Truttle picked up the 2nd last place finish of his SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series career on Sunday's Cardinal 250 at the Martinsville Speedway when his #71 Maxie's Vending Pontiac fell out with engine problems after completing 3 of the 50 laps.
The finish occurred in his 52nd career series start, was his first on the circuit since July 7, 2018 in the Mountain Dew 300 at the Hickory Speedway when he completed 10 of the 20 laps under power, 58 races ago. In the SCRL Busch Series, it's the 1st for car #71 and the 3rd for engine trouble. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 5th for the #71 and 31st for engine trouble.
Ever since trailing at Hickory in Season 1, Truttle has become the king of the busch series, much like he has the entire league the past five years. Truttle scored his first busch win just eight races after his first last place finish, at Asheville, before doubling down by scoring win number two at Rockingham two races after that, but several late race problems in the later half put Truttle 34th in the final points standings at the end of the season. Season 2 started off with Truttle announcing he would cut back his schedule, running only a part-time season to allow other drivers the chance to have the spotlight. Truttle's season started off by finishing 8th at Daytona, a position that would be his highest finishing spot until the series entered Charlotte for the 12th race of the season. Starting 26th, Truttle worked his way up into the lead in the final laps to pick up win number three in the series.
Victory number four was only eight races later as he would lead wire-to-wire at South Boston, but the all time race winner wasn't done yet as seven races later, he visited victory lane for the record setting fifth time in series history at Darlington. Since win #5, Truttle's has struggled, only able to pick up a best finish of 4th in the return trip to Charlotte and despite racing part time and scoring three wins, he currently sat 35th in points entering the final race of the season.
The entry list for the final race at Martinsville was a full field of 42 cars as both the driver's championship and the SCRLASTCAR Championships were up for grabs as points leader Chakat Whitelion entered the final race with a 92 point lead, while Maria Valera held a Bottom Ten finish over Alexio Antonio.
On race day, Truttle rolled off the starting grid in 32nd while starting last was current SCRLASTCAR Championship leader the #63 Ashby Sheet Metal & Machine Pontiac of Maria Valera as the field took the green flag, Valera quickly knocked two-time last-place finisher the #32 PET Dairy Pontiac of Ying Canario back to last spot, a position he would hold till Lap 3 when chaos broke out in Turn 3. Several cars spun out while Truttle worked his way through on the pit access road, his car began to smoke as the driver quickly shut off the engine and stalled just at the entrance of the front stretch pit road, bringing out the first of what would be six yellow flags. Truttle's car was towed behind the wall and into the garage, his team looking over it before calling it a day, reporting engine failure as the cause, but it wasn't until Lap 5 that his car was listed as "out" on the scoring board.
Finishing 41st was the #40 unsponsored Pontiac of Zapatos Amarados, who was involved in the first three cautions, suffered damaged to his car and was well off the pace before being flagged off the track for not maintaining minimum speed on Lap 20. 40th was the points leader and two-time last-place finisher the #5 unsponsored Pontiac of Chakat Whitelion, shi ran into the back of another car during a caution period, damaging the radiator and knocking hir out on Lap 26, as all shi could do is hope and pray hir championship rival Zachary Fitzwater didn't finish high enough to beat hir for the title.
Fall Charlotte last-place finisher the #41 Marvaco Inc. Pontiac of Marcus Saatchi finished 39th in points, he as well damaged the radiator during the same caution that knocked Whitelion out, but he was able to limp around for another five laps before the car began to overheat, the team calling their driver in just 19 laps from the finish.
Rounding out the Bottom Five was two-time last-place finisher the #87 unsponsored Chevrolet of Joe Jefferson, who suffered suspension problems with just tweleve laps to go.
The battle for the SCRLASTCAR championship ended as soon as Truttle's car was retired as Alexio Antonio needed to finish last in order to pass Valera, and since he didn't, Maria Valera is the SCRLASTCAR Champion for Season 2 of the SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series.
Taking the Season 2 of the SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series Championship on Sunday was Chakat Whitelion, winning the title by 77 points. Whitelion picked up two last-place finishes on the route to the championship, at Greenville-Pickens and Caraway. The championship is hir fifth in the entire SCRL League, the most of any other driver.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #71 has finished last in a busch series race as well as at Martinsville.
*The last time a driver trailed due to engine problems was June 27, 2018 when Connor Hurley was unable to complete any of the 20 laps in the DAPCO 200 at the Greenville-Pickens Speedway, 11 races ago.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
42) #71-Truttle / 3 laps / engine
41) #40-Zapatos Amarados / 20 laps / disqualified
40) #5-Chakat Whitelion / 26 laps / crash
39) #41-Marcus Saatchi / 31 laps / crash
38) #87-Joe Jefferson / 38 laps / suspension
Ying Canario picked up the 2nd last place finish of his SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series career on Saturday's Yount 200 at the Hickory Speedway when his #32 PET Dairy Pontiac completed 18 of the 20 laps under power.
The finish occurred in his 34th career series start, was his first on the circuit since July 7, 2018 in the Bobby Isaac Memorial 200 at the same Hickory track when he completed all 20 laps under power, 8 races ago. In the SCRL Busch Series, it's the 2nd for car #32 and the 21st for reason by running at the finish. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 9th for the #32 and 116th for reason by running at the finish.
