Fultz Holds Off Pollard for Rattler Win
By Mark Chisum
Jeff Fultz was a strong contender in last year’s Rattler 250, running up front all day until a low battery ended his hopes. Fultz was back for this year’s 34th Annual Rattler 250, and took the winner’s trophy back to his Troutman, NC home.
Augie Grill set fast time in qualifying, turning the 4/10ths mile oval in 15.194 seconds. Grill grabbed the early lead with Fultz staying close for several laps. With the race going green for the first 77 laps, Grill set a fast pace and pulled away from Fultz and the rest of the field. By lap 60, Grill had lapped all but four cars. Fultz, however, had reeled Grill back in, and took the lead on lap 75. When racing resumed, Fultz pulled away from Grill. On lap 107, Casey Smith worked his way past Grill to take over the second spot. Bubba Pollard followed in fourth, with Chase Elliott in fifth. Elliott was running just ahead of Fultz when the competition yellow came out on lap 125, saving Elliott from going a lap down.
When the green flew to restart the race, Grant Enfinger lined up inside of Fultz to try to regain his lap. Enfinger got the jump on Fultz, but was actually a little too quick. With Enfinger opening up a hole on the bottom, Smith followed Enfinger past Fultz to take the lead on lap 126. Enfinger had to drop back behind Fultz due to jumping the start. On lap 131, defending race champion Grill saw his hopes for a repeat end as he slowed and retire from the race with ignition problems. Enfinger was able to get back around Fultz and on lap 138 moved inside of Smith to regain his lap. Like Smith earlier, Fultz followed Enfinger through the hole and past Smith to regain the lead on lap 139.
Fultz continued to lead Smith, Pollard, Elliott, and Ryan Lawler until the caution flew on lap 182 for Johnny Brazier’s spin. The leaders took the opportunity to pit for fresh Hoosier’s and were set to go to the end of the race. Elliott pitted one lap before everybody else and took the lead when the other leaders pitted. Elliott led Lawler, Fultz, Pollard, and Smith to the green. Fultz made quick work of Lawler, getting past him for second in one lap. Twelve laps later he moved inside of Elliott to take the lead. On lap 201, Enfinger and Johanna Long got together and spun. Fultz pitted again, handing the lead back to Elliott.
On lap 204, Enfinger and Brazier had contact which sent Brazier into the inside retaining wall, ending the 1996 Rattler Champion’s day. Elliott led Lawler, Fultz, Pollard, and Smith to the restart. Fultz worked his way past Lawler on lap 210, and then moved inside of Elliott three laps later to take the lead for the final time. Pollard followed Fultz past Elliott to take second and began to challenge Fultz for the lead. Fultz built a three car length lead over Pollard, but as the race neared conclusion, Pollard picked up his pace and closed to Fultz’s bumper.
Pollard made a couple of attempts to get inside of Fultz, but couldn’t get the grip he needed to clear the leader. Fultz led Pollard to the stripe by one car length. Smith was well back in third with Elliott fourth and Tony Clark finishing fifth in his first Super Late Model start. Fultz took home $14,110 with his win.
In Saturday’s 5th Annual Pro Late Model Rattler 125, Korey Ruble took the lead on lap 115 to take the win. Johnny Henderson led the way in qualifying with a lap of 15.527, but Fultz got the jump and grabbed the lead as the field exited turn two of the first lap. 14-year old Stephen Nasse followed Fultz by on the outside to take second. Pollard followed a lap later as Henderson slid back to fourth. Nasse moved inside of Fultz to take the lead on lap 20.
Fultz tried to slip inside of Nasse on lap 30, but the Florida youngster held off the veteran to hold on to the top spot. Taylor Satterfield was making his way forward, moving past Pollard for third on lap 36. Henderson followed in fifth. As the race went green for an extended period, Nasse built a sizable lead over Fultz. Nasse led Fultz, Satterfield, Pollard, and Ruble to the halfway point of the race. However, as the race wore on, Fultz cut Nasse’s lead and was back on his bumper when the caution flew on lap 93.
On the restart, Fultz got a nose under Nasse, but once again, Nasse held off the challenge. Ruble had moved up to third and was on Fultz’s bumper when the caution flew again on lap 99. Fultz pitted for tires, moving Ruble to second, followed by Pollard, Brandon Johnson, and Satterfield. Ruble tried to sneak past Nasse on the restart, and was able to get underneath Nasse going into turn one. Ruble slipped, however, allowing Pollard to get by for second just before the yellow waved again. On the restart, Pollard got underneath Nasse to grab the lead.
