OPP, Ala. – Gio Bromante came back from injury to fulfill a dream during Sunday’s 43rd annual Hardee’s Rattler 250, the season opener for the Southern Super Series.
Making his super late model debut, Bromante dominated the day, never dropping outside the top three and leading 154 of the 250 laps en route to victory.
The 15-year-old from Long Island, N.Y., took the top spot for the final time on lap 177, following the last restart of the day, and never gave up the point again after that.
Bromante, who was sidelined for the latter stages of last season by a back injury from a dirt-bike accident, held off a late charge from defending race winner Harrison Burton to capture the checkered flag at the four-tenths-mile oval by just .262 of a second.
“What a day. This is awesome,” Bromante told SPEED SPORT Sunday night after the race. “I never knew I’d be going to victory lane this quickly. I tested a super at New Smyrna nine months ago and have just been waiting for an opportunity and a break like this one. I can’t thank Anthony Campi Racing and all my guys enough for believing in me.”
While South Alabama Speedway is known for being a track that rewards drivers for saving their equipment over the course of a run, Bromante powered away from the pack twice on restarts in the second half of the race, but was never seriously challenged either time.
“The car was just really good right from the beginning of the race. I knew I was probably pushing it a little too hard, but I knew the car was capable of doing it so I went ahead and pushed the car to its limits the whole race and it paid off,” noted Bromante. “Anthony and the team put in a lot of work and time into the car. We just had the full package this weekend and came together as a team and won this huge race.
“I’m very proud of my team and very thankful to have a moment like this so soon in my career; it’s a dream come true, it really is.”
Burton came home second, six seconds slear of two-time Rattler 250 winner Ty Majeski, who Bromante passed to take the lead for the final time following the last restart.
CRA SpeedFest winner Connor Okrzesik and reigning ARCA/CRA Super Series champion Josh Brock completed the top five.
Jeff Fultz was sixth, followed by Colin Garrett, Jeremy Pate, Jack Dossey III and Jett Noland.
Bubba Pollard finished five laps down in an uncharacteristic 13th, after a tire rub in the closing stages took him out of contention.
The finish:
Gio Bromante, Harrison Burton, Ty Majeski, Connor Okrzesik, Josh Brock, Jeff Fultz, Colin Garrett, Jeremy Pate, Jack Dossey III, Jett Noland, Stephen Nasse, Nolan Pope, Bubba Pollard, Corey Heim, Steve Dorer, Kyle Plott, Austin Nason, Casey Roderick, Dawson Fletcher, Steven Davis, Anthony Sergi, Logan Bearden, Augie Grill, Kyle Bryant.