Samet Ozkan picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL Rainbow Dash Truck Series career in Wednesday's Carquest Auto Parts 420K at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway when his #3 GM Goodwrench Service Chevrolet fell out with engine problems without completing any of the 27 laps.
The finish came in his 26th career series start. Entering Season 3 of the Truck Series, Ozkan has had a very brief career, and was still looking to make a name for himself in the SCRL. Ozkan made his truck series debut by finishing an uneventful 21st at Walt Disney World and a best finish of 3rd at Loudon would be his season best before the last round at Phoenix where Ozkan led 9 of the 32 laps, only to fall back in the late stages and finished 4th as entering Las Vegas, Ozkan was sitting 9th in points.
On race day, Ozkan would roll off the field in 24th looking to end his season on a high note. Starting last was the #75 Spears Manufacturing Chevrolet of Joshua Rush but just as the field began to roll off pit road, Ozkan made a sharp left turn and into the garage, his team reporting a engine problem. It wouldn't be until the third lap that the scoring box scored Ozkan officially out of the race, the only retiree of the race.
Finishing 39th two-time last-place finisher the #80 LCI International Ford of Greg Lee, 38th went to Flemington last-place finisher the #9 Rhino Linings USA Chevrolet of Brian Fox, who, for the first time in his truck series career, failed to win a race. 37th went to the #6 RE/MAX International Chevrolet of Alexander Rowe and rounding out the Bottom Five was two time last-place finisher the #31 Concor Tool & Machine Ford of Evan Rudd, all of whom who finished on the same lap as race winner Jay Jefferson.
The Season 3 SCRL Rainbow Dash Truck Series Championship went to Zachary Fitzwater, the first for both the driver as well as his team owner, Darrell Waltrip Motorsports. Fitzwater has one last-place finish - coming this season at Nashville - in the three year history of the truck series and is the only time the the number 17 has finished last in series history. Congratulations to Fitzwater and the Darrell Waltrip Motorsports team for having a great year.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #3 has finished last in a truck series race as well as at Las Vegas.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
40) #3-Samet Ozkan / 0 laps / engine
39) #80-Greg Lee / 27 laps / running
38) #9-Brian Fox / 27 laps / running
37) #6-Alexander Rowe / 27 laps / running
36) #31-Evan Rudd / 27 laps / running
Simon Fox picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL Rainbow Dash Truck Series career in Thursday's GM Goodwrench / Delco 300 at the Phoenix International Raceway when his #13 Key Federal Savings VISA Chevrolet fell out with camshaft problems after completing 7 of the 32 laps
The finish came in his 25th career series start. Brother of Brian Fox, Simon had the pressure of living up to his brother's success as Brian is a former two time champion with 11 career wins. Simon would quickly show he had the same talent as his brother, scoring four wins in a short amount of time before signing up for Season 3 of the Truck Series. Simon finished an uneventful 26th in his series debut and a best finish of 2nd at Heartland Park would be his best finish until the next round at IRP where Fox would score his first truck series win. Two races later, Simon would pick up win #2 at Nashville, leading wire-to-wire and would pick up a huge point lead heading into Phoenix, where he had finished 18th earlier in the season.
On race day, Saatchi would roll off the field in 22nd and was looking to finish high enough to ride into the season finale at Las Vegas with a big point lead. Starting last for the second race in a row was I-70 last-place finisher the #88 PBA Tour Chevrolet of Carter Frisen, a spot he would hold until Turn 3 when the #65 Addington Racing Chevrolet of Gatlin Downey fell back to last before Frisen would take it back one lap later and was trailing the field when the first caution came out when the #98 Raybestos Ford of Jason Larker would be spun out, being forced to pit for tires. As the field ran around under caution, Simon Fox, who was running in 15th at the time, began to smoke as he quickly pulled to the apron to avoid getting oil on the track. Fox would make it back to pit road and then pulled into the garage, his truck officially listed as"Out" by the 8th lap.
Finishing 39th was Mesa Marin last-place finisher the #43 Cummins Engines Dodge of Marcus Saatchi, who would be involved in a multi-truck crash in Turn 3, ending his day on the 25th lap. Rounding out the Bottom Five were drivers who finished on the same lap as race winner Riley Spurlytube; 38th went to the #34 Concor Tool & Machine Ford of Al Lagasee, 37th went to Nazareth last-place finisher the #8 Cintas Chevrolet of Mani Salado and 36th went to the aforementioned #88 of Carter Frisen.
