12/7/2025
Five Flags Speedway
Old, But Still Fast': Peltier Snatches Second Career Derby Pole; Busch Gets in Through Last Chance Victory
By Chuck Corder
5flagsspeedway.com reporter
Eight years ago, Preston Peltier sat on the pole of the biggest race in America.
He turned back the clock Saturday night as the 58th annual Snowball Derby presented by FloSports officially got underway after Mother Nature spoiled the party Thursday, Friday and most of Saturday.
In a qualifying field full of young hotshoes and NASCAR stars, Peltier laid down a blistering lap to reach the top of the Derby pile.
The 48-year-old driver’s time of 16.240 seconds was nearly a track record and will lead 36 cars to the green flag for Sunday afternoon’s 300-lap race for Super Late Models.
“I’m old, but still fast,” Peltier joked.
He topped two-time Derby champ Ty Majeski (16.301), who will start outside of Peltier. Hudson Bulger (16.319), Jake Finch (16.325) and Spencer Davis (16.327) rounded out the top-five.
Defending Derby champion Kaden Honeycutt made it comfortably, as did Cole Butcher—this year’s Deep South Cranes Blizzard Series track champion at Five Flags and winner of eight major SLM races across the country.
Score another one for the old dudes, as David Gilliland—the eldest driver in the Derby field at 49—qualified in the top-10.
Former Derby champion Derek Thorn and perennial contender Bubba Pollard made it into the show. Pollard is looking for his first career Derby win in his 18th appearance, the most starts without a victory.
Three former Derby champs were among those that didn’t qualify on time, including Cup Series legend and future hall-of-famer Kyle Busch.
While Busch was able to advance to the Derby by winning the last chance race—reduced to a 25-lap shootout instead of the traditional 50-lapper because of the weather—the other two Cup drivers fell short. Erik Jones, who won the Derby in back-to-back years (2012-2013), put up a valiant effort, but couldn’t quite reach that fourth and final transfer spot. Noah Gragson, the Derby winner in 2018, had car troubles all week and endured more issues both in qualifying and the last chance race.
The other three to advance from the last chance were Stephen Nasse, Derek Griffith and Jake Garcia.
“I wore myself out on that one,” said a relieved Garcia, who passed Cory Hall late in the 25-lapper. “I was gripping the steering wheel hard and holding my breath. It was as hard as you can go for 25 laps. I figured out where I was better than (Hall). I waited for him to have bad (Turn Nos.) 1 and 2 and made my move.
“We’re looking forward to (Sunday). This is a piece that can go from last to first.”
Top 10 in SBD Qualifying:
1 48 Preston Peltier, Kimberly, ID
2 91 Ty Majeski, Neenah, WI
3 17 Hudson Bulger, Ft. Valley, GA
4 51 Jake Finch, Lynn Haven, FL
5 96 Spencer Davis, Dawsonville, GA
6 3 Michael Atwell, Naples, FL
7 8 Jace Hansen, Berthoud, CO
8 98 David Gilliland, Troutman, NC
9 55 Haeden Plybon, Spokane, WA
10 1 Kasey Kleyn Quincy, WA
Kyle Busch, Stephen Nasse, Derek Griffin, and Jake Garcia make it into Derby in Last Chance Race.
Full results :
www.5flagsspeedway.com/schedules/event/557112)
Go to Schedule tab at top of page.
Article Credit: Chuck Corder
