Texas driver Ryan Lawler nearly hit a homerun in his first at-bat appearance for Kyle Busch Motorsports. Busch, who was busy with his day job as the driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this weekend, selected Lawler to run his #51 Super Late Model in The Rattler at South Alabama Speedway. Lawler, who has practiced and tested for the KBM team in the past, rose to the occasion by contending for the victory right up to the final lap.
That last circuit around South Alabama Speedway was a busy one. Race winner Augie Grill and Lawler dodged a spinning racecar to fight it out for the lead. Grill got by unharmed and won the race, while Lawler spun and dropped back to the fourth finishing position.
“On the last lap we had two cars checked up over here in turn four. Augie went high and I went low, and I looped the car after I went through the dirt on the apron. I went low because it was a shot at the victory and it didn't work out for us, but still it was a great day.
“I really want to thank Kyle Busch and all the crew guys. They worked hard, and most of us had never raced here before. It's pretty cool to come away with a fourth-place finish.”
Lawler, a former PASS South Super Late Model champion and current part-time competitor in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, considered the day to be a success.
“It was a great run for us. It was my first with Kyle Busch Motorsports. I have to thank Bond Suss; he's an amazing crew chief and it was great to work with him. We got the car really good, and the 112 (Augie Grill) had a little fresher tires than us there at the end. I tried to hold him as long as I could, but new tires are always going to be stronger.”
Even with older rubber, Lawler still put up a strong fight
against Grill for the lead.
“When Augie took the lead, I tried to get back to his bumper
in turn three. I knew he was better than me and I had one
shot. I slid up three lanes trying to keep the car on the track.
So I was giving it all I could give without wrecking.”
This year was Lawler's first attempt at taming The Rattler,
which is one of the most prestigious Super Late Model
events in the Southeast. He hopes to return for another crack
at the victory next year.
“There were a good field of cars here, and it's obviously a
tough race to win. I would definitely like to come back and
run here again.”