Meanwhile by virtue of finishing 10th, Jeff Bright locks up the SCRLASTCAR Championship with one race to go as he has 3 last-place finishes while even if Gree Lee or Evan Rudd finish last, they wouldn't be able to beat Bright in terms of Bottom Five or Bottom 10 finishes, locking the title up for Bright.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #13 has finished last in a truck series race as well as at Phoenix.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
40) #13-Simon Fox / 7 laps / camshaft
39) #43-Marcus Saatchi / 25 laps / crash
38) #34-Al Lagasee / 32 laps / running
37) #8-Mani Salado / 32 laps / running
36) #88-Carter Frisen / 32 laps / running
Maria Valera picked up the 1st last place finish of her SCRL Rainbow Dash Truck Series career in Wednesday's The No Fear Challenge at the California Speedway when her #04 M-R Motorsports Chevrolet was involved in a multi-truck crash after 3 of the 25 laps
The finish came in her 24th career series start. Entering Season 3 of the Truck Series, Valera was one of many drivers just looking to have a good season. She began her Truck Series career by finishing an impressive 7th at Walt Disney World, a finish she would top at Homestead and Nazareth by finishing 6th as the series ran it's first road course event of the season at Heartland Park Topeka. Valera would start on the pole and would stay on contention for second until with two laps to go leader Truttle spun out handing the lead and win to Valera. After scoring her first win, Valera's best finish since has been a 7th at Mesa Marin, one round ago, and sits just outside the top ten in points.
On race day, Saatchi would roll off the field in 6th and had high hopes for another good run. Starting last was I-70 last-place finisher the #88 PBA Tour Chevrolet of Carter Frisen but by the end of the first lap the #65 Concor Tool & Machine Ford of Gatlin Downey would take over last and on the 2nd lap Bristol last-place finisher the #86 Valvoline Instant Oil Change Ford of Max Anderson would enter the battle as the field entered Turn 2 chaos would break out.
As drivers went five wide, contact between the #16 NAPA Brakes Chevrolet of Bafode Sacko and two-time last-place finisher the #80 LCI International of Greg Lee set off a chain reaction as a ten truck wreck would break out. As the smoke cleared, Valera's truck limped around on the apron, her truck completely destroyed as she limped to the garage, her day done.
Finishing 39th was Homestead last-place finisher the #1 Band-Aid Ford of Gustavo Arocha, who would finish on the same lap as Valera. 38th went to two time last-place finisher the #31 Concor Tool & Machine Ford of Evan Rudd, who would complete one more lap before pulling into the garage. 37th went to current SCRLASTCAR points leader the #4 Link-Belt Construction Chevrolet of Jeff Bright, who would suffer valve problems, while running in 15th. Rounding out the Bottom Five in 36th was the #6 RE/MAX International of Alexander Rowe, who was damaged in the lone caution of the day and would limp around at half speed, costing several drivers a chance at victory in the final laps.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #04 has finished last in a truck series race as well as at Fontana.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
40) #04-Maria Valera / 3 laps / crash
39) #1-Gustavo Arocha / 3 laps / crash
38) #31-Evan Rudd / 4 laps / crash
37) #4-Jeff Bright / 6 laps / valve
36) #6-Alexander Rowe / 23 laps / running
Marcus Saatchi picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL Rainbow Dash Truck Series career in Tuesday's Dodge California Truckstop 300 at the Mesa Marin Raceway when his #43 Cummins Engines Dodge completed 26 of the 32 laps under power.
The finish came in his 47th career series start. Entering Season 3 of the Rainbow Dash Truck Series, Saatchi had found some success, scoring two wins in the SCRL Lucas Oil ARCA Racing Series, at Talladega and the Milwaukee Mile, as well as scoring a win in the SCRL CatDog Pro Series East at Road Atlanta, but had been struggling in the Truck Series. In Season 2, Saatchi scored 3 Top 5's and 8 Top 10's and was the championship leader heading into the season finale at Las Vegas, but was involved in a early crash, handing the title over to Jonathan Raines. Saatchi's season would start of uneventful as he finished 30th at Walt Disney World and a best finish of 2nd at Louisville and IRP would be Saatchi's season highlights as he sat in the Top 15 in points heading into the season's final short track event.
On race day, Saatchi would roll off the field in 25th while starting last was the #01 Highwallers Racing Chevrolet of Marcos Yepez who would trail the field for the first lap before the #90 NHL Dodge of Muhammad Zain Abdullah would take the last spot before the #6 RE/MAX International of Alexander Rowe would take the last spot on the 3rd lap having gone a lap down early. Rowe would trail the field all the way until the 25th lap when the #28 Federated Auto Parts Ford of Richard Torres would fall back to last as it appeared the Torres brothers would get back-to-back last place finishes. However on the 26th lap, Saatchi reported to his crew a tire was going down as he limped around the track, making it to pit road having already lost a lap. The team had trouble getting the jack under the truck as Saatchi would lose three more laps, officially locking up the last place spot as the race went into GWC(Green, White, Checker).