Ever since trailing at the last Hickory event, Canario's busch series career has picked up some as he finished 5th at Richmond Fairgrounds and then 4th at North Wilkesboro before he made his second career start at Charlotte, leading 27 of the 40 laps and scored his first career busch win in his 33rd career start. The entry list for Hickory was 33 cars as only the full time drivers would compete in the 5th and final event of Season 2 at the Hickory Speedway as Canario competed in all four previous events, with a best finish of 13th.
On race day, Canario was to rolled off the starting grid in 27th while starting last was the #95 unsponsored Pontiac of Sebastian Torres, but just as the field rolled off pit road, Canario turned down into the pit road, his crew quickly going to work on the car as the report was a flat left rear tire. By the time Canario was able to get back onto the track, Canario was two laps down and with no cautions coming out during the event, Canario was never able to gain any of the laps back and scored his second last place finish of the season.
The remaining Bottom Five were drivers who finished on the same lap as the race leaders; 32nd went to fall Bristol last-place finisher the #23 Miller High Life Pontiac of Samet Ozkan, 31st was fall Orange County last-place finisher the #17 Aladdin Industries Pontiac of Sammy Sabre Jr., 30th was the aforementioned #95 of Sebastian Torres and 29th was current SCRLASTCAR Championship leader the #63 Ashby Sheet Metal & Machine Pontiac of Maria Valera.
With one race left to go, everyone but Alexio Antonio and Maria Valera has been eliminated. Both drivers can win the title by scoring another last-place finish, while Valera just has to score one more Bottom Five finish to make the title her's, while Antonio has to finish last, if anyone else finishes last, the title will be Valera's.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #32 has finished last at Hickory.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
33) #32-Ying Canario / 18 laps / running
32) #23-Samet Ozkan / 20 laps / running
31) #17-Sammy Sabre Jr. / 20 laps / running
30) #95-Sebastian Torres / 20 laps / running
29) #63-Maria Valera / 20 laps / running
Marcus Saatchi picked up the 2nd last place finish of his SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series career on Friday's Miller Time 300 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway when his #41 Marvaco Inc. Pontiac completed all 40 laps under power.
The finish occurred in his 51st career series start, was his first on the circuit since April 10, 2017 in the Goody's 200 at the Caraway Speedway when he completed 9 of the 20 laps under power; 44 races ago. In the SCRL Busch Series, it's the 1st for car #41 and the 20th for reason by running at the finish. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 1st for the #41 and 115th for reason by running at the finish.
Entering Season 2 of the busch series, Saatchi's career has been filled with highs and lows. In all series, Saatchi has visited victory lane three times in his career, while competing for a championship in the SCRL Rainbow Dash Truck Series, Saatchi entered the Season 2 finale at Las Vegas as the points leader, only to be taken out in a mid-race crash and lost his championship. In the SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series, Saatchi competed full time in season one but this season was given a part-time ride. Saatchi's best finish is a 4th at the last Charlotte and in the spring summer South Boston events, both coming in this current season.
On race day, Saatchi rolled off the starting grid in 32nd while starting last was the #90 unsponsored Pontiac of Matt Bowyer as one of the greatest SCRLASTCAR battles began quickly as the #77 Old Milwaukee Pontiac of Diego Yepez trailed on Lap 1, two-time last-place finisher the #19 Don Higgins Welding/Steve's Radiator Pontiac of Nick Kennedy trailed on the 2nd lap, fellow two-time last-place finisher the #15 Wrangler Jeans Pontiac of Chris Kyle trailed on Lap 3, another two-time last-place finisher the #87 unsponsored Chevrolet of Joe Jefferson trailed on Lap 4 before Diego Yepez took back the final spot on Lap 5.
Two-time last-place finisher the #88 unsponsored Pontiac of Ryan Bowyer took the final spot on Lap 6 before Diego Yepez made his third trip to last on the 7th lap. Another two-time last-place finisher entered the battle as the #45 Luck Stone Pontiac of Patrick Smith trailed on Lap 9, the #8 TGR Enterprises Pontiac of Eli Bright took the final spot on Lap 10, keeping it for two laps before the #40 unsponsored Pontiac of Zapatos Amarados took last on Lap 12 before Nick Kennedy took the final spot on Lap 13 and trailed till Lap 16 when Bright took the final spot back on Lap 17. A new challenger entered the battle as the #70 unsponsored Pontiac of Kion Vargas took last on Lap 19, losing it back to Bright on Lap 21 before the #01 unsponsored Pontiac of Tony Newman took last on Lap 23.
Another two-time last-place finisher joined the battle on Lap 24 when the #04 unsponsored Pontiac of Gatlin Downey took the final spot for the first time, but it was short lived as Saatchi entered the picture for the first time on lap 25, trailing behind for four laps before spring South Boston last-place finisher the #21 Chattanooga Chew Pontiac of Christian Vargas took last on Lap 29, before he lost the final spot on Lap 31 to the #93 unsponsored Pontiac of Brian Fox. Fox's stay would last three laps before he passed Christian Vargas to knock him back down as Christian trailed for two circuits, before knocking the last new challenger, the #00 Thomas Bros. Country Ham Oldsmobile of Riley Spurlytube back into the final spot on Lap 35, but his stay was brief as Saatchi took last on Lap 37. As much as Saatchi tried, he could never gain any spots over the final three laps, giving him his first last-place finish of the season.
