Rattler 250 Qualifying Order TBD by Order of Entries Received
Hype Continues to Build for Southern Super Series Season Opener at South Alabama
PENSACOLA, FL — Super Late Model teams planning to compete in the Southern Super Series presented by Sunoco season-opening Rattler 250 on Sunday, March 15 are encouraged to file their entries for the race soon. South Alabama Speedway officials have once again decided that the qualifying order for the prestigious event will be based upon reverse order of when entries are received.
“If you were the first entry, you will qualify last,” said track general manager John Dykes. “Last entry will qualify first. It’s the way we’ve always done it.”
In the past, qualifying for the race has been crucial. Over the course of the last six Rattler 250’s held at the track, the winner has started in the top-five in five of those races. The only winner of the event not to start in the top-five within the last six years is 2014 winner Casey Roderick, who started 21st.
“With that many laps, drivers need to make sure they stay out of trouble and stay on the race track,” said Dykes. “If you start up front, you’ll be distant from the majority of the wrecks and be less likely to get into trouble.”
So far, with over a month remaining until the event, the track has received 16 entries for the event. Dykes expects the number to climb into the 30’s before the race weekend begins on March 13.
“We’ve got just a little over a month to go and we’re in pretty good shape,” Dykes said. “There’s still a lot of work to be done like with anything that you take on like this. We’ll be ready when it come times.”
2014 Snowball Derby winner and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series competitor John Hunter Nemechek is one of the drivers who has already filed an entry for the event. He’s joined by defending Rattler 250 winner Casey Roderick, Super Late Model talent Ross Kenseth, Southern Super Series contender Anderson Bowen and rising star Harrison Burton.
“Anytime that you’ve got people with NASCAR names attached to it it’s going to help your attendance,” Dykes said of having names like Nemechek and Burton in the field. “People love to see the stars of NASCAR and the up-and-comers race at their local track. We’re looking forward to having a very talented list of drivers here during the Rattler weekend.”
The 2015 Rattler 250 weekend kicks off on Thursday, March 12 with Late Model practice beginning at 12 p.m. Practice will continue for the Super Late Models and Pro Late Models on Friday, March 13 with Super Stocks, Roadrunners, Coyotes, Cuplites, and Mini Sportsman all holding feature events.
Qualifying for the Rattler 250 and Rattler 125 begins on Saturday, March 14 at 3 p.m. Local features begin Saturday night at 6 p.m. ET with the Rattler 125 closing out the night of racing.
The 39th Annual Rattler 250, which serves as the season-opening event for the Southern Super Series presented by Sunoco, will see the green flag wave at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 15.
For more information on the 39th Rattler 250 weekend at South Alabama Speedway, the opening event of the 2015 Southern Super Series season, visit www.southernsuperseries.com and www.southalabamaspeedway.com.
For more information on the Southern Super Series, visit SouthernSuperSeries.com. The Facebook page for the Southern Super Series is located at www.facebook.com/southernsuperseries. The series is also on Twitter at @SoSuperSeries. For advertising or sponsorship questions, please contact the track representatives. For media inquiries, please contact Matt Kentfield at 51 Sports via matt@51sports.net.
Rattler 250 Super Late Model Entries Received (As of 2/2/2015)
Anderson Bowen
Casey Smith
William Byron
Bret Holmes
Johnny Brazier
Casey Roderick
Garrett Jones
Allen Karnes
Ross Kenseth
Kyle Plott
Stephen Nasse
John Hunter Nemechek
Dominique Van Wieringen
Chad Finely
Harrison Burton
Kyle Bryant
Rattler 125 Pro Late Model Entries Received (As of 2/2/2015)
Ronnie Sanders Racing
Derek Scot Jr.
Casey Smith
Bret Holmes
Kody Brusso
Brandon Odom
Perry Patino
John Hunter Nemechek
Harrison Burton
Brandon Morris
Sources: 51 Sports/Southern Super Series PR