Alexio Antonio picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series career in last Wednesday's Mello Yello 300 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway when his #33 Dalton Chevrolet Dealers Pontiac completed all 40 laps under power
The finish came in his 12th career series start. In the SCRL Busch Series, it's the 1st for car #33 and the 16th for running at the finish. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 1st for car #33 and the 111th for running.
Coming into Season 2 of the busch series, Antonio had never made a single start in the SCRL, but it didn't take long for him to impress people, as he would score his first ever victory in his maiden voyage by winning in his league and series debut at Daytona, which he backed up by finishing 4th at Richmond in the next round.Since then it has been a downward spiral for Antonio as in the last ten races his best finish is a 16th at Rockingham heading into Charlotte.
On race day, Antonio would roll off the field in 33rd while starting last was the #21 Chattanooga Chew Pontiac of Christian Vargas, but his stay in last would last for only two turns as a classic battle for the last spot began, the unsponsored #68 of Eric Wayne would trail on Lap 1, the #7 Mello Yello Oldsmobile of Matt Hamill on Lap 2, the #2 Smith & Davis Pontiac of Gustavo Arochaon Lap 3 and the #93 unsponsored Pontiac of Brian Fox on the 4th lap before the #51 unsponsored Pontiac of Chakat Silverpaw entered the battle on Lap 5 and held it for the next two laps.
Bristol race winner the #01 unsponsored Pontiac of Tony Newman entered the battle on Lap 7 and held it into Lap 11 when two time last-place finisher the #63 Ashby Sheet Metal & Machine Pontiac of Maria Valera entered the battle as she took the final spot on Lap 11, but her stay was short lived as she bumped the #88 unsponsored Pontiac of Ryan Bowyer to last on Lap 12, who then bumped the #6 Mason Day Paving Chevrolet of Henry Urchman to last on Lap 13, who would hold that spot until Lap 16 when Rockingham last-place finisher the #04 unsponsored Pontiac of Gatlin Downey took last, but his stay as well lasted only two laps before the #40 unsponsored Pontiac of Zapatos Amarados would take last on Lap 19 and 20 before Antonio made his first appearance, taking last on Lap 21 before knocking Urchman back to last on Lap 22.
Martinsville last-place finisher the #19 Gardiner's Auto Parts Pontiac of Nick Kennedy would enter the battle when he was knocked back to last on Lap 23 and would hold that spot for four laps until he knocked the aforementioned #21 of Christian Vargas back to last on Lap 28. The aforementioned #51 of Chakat Silverpaw took last again on Lap 32 before Ryan Bowyer took last on Lap 34, Antonio on Lap 35, Silverpaw again on Lap 36, Kennedy on Lap 37, Christian Vargas on Lap 38 and would hold that spot until just after the white flag when Antonio was pushed back to last going down the backstretch as Antonio would run out of time and scored his first last-place finish, just barely being edged out by Vargas.
The remaining Bottom Five was filled up drivers who all finished on the same lap as race winner Truttle; 41st went to the #21 of Christian Vargas, 40th went to the #88 of Ryan Bowyer 39th went to the #19 of Nick Kennedy and finishing 38th was the #7 of Matt Hamill.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #33 has finished last in a Busch race as well as at Charlotte.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
42) #33-Alexio Antonio / 40 laps / running
41) #21-Christian Vargas / 40 laps / running
40) #88-Ryan Bowyer / 40 laps / running
39) #19-Nick Kennedy / 40 laps / running
38) #7-Matt Hamill / 40 laps / running
Joe Jefferson picked up the 2nd last place finish of his SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series career in last Monday's Southeastern 150 at the Bristol International Speedway when his #87 Jarvis Racing Chevrolet was involved in a two-car accident after 18 of 50 laps.
The finish came in her 40th career series start, was his first in a Busch Series race since April 7, 2018 at Langley, 2 races ago. In the SCRL Busch Series, it's the 2nd for car #87 and the 18th for crash. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 2nd for car #63 and the 178th for crash.
Ever since finishing last at Langley, Jefferon's luck has been horrible, as he finished 31st in the last round at Dover, a victim also of another crash.
