Powell Takes "19-Year-Old" Car to Seventh at the "Baby Rattler" at South Alabama

Powell Takes "Old Jalopy" to a Strong Finish in Big Race

Canadian racer Cole Powell is 19 years old.  So is his No. 25 Pro Late Model.  On Sunday, Powell raced against some drivers younger than him, while others were a few years older in the “Baby Rattler” 100-lap Pro Late Model event at South Alabama Speedway.  While 19 is a good average driver age for an event in the competitive short track battles like Sunday’s, a 19-year-old racecar is quite a bit more aged than the other drivers’ cars.

Powell’s dated racecar still can get the job done just as well as, if not better, than cars built far more recently, however.  He proved it Sunday by finishing a solid seventh against a field of talented short trackers from across the Southeastern United States.

“I’ve got a 19-year-old car out here against all the 2011 and 2012 pieces,” said Powell.  “I can’t really complain that much.  I’ve got a great crew and they made it turn corners really well.  It’s just a 19-year-old car.  The guys said we’re going to get rid of this old jalopy and hopefully find something a little better for up-and-coming races.  Hopefully then we can get these top-10 finishes into the top-threes and maybe a couple wins.”

The top-10 finish was not easily earned. 

“I had to start way, way, way back in the field,” added Powell.  “We still have to figure out this qualifying thing.  I’m not very good at it.  I’m just not a fan of the single-file restarts.  It’s tough when you get all the really fast cars up front and you’re stuck in seventh or so.  You’ve really got to work hard to pass.  It’s a tough place to pass.  It’s a one-groove racetrack, you’ve got to bump them to get by them. 

“We started deep in the field and finished seventh and the car’s still in one piece, so you can’t really complain.”

Powell’s 2012 Pro Rattler was almost a carbon copy of his 2011 effort at South Alabama Speedway.  Last year, he started 19th and finished seventh just like he did on Sunday.  While the track is a tough one, the facility’s staff welcomed Powell and his team back for another try at the Rattler weekend.

“John (Dykes, track owner) and his family put on a great show and it’s because of them that we’re back.  That guy would bend over backwards to give you his shirt.  That’s how a racetrack should be run.  He does a great job with this event.”

The top-10 run at South Alabama brought a busy three-week stretch of racing events to a close for Powell and his team.

“I have to thank my crew.  Between here and Speedweeks, I’ve put them through three solid weeks of hard work now and they keep performing really well.  We’ll come back even stronger.  I have to thank Copps Buildall and Tricar out of Canada.  We couldn’t be here without them.

“I haven’t been home in a month and a half, so I should probably go visit there.  I’ve forgotten what my bed feels like.  I’m sure we’ll be back soon.  The guys were talking about the “Show Me the Money” races at Montgomery and a couple more around North Carolina and stuff like that, so we’ll definitely be back soon.”