Max Cookson Teaming Up With Wilson Motorsports for Snowflake Bid

It’s already been a memorable season for Max Cookson. The Kulwicki Driver Development Program finalist became the first driver to win the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) North and National Super Late Model championships in the same season and added his second straight Oxford Plains Speedway Super Late Model championship for good measure.

Cookson has big plans to wrap up the 2023 season, as he’ll make his first trip to Five Flags Speedway to compete in the Allen Turner Snowflake 100 as part of the 56th Annual Snowball Derby. He will team up with Wilson Motorsports for the marquee Pro Late Model event on Saturday, December 2.

Cookson hopes the Snowflake debut will prove to be a perfect ending to what has already been a memorable season.

“It’s a year-long grind, points racing and chasing all the points championships,” Cookson told Racing America. “We were able to capture all three of them. It’s such an unbelievable thing we accomplished this year, winning all of them. I’m really looking forward to putting the cherry on top of an incredible 2023 season.”

It will also be an incredible opportunity for Cookson to compete for one of the top teams in Late Model racing. Wilson Motorsports claimed the ASA Southern Super Series and ASA/CRA Super Series championships on the Super Late Model side with Gio Ruggiero.

“It’s a really good opportunity to drive a top-caliber race car against some of the best of the best from all around,” said Cookson. “Through mutual connections, I guess you could say, some people I’m around have some connections. I was able to make it all happen and put a deal together.”

Cookson plans on leaning on another Wilson Motorsports driver he knows very well, Cole Butcher, for advice going into the first weekend in December. Along with back-to-back wins in the Oxford 250 and a win in this year’s Redbud 400, Butcher has five top-10 finishes in six Snowball Derby appearances.

“My crew chief from up here, Kevin, has been down there a bunch and I’ve talked to him, and Cole Butcher, who races for Wilson Motorsports. It’s definitely going to be a big job on my part to lean on everyone and learn everything I need to know as quickly as possible.”

Cookson is particularly looking forward to taking on one of the best fields in Pro Late Model racing every year, as teams flock to Pensacola, Florida for the event held on the eve of the Snowball Derby every year.

“The caliber of other drivers, you know. Instead of going to a race and there’s five guys that can win it, there will be 20 guys that can win it. I’m excited for the competition level that will be down there and how big of an event it is. A lot of eyes will be on you, so it will be a good opportunity to have a good day.”

Along with the Allen Turner Snowflake 100, Saturday, December 2 will include the Last Chance Qualifier for the 56th Annual Snowball Derby and the Faith Chapel Outlaws. This is just part of four days of racing starting on Thursday, November 30 and concluding with the biggest event in Super Late Model racing, the Snowball Derby.

-Photo credit: Will Bellamy/Racing America