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Denny Hamlin eyes Snowball Derby as race to run in 2021

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From familiar faces and redemption runs to Michael Jordan's brand new racing team, NASCAR on NBC takes a look at the top storylines going into the 2021 season.

Three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin says he wants to run more short track events this year, culminating with the Snowball Derby in December.

Hamlin, who raced Late Models before moving to NASCAR and Joe Gibbs Racing, knows the challenge he faces.

“I know personally I’m going to go and start racing more Late Models (in 2021),” he told NBC Sports. “It’s been a few years since I’ve done that. Really not Late Models like I’m used to running. It’s more on the Super Late Models.

“I have maybe one race under my belt in my entire life in a Super Late Model. The end goal being is to compete in the Snowball Derby. I’m going to spend the year kind of working through that process and trying to figure out what techniques I need to have and learning and getting better. That way I can continue to give back to the short-track community.”

As for why the Snowball Derby, Hamlin said it’s simple. He’s a racer.

“It’s the part of the year where you start to get the bug again,” Hamlin told NBC Sports. “Your season ends in the first couple of weeks in November and you enjoy some time off.

“It just seems like that first week in December you’re like, ‘All right, now what?’ and the Snowball comes on and you’re like ‘Gosh, I wish I was running the race.’

“I say that year after year. It’s something that I want to try to compete in. Now that I have my own race team (with 23XI Racing), I’ve got the equipment. I just need a car at this point. It makes it a little bit easier.”

The Snowball Derby, held at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida, routinely attracts NASCAR drivers. The event, held annually since 1968, has a winner’s list that includes NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip (1976), Kyle Busch (2009, ‘17), Chase Elliott (2011, ’15) and Erik Jones (2012, ’13), among others.

The 54th Snowball Derby is scheduled to be run Dec. 5.

Ty Majeski won last year’s Snowball Derby. Elliott placed third, Busch was seventh. Chandler Smith, who will drive full-time in the Camping World Truck Series for Kyle Busch Motorsports, finished fourth. Grant Enfinger, who finished fourth in the Truck points this past season, placed eighth at the Snowball Derby.