The finish occurred in his 23rd career series start, was his first on the circuit since February 28, 2018 at Rockingham, where he suffered header problems, while also failing to complete a lap, 20 races ago. In the SCRL Busch Series, it's the 2nd for car #04 and the 2nd for reason by tire. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 5th for Car #04 and 11th for reason by tire.
Ever since trailing the field at Rockingham, Downey had found success, just one race after scoring his first last-place finish, he finished 2nd at Hickory followed up by several more Top 10 finishes at North Wilkesboro, Hickory, Langley, twice at Orange County as well as a 3rd place finish at South Boston while solidly in the Top 20 in points.
On race day, Downey was going to roll off the starting grid in 12th while starting last was the #70 unsponsored Pontiac of Kion Vargas. As the field rolled off the pit road, Downey's pulled into the garage, his team reporting an unusual problem; tire problems, as the cause, and by the end of the first lap, the car was listed as "out" just a few seconds before chaos broke out in Turn 3.
As the field made their way down the backstretch, the #11 J.W. Hunt Produce Pontiac of Al Lagasee was running three-wide with the #22 Miller High Life Pontiac of Danyal Gitirokh and two time last-place finisher the #98 Levi Garrett Pontiac of James Stabilito, sending all three cars for a spin, stacking up the field behind them. The #71 Maxie's Vending Pontiac of Truttle was able to get around the wreck on the low side but the #41 Marvaco Inc. Pontiac of Marcus Saatchi was on his right side, entering turn to the two cars made contact when Saatchi connected with the right side of Truttle's car sending Truttle nearly head on into the concrete wall as more cars crashed and stacked up into Turn 3 as well. Truttle's car was destroyed and despite the hard hit, he was able to walk away with no injuries but was scored 41st just above Downey.
The remaining Bottom Five was filled by drivers who were also knocked out by crash damage; 40th went to the #32 Pet Dairy Pontiac of Ying Canario, he himself got damage from the same wreck but was able to limp across the start/finish line to complete one lap, 39th went to the #95 Metro Pontiac of Sebastian Torres who also took damage, was told by his team to ride around the apron for the caution laps, completing two laps to be scored higher before pulling off and finishing 38th was the #42 unsponsored Pontiac of Derek Hamill, he himself taken out in a later crash on Lap 6.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #04 has finished last at IRP.
*The most recent time a driver has failed to complete a lap was on May 23, 2018 when Chakat Whitelion was involved in a multi-car crash in the Goody's 200 at the Caraway Speedway, 5 races ago,
*This is the first time "tire" has been listed for the reason of a driver being last since the Season 1 Busch 200 at the South Boston Speedway when the #00 Thomas Bros. Country Ham Buick of Dinkdrinker trailed the field after completing 20 of the 30 laps, 45 races ago.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
42) #04-Gatlin Downey / 0 laps / tire
41) #71-Truttle / 0 laps / crash
40) #32-Ying Canario / 1 lap / crash
39) #95-Sebastian Torres / 2 laps / crash
38) #42-Derek Hamill / 6 laps / crash
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