Enfinger Survives to Capture Second Rattler

By Mark Chisum

 

The 35th Annual Hardee’s Rattler 250 came down to a late race battle between Chase Elliott, Grant Enfinger, and Bubba Pollard. Enfinger was the lone survivor of the duel, and captured his second Rattler 250 win. Enfinger also won in 2008.

Augie Grill set fast time in qualifying with a time of 15.123 seconds, with Elliott just .052 slower. Grill led the field to the green and got the jump on Elliott to take the lead. Grill led the first 12 laps before Elliott worked his way to the front on lap 13, just before the caution flew for a turn four wreck involving six cars. All were able to continue with the exception of Josh Hamner. On the restart, Elliott led Grill into one, but Grill got past him on the backstretch to retake the lead. Behind the leaders, several drivers were making moves through the field. One of the biggest movers was Ryan Blaney, who moved from eighteenth to eighth by lap 28. At lap 50, Grill led Elliott, Chris Davidson, Jeff Fultz, and Enfinger.

On lap 54, Grill ran up on lapped cars, got on the brakes too hard, and spun in turn one. Elliott took over the lead. On the restart, Elliott got the jump from the outside to lead Davidson into turn one. Enfinger followed Elliott to move into second. One lap later, Pollard moved inside of Davidson to take third. Grill had more trouble on lap 76 when Randy Gentry slowed in front of him on the front stretch. Grill lifted Gentry off the ground and spun, but received significant body damage in the altercation. As the field slowed for a lap 100 competition caution, Elliot led Enfinger, Davidson, Pollard, and Fultz.

After the yellow, Pollard began to flex his muscle, moving into second staying on Elliott’s bumper. Pollard was unable to find a way past the leader, and on a lap 135 restart lost second to Davidson. Pollard battled back to regain the position five laps later. At lap 150, the running order was Elliott, Pollard, Davidson, Enfinger, and Fultz. Grill moved back into the top five on lap 153. Elliott continued to lead as the race headed into the final 50 laps.

Fultz spun on lap 211, and Elliott, Grill, Wilson, Eddie Van Meter, and Davidson all pitted for right side tires. Pollard inherited the lead, followed by Enfinger, Derrick Griffin, Blaney, and Dwayne Buggay.  Grill restarted sixth and quickly made his way past Buggay. Grill moved past Griffin and Blaney. On lap 217, he pulled even with Enfinger for second. He completes the pas two laps later and began to reel in Pollard. On lap 220, Grill got under Pollard to take the lead. Grill led until pitting during a lap 225 caution period and retired from the race. Enfinger took over the point, followed by Elliott, Pollard, Blaney, and Griffin.

When the green flew, Enfinger got a good jump on Elliott and led the field into turn one. Eliiott had to hold off Blaney for second, but finally gained the spot. Elliott began chomping on Enfinger’s rear bumper. Lap after lap, Elliott got a run on Enfinger, only to have the door slammed in the turns. This allowed Pollard to pull to Elliott’s bumper. On lap 213, Enfinger slipped exiting turn two as Elliott gave him a bump. Pollard, seizing the opportunity, jumped to the outside.

Enfinger, Elliott, and Pollard headed into turn three, side by side. Pollard, on the outside, got his nose ahead of Enfinger. Elliott charged on the inside, and got into Enfinger. Enfinger slid up the track into Pollard, sending Pollard around. Elliott was sent to the rear for causing the caution, while Enfinger retained the lead. Enfinger had to survive one last battle before securing the win. Wilson was able to get beside Enfinger a couple of times in the last few laps, but each time, Enfinger held his ground. Wilson made one last effort coming to the checkers, but slipped coming out of four. Enfinger beat Wilson to the line by a half car length. Fultz was third, followed by Blaney and Elliott.

The Grasshopper Pro Late Model Rattler 125, presented by J.R.’s Lawnmower Shop was originally scheduled for Saturday night, but rains washed out the night’s program and the race was cut to 100 laps and added to Sunday afternoon’s schedule. Grill set fast time for the Pro Late Model race also, turning the 4/10ths mile oval in 15.425 seconds. It took three tries to get the race going with spins on the first two attempts. On the third attempt, Grill got the jump and took the early over Erik Jones, Hunter Robbins, Pollard, and Elliott.