Rounding out the Bottom Five were drivers who finished on the same lap as the race leaders; 41st went to the aforementioned #00 of Riley Spurlytube, 40th went to the #21 of Christian Vargas, 39th went to the #04 of Gatlin Downey and 38th went to the #93 of Brian Fox.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #41 has finished last in a busch series race as well at Charlotte.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
42) #41-Marcus Saatchi / 40 laps / running
41) #00-Riley Spurlytube / 40 laps / running
40) #21-Christian Vargas / 40 laps / running
39) #04-Gatlin Downey / 40 laps / running
38) #93-Brian Fox / 40 laps / running
Sammy Sabre Jr. picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series career on Thursday's Solomon Enterprises 200 at the Orange County Speedway when his #17 Aladdin Industries Pontiac was involved in a multi-car accident after 13 of the 20 laps.
The finish occurred in his 32nd career series start. In the SCRL Busch Series, it's the 1st for car #17 and the 28th for reason by crash. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 6th for the #17 and 188th for reason by crash.
Entering Season 2 of the busch series, Sabre Jr. has proven to be one of the most successful rookies in league history as he has already scored a championship, in the SCRL CatDog Pro Series East and scoring two career wins, at Daytona and Loudon. In his series debut, Sabre Jr. finished 7th at Daytona, a finish he would repeat in the spring event at Hickory before scoring a runner up at North Wilkesboro, losing in a photo finish to Chris Kyle. In the very next event, Sabre Jr. led 28 of the 30 laps and scored his first career busch win, Sabre Jr. would score two more wins since, at IRP and the second Richmond Fairgrounds event. In the three previous events at Orange County, Sabre Jr. has a best finish of 25th and was looking to improve on his average finishing position.
On race day, Sabre Jr. rolled off the starting grid in 23rd while starting last was the summer South Boston last-place finisher the #1 New Con Leasing Pontiac of Carter Friesen, a spot he would hold only two turns before the #89 unsponsored Pontiac of Toby Fox, who lost ground with the field, trailing nearly five seconds by the tenth lap and on Lap 12 was only car lengths in front of the race leaders before chaos broke out in Turn 3. While running in 5th, the #93 unsponsored Pontiac of Brian Fox lost control and spun out in Turn 3, behind him Sammy Sabre Jr., who had moved up to 19th, lost control as well, spinning out and hitting the outside wall before coming back down the track right in front of the #4 unsponsored Pontiac of AJ Jones, sending Sabre Jr. for a flip as his car was completing destroyed and giving him his first last place finish, being listed as "out" by Lap 14.
Finishing 32nd was two-time last-place finisher the #88 unsponsored Pontiac of Ryan Bowyer, he himself got damage from the wreck, drove around the track under the caution laps before pulling into the garage, his day over just five laps from the finish. Finishing 31st was Ryan's brother the #90 unsponsored Pontiac of Matt Bowyer, who finished a lap down to the race leaders. Finishing 30th was two-time last-place finisher the #45 Luck Stone Pontiac of Patrick Smith, trapped one lap down after he also got damage from the lone caution of the day.
Rounding out the Bottom Five in 29th was fall Bristol last-place finisher the #23 Miller High Life Pontiac of Samet Ozkan, the last car to finish on the same lap as the race leaders.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #17 has finished last in a busch series race as well at Orange County.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
33) #17-Sammy Sabre Jr. / 13 laps / crash
32) #88-Ryan Bowyer / 15 laps / crash
31) #90-Matt Bowyer / 19 laps / running
30) #45-Patrick Smith / 19 laps / running
29) #23-Samet Ozkan / 20 laps / running
Dinkdrinker picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL Lucas Oil ARCA Racing Series career in the Season 1 Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at the Daytona International Speedway when his #32 Win-Tron Racing Chevrolet was involved in a multi-car crash after 1 of the 20 laps.
The finish came in his 1st career start. Dink is one of the more split drivers in the SCRL history, having scored some big wins in the five year history of the SCRL, his first of which came in his 4th career start in the SCRL NASCAR Legends Series driving the #40 Petty Enterprises Plymouth to a win at Atlanta in Season 2 and scoring two more wins in Season 3 at Ontario and Riverside, but also having some of the worst luck in league history, having scored 10 career last place finishes, which ranks him third on the all time list. Making his debut in the ARCA Series back in 2016, Dink was on the downward spiral of his career, he hadn't won in awhile and legal issues as well as several demons in his life were mounting in the driver's outside sim racing life that the author of this publication would not like to discuss.
On race day, Dinkdrinker would roll off starting in the 22nd spot while the #58 Tastee Chocolate Apples Chevrolet of Jesse Turner would start in the last spot took the green flag and raced off into Turn 1 as chaos broke out quickly as a five car wreck would start when a car was tapped and spun out as Dinkdrinker slammed on the brakes trying to avoid, but was hit in the driver's door by the #5 Lucas Oil Slick Mist Chevrolet of Jay Barker, causing Dink's car to flip six times before landing on all four wheels. The driver would climb out of the car unharmed, but the car was totally destroyed and would be done for the day, officially being listed as "out" by the end of the 2nd lap.
The remaining Bottom Five would be filled up before the halfway mark, all victims of a "big one" on Lap 8; 32nd went to the #22 Ebay Motors / St. Jude Children's Hospital Dodge of Cam Nixey, 31st went to the #68 ESD / Crosley / Clarksville Schwinn Ford of Nick Kennedy, 30th went to the #35 Venezuela Tourism Toyota of Mike Pearson and 29th went to the #02 Southwest Florida Cable Construction Ford of Tayon Kennedy, who was able to limp around for one more lap to be scored higher then the others.