On race day, Jefferson would roll off the field in 33rd while starting last was Richmond winner the #23 Miller High Life Pontiac of Samet Ozkan as he would trail the field for the first lap before knocking the #41 Marvaco Inc. Pontiac of Marcus Saatchi into last on Lap 2 before Martinsville last-place finisher the #19 Gardiner's Auto Parts Pontiac of Nick Kennedy was moved into last on the third lap, Hickory last-place finisher the #62 1 Stop Food Store Pontiac of Marcos Yepez moved into last on Lap 4 before on Lap 5 the #9 unsponsored Pontiac of Zachary Fitzwater took last as he would trail the field till Lap 8 when the #24 Budweiser Ford of Connor Hurley took last and was trailing the field when in Turn 3 something happened.
While running in the Top 15, the #90 unsponsored Pontiac of Matt Bowyer began to slow and stalled on the track, no caution would come out and the car was pulled back to the pits, the crew working hard to get their driver back out as he remained on pit road for many laps, if the team was unable to get him back out, it would have been Bower's first last place finish. However the team was able to get the problem repaired, a flat left rear tire, and returned him back onto the track, 3 laps down and he would remain in last when on Lap 18 the #87 of Joe Jefferson and the #88 unsponsored Pontiac of Ryan Bowyer would be involved in a wreck in Turn 3, damaging Jefferson as he would retire on Lap 18, but it wasn't until Lap 24 that he was bumped down to last, while Ryan was able to limp home 34th.
The remaining Bottom Five was filled up drivers who also struggled at Bristol; 41st went to the #15 Wrangler Jeans Pontiac of Chris Kyle taken out in a multi-car wreck on Lap 36, 40th went to the aforementioned #62 of Marcos Yepez, taken out in the final caution on Lap 42, 39th went to the #77 Old Milwaukee Pontiac of Diego Yepez who finished on the same lap as his brother while rounding out the Bottom Five in 38th was the #21 Chattanooga Chew Pontiac of Christian Vargas, who also got damage, but was able to limp around for one more lap and be scored 38th.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #87 has finished last at Bristol.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
42) #87-Joe Jefferson / 18 laps / crash
41) #15-Chris Kyle / 36 laps / crash
40) #62-Marcos Yepez / 42 laps / crash
39) #77-Diego Yepez / 42 laps / crash
38) #21-Christian Vargas / 43 laps / crash
Maria Valera picked up the 2nd last place finish of his SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series career in Wednesday's Sportsman 200 at the Dover Downs International Speedway when her #63 Ashby Sheet Metal & Machine Pontiac was involved in a multi-car accident after 1 of 40 laps.
The finish came in her 10th career series start, was her first in a Busch Series race since February 14, 2018 at Daytona, 9 races ago. In the SCRL Busch Series, it's the 4th for car #63 and the 17th for crash. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 4th for car #63 and the 177th for crash.
Ever since Daytona, which gave her a last-place finish in her series debut, Valera quickly rebounded by scoring her first series win by leading 12 laps and scoring a close win over Eric Wayne at Rockingham, but has remained outside the top ten in points as several lackluster finishes has left her looking for another chance at a win entering the series second ever trip to the Dover Downs International Speedway.
On race day, Valera would roll off the field in 36th while starting last was Richmond last-place finisher the #98 Levi Garrett Pontiac of James Stabilito as he would trail the field for the first few turns before knocking the #8 TGR Enterprises Pontiac of Eli Bright into last place as the field made it's first circuit around Dover. The next time around, chaos broke out a multi-car crash broke out with Valera nowhere to go as she took a hard hit into the outside wall, while she was able to climb from her car, her day was done and locking up the LASTCAR award.
