Austin Theriault: The Rattler 250
South Alabama Speedway Race Preview

THE STORY

Brad Keselowski Racing development driver Austin Theriault of Fort Kent, Maine, heads back to the track for the 36th annual Rattler 250 at South Alabama Speedway in Kinston, Ala., on Sunday, March 4. Theriault is making his fourth career start in the BKR No. 29 Checkered Flag Foundation Dodge Super Late Model after making his 2012 debut in the car with an eighth-place finish at Speedfest in January. Theriault has never raced on the .400-mile banked oval.

THE FACTS
WHO: Austin Theriault, Fort Kent, Maine
TEAM: Brad Keselowski Racing No. 29 Checkered Flag Foundation Dodge
CREW CHIEF: Gary Crooks, Mooresville, N.C.

BEST CAREER RATTLER 250 FINISH: N/A
LAST RACE AT SOUTH ALABAMA SPEEDWAY: N/A

WHAT: The Rattler 250
WHERE: South Alabama Speedway, Kinston, Ala. (.400-mile banked oval)
WHEN: Qualifying, 3:30 p.m., Saturday, March 3; Race, 2 p.m., Sunday, March 4


DID YOU KNOW?

Austin Theriault’s eighth-place finish in the CRA-sanctioned Speedfest 200 at Watermelon Capital Speedway marked the 18-year-old driver’s best career Super Late Model finish.

Austin Theriault competed in two races for Brad Keselowski Racing in 2011, posting a best finish of 12th in the PASS-sanctioned Mason-Dixon Meltdown at Concord Motorsports Park in Concord, N.C., in November.

Austin Theriault finished third in the final ACT Late Model Tour standings in 2011, his highest career finish, on the strength of six consecutive Top-5 finishes to close out the season.

Crew chief Gary Crooks also serves as a PASS North Series crew chief for Mulkern Racing, which won two races as a team in 2011.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

AUSTIN THERIAULT, Driver of the BKR No. 29 Checkered Flag Foundation Dodge, On heading to the Rattler 250 this weekend: “It’s been a while since we’ve been to the track, and we’re looking forward to continuing the success that we’ve had this year and building on the momentum that we’ve built in a short amount of time.

“Obviously, I think we’re capable of having another good run. We’re also looking to continue to build ourselves up as a team. We’re still getting to know each other, so I think it’s about going down there to have a good run and to use this race to continue to jell as a team.”

On whether his goals have changed after a strong performance at Speedfest last time out: “They don’t really change at all, actually, because I still think we’re capable of having really good runs every weekend that we’re at the track. (Crew chief Gary Crook’s) guys and everybody on the team is very capable of running well. I don’t think the pressure increases, because we’re still focusing on performing well.”

On what he knows about South Alabama Speedway: “I don’t know much about it, to be honest. It’s just another one of those races where you just arrive at the track and try to get used to it as fast as you can after a couple of runs out there during practice.

“It’s kind of the story of my life – going to all these different tracks and getting used to them and having to acclimate to how every track is unique.”