Dink's racing career would come to an end in the Season 1 finale of the SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series Season 1 finale at Martinsville where he finished 21st in his final race on May 3, 2017, a season where he had 3 last-place finishes but finished 2nd to Keith Stevens in the SCRLASTCAR battle. Currently Dink hasn't raced since and his legal issues has landed him in jail and future in the SCRL looks bleak for a return.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first time the #32 had finished last in a ARCA Series race as well at Daytona.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
33) #32-Dinkdrinker / 1 lap / crash
32) #22-Cam Nixey / 8 laps / crash
31) #68-Nick Kennedy / 8 laps / crash
30) #35-Mike Pearson / 8 laps / crash
29) #02-Tayon Kennedy / 9 laps / crash
Patrick Smith picked up the 2nd last place finish of his SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series career on Wednesday's Autumn 150 at the Martinsville Speedway when his #45 Luck Stone Pontiac was involved in a multi-car accident after 34 of the 50 laps.
The finish occurred in his 31st career series start, was his first on the circuit since March 18, 2018 at the spring North Wilkesboro event where he was involved in another multi-car crash without completing any of the 40 laps, 25 races ago. In the SCRL Busch Series, it's the 2nd for car #45 and the 27th for reason by crash. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 2nd for the #45 and 187th for reason by crash.
Ever since trailing at North Wilkesboro, Smith's busch career has yet to visit victory lane and has struggle to make a name for himself, but he has found some success, finishing 8th in the spring Bristol event before finishing a career best 7th in the last round at South Boston. Smith has only one start at Martinsville in the busch series, that coming earlier in the season where he finished 27th.
On race day, Smith rolled off the starting grid in 33rd while starting last was the #71 Maxie's Vending Pontiac of Truttle, a spot he would hold for only two turns before three time last-place finisher the #63 Ashby Sheet Metal & Machine Pontiac of Maria Valera took last on the first lap, trailing in the final spot till the 8th Lap before Truttle took the final spot on Lap 9, as he would keep it until Lap 14 when two-time last-place finisher the #24 Budweiser Ford of Connor Hurley took the final spot and if he had remained there for the remainer of the race, Hurley would be in a three way tie for the SCRLASTCAR Championship battle.
Lucky for Hurley he only trailed for only nine laps as the #90 unsponsored Pontiac of Matt Bowyer took the last spot on Lap 24 and was trailing the field when chaos broke out bringing out another caution. The field stacked up in Turn 1 as Smith trailed to slam on the brakes but ran into the back of another car, damaging his the radiator and giving him his second last-place finish of the season.
The remaining Bottom Five was able to finish the race, but were several laps down; 41st was two time last-place finisher the #98 Levi Garrett Pontiac of James Stabilito, who was 4 laps down, 40th was the #97 unsponsored Pontiac of Joshua Rush, 39th was the #00 Thomas Bros. Country Ham Oldsmobile of Riley Spurlytube and 38th was two-time last-place finisher the #87 unsponsored Chevrolet of Joe Jefferson, all of whom finished two laps down to the race leaders.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #45 has finished last in a Busch Series race at Martinsville.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
42) #45-Patrick Smith / 34 laps / crash
41) #98-James Stabilito / 46 laps / running
40) #97-Joshua Rush / 48 laps / running
39) #00-Riley Spurlytube / 48 laps / running
38) #87-Joe Jefferson / 48 laps / running
Chris Kyle picked up the 2nd last place finish of his SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series career on Tuesday's Miller 300 at the South Boston Speedway when his #15 Wrangler Jeans Pontiac fell out with header problems after completing 10 of the 30 laps.
The finish occurred in his 30th career series start, was his first on the circuit since April 30, 2018 at South Boston where he fell out with engine problems after completing 5 of the 30 laps, 17 races ago. In the SCRL Busch Series, it's the 2nd for car #15 and the 5th for reason by header. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 6th for the #33 and 15th for reason by header.
Ever since trailing at South Boston, Kyle's best finish was a runner up finish at Caraway. In the two previous races at South Boston since his first last-place finish, Kyle has finishes of 41st and 18th while in the last round at North Wilkesboro, Kyle finished 31st after being caught up in a mid-race accident.
On race day, Kyle rolled off the starting grid in 17th while starting last was three time last-place finisher the #63 Ashby Sheet Metal & Machine Pontiac, a spot Valera would hold for the first two laps before current SCRLASTCAR leader the #33 Dalton Chevrolet Dealers Pontiac of Alexio Antonio, who trailed for laps 3 through 5 before he dropped the #22 A.G. Dillard Pontiac of Danyal Gitirokh to last, who trailed for laps 6 and 7. The #01 unsponsored Pontiac of Tony Newman was bumped to last on Lap 8 before Gitirokh retook it on Lap 10 when the first caution came out.
At this point, Kyle had moved up to the 13th spot when entering Turn 3, his car began to smoke. Using his veteran skills, Kyle kept his car on the high side to allow everyone to pass, before his car completely lost power and stalled in Turn 4, bringing out the lone caution of the day. Kyle's car was towed back to the garage and was bumped back to the final spot on Lap 12, the team reporting of a broken header as the car was officially listed as "out" on the very same lap the car took the final spot.
