By Mark Chisum

Some of America’s top Late Model drivers will be on hand as South Alabama Speedway kicks off its 2013 season with the 37th Annual Rattler Weekend.

The weekend features a full schedule of local racing, but will be headlined by two late model races, the 37th Annual Hardee’s Rattler 250 Super Late Model race, and the 8th Annual Grasshopper Pro Late Model Rattler 125, Presented by JR’s Lawnmower Shop.

Drivers from as far away as Arizona and Wisconsin are entered in the event.

Arizona’s Landon Cling will compete in the Pro Late Model race, while Wisconsin’s Chris Wimmer and Ross Kenseth will compete in Sunday’s Hardee’s Rattler 250. Kenseth is the son of former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Matt Kenseth. 12 year old Harrison Burton, son of NASCAR driver Jeff Burton, will also compete in the Pro Late Model race.

Georgia’s Bubba Pollard will be back to defend his win in last year’s Hardee’s Rattler 250.

Pollard will receive stiff competition from two-time Rattler Champion Augie Grill.

Grill and Pollard have battled each other at tracks all around the Southeast.

Kyle Benjamin is another pre-race favorite. Benjamin won four races at New Smyrna (FL) Speedway’s World Series of Asphalt in February and finished second at Mobile in his first ARCA Series start last Saturday.

Jeff Choquette, winner of January’s Speedfest at Cordele, Georgia, is also entered.

2010 Rattler 250 winner Jeff Fultz is another name to watch Sunday.

In the Grasshopper Pro Late Model Rattler 125, 2012 Viper Series Champion Korey Ruble leads the list of drivers.

Justin South was the fast qualifier in six races last year at South Alabama Speedway.

Russell Fleeman and Kyle Plott are two Georgia hard chargers that are entered. A couple of local favorites, Will Mack and Sam Smith, are set to defend the home turf.

Several drivers, including last year’s Alabama Pro 200 winner Brandon Odom, Davis, Davidson, Garvey, Pollard and Smith will pull double duty and run in both late model

Action gets underway Friday with features for the Street Stock, Roadrunner, Coyote, CupLite, Mini Sportsman and Motorcycles.

Gates open at 5 p.m. with racing starting at 7:30. Saturday, gates open at 2 p.m. with late model qualifying at 3:30. Racing begins at 7 with features scheduled for Modified, Super Stock, Motorcycles and the 8th Annual Grasshopper Pro Late Model Rattler 125, Presented by JR’s Lawnmower Shop.

The weekend will conclude Sunday with the 37th Annual Hardee’s Rattler 250. Gates open at 10 a.m. A church service, with the Giles family providing music, will begin at 10. An autograph session is scheduled from 1-1:30 p.m. The Hardee’s Rattler 250 will take the green flag at 2 p.m. For more information, contact the track at 565-3539, or log on to the track’s web site at .