Pollard began working on Robbins, looking for a way past each lap. He finally made his way past on lap eight. Daniel Hemric got past Robbins on lap 13, but the yellow flew and Robbins gained the position back. The first major incident came on a lap 21 restart when Chris Davidson didn’t get going and the cars stacked up behind him. Dillon Spreen, Nick Potts, and Dakota Stroup received the most damage.

When the green flew again, Grill led the filed into turn one. Jones worked his way past Grill two laps later to take the lead. Jones, Grill, and Pollard began to pull away from the field. On lap 32, Grill slipped up the track, and Pollard dove underneath to grab second. One lap later, the race was red flagged for a major accident involving Kenzie Ruston, Brandon Brilliant, Scotty Ellis, Tony Clark, and Logan Boyett. Brilliant took the wildest ride, launching up on the wall and damaging part of the front stretch catch fence. All drivers were ok, but none were able to continue.

On the restart, Pollard was able to get past Grill for second and began to pressure the 14-year old leader. Jones remained poised and kept Pollard behind him. The caution flew again on lap 45 when Kyle Bryant wrecked in turn one after contact with Ben Kennedy. On the restart, Pollard was able to stay even with Jones and took the lead on the next lap. Grill was able to get past Elliott for third on lap 47. The caution flew again on lap 50 with Pollard leading Jones, Grill, Elliott, and Korey Ruble.

With double file restarts, Elliott lined up on the outside behind Pollard. When the green flew, Elliott followed Pollard by Jones to move into second and began to challenge Pollard’s lead. Elliott looked under Pollard for several laps before pulling alongside on lap 58. Elliott completed the pass a lap later. Elliott began to pull away from Pollard during a long green period. With 25 laps to go, Elliott led Pollard, Grill, Hemric, and Ruble.

Elliott was cruising with a straight away lead when the caution flew on lap 93. After a couple of cautions, Pollard edged ahead of Elliott with four laps to go. The pair took the white flag nose to tail. As they headed into turn one, Elliott gave Pollard a little bump, and dove to the inside. They battled side by side down the back stretch, but Elliott had the favored position. Coming out of turn four, Elliott pulled away and beat Pollard back to the stripe by a half car length. Grill, Davidson, and Hemric battled for third, with Grill winning the position in the end. Davidson took fourth with Hemric fifth. The finish remains unofficial, pending an inspection of Elliott’s ignition box.

In Friday’s local action, Scotty Anderson took the lead on lap six and went on to win the Super Stock feature. Regan Baker took the early lead while Anderson worked his way forward from his sixth starting spot. Two laps after the restart, Anderson Moved inside of Baker and pulled even going into turn one. The two battled side by side down the back stretch with Anderson completing the pass going into turn three. Anderson eased away from the field as the race went green the rest of the way. Anderson led Baker across the line by a half straight away. Cameron Henderson followed in third. Jessie Reid was fourth with Eric Wood fifth.

Kip Whitehead took the lead on a lap seven restart and went on to win the Vintage Feature. Darryl Rudd led the first lap before Jessie Smith took over on the second circuit. Smith led the next five laps before the caution flew on lap seven. On the restart, Smith pushed up the track in turn three and Whitehead made his move on the inside. Whitehead had to survive three more cautions before securing the win. Steve Smith came back from a lap 14 spin to finish second. Phillip Anderson was third, followed by Rudd, and Randy Herrick.

Lee Rogers started on the pole and led all 35 laps to win the Coyote Feature. Rogers was never challenged in the race. Rusty Locklar finished a distant second. Max Nelson was third with Adam Salter fourth and Jason Monaghan fifth.

Chad Roberts took the lead when leader Kim Bishop spun on lap 18 and went on to win the Roadrunner Feature. Bishop had led from the start and was enjoying a comfortable lead. Bishop was lapping a car in turn one, but got a little high on the track and went around, handing the lead to Roberts. Once out front, Roberts pulled away and beat Ricky Strickland to the line by six car lengths. Mike Wolfe was third, followed by Bobby Rhodes and Danny Monaghan.