Finishing 41st was the aforementioned #63 of Maria Valera, as during the final three laps, her car was seen smoking as she limped around the track and onto pit road, her crew looking under the hood and finding out she had a broken piston, her car officially retired as soon as the Checkered Flag fell.
The remaining Bottom Five finished on the same lap as the race leaders; 40th went to current points leader and two-time last-place finisher the #5 unsponsored Pontiac of Chakat Whitelion, 39th went to the #93 unsponsored Pontiac of Brian Fox and 38th went to spring Hickory last-place finsher the #62 1 Stop Food Store Pontiac of Marcos Yepez.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*The last time a driver finished last due to header problems in a Busch Series was June 18, 2018, when Maria Valera completed 6 of the 20 laps of the Virginia 200 at the Langley Speedway, 8 races ago.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
42) #15-Chris Kyle / 10 laps / header
41) #63-Maria Valera / 27 laps / piston
40) #5-Chakat Whitelion / 30 laps / running
39) #93-Brian Fox / 30 laps / running
38) #62-Marcos Yepez / 30 laps / running
Alexio Antonio picked up the 3rd last place finish of his SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series career on Monday's Coca-Cola 200 at the North Wilkesboro Speedway when his #33 Dalton Chevrolet Dealers Pontiac was involved in a multi-car accident without completing any of the 40 laps.
The finish occurred in his 29th career series start, was his first on the circuit since May 2, 2018 at Orange County where he fell out with Piston problems after completing 13 of the 20 laps, 14 races ago. In the SCRL Busch Series, it's the 3rd for car #33 and the 26th for reason by crash. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 3rd for the #33 and 186th for reason by crash.
Ever since trailing at Orange County, Antonio has actually had his best success at the very track he had trailed last at last, Orange County, finishing 3rd and then 2nd in the return trips to the track. Antonio has only one start at North Wilkesboro, finishing 23rd and was looking to improve on his average finishing position.
On race day, Antonio rolled off the starting grid in 38th while starting last was South Boston last-place finisher the #15 Wrangler Jeans Pontiac of Chris Kyle. Just as the field took the green flag, chaos broke out almost immediately as the #90 unsponsored Pontiac of Matt Bowyer was spun out by two-time last-place finisher the #04 unsponsored Pontiac of Gatlin Downey, sending Bowyer to the inside of the track before coming back up as a huge pileup followed. Antonio was on the inside line as he entered turn 1, slamming on his brakes, but ran into the back of the #93 unsponsored Pontiac of Brian Fox, before Antonio was ran into the back from behind by the aforementioned #15 of Chris Kyle. Antonio was able to limp around the track before pulling into the garage and was officially listed as "out" by the 2nd Lap.
The remaining Bottom Five also failed to complete a single lap due to the first turn crash; 41st was the #51 unsponsored Pontiac of Chakat Silverpaw, 40th was the #17 Aladdin Industries Pontiac of Sammy Sabre Jr., 39th was the #77 Old Milwaukee Pontiac of Diego Yepez and 38th was the #42 unsponsored Pontiac of Derek Hamill.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #33 has finished last at North Wilkesboro.
*This is the first time a driver has failed to complete a lap in a busch series race since June 27, 2018, when Connor Hurley failed to complete any of the 20 laps of the DAPCO 200 at the Greenville-Pickens Speedway due to engine problems, 5 races ago.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
42) #33-Alexio Antonio / 0 laps / crash
41) #51-Chakat Silverpaw / 0 laps / crash
40) #17-Sammy Sabre Jr. / 0 laps / crash
39) #77-Diego Yepez / 0 laps / crash
38) #42-Derek Hamill / 0 laps / crash
Matt Johnson picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL Rainbow Dash Truck Series career in the Season 1 Skoal Bandit Copper World Classic at the Phoenix International Raceway when his #84 Coca-Cola Classic Ford fell out with engine problems after completing 23 of the 32 laps.
The finish came in his 1st career series start. The SCRL Rainbow Dash Truck Series is the third highest national division in the SCRL, using the same trucks used by the NASCAR division as a full forty truck field signed up to compete to see who would be the first ever champion in the SCRL's brand new series.
On race day, Johnson would roll off the field in 19th while starting last was the #52 AC Delco Chevrolet of Cesar Chavez, a spot he would hold for most of the race until the 23rd Lap when Johnson, who was running in 10th at that time, began to slow down as he pulled down to the apron and then onto pit road before pulling into the garage. Johnson's team reported that the engine had soured and the track was officially listed as "out" by Lap 25, at which point Johnson had already taken last.
The remaining Bottom Five were filled by drivers who finished on the same lap as the race leaders; 39th went to the #83 The Coffee Critic Chevrolet of Richard Torres, 38th went to the #58 Wayne Jacks Racing Chevrolet of Bulldog67, 37th went to the #32 Straight Arrow / Mane 'n Tail Ford of Sebastian Torres and finishing 36th was the #06 Ultra Custom Wheels of Caiden Irene.
Matt Johnson would go on to have some success in the SCRL, raking up 5 career wins over several series and continues to race in several SCRL series from time to time.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #84 has finished last in a Truck Series race as well as at Phoenix.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
40) #84-Matt Johnson / 23 laps / engine
39) #83-Richard Torres / 32 laps / running
38) #58-Bulldog67 / 32 laps / running
37) #32-Sebastian Torres / 32 laps / running
36) #06-Caiden Irene / 32 laps / running
Ryan Bowyer picked up the 2nd last place finish of his SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series career on Monday's Miller Time 150 at the Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway when his #88 unsponsored Pontiac was involved in a multi-car accident after 3 of the 50 laps.