The remaining Bottom Five was filled up by Lap 10, all due to crashes; 41st went to Greenville-Pickens last-place finisher the #5 unsponsored Pontiac of Chakat Whitelion, who limped across the line to be scored just one lap higher then Valera. 40th went to the #2 Smith-Davis Tire Pontiac of Gustavo Arocha, taken out on a Lap 8 crash, 39th went to the #15 Wrangler Jeans Pontiac of Chris Kyle and rounding out the Bottom Five in 38th was the #21 Chattanooga Chew Pontiac of Christian Vargas, both taken out in the same crash as Arocha, but both were able to limp across the line to be scored one lap higher.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #63 has finished last at Dover.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
42) #63-Maria Valera / 1 lap / crash
41) #5-Chakat Whitelion / 2 laps / crash
40) #2-Gustavo Arocha / 8 laps / crash
39) #15-Chris Kyle / 9 laps / crash
38) #21-Christian Vargas / 9 laps / crash
Joe Jefferson picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series career in Sunday's Hampton Chevy 200 at the Langley Speedway when his #87 Jarvis Racing Chevrolet was involved in a single-car accident after 1 of 20 laps.
The finish came in his 38th career series start. In the SCRLASTCAR rankings, it's the 1st for car #87 and the 16th for crash. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 1st for car #87 and the 176th for crash.
Entering Season 2 of the Busch Series, Jefferson has found success in the busch series, scoring his first win at Hickory as well as becoming the first driver to win a Last Chance Qualifier as well as the main event at this very track one season ago and in total has eight career SCRL wins across all series. Joe's season began by finishing 38th at Daytona after being caught up in a early big one and a season best of only 17th at Richmond in the second round.
On race day, Jefferson would roll off the field in 39th while starting last was Hickory last-place finisher the #62 1 Stop Food Store Pontiac of Marcos Yepez, a spot Yepez would hold only one lap as during the first lap, Joe went wide in Turn 3, running nearly head-on into the guardrail fence with enough force that the car flipped over bringing out the first caution and handing Jefferson his first last-place finish in busch series competition.
41st went to the #70 unsponsored Pontiac of Kion Vargas, the only other driver to retire from the race, his day done on Lap 5 due to a broken Valve. Rounding out the Bottom Five were drivers who all finished on the same lap as race winner Chakat Whitelion: 40th went to the #24 Budweiser Ford of Connor Hurley, 39th went to the #71 Maxie's Vending Pontiac of Truttle and finishing 38th was the aforementioned #62 of Marcos Yepez.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #87 has finished last in a Busch race as well as at Langley.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
42) #87-Joe Jefferson / 1 lap / crash
41) #70-Kion Vargas / 5 laps / valve
40) #24-Connor Hurley / 20 laps / running
39) #71-Truttle / 20 laps / running
38) #62-Marcos Yepez / 20 laps / running
Chakat Whitelion picked up the 1st last place finish of hir SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series career in Wednesday's Coca-Cola 200 at the Greenville-Pickens Speedway when hir #5 unsponsored Pontiac was involved in a multi-car crash after 1 of the 20 laps.
The finish came in hir 37th career series start. In the SCRLASTCAR rankings, it's the 1st for car #5 and the 15th for crash. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 11th for car #5 and the 175th for crash.
Entering Season 2 of the Busch Series, Whitelion is one of the most successful drivers in league history, having won four championships in the five year history and currently is tied with Oreius Centaur with the second most wins in league history, 17. However none of those wins have come in the busch series as shi has struggled to find victory lane in 36 previous starts hir best finish is 2nd at Langley Speedway in Season 1. During those five years of racing, Whitelion has also picked up the record for finishing last the most times in all series combined, with 12 with her closest challenger being Bulldog67 who has 11.
Whitelion's season started off slow with hir finishing 16th at Daytona before scoring hir second career runnerup finish at Richmond, backing it up by finishing 4th at Rockingham, 6th at Hickory, having a slump at both Martinsville and North Wilkesboro before getting hir third runner up spot at South Boston one race ago.
On race day, Whitelion would roll off the field in 38th while starting last was the #51 unsponsored Pontiac of Oreius Centaur. As the field circled the half mile track, chaos broke out on the frontstretch as Whitelion ran into the back of South Boston last-place finisher the #1 New Con Leasing Pontiac of Carter Friesen, knocking both drivers out of the race but Whitelion was scored last with Frisen being scored 41st.
