PENSACOLA, Fla. — Josh Berry has won a lot of big-time late model races during his career. But he’s never won the Snowball Derby.
Berry will get that chance Sunday after winning the pole for the 55th annual event at Five Flags Speedway during qualifying on Friday night.
Driving the No. 26 super late model for War Rackley Racing, Berry turned a fast lap of 16.333 seconds on the legendary half-mile track.
The 32-year-old NASCAR Xfinity Series regular has only one previous Snowball Derby start, finishing sixth in 2019.
“It’s pretty awesome,” Berry said. “I can’t thank this team for bringing me here to race. It’s been a lotta fun. We’ve had a good week. We’ve worked smart and made the car better each time we’ve been on the racetrack. That’s all you could ask for.”
Derek Thorn, who had won the Snowball Derby pole three consecutive years, qualified second with a lap of 16.378 seconds.
Conner Jones, Matt Craig and Noah Gragson rounded out the top five qualifiers.
NASCAR Cup Series driver and team owner Brad Keselowski will be among those racing through Saturday’s last chance race after timing 43rd of the 50 drivers who took time.
Qualifying Results
1. Josh Berry – 16.333; 2. Derek Thorn – 16.378; 3. Conner Jones – 16.388; 4. Matt Craig – 16.396; 5. Noah Gragson – 16.402; 6. Carson Kvapil – 16.420; 7. Giovanni Ruggiero – 16.429; 8. Jacob Gomes – 16.457; 9. Austin Nason – 16.458; 10. Ryan Luza – 16.458; 11. Jace Hansen – 16.465; 12. Erik Jones – 16.470; 13. William Byron – 16.472; 14. Bubba Pollard – 16.473; 15. Ty Majeski – 16.481; 16. Cole Butcher – 16.494; 17. Jake Garcia – 16.508; 18. Luke Fenhaus – 16.513; 19. Corey Heim – 16.529; 20. Hunter Robbins – 16.535; 21. Jeremy Doss – 16.536; 22. Daniel Dye – 16.559; 23. Dustin Smith – 16.569; 24. Albert Francis – 16.580; 25. Casey Roderick – 16.592; 26. Blaine Rocha – 16.598; 27. Tyler Tanner – 16.603; 28. Sammy Smith – 16.606; 29. Michael Hinde – 16.611; 30. Jake Finch – 16.622; 31. Derek Griffith – 16.639; 32. Jesse Love – 16.646; 33. Michael House – 16.648; 34. John Bolen – 16.653; 35. Stephen Nasse – 16.655; 36. Derek Kraus – 16.655; 37. Preston Peltier – 16.656; 38. Casey Johnson – 16.658; 39. Augie Grill – 16.664; 40. Johnny Clark – 16.668; 41. Zach Telford – 16.687; 42. Billy Van Meter – 16.694; 43. Brad Keselowski – 16.719; 44. Brad May – 16.721; 45. Michael Simko – 16.744; 46. Boris Jurkovic – 16.763; 47. Connor Mosack – 16.798; 48. George Gorham, Jr. – 16.798; 49. Haeden Plybon – 16.915; 50. Harold Crooms – 16.954; 51. Connor Okrzesik – No Time