Wednesday, July 11, 2018

BUSCH: Connor Hurley's back luck continues as camshaft breaks while leading at Darlington

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

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