Even though it's completely random, the qualifying draw that took place on Wednesday night for the Snowball Derby has its own implications for Friday's ever important qualifying session. Drawing late versus early could perhaps make the difference in making the top thirty or being forced to compete through Saturday's last chance race.
In 2012 Snowball Derby pole sitter David Ragan went out 36th in the qualifying order, a position near the middle of the session and around the time when the sun has gone down after the 5:00pm start. What do the drivers want when they draw for their order?
"I don't want to be first and don't want to be last," echoed Ragan as well as a handful of other competitors.
Ragan drew a 19 for this year's session, while Johanna Long drew around Ragan's order last year with a 37. Long reunites with Freddie Query, her crew chief when she was fast qualifier in 2009.
One driver was not as lucky. 2013 Southern Super Series champion Daniel Hemric drew the number one from the selection of Jack Link's bags, ironically his sponsor in addition to the sponsor for the qualifying draw this year.
Historically, going out early in the session has not proved to be as advantageous. With the sun still setting at the five o'clock hour, the track is not always in optimal condition for faster speeds as it is late in the session when it has gone down.
Despite pulling a number for early in the session, defending Snowball Derby winner Erik Jones didn't seem very concerned due to the weather conditions expected throughout the week.
"I wish it would have been a little later, but we'll take it. I think with the way it's been a little damp this year we'll be alright," remarked Jones.
Perhaps the early favorite for the pole is 2013 All-American 400 winner Chase Elliott. Elliott was not in attendance, but Miss Snowball Derby Shailee Cole drew a 74 for him, the next to last car to go out to qualify. Elliott was fast qualifier for the Winchester 400 and did the same when he went out late in the session at Nashville.
Other notables pulling numbers for late in the session included 2012 outside front row starter John Hunter Nemechek, two-time Snowball Derby winner Augie Grill, and track record holder and former fast qualifier Bubba Pollard.
The full qualifying order can be found below. Any additional or late entries will move to the beginning of the qualifying order.
Daniel Hemric
Austin Theriault
Boris Jurkovic
Zak Hausler
Dakoda Armstrong
Donnie Wilson
Jeremy Pate
Erik Jones
Kyle Bryant
Jerry Artuso
Mason Mingus
Casey Smith
Cole Powell
Chad Finley
David Ragan
Paul Shafer, Jr.
Stephen Nasse
T.J. Reaid
Clay Rogers
Dwayne Buggay
Chris Wimmer
Justin South
Spencer Davis
Mark Kraus
Tim Martin
Hunter Robbins
Stephen Wallace
Steve Dorer
John Flemming
Kyle Grissom
Johanna Long
Derek Thorn
Chris Davidson
Logan Boyett
Ben Kennedy
Alex Labbe
Brady Boswell
Landon Cassill
Junior Niedecken
D.J. Shaw
Mike Garvey
Preston Peltier
Allen Karnes
Kyle Benjamin
Mason Massey
Josh Hamner
Scott Mulkern
Cale Gale
Anderson Bowen
Dennis Schoenfeld
Ross Kenseth
Bubba Pollard
Augie Grill
Grant Enfinger
Nathan Davis
John Hunter Nemechek
Lonnie Sommerville
Dalton Grindle
Jeff Fultz
David Rogers
Chase Elliott
Tyler Miles