Pollard began to pull away from the field as Nasse and Ruble were battling for second. Ruble was able to pass Nasse on lap 106 to move into second. Pollard had built a seven car length lead by that time, but Ruble chopped a car length off that lead each lap, reaching Pollard’s bumper on lap 112. Two laps later, Ruble eased to the inside exiting turn two and pulled even heading into turn three. Pollard was able to beat Ruble to the line to lead lap 114, but Ruble had the position, and took the lead as the pair headed out of turn two.
Ruble stretched his lead as the race headed to its conclusion, beating Pollard to the line by .767 seconds. Nasse followed in third with Johnson fourth and Satterfield fifth. The finishing order changed in post race inspection as Pollard was disqualified for an engine infraction. His “dq” moved everybody up in the rundown, and moved Fultz into the top five.
In local Rattler action, Jody Henderson erased a car length deficit on the final lap to win the Super Stock Feature. Darryl Rudd grabbed the lead from the pole and led until Paul Jean took over on lap 17. Jean was trying to repeat his 2009 win, but was penalized for firing too early on a lap 20 restart. Jean was sent to the rear of the field, giving Rudd back the lead. Corbitt Mosely was in second followed by Henderson. Henderson went to the outside to get around Mosely on lap 32 and set sights on Rudd who was eight car lengths ahead. Henderson closed to within a car length of Rudd with one lap to go. Henderson dove hard into turn three and pulled to Rudd’s bumper and drove to the inside as they headed off turn four. Henderson beat Rudd to the line by a nose to take a hard earned win. Mosely was third with Jean fourth and Cameron Henderson fifth.
Brain Nester traveled from Ohio to take the win in the Modified Feature. Ryan Redmon set fast time in qualifying and took the lead from the pole. Nester kept Redmon close and moved inside on lap 22 to take the lead. Nester led Redmon, Brad Springer, Danny Bagwell, and Heath Mills to the crossed flags. Bagwell got past Redmon on lap 56 to move into second. Nester was enjoying a comfortable lead at that time, but that lead was erased with a lap 57 caution. Nester was able to hold Bagwell off to take the checkers. Redmon crossed the line third with Steve Christman fourth and Springer fifth. A major shake up in the final order came in post race inspection. Redmon’s car was too low and he was “dq’d”. Christman was next to go when the “rake” of his body was too high. Springer was summoned from his trailer, only to be found too low. Kevin Peel was next in line, but found the same fate as Redmon and Springer. Finally, Heath Mills, who crossed the line seventh, made it through the inspection and was awarded third place. Brett Hanson and Don Skaggs moved into the top five.
The Vintage Feature got off to a rough start, but ended up being one of the weekend’s best races. Clint Boggs spun on the start, with Randy Henderson and Aaron Buscavage getting the bad end of the deal. Both hit the outside wall, ending both nights. Once the race got underway, the remaining six cars ran nose to tail the whole race. Jeff Rudd grabbed the lead from the outside pole and led all 25 laps to take the win. Phillip Anderson stayed glued to Rudd’s bumper but never could find a way past the leader. Boggs ran third all race and was followed by Steve Stewart and Jesse Smith.
IN the Street Stock Feature, Chris Salter led flag to flag to take an apparent win, but failed post race inspection, giving the win to Martin Quattlebaum. Quattlebaum was involved in a first lap tangle with Cameron Henderson, but was able to return and worked his way through the field. Quattlebaum moved into second on lap 21 when Todd Valdez slowed and went to the pits. Quattlebaum had a late shot at Salter when Darrell Cawley Jr. spun, but Salter pulled away to take the checkers. However, Salter’s engine was over on the compression limit and the winner’s trophy went to Quattlebaum. Billy Maxie finished second followed by Barry Shiver and Cawley. Valdez was awarded fifth.
Jason Singletary had little trouble in the Roadrunner Feature, leading all 25 laps to take the win. Doug Powell came from the eighth starting spot to finish second, but was no threat to Singletary. Chad Roberts finished third with Mike Wolfe fourth and Ricky Strickland fifth.
In the Coyote Feature, Travis Slawson led early, but won the race in post race inspection. SLawson started on the pole and grabbed the early lead. Perry Boin, starting fifth, quickly made his way through the field, moving into second by lap four. On a lap 12 restart, Boin turned under Slawson on the front stretch and took the lead in turn two. Boin led Slawson across the line, followed by Lee Rogers, Joseph Chandler, and Lee Monaghan. In post race inspection, spacers were found on the rear wheels of Boin’s car, a violation of rules. Boin was disqualified, giving the win to Slawson. Rogers, Chandler, and Monaghan were moved up in the finishing order and Kevin Bishop moved into the top five.
