December 9, 2025
Pensacola, FL — The final Modifieds of Mayhem event of 2025 had enthralling action and unexpected storylines around every corner, with Kaden Honeycutt ultimately prevailing to win the Snowball Derby 75 on Tuesday night.
Qualifying in second position, Honeycutt showed serious speed in his no. 30 Modified from the get-go. However, Honeycutt was surrounded by some serious competition at the start of the race.
Pole-sitter Derrick Griffin set a new track record with his qualifying lap of 17.220 seconds. Also around Honeycutt at the start of the race was Cody Stickler, who set out on a quest to earn his fifth consecutive Modifieds of Mayhem Snowball Derby win.
Things went sideways for both Griffin and Stickler however, which played into Honeycutt’s hands. Griffin faced engine issues at the very start, which became an intermittent issue throughout the night.
Stickler started the night by establishing a rather impressive lead, but it didn’t take long for Honeycutt to catch up. The red flag flew for an incident with just 21 laps completed, and Honeycutt propelled past Stickler to the lead on the ensuing restart. Honeycutt never looked back, but Stickler would begin to face handling issues that eventually sidelined him towards the end of the event.
After Stickler’s issues, Honeycutt found himself fending off a contingent of Midwestern Modified juggernauts en route to victory lane. Behind Honeycutt, Kyle Purvis and Matt Dimit rounded out the podium in second place and third place respectively.
Honeycutt is no stranger to victory lane at Five Flags Speedway, specifically during Derby weekend, and he can now add a Modifieds of Mayhem victory to that list. Part of this effort was a collaboration between Honeycutt and John Heil’s team, along with the Chevrolet Performance CT525 engine that powered Honeycutt’s drive to success.
“[Heil] was definitely tired of losing this race four years in a row. I haven’t even made it past Lap 5 the past two times I’ve ran it,” said Honeycutt. “This car was amazing, it was just a rocket ship tonight. Hopefully we get to do it some more throughout the years.”
Kyle Purvis has made the trip to Five Flags Speedway from Marion, Ohio on several occasions. Purvis was understandably emotional in victory lane, coming ever so close to victory in this particular event once again with another second place finish.
“We were just talking to Stan [Narrison]. I don’t know how many second places we’ve had down here. When you come down here, you run against the best. I’m kinda speechless…one of these years we’re gonna win it. Just don’t know when.”
Matt Dimit had a phenomenal year in 2025, claiming his third straight Midwest Modifieds Tour title. He now caps off his season with a podium effort in the Snowball Derby 75.
“We had about 15 laps of practice and that was it,” commented Dimit. “Laid down a good qualifying lap, pretty decent car in the race. I just didn’t have anything for Honeycutt. They had a hotrod.”
Purvis and Dimit were just two examples of drivers venturing from the near and far to participate in the Snowball Derby 75. Even with unsavory weather conditions all week long forcing some teams to load up and go home early, the field of 31 cars still proved to be full of talent.
One entrant who stayed despite the weather and delays was Stephen Nasse, who just scored the biggest possible victory in short track racing.
Just one day after a prized triumph in the 58th annual Snowball Derby, Nasse returned to action in the no. 21 Modified. Nasse unfortunately encountered early issues, finishing in 30th position.
Mother Nature plagued the original plan for the Modifieds of Mayhem to run on Friday, December 5th, with the Snowball Derby 75 being moved at first to Monday, December 8th.
One interruption just wasn’t enough for Mother Nature though, with inclement weather forcing the 58th annual Snowball Derby to move to Monday, meaning that the Modifieds were moved yet again—this time to Tuesday, December 9th—as a result.
MoM Snowball Derby 75 Results
- Kaden Honeycutt
- Kyle Purvis
- Matt Dimit
- Richie Smith
- Ryan Price
- Matthew LaPrade
- Brad Bowman
- Ander Jackson
- Kevin Peel
- Jared Maupin
- Steven Davis
- Brad Stell
- Malcolm Spears -1 lap
- Joe Aramendia -1 lap
- Parker Pugh -2 laps
- Cody Stickler -6 laps
- Cody Brake -6 laps
- Dillon Zalenski -7 laps
- Matthew Elsey Jr. -10 laps
- Derrick Griffin -15 laps
- Aaron McMorran -20 laps
- Max Calles -21 laps
- Alton Berry -21 laps
- Taylor Cook -21 laps
- Bubba VanDevender -24 laps
- Jaxon Bishop -25 laps
- Todd Jones -35 laps
- Jamie Sites -38 laps
- Chad Richardson -38 laps
- Stephen Nasse -41 laps
- Thomas Mays -55 laps
-per Modifieds of Mayhem press release
Photo: Daniel Vining
Liberty Racing Review 