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
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