40th went to the #01 Zervakis Racing Pontiac of Tony Newman, himself involved in the same wreck but was able to complete two laps before retiring.
The remaining two Bottom Five drivers finished the race under power: 39th went to Hickory last-place finisher the #62 1 Stop Food Store Pontiac of Marcos Yepez, who finishing 3 laps down and 38th went to the #87 Jarvis Racing Chevrolet of Joe Jefferson who finished 2 laps down to race and Joe's brother Jay Jefferson.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #5 has finished last in a Busch race as well as at Greenville-Pickens.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
42) #5-Chakat Whitelion / 1 lap / crash
41) #1-Carter Friesen / 1 lap / crash
40) #01-Tony Newman / 2 laps / crash
39) #62-Marcos Yepez / 17 laps / running
38) #87-Joe Jefferson / 18 laps / running
Carter Friesen picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series career in Monday's WDVA 200 at the South Boston Speedway when his #1 New Con Leasing Pontiac completed all 30 laps under power.
The finish came in his 7th career series start. In the SCRLASTCAR rankings, it's the 1st for car #1 and the 15th for running. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 8th for car #1 and the 110th for running at the finish.
Entering Season 2 of the Busch Series, Friesen was looking for the same luck he had in Season 3 of the SCRL Rainbow Dash Truck Series, winning in his debut start at Walt Disney World, a series were six races later he would score his first last-place finish in his SCRL career. Friesen would finish 18th in the final points standings and made his busch debut at Daytona but the same good luck would not transfer from his truck debut, as he finished 36th after being taken out in one of the big wrecks. Friesen's best finish so far this season has been a 17th at Martinsville and in the last round he was able to survive a wreckfest at North Wilkesboro and finished 29th.
On race day, Patrick would roll off the field in 36th while starting last was Martinsville last-place finisher the #19 Gardiner's Auto Parts Pontiac of Nick Kennedy. As the field circled the 0.357 short track, Kennedy bumped the #71 Maxie's Vending Pontiac of Truttle back to last before Friesen entered the battle as he dropped back to last on the 3rd lap and he would trail the field for two laps before Friesen passed the #6 Mason Day Paving Chevrolet of Henry Urchman who was last for the 5th lap before Rockingham last-place finisher the #04 unsponsored Pontiac of Gatlin Downey took last on Lap 6. One lap later North Wilkesboro last-place finisher the #45 Luck Stone Pontiac Patrick Smith took last on Lap 7 but his stay in last was brief as the next lap the #90 unsponsored Pontiac of Matt Bowyer would take last on Lap 8.
On lap 11 the #40 unsponsored Pontiac of Zapatos Amarados would take last and would hold it until Lap 13 when the #6 of Henry Urchman would take the last spot again. The #22 A.G. Dillard Pontiac of Danyal Gitirokh would enter the last-place battle on Lap 15 before he knocked Urchman back to last one lap later as Urchman would trail the field for the next seven laps before the #45 of Patrick Smith entered the battle again on Lap 23 before Danyal Gitirokh would take it back on Lap 25 before Patrick Smith would take last again on Lap 28 before he passed the #1 of Carter Frisen, who would trail the field for the final lap.
The Bottom Five were filled by drivers who all finished on the same lap as race winner Sammy Sabre Jr.: 41st went to Daytona race winner the #33 unsponsored Pontiac of Alexio Antonio, 40th went to the aforementioned #45 of Patrick Smith, 39th went to the aforementioned #22 of Danyal Gitirokh and rounding of the bottom five in 38th was the #8 TGR Enterprises Pontiac of Eli Bright.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #1 has finished last in a Busch race as well as at South Boston.
*This is only the second time Frisen has finished last in a SCRL sanctioned race; the first coming in Season 3 of the SCRL Rainbow Dash Truck Series when he trailed the field at I-70 after failing to complete any of the 20 laps due to engine problems.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
42) #1-Carter Friesen / 30 laps / running
41) #33-Alexio Antonio / 30 laps / running
40) #45-Patrick Smith / 30 laps / running
39) #22-Danyal Gitirokh / 30 laps / running
38) #8-El Bright / 30 laps / running
