Augie Grill Seeks Third Rattler 250 Win at South Alabama

Bakersfield, CA - If you have been a fan of pavement Late Model racing in the Southeast portion of the country for any length of time, the next entrant to the "47^th Annual Hardee’s Rattler 250," for the SRL National, will be a familiar name. Augie Grill has sent in his entry for the March 17th–19th, $25,000-to-win race at South Alabama Speedway (AL). Grill has a rich racing history, as does the marquee event at the 4/10-mile speedway, located in Opp, AL. Grill will seek to add to both his and the track’s history, in this year’s 47^th edition of the event.

Despite his recent dominance in the Modified division, Grill had been winless in his Late Model efforts since 2019. But he put the kibosh on that stat quickly in 2023, picking up a victory in the Pro Late Model portion of SpeedFest, at Watermelon Capitol Speedway in January. Grill led the final 60 laps to grab the victory over Caden Kvapil. It was a confidence builder for the five-time winner of the ‘Alabama 200” at Montgomery Motor Speedway.

“It was a great way to start the year," Grill explained. “Getting a trophy right out of the gate is a great confidence booster for me as a driver. Opp has always been a pretty good track for me, so going there with a little confidence should be great.”

Grill has also found success at South Alabama Speedway’s biggest event of the year. He has attended the last 15 runnings of the Rattler, participating in each event since 2006. He was the fast qualifier in that first race, finishing eighth. He earned three additional Fast Time Awards and became a two-time winner, taking home trophies in 2007 and 2009. He has picked up six top-10s over the years and threw in a Baby Rattler 125 victory for good measure. In 2008, he dominated the Viper Series Pro Late Models, picking up four wins in five starts, with a worst of second. But he has scored only one top-10 in his last four tries at the “Rattler 250”.

“It's hard to say,” Grill commented about his reasons for success at Southern Alabama Speedway. “I haven't had a really good car there in a few years, but I still feel like I race pretty good at SAS. It's a really racy track from a competitor’s standpoint. There is lots of side-by-side action, and it always makes for a fun race.”

The Birmingham, AL racer has had more than his share of success. He has won the biggest Super Late Model race in the country twice, earning wins in the Snowball Derby when he went back-to-back in 2007 and 2008 at Five Flags Speedway (FL). At the ½-mile he also has three “Snowflake 100” wins. He has twice visited Victory Lane in the Governor’s Cup” at New Smyrna Speedway (FL), as well as a win in the “Cracker 200”. He has a “Glass City 200” win at Toledo Speedway (OH). He was two-for-two in the “World Classic 100” at Montgomery Motor Speedway (AL) and won two of four starts in the 2010 CRA Super Series Southern Division, both at Gresham Motorsports Park (GA).

In the Sunoco Gulf Coast Championship Series, he has three championship runner-up finishes and 10 victories. He has two championships in the Show Me The Money Pro Late Model Series, finishing second in 2022 and possessing 15 wins in 50 starts. In his only full season in the Southern Super Series, he finished third in the standings in 2014, earning four victories in a two-season span.

Grill is the son of legendary car owner and chassis builder, Frankie Grill. He has now taken over the day-to-day operations and leadership of the family business, Grand American Race Cars (GARC). He will be driving the GARC “House Car” at the “Rattler”, looking for his third victory in the event. He enters the second SRL National event of the season with recent experience at SAS, after testing the American Racer AR153 tires for the event. He felt his GARC Super Late Model was fast, and it will give him his best chance for victory, over the last several years.

“Our expectations are high” Grill admitted about his hopes for the weekend. “We tested tires for Ricky Brooks (SRL National Tech Director) there a month or so ago, and we were really happy with the outcome. I felt like it's the best car I've had there in a long time. Maybe that will translate to a shot for the race win!”

Grill would love to join Ronnie Sanders as a three-time winner of the “Rattler,” chasing Ty Majeski’s five victories. He is thankful for those who have made that effort possible.

“I would like to thank all my crew and Black Sheep Woodlands for a hand in finances for the weekend”, Grill stated. “Also, I would like to thank my wife, for putting up with my work schedule.”

The "Rattler 250" will take place from March 17th - 19th. It will pay $25,000 to the winner with $1,600 to start. It is the first time the event has been sanctioned by the SRL National and will be Round #2 of the season series. Friday evening will see feature action for the Mini-Sportsman, Mini-Cups, Coyotes, Cuplites, and Super Stocks. Saturday night will see features for the Modifieds, Road Runners, and the “Baby Ratter 125” for the Pro Late Models. The three-day event will be capped off by the 47th Annual “Hardee’s Rattler 250”, scheduled to roll off at 2:00 PM.

-SRL National Tour Press Release