The finish occurred in his 28th career series start, was his first on the circuit since May 6, 2018 at Orange County where he completed all 20 laps under power, 11 races ago. In the SCRL Busch Series, it's the 6th for car #88 and the 25th for reason by crash. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 10th for the #88 and 185th for reason by crash.
Ever since trailing at Orange County, Bowyer finished 27th at Caraway in the next round before returning back to Orange County and got redemption, finishing 4th at the same track he scored his first last-place finish. Since then Bowyer picked up one Top 10, at Hickory, before having the best race of his career at Bristol, where after starting first, Bowyer led 22 of the 50 laps, but was shuffled back in the later stages and finished 14th. In the last two rounds, Bowyer finished 16th at Hickory and 31st at Darlington, as he came into Richmond 22nd in points.
On race day, Bowyer rolled off the starting grid in 18th while starting last was the #97 unsponsored Pontiac of Joshua Rush, a spot he would hold as the field raced down the backstretch before the #00 Thomas Bros. Country Ham Oldsmobile of Riley Spurlytube took the final spot, a position he would hold till Lap 3 when the #8 TGR Enterprises Pontiac of Eli Bright took last when chaos broke out in Turn 2. At that time, Bowyer had fallen back to 23rd and was trying to pass current points leader and two-time last-place finisher the #5 unsponsored Pontiac of Chakat Whitelion, as Bowyer misjudged, sending both cars hard into the outside guard rail, causing Bowyer's car to flip over three times before landing on all four wheels. Whitelion was able to limp away to a 21st place finish, but Bowyer's day was done, his car listed as "out" by Lap 5.
Finishing 32nd was pole sitter and South Boston last-place finisher the #15 Wrangler Jeans Pontiac of Chris Kyle was involved in a crash himself on Lap 14, followed by two-time last-place finisher the #19 Gardiner's Auto Parts Pontiac of Nick Kennedy, he himself taken out on Lap 23. The remaining Bottom Five was 30th the #7 Mello Yello Oldsmobile of Matt Hamill, two laps down, and 29th was fellow two-time last-place finisher the #33 Dalton Chevrolet Dealers Pontiac of Alexio Antonio, he himself one circuit down to the race leaders.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #88 has finished last at Richmond.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
33) #88-Ryan Bowyer / 3 laps / crash
32) #15-Chris Kyle / 14 laps / crash led 9 laps
31) #19-Nick Kennedy / 23 laps / crash
30) #7-Matt Hamill / 48 laps / running
29) #33-Alexio Antonio / 49 laps / running
Jesse Turner picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series career in the Eastern 150 at the Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway when his #47 unsponsored Pontiac was involved in a multi-car crash after 8 of the 50 laps.
The finish came in his 2nd start. In the SCRL, the Busch Series is the second highest series drivers can compete in as Turner signed up to compete as in the series debut, Turner finished a disappointing 37th as he was caught up in the first lap wreck that made Colin Dryburgh the first driver to trail a busch series race.
On race day, Turner would roll off starting in the 15th spot while Daytona last-place finisher the #6 Mason Day Paving/Old Milwaukee Pontiac of Colin Dryburgh started last, a spot he would hold for the first seven laps when chaos broke out on the Backstretch as Turner ran into the back of the #14 Taylor Togs/Maxie's Vending Pontiac of Evan Rudd as both Turner and Rudd would both be knocked out of the race, filling out spots 42nd and 41st.
Finished 40th was the #71 Maxie's Vending Pontiac of Truttle, he himself a victim of a wreck on Lap 21. Rounding out the Bottom Five was 39th the #93 unsponsored Pontiac of Brian Fox while finished 38th was the #37 Hayes Jewelers Pontiac of Matt Johnson, both of whom who finished 25 circuits behind race winner Zachary Fitzwater.
Jesse Turner's career would be one of both success as well as heartbreak as he would never win a championship, but would score 7 career wins along with 1 LCQ event. Turner announced his retirement from the league when he competed in his final event, the ARCA event at Kansas, where he finished a respectable 2nd place.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first time the #47 had finished last in the Busch Series as well as at Richmond.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
42) #47-Jesse Turner / 8 laps / crash
41) #14-Evan Rudd / 9 laps / crash
40) #71-Truttle / 21 laps / crash
39) #93-Brian Fox / 25 laps / running
38) #37-Matt Johnson / 25 laps / running
Connor Hurley picked up the 2nd last place finish of his SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series career on Wednesday's Darlington 250 at the Darlington Raceway when his #24 Budweiser Ford fell out with camshaft problems after completing 16 of the 37 laps.
The finish occurred in his 27th career series start, was his first on the circuit since June 26, 2018 at Greenville-Pickens where he suffered engine problems without completing any of the 20 laps, 3 races ago. In the SCRL Busch Series, it's the 2nd for car #24 and the 4th for reason of camshaft. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 10th for the #24 and 25th for reason of camshaft.
Ever since trailing at Greenville-Pickens, Hurley finished 40th at Bristol before finishing runner up to Hickory race winner Chakat Whitelion as the series returned to the first time at Darlington since Season 1 where Brian Fox won the first ever event, a race Hurley wasn't present for.