32nd went to the aforementioned #28 of Richard Torres, 31st went to the aforementioned #6 of Alexander Rowe, 30th went to the #01 of Marcos Yepez and rounding out the bottom five was Milwaukee Mile last-place finisher the #66 Carlin Burners & Controls Ford of Zaptos Amarrados.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first time the #43 has finished last at Mesa Marin.
*This is the first time the #43 has trailed a truck series race since December 16, 2016, when Josh Nixey was disqualified after completing 11 of the 25 laps of the Season 1 Racing Champions 200 at the Tucson Raceway Park, 65 races ago.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
33) #43-Marcus Saatchi / 26 laps / running
32) #28-Richard Torres / 29 laps / running
31) #6-Alexander Rowe / 29 laps / running
30) #01-Marcos Yepez / 29 laps / running
29) #66-Zaptos Amarrados / 32 laps / running
Sebastian Torres picked up the 3rd last place finish of his SCRL Rainbow Dash Truck Series career in Monday's Kragen / Exide 151 at the Sears Point Raceway when his #24 Quaker State Chevrolet completed all 12 laps under power.
The finish came in his 66th career series start, was his first of the season, and his first in a truck series race since January 7, 2017 when he completed 25 of the 50 laps of the Season 1 Western Auto 200 at the I-70 Speedway, 59 races ago.
Entering Season 3 of the Rainbow Dash Truck Series, Sebastian Torres has become one of the most dominating drivers in the five year history of the SCRL, having won three championships in his career and scored 12 career wins, with one win in the truck series, at Flemington in Season 2. Torres's season would start off slow by finishing 32nd at Walt Disney World before rebounding to finish 14th at Tucson. A finish of 7th at Homestead would be his season highlight until the series raced at the 6th event of the season at Portland, as Torres would make a last-lap pass and would score his second career truck series win. Ever since his victory at Evergreen, Torres's season has been horrible with only a 7th place finish at I-70 and Nashville his best finishes since.
On race day, Torres would roll off the field on the pole while starting last was the #34 Concor Tool & Machine Ford of Al Lagasee, a spot he would hold on too until the field entered Turn 5 when the #04 M-R Motorsports Chevrolet of Maria Valera would take the last spot, but she would knock Al Lagasee to last by Turn 9 and by the time drivers entered Turn 11 the two leaders, Torres and Texas last-place finisher the #94 Super 8 Motel Ford of Jimmy Potter would both dive onto pit road, both drivers reporting tire problems and knocking Torres down to last. As the field drove by, Potter would pull out of the pits ahead of Torres, a spot he would hold on till the end of the race, never able to gain any spots over the remaining eleven laps.
39th went to the aforementioned #94 of Jimmy Potter, 38th went to points leader the #13 Key Federal Savings VISA Chevrolet of Simon Fox, 37th went to the aforementioned #04 of Maria Valera and rounding out the bottom five in 36th was the #10 A & G Coal Chevrolet of Macarron Asado, all of whom would finish on the same lap as race winner Joshua Rush.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first time the #24 has finished last in a truck series race at Sonoma.
*This is the first time the #24 has trailed a truck series race since May 18, 2017, when Luke Rainey suffered engine problems after completing 21 of the 21 laps of the Season 2 Ford Dealers 225 at the Louisville Motor Speedway, 35 races ago.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
40) #24-Sebastian Torres / 12 laps / running
39) #94-Jimmy Potter / 12 laps / running
38) #13-Simon Fox / 12 laps / running
37) #04-Maria Valera / 12 laps / running
36) #10-Macarron Asado / 12 laps / running
Jeff Bright picked up the 3rd last place finish of his SCRL Rainbow Dash Truck Series career in Tuesday's Hanes 250 at the Martinsville Speedway when his #4 Link-Belt Construction Chevrolet was involved in a multi-truck crash after 43 of the 50 laps.
The finish came in his 41st career series start, was his third of the season, and his first in a truck series race since December 15, 2017 when he completed all of the 20 laps of the Craftsman 200 at the Portland Speedway, 16 races ago. With the finish, Bright takes the SCRLASTCAR lead with five races to go.
Ever since trailing the field at Portland, a finish of 11th at Colorado would be his best showing as he is still looking for his first Top 10 of the season as he entered Martinsville.