Greg Adams led flag to flag to take the win in the CupLite Feature. Waylon Spivey chased Adams all race, but in the end had to deal with Chase Berry. As Spivey was trying to catch Adams in the final turn, he slipped up the track, allowing Berry to come to the inside as they headed to the checkers. Spivey was able to beat Berry to the line by inches to take second. Jack Whittle was fourth with Zak Wallace fifth.
In the Mini Sportsman Feature, Jeremy Geddings took the lead on lap 18 and went on to win. Joey Cannon led the first two laps before Geddings took over. Eddie Hinson took the lead on lap 14 and led for four laps when Geddings took over for the final time. Hinson came from the 15th starting spot to finish second. Joshua Sibley almost stole second from Hinson on the final lap, but came up a half car length short. Jeremy Peacock came from 13th to finish fourth. Jason Cannon rounded out the top five.
South Alabama Speedway will reopen on April 3 with local racing. For more information, contact the track at (334) 565-3539, or visit the track’s web site at www.southalabamaspeedway.com.
Results
34th Annual Rattler 250
1. Jeff Fultz
2. Bubba Pollard
3. Casey Smith
4. Chase Elliott
5. Tony Clark
6. Ryan Lawler
7. Jeremy Ricxe
8. Donnie Wilson
9. Grant Enfinger
10. Johanna Long
11. Danny Bagwell
12. Johnny Brazier
13. Augie Grill
14. Korey Ruble
15. Eddie Mercer
16. Brian Ickler
DNS Chris Davidson, David Hodges, Jr.
5th Annual Pro Late Model Rattler 125
1. Korey Ruble
2. Stephen Nasse
3. Brandon Johnson
4. Taylor Satterfield
5. Jeff Fultz
6. Johnny Henderson
7. Austin Hill
8. Beau Slocomb
9. Dillon Spreen
10. Danny Bagwell
11. Donald Crocker
12. Sam Smith
13. Dennis Reno, Jr.
14. Clay Alexander
15. Nathan Davis
16. Logan Boyett
17. Jerick Johnson
18. Billy Ammons
19. Johanna Long
20. Davey Coble
21. Kyle Bryant
22. Shane Sawyer
23. David Jones
DQ Bubba Pollard (2)
Super Stock
1. Jody Henderson
2. Darrell Rudd
3. Corbitt Mosely
4. Paul Jean
5. Cameron Henderson
6. Ryan Redmon
7. Jason Fowler
8. Jessie Reid
9. Charlie Skipper, Jr.
10. Darin Mathews
Modified
1. Brian Nester
2. Danny Bagwell
3. Heath Mills
4. Brett Hanson
5. Don Skaggs
6. Bubba Pollard
7. Donnie Hamrac
8. Lance Blacker
9. Clay Galbreath
10. Jamie Ater
11. Jacob Permenter
12. Lester Ingram
13. Harold Scott
14. Jeff Letson
DQ Ryan Redmon (3), Steve Christman (4), Brad Springer (5), Kevin Peel (6)
Vintage
1. Jeff Rudd
2. Phillip Anderson
3. Clint Boggs
4. Steve Stewart
5. Jesse Smith
6. Kip Whitehead
7. Anthony Monaghan
8. Randy Henderson
9. Aaron Buscavage
Street Stock
1. Martin Quattlebaum
2. Billy Maxie
3. Barry Shiver
4. Darrell Cawley
5. Todd Valdez
6. Johnny Otto
7. Cameron Henderson
DQ Chris Salter (1)
Roadrunner
1. Jason Singletary
2. Doug Powell
3. Chad Roberts
4. Mike Wolfe
5. Ricky Strickland
6. Charles Gardner
7. Jason Monaghan
8. Chris Yeakos
9. Ricky Osborne
Coyote
1. Travis Slawson
2. Lee Rogers
3. Joseph Chandler
4. Lee Monaghan
5. Kevion Bishop
6. Gordon Reece
7. Brent Slawson
8. Aaron Horan
9. Michael Piland
10. Rusty Locklar
11. Ricky Chandler
12. Perry Boin
CupLite
1. Greg Adams
2. Waylon Spivey
3. Chase Berry
4. Jack Whittle
5. Zak Wallace
6. Karl Williams
7. Jeremy Peacock
8. Gordon Reece
9. Gary Anderson
Mini Sportsman
1. Jeremy Geddings
2. Eddie Hinson
3. Joshua Sibley
4. Jeremy Peacock
5. Jason Cannon
6. Karen Williams
7. Dylan Wolfe
8. Dustin Monday
9. JR Carroll
10. Mike Wolfe
11. Dale McLendon
12. Joey Cannon
13. Donnie Howell
14. Josh Geddings
15. Austin Enfinger