BUSCH: Early mechanical problem gives Daytona race winner Alexio Antonio second last-place finish of the season in series debut at Orange County

Alexio Antonio picked up the 2nd last place finish of his SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series career in last Wednesday's L.D. Swain & Son 200 at the Orange County Speedway when his #33 Dalton Chevrolet Dealers Pontiac fell out with piston problems after completing 13 of the 20 laps.

The finish, which occurred in his 15th career series start, was his first on the circuit since April 25, 2018 at Charlotte, 3 races ago. In the SCRL Busch Series, it's the 2nd for car #33 and the 1st for piston. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 2nd for car #33 and the 7th for piston.

After scoring his first career win at Daytona and then his first last place finish at Charlotte, Antonio's career has been a one hit wonder as he finished 32nd at South Boston before scoring a 9th place finish in the last round at Hickory as the series remained in the state of North Carolina for the second race in a row but traveled to Rougemont for the series first ever stop at the 0.375 Orange County Speedway.

On race day, Antonio would roll off the field in 24th while starting last was the #8 TGR Enterprises Pontiac of Eli Bright who would trail the field for the first three laps before Richmond winner the #23 Miller High Life Pontiac of Samet Ozkan fell back to last on the 4th lap and would lose ground with the rest of the field, falling nearly a half lap down when on Lap 13, Antonio, who was running in 27th, began to smoke heading into Turn 1 as drivers swerved to miss the blowing up car as Ozkan stalled on the track bringing out the lone caution of the day. Ozkan's car was towed to the garage as the car was knocked back to last one lap later, the team discovered the problem was a broken Piston, and due to the length of time it would take to repair, the teamed decided to call it a day.

The remaining Bottom Five was filled by drivers who completed all twenty laps under power; 32nd went to the aforementioned #23 of Samet Ozkan, 31st went to two time last-place finisher the #98 Levi Garrett Pontiac of James Stabilito, 30th went to the #17 Aladdin Industries Pontiac of Sammy Sabre Jr. and 29th went to the aforementioned #8 of Eli Bright.

The race marked the first career busch series win for Carter Friesen, who has one last place finish in this series, at South Boston, 8 races ago.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #33 has finished last at Orange County.
*This is the first time "piston" has been listed as the reason for being out in a Busch Series race.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
33) #33-Alexio Antonio / 13 laps / piston
32) #23-Samet Ozkan / 20 laps / running
31) #98-James Stabilito / 20 laps / running
30) #17-Sammy Sabre Jr. / 20 laps / running
29) #8-Eli Bright / 20 laps / running