On race day, Rudd would roll off the field in the 11th spot while starting last was Nashville last-place finisher the #17 Sears DieHard Chevrolet of Zachary Fitzwater but as the field took the green flag, Phoenix last-place finisher the #55 Gloy Racing Ford of Keith Stevens would take over last and would trail the field for the first three laps before the #2 Team ASE Racing Ford of Jay Jefferson would take over last on Lap 4, the #20 Orleans Hotel & Casino Chevrolet of Steve Larker would take the last spot on the 5th lap, Heartland Park Topeka last-place finisher the #42 Hot Wheels Chevrolet of Gustau Odenberg on the 6th lap, Tucson last-place finisher the #77 Doran Motorsports Chevrolet on the 7th lap before Odenberg would take last again on the 8th lap.
Diego Yepez would take last again on the 9th lap and would hold it until lap 14 when Odenberg took it back over after falling two laps down and it appeared he was on his way to his second career last-place finish. However Fitzwater would take the last spot on the 43rd lap as chaos would break out as the third caution would fly, knocking the #75 Spears Manufacturing Chevrolet of Joshua Rush back to last on the 44th lap. While running around under caution, Jeff Bright, who was in the Top 5 at the time, ran into the back of another truck damaging the radiator and giving Bright the lead in the SCRLASTCAR Championship.
39th went to Flemington last-place finisher the #9 Rhino Linings USA Chevrolet of Brian Fox, who led nine laps early in the event, only to suffer a broken piston five laps from the finish. 38th went to the #21 Orleans Hotel & Casino Chevrolet of Eli Bright, 37th went to the aforementioned #75 of Joshua Rush and rounding out the bottom five in 36th was the aforementioned #77 of Diego Yepez.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first time the #4 has finished last at Martinsville.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
40) #4-Jeff Bright / 43 laps / crash
39) #9-Brian Fox / 45 laps / piston led 9 laps
38) #21-Eli Bright / 48 laps / running
37) #75-Joshua Rush / 48 laps / running
36) #77-Diego Yepez / 48 laps / running
Evan Rudd picked up the 3rd last place finish of his SCRL Rainbow Dash Truck Series career in Monday's Virginia Is For Lovers 200 at the Richmond International Raceway when his #31 Concor Tool & Machine Ford was involved in a multi-truck crash after 1 of the 44 laps.
The finish came in his 57th career series start, was his second of the season, and his first in a truck series race since December 28, 2017 when he was involved in another multi-truck crash after completing 7 of the 22 laps of the Cummins 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park, four races ago. With the finish, Rudd now is in a three-way tie with the most last-place finishes on the season, but trails both Greg Lee and Jeff Bright in Bottom Five and Bottom ten finishes.
Ever since trailing the field at IRP, Rudd had only completed in one more race, finishing 21st in the wreckfest at Watkins Glen in the last round as he arrived at Richmond, a track he had scored his first ever truck series win at, in Season 1.
On race day, Rudd would roll off the field in the 18th spot while starting last was Phoenix last-place finisher the #55 Icehouse Beer Ford of Keith Stevens who would trail the field as the green flag was waved Flemington last-place finisher the #9 Rhino Linings USA Chevrolet of Brian Fox would stall on the frontstretch, causing a pileup behind him as Rudd would be collected in the crash. Fox would be teleported to the pits as Rudd limped around, Fox was scored last at the end of the first lap as Rudd pulled into the garage. If Fox didn't return to the track, he would be the first driver to fail to complete a lap since Gustau Odenberg trailed the field at Heartland Park Topeka, five races ago. Fox, however, would return to the race by the third lap, and it wasn't until the fourth, until Rudd dropped back to last, giving him the last place spot.
39th went to the #2 Team ASE Racing Ford of Jay Jefferson, 38th to Milwaukee Mile last-place finisher the #66 Carlin Burners & Controls Ford of Zaptos Amarrados and 37th to Colorado last-place finisher the #99 Exide Batteries Ford of James Stabilito, all of whom who was taken out in another multi-truck crash. Rounding out the Bottom Five in 36th place was the #06 Greenfield Racing Dodge of Tim Randolph, who would suffer a broken Header on the 12th lap.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first time the #31 has finished last at Richmond.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
40) #31-Evan Rudd / 1 lap / crash
39) #2-Jay Jefferson / 7 laps / crash
38) #66-Zaptos Amarrados / 8 laps / crash
37) #99-James Stabilito / 8 laps / crash
36) #06-Tim Randolph / 12 laps / header
