cake for Honeycutt, who came up short at Five Flags Speedway in 2020. Super Late Model racing is far from his strongest suit, but he clearly defied those odds on Sunday.
How Kaden Honeycutt Defied the Odds
Kaden Honeycutt went into the Snowball Derby unsure how he would fare against two-time winner Ty Majeski and NASCAR pillars Stephen Nasse, Bubba Pollard, and Chandler Smith. Hoping to redeem himself from the fifth-place finish in 2020, he joined forces with Jett Motorsports to pilot the No. 21 Pro Late Model. However, he got a shaky starting during pre-race qualifying, 2.8 seconds shy of Ty Majeski.
Honeycutt lost his chance for a pole but started the race on the outside, which gave him a head start. Though he started in front, an intense on-track battle ensued with Majeski, who pressed for the lead. Honeycutt regained the lead, but Stephen Nasse soon worked his way in with 20 laps to go. The two were locked in a dead heat until turn 3 of the final lap when Honeycutt locked in the checkered flag. Kaden Honeycutt recalled his thoughts before he reached the checkered flag as intense.
He knew Stephen Nasse was closing in on him and told himself to maintain focus and not look back. Once his spotter alerted him that Nasse was only a single car length behind, he throttled up, denying him the victory. Winning the 57th annual Snowball Derby marks a new beginning for the standout. He never thought the win possible, but it’s obvious his time in the CARS Tour, ARCA West, and Craftsman Series totaled the victory.
“I was trying not to look in the mirror,” “Once my spotter told me Nasse was two back on the backstretch on the white, he said to drive it in hard, so I drove it in hard,” Kaden Honeycutt said of his on-track encounter.
The Taste of Long-Awaited Victory
Kaden Honeycutt has officially added a Snowball Derby title to his list of accomplishments, but it still seems surreal. The No. 21 driver wasn’t anticipating the outcome due to the competition on the track, but he’s pleased. He credited being able to work on mock runs during Sunday pre-testing as a success factor.
Still, he didn’t feel the runs were enough to overtake reigning champ Ty Majeski. Majeski is a beast on the track, clocking 86.276 mph on average, which Honeycutt knew would be tough to overcome. Moreover, it wasn’t until he was behind the wheel of the No. 21 on race day and could test the waters that he felt comfortable.
He knew he had to start and stay in front for a fair shot at winning, and he did just that. Honeycutt has worked tirelessly to taste the sweetness of long-awaited victory, but it’s just the beginning. Kaden Honeycutt plans to run full-time 2025 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Niece Motorsports, so larger growth awaits.
Final Thoughts
Kaden Honeycutt’s Pro Late Model victory at Five Flags Speedway on Sunday is miraculous and overwhelming. Going into the race, the 21-year-old did not foresee being able to fend off the previous champs, Derek Thorn, Ty Majeski, and Stephen Nasse. Still, he held strong, seemingly fighting with Majeski to maintain the lead and Nasse in the last 20 laps.
He was initially uncertain because anything can happen when two drivers are battling for the leading position. All it takes is one loose end, and a driver can etch their way in to win. Honeycutt prevailed and was able to tie up all loose ends to walk away with hopefully the first of many Snowball Derby victories.
