By: Daniel Vining, Twitter: @danielvining
OPP, Alabama (March 16, 2019) — Casey Roderick took his number 18 Phoenix Construction Super Late Model all the way to top of the chart, winning the pole for the 43rd Annual Rattler 250 at South Alabama Speedway, the opening race for the 2019 Southern Super Series season.
His time, a blistering 15.224 barely edged out Stephen Nasse’s time of 15.229 seconds. Roderick now looks to turn the pole into a second win in this prestigious race.
“Man it would be awesome”, said Roderick. “I’ve been looking for that second Rattler trophy for quite some time now, I won it back in 2014 and I’m ready to do it again so let’s see if we can get it done this weekend.”
“We are on the free side with the Super, but it’s a really good turn out for the Rattler 250… this is a fun racetrack and i love coming here. John (Dykes) and his family do an awesome job with this track and it’s one of my favorites to come to.”
Stephen Nasse was pleasantly surprised by his lap, and hopes to parlay that lap into a race winning run come Sunday.
“We wasn’t really expecting that,” said Nasse. “I have good racing car, not so much of a qualifying car, but it feels good and I have a lot of confidence going into tomorrow. We just gotta make it through the whole race… a lot of things can happen. We’re gonna change tires a couple of times, and anything can happen in these things. Just gotta keep it together; the guys have done their job now I have to do mine. It’s all up to me now, so we’ll see how it goes, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Bubba Pollard did what he seems to do everywhere he takes his race cars, put them solidly at the top of the pack and in position to win.
Pollard put his machine in the third starting position for both of the weekend’ premiere races.
“Yeah they (laps) were good, and we’re pretty happy with it,” said Pollard. “I feel like we were kinda free during the Super run, but I think as more rubber lays down tonight and it will get a little warmer… be a little slick. Tonight (for the Pro Late Model race), we’ll have to make a few adjustments.
Looking forward to the Rattler Super Late Model race, Pollard shared what he thinks it will take to win from the third starting spot.
“Patience,” he said. “You have to be there at the end of all 250 laps… just put yourself in the right positions… when we come in to pit we have to make the right calls and the right adjustments.”
In qualifying for the 14th Annual Grasshoper Baby Rattler 125 Pro Late Model race, Irvington, Alabama’s Connor Okrzesik our down a cool lap of 15.555 seconds, scoring the pole and beating Rattler 250 pole winner Casey Roderick and Bubba Pollard.
“We has a really quick car in practice,” said Okrzesik. “I thought if just got a new set of tires we’d have a really good shot at beating Bubba Pollard and we did.”
Okrzesik also beat Casey Roderick, who was very happy with his qualifying run.
“Good effort for the Pro,” said Roderick. “I really wasn’t expecting that. We were pretty tight in practice, but on the free side with the Super… kinda on the opposite ends on both cars.”
The 43rd Annual Rattler 250 rolls on Sunday, March 17th at 2:00pm Central.
No comments:
Post a Comment