"It feels good to be back in Victory Lane, it has been a long time."  Enfinger stated.  "Everything worked in our favor tonight.  We did not have the best car tonight, it was probably a second or third place car, but it all worked out.  I feel bad for Chase (Elliott) he had the best car tonight, but we got the win." 

Augie Grill set fast time for the 35^th Annual Rattler 250 with a time of 15.123 seconds on the .400 mile oval to take the WearCrete Racing Fast Qualifier Award. Elliott was second at 15.175 seconds setting up the front row. Grill jumped out to the early lead giving it up for only one lap in the first 54. On lap 54 under heavy pressure from Elliott, Grill drove into the first turn too hard and spun out leaving Elliott as the leader.

Grant Enfinger in Victory Lane                           Courtesy 51photo

The one lap Grill did not lead followed a restart from a red flag on the 12^th lap when the 99 car of Casey Smith spun in the third turn sending several cars to make quick moves to avoid his car. Damon Ecoff flew off the track into the grass just outside the third turn. Ecoff recovered and finished ninth for his second career Top Ten. For moving up from his 25^th starting position to ninth Ecoff earned the DMR Hardcharger and Racing Electronics Most Improved Positions Award.

While the other drivers fought hard for second on back Elliott seemed to be in total control, building large leads between caution flags. During a caution on lap 211 Elliott came in for tires giving up the lead to Bubba Pollard. Pollard was able to hold the lead for only a few laps before Grill tracked him down on lap 220.

Grill gave up the lead to head to the pits for tires on lap 225 after Fultz spun in turn four. "This track is tough, you have to run loose to run well here, but too loose and you are barely hanging on." Fultz stated. "The car was tough to handle out there, and it kept getting worse until I finally spun out."

On the restart the caution flag flew again as Chris Davidson broke a tie rod and stopped in the first turn. Another try at restarting the race also ended in disaster when cars made contact and Grill was launched across the hoods of Eddie VanMeter and Derrick Griffin, both of whom had made the long journey from Indianapolis, IN. All three cars were forced out of the race.

On the ensuing restart Grant Enfinger took the lead and held on through a tough stretch of tight racing including being the middle of a sandwich. Enfinger never trailed again holding on to win his first CRA Super Series race. For his effort and skill keeping the car ahead despite racing on tires older than all the drivers pushing to get past him, Enfinger was awarded the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award.

The next event for the CRA Super Series will be the Anderson 125 at Anderson Speedway on April 16 to kick off the Northern CRA Super Series events. Anderson Speedway will be hosting open practice for the all divisions on Saturday, March 12 and March 19 from Noon to 4:00 pm. Gates open at 11:00 am. For more information about the CRA Super Series see www.craracing.net. More information about Anderson Speedway can be found at www.andersonspeedway.com.

CRA Super Series Rattler 250 Official Results