On race day, Hurley rolled off the starting grid in 7th while starting last was the #90 unsponsored Pontiac of Matt Bowyer, a spot he would hold as the field raced down the backstretch before South Boston last-place finisher the #15 Wrangler Jeans Pontiac of Chris Kyle took last, the #77 Old Milwaukee Pontiac of Diego Yepez took last on Lap 3, followed by the #17 Aladdin Industries Pontiac of Sammy Sabre Jr. who trailed till lap 8 when two-time last-place finisher the #98 Levi Garrett Pontiac of James Stabilito took last before fellow two-time last-place finisher the #87 Jarvis Racing Chevrolet of Joe Jefferson took last on Lap 11. On the 14th lap, Hickory last-place finisher the #32 Pet Dairy Pontiac of Ying Canario took last, and if he had stayed there, would become the first driver to finish last in back-to-back races since Kyle Mests trailed in the Season 1 races at Charlotte and Asheville.
At this time, Hurley had taken the lead and was leading in Turn 2 when his car began to smoke and slow. Hurley pulled to the inside of the track, giving the lead to eventual race winner Truttle. Hurley's car would limp back to pit road, pulling into the garage as the team looked under the hood, finding that the camshaft had broken, deciding it was best to call it a day, Hurley's car was officially listed as "out" on Lap 20, but by this point he had lost three laps and had already taken the final spot.
The remaining Bottom Five was filled by drivers taken out in the lone caution of the day; 41st went to spring South Boston last-place finisher the #21 Chattanooga Chew Pontiac of Christian Vargas, 40th went to the aforementioned #77 of Diego Yepez, 39th went to current SCRLASTCAR leader the #63 Ashby Sheet Metal & Machine Pontiac of Maria Valera and 38th went to the aforementioned #87 of Joe Jefferson.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #24 has finished last at Darlington.
*The last time "camshaft" was listed for a driver finishing last was on April 24, 2017 when the #09 of Smith Regal suffered camshaft problems after 6 of the 20 laps of the Season 1 Kroger 200 at the Indianapolis Raceway Park, 34 races ago.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
42) #24-Connor Hurley / 16 laps / camshaft led 3 laps
41) #21-Christian Vargas / 30 laps / crash
40) #77-Diego Yepez / 30 laps / crash
39) #63-Maria Valera / 30 laps / crash
38) #87-Joe Jefferson / 31 laps / crash
Ying Canario picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series career on Saturday's Bobby Isaac Memorial 200 at the Hickory Speedway when his #32 Pet Dairy Pontiac completed all 20 laps under power.
The finish occurred in his 26th career series start. In the SCRL Busch Series, it's the 1st for car #32 and the 19th for reason of running at the finish. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 3rd for the #8 and 114th for running at the finish.
Canario has found success in the SCRL, having scored two wins in his career(at Nazareth in the Season 3 SCRL Rainbow Dash Truck Series and at Bristol in Season 1 of the SCRL CatDog Pro Series East). Canario made his series debut by finishing 11th at Daytona, a finish he would repeat at Rockingham, before scoring his best finish of the season, a 3rd at the spring Bristol event. In the three previous races at Hickory, Canario finished 15th, 19th and 13th and was looking to improve on his average finishes at the track.
On race day, Canario rolled off the starting grid in 18th while starting last was current SCRLASTCAR Championship points leader the #63 Ashby Sheet Metal & Machine Pontiac of Maria Valera but her stay in last wasn't long as by the end of the first lap, the #77 Old Milwaukee Pontiac of Diego Yepez trailed the field for the first two laps before two-time last-place finisher the #87 unsponsored Chevrolet of Joe Jefferson trailed for laps 3 to 5 before Canario entered the battle for the first time, taking last on Laps 6 and 7 before North Wilkesboro last-place finisher the #45 Luck Stone Pontiac Patrick Smith took last on Lap 8, the #90 unsponsored Pontiac of Matt Bowyer took the final spot on Lap 9 through 11, Orange County last-place finisher the #3 unsponsored Pontiac of Jay Jefferson took last on Lap 12 before Bristol last-place finisher the #23 Miller High Life Pontiac of Samet Ozkan took last on Lap 13 and appeared on his way to his second last-place finish in a row.
On the 18th lap, Ozkan bumped Canario to last and as much as Canario tried, he was unable to move up any spots, taking his first last place finish in his entire SCRL career. The remaining Bottom Five was filled by drivers who finished on the same lap as the race leaders; 32nd was the aforementioned #3 of Jay Jefferson, 31st was the aforementioned #23 of Samet Ozkan, 30th was the aforementioned #45 Patrick Smith and finishing 29th was two-time last-place finisher the #33 Dalton Chevrolet Dealers Pontiac of Alexio Antonio.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #32 has finished last in a Busch Series race as well at Hickory.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
33) #32-Ying Canario / 20 laps / running
32) #3-Jay Jefferson / 20 laps / running
31) #23-Samet Ozkan / 20 laps / running
30) #45-Patrick Smith / 20 laps / running
29) #33-Alexio Antonio / 20 laps / running
Samet Ozkan picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series career on Friday's Free Service 150 at the Bristol International Speedway when his #23 Miller High Life Pontiac was involved in a multi-car accident after 16 of the 50 laps.
