KINSTON, AL :: Anderson Bowen started his 2015 Southern Super Series season on a high note by winning the pole for Sunday’s 39th Annual Hardee’s Rattler 250 at South Alabama Speedway in Opp, Alabama.
The driver from Suwanee, Georgia was the last of 38 cars to qualify for the event and took the pole award away from Stephen Nasse with his lap time of 14.866 seconds compared to Nasse’s 14.887.
“The car was pretty good. We made a mock run in practice, and – I will be honest with you – we weren’t really that good,” Bowen said after his run. “But, we made some adjustments on it and got it tuned in good. I really have to thank my crew for their hard work. I feel like we have a real good car for the race.
“It means a lot to win the pole for the Rattler. It’s the first Southern Super Series race of the season. I am looking forward to seeing those rattlesnakes on Sunday, but I prefer to stay away from those bad boys, they can hurt you.”
Nasse was hoping for the pole but is happy to start on the front row.
“I didn’t want to get too excited after our run. I knew that Anderson is pretty good at qualifying,” said Nasse. “I was expecting him to beat me. Starting second for The Rattler is all right. I rather have the win anyways. So if he and I can trade that off, that will be alright with me.”
Kyle Grissom qualified third with a time of 14.987 with John Hunter Nemechek in fourth with a time of 14.990. Chad Finley rounded out the top five with a time of 15.018.
Cale Gale qualified for Chase Elliott and did so in the 14th position. The defending NASCAR XFINITY Series champion will have to start in the back of the field for the drop of the green flag.
The 39th Annual Hardee’s Rattler 250 will get underway on Sunday with an autograph session starting at 1pm. The green flag is scheduled for 2pm.
Last Chance Race
In his debut for Tracy Goodson Racing, Justin South failed to qualify on time for the Rattler 250 but made up for it by racing his way in via the 10-car last chance race on Saturday afternoon. South, Cole Rouse, Jeremy Pate and Spencer Wauters all raced their way into the show with Augie Grill electing to take a previous Rattler 250 winner’s provisional.
The starting lineup for the Rattler 250 can be found below.
- Anderson Bowen
- Stephen Nasse
- Kyle Grissom
- John Hunter Nemechek
- Chad Finley
- Christopher Bell
- William Byron
- Casey Smith
- Garrett Jones
- Bubba Pollard
- Bobby Knox Jr.
- Harrison Burton
- Casey Roderick
- Brett Holmes
- Ty Majeski
- Dominique Van Wieringen
- Donnie Wilson
- Hunter Baize
- Kyle Plott
- Cody Coughlin
- Johnny Brazier
- Steven Davis
- Dalton Sargeant
- Daniel Hemric
- Ross Kenseth
- Denver Foran
- Daniel Keene Jr.
- Justin South
- Cole Rouse
- Jeremy Pate
- Spencer Wauters
- Augie Grill
- Chase Elliott (Cale Gale)
