Friday, July 27, 2018

BUSCH: Marcus Saatchi gets first last-place finish in over a year in caution free race at Charlotte

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


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