The finish occurred in his 25th career series start. In the SCRL Busch Series, it's the 1st for car #23 and the 24th for reason by crash. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 3rd for Car #23 and 184th for reason by crash.
Before signing up for Season 2 of the busch series, Ozkan had struggled to make a name for himself in the SCRL and was hoping the secondary highest series would be a change of pace. In his series debut, Ozkan finished a respectable 13th at Daytona and in the very next event at Richmond Fairgrounds, Ozkan scored his first career SCRL win after spinning out leader Brian Fox in the late stages. Since then Ozkan's best finish in the series was a 2nd and a 4th at Hickory. Coming into the event, Ozkan had only one previous start at Bristol in the busch series, finishing 35th earlier in the season in a race where Joe Jefferson trailed the field.
On race day, Ozkan rolled off the starting grid in 22nd while starting last was the #40 unsponsored Pontiac of Zapatos Amarrados. By the end of Lap 1, Amarrados had knocked the #6 Mason Day Paving Chevrolet of Henry Urchman into last spot, before on Lap 2 the #68 unsponsored Pontiac of Eric Wayne entered the battle, but his stay was brief as the #8 TGR Enterprises Pontiac of Eli Bright took last on Lap 3, two time last-place finisher the #5 unsponsored Pontiac of Chakat Whitelion took last on Lap 4, the unsponsored #9 of Zachary Fitzwater on Lap 5, two-time last-place finisher the #33 Dalton Chevrolet Dealers Pontiac of Alexio Antion on Lap 6 before Samet Ozkan entered the battle on Lap 7. The very next lap, the #41 Marvaco Inc. Pontiac of Marcus Saatchi had smacked the Turn 4 wall and was knocked back to last, trailing the field by nearly three seconds and remained in last until chaos broke out on Lap 15.
While battling for the 8th spot, the #4 unsponsored Pontiac of AJ Jones was spun out by the #42 unsponsored Pontiac of Derek Hamill coming out of Turn 2, Jones's car was sent up the track, blocking the track as a "big one" carried the wreck into Turn 3 as Jones was hit in the drivers door two times, sending the car over five times. Ozkan tried to slam on the brakes but it wasn't enough as he ran into the back of the #9 of Zachary Fitzwater, while he himself was hit from behind by the #71 Maxie's Vending Pontiac of Truttle. As a big pack of cars sat destroyed in Turn 3, scoring first recognized that the #4 of AJ Jones had taken last despite the fact that Ozkan was behind him before before the wreck and afterwards. Scoring would show Jones was last until the 17th lap, when Ozkan's car was officially listed as "out" nearly two laps after Jones had "taken" last and had been retired, giving Ozkan the last place spot and Jones was given 41st.
The remaining Bottom Five was filled by drivers taken out in the same Lap 16 wreck; 40th was Greenville-Pickens last-place finisher the #24 Budweiser Ford of Connor Hurley, 39th was the aforementioned #33 of Alexio Antonio and 38th was the #90 unsponsored Pontiac of Matt Bowyer.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #23 has finished last in a Busch Series race as well at Bristol.
*This is only the second time Samet Ozkan had trailed a field in the entire SCRL league, the only other time was when Ozkan trailed the field in the Season 3 finale of the SCRL Rainbow Dash Truck Series at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway when, driving the #3 GM Goodwrench Service Chevrolet, failed to complete any of the 27 laps due to engine problems.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
42) #23-Samet Ozkan / 16 laps / crash
41) #4-AJ Jones / 16 laps / crash
40) #24-Connor Hurley / 16 laps / crash
39) #33-Alexio Antonio / 16 laps / crash
38) #90-Matt Bowyer / 16 laps / crash
Zapatos Amarrados picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL Strictly Stock Series career at the Beach & Road Course when his unsponsored #99 Ford completed 3 of the 4 laps under power.
The finish came in his 2nd start. With the SCRL forming it's highest national series, Amarrados joined 41 other drivers in signups to compete in the historic races as in the first ever series race at Charlotte, Amarrados finished down in the running order, 22nd, but he had high hopes as the Cup Series headed down to Florida for the first ever road course event in Daytona Beach at the Beach & Road Course.
On race day, Bright would roll off starting in the 39th spot while the #2 unsponsored Ford of Dexter Black would start in the last spot as the field took the green as crowd around the four mile road course was given a great showing up front, but out back trouble struck early as Amarrados made a move to pit road on the second lap, reporting of a flat tire. During the pit stop, Amarrados slid through his pitbox and lost a lap and due to no cautions or anyone else having problems, Amarrados was trapped a lap down and the last spot was his.
Rounding out the Bottom Five was drivers who finished on the same lap as the race leaders; 40th went to Charlotte last-place finisher the #13 unsponsored Ford of Eli Bright, 39th went to the #1 unsponsored Oldsmobile of Daniel Bouchard, 38th went to the #73 unsponsored Hudson of Chakat Silverpaw and finished 37th was the #6 unsponsored Hudson of Al Lagasee.
Currently Amarrados is competing part-time in the SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series and has yet to visit victory lane in any of the SCRL sanctioned series.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first time the #99 had finished last in the Cup Series as well as at Beach & Road Course.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
41) #99-Zapatos Amarrados / 3 laps / running
40) #13-Eli Bright / 4 laps / running
39) #1-Daniel Bouchard / 4 laps / running
38) #73-Chakat Silverpaw / 4 laps / running
37) #6-Al Lagasee / 4 laps / running