Jeremy Geddings came from the tenth starting spot to win the Mini Sportsman Feature. Jason Cannon finished second with Eddy Hinson third, Joshua Sibley fourth, and Donnie Howell fifth.

Saturday night’s local schedule included the Modified, Street Stock, and CupLite divisions. These races will be made up at a later date.

South Alabama Speedway’s next scheduled races are April 9. For more information, contact the track at (334) 565-3539, or visit the track’s web site at www.southalabamaspeedway.com.

 

 

Results

Hardee’s Rattler 250

1.        Grant Enfinger

2.       Donnie Wilson

3.       Jeff Fultz

4.       Ryan Blaney

5.       Chase Elliott

6.       Tyler Roahrig

7.       Bubba Pollard

8.       Cale Gale

9.       Damon Ecoff

10.   Ben Kennedy

11.   Randy Gentry

12.   Clay Alexander

13.   T.J. Reaid

14.   Augie Grill

15.   Derrick Griffin

16.   Dwayne Buggay

17.   Eddie Van Meter

18.   Chris Davidson

19.   Casey Smith

20.   Jimmy Garmon

21.   Ron McDonald

22.   Danny Bagwell

23.   Scott Hantz

24.   Allen Karnes

25.   Mike Garvey

26.   D.J. Vanderley

27.   Dakota Stroup

28.   Josh Hamner

DNS Bobby Knox Jr., Dale Little

 

Pro Late Model

Rattler 125

1.        Chase Elliott

2.       Bubba Pollard

3.       Augie Grill

4.       Chris Davidson

5.       Daniel Hemric

6.       Max Gresham

7.       Cole Powell

8.       Hunter Robbins

9.       Dwayne Buggay

10.   Brandon Odom

11.   David Hodges

12.   Bobby Knox Jr.

13.   Justin Caton

14.   Dillon Spreen

15.   Sam Smith

16.   Dakota Stroup

17.   Korey Ruble

18.   Ben Kennedy

19.   Mike Garvey

20.   Eddie Craig

21.   Erik Jones

22.   Kyle Bryant

23.   Kenzie Ruston

24.   Brandon Brilliant

25.   Scotty Ellis

26.   Logan Boyett

27.   Tony Clark

28.   Nick Potts

29.   Kyle Benjamin

30.   Roger Adkins

DNS Donald Crocker

DNS Shane Nalley

DNS Anderson Bowen

DNS Will Mack

DNS Johnny Henderson

DNS Bobby Reuse

DNS Chase Knox

 

Super Stock

1.        Scotty Anderson

2.       Regan Baker

3.       Cameron Henderson

4.       Jessie Reid

5.       Eric Wood

6.       Jason Fowler

7.       Ryan Matthews

8.       Brian Martin

 

Vintage

1.        Kip Whitehead

2.       Steve Stewart

3.       Phillip Anderson

4.       Darryl Rudd

5.       Randy Herrick

6.       Jessie Smith

7.       Lance Blacker

8.       Clint Boggs

 

Roadrunner

1.        Chad Roberts

2.       Ricky Strickland

3.       Mike Wolfe

4.       Bobby Rhodes

5.       Danny Monaghan

6.       Kim Bishop

7.       Robert Berry

8.       Nick Petrie

9.       David Deboer

 

Coyote

1.        Lee Rogers

2.       Rusty Locklar

3.       Max Nelson

4.       Adam Salter

5.       Jason Monaghan

6.       Joseph Chandler

7.       Lee Phillips

8.       Dee Bucklew

9.       Michael Piland

10.   Cameron Frissett

11.   Danny Thompson

 

Mini Sportsman

1.        Jeremy Geddings

2.        Jason Cannon

3.        Eddy Hinson

4.        Joshua Sibley

5.        Donnie Howell

6.        Jeremy Peacock

7.        Dale McLendon

8.       Karen Williams

9.       Bobby Jennings Jr

10.   Austin Enfinger

11.   Cameron Henderson

DNS Kenny Younce