Throwback WEST: Truttle becomes first driver to trail a West Series race after mid-race wreck at Phoenix

Truttle picked up the 1st last place finish of his ONL K&N West Series career in the Pre-Season 1 Talking Stick Resort 50 at the Phoenix International Raceway when his #24 Cabinets by Hayley Toyota was involved in a multi-car crash after 18 of the 32 laps.

The finish came in his 1st career start. By this point in his career in 2014, Truttle had became the first ever ONL NASCAR Legends Champion and also was the king of that series, having scored more wins then anyone else, including a record 8 in season one as he looked forward to continue his winning ways in the West Series.

On race day, Truttle would roll off starting in the 14th spot while the #99 Bad Piggies Toyota of Rick Rome rolled off the grid in the final spot and would trail the field until Lap 5 when the #5 Bay Bio Diesel Chevrolet of Bulldog67, who had been a rival of Truttle in the Legends Series the past two seasons, was damaged in the first caution and lost a lap. Bulldog was trailing the field when chaos broke out on the Backstretch on Lap 18 that would decide who finished last.

While battling for 11th, the #99 of Rick Rome was spun out by the #20 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota of Bo Dinger, causing Rome to first slide up and then down the track, right in front of the path of Truttle, who slamed into the car, damaging Truttle's car to the point the crew would not be able to fix the damage. While the field raced back to the line, the #07 Colonial Countertops Chevrolet of Chakat Silverpaw made contact with the #21 Rockwell / Golden Gate Meat / Bay Bio Diesel Chevrolet of Jus Nimh, sending Nimh head on into the Turn 4 wall, destroying his car. Nimh would be scored on the same lap as Truttle, but since Truttle crossed the line last, he was given last over Nimh.

The aforementioned #5 of Bulldog67 was never able to get his lap back and finished 16th. The remaining Botto Five finished on the lead lap with the aforementioned #20 of Bo Dinger in 15th and the #6 Sunrise Ford / Lucas Oil / Eibach Ford of Alex Pedro in 14th.

Truttle's career in the then ONL continued to grow as the league grew into the SCRL. He last competed in Season 2 of the SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series, a season in which he drove part time and scored three wins. Truttle is currently severing a suspension that will prevent him from competing in a SCRL sanctioned race until February 2019.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first time the #24 had finished last in a West Series race as well at Phoenix.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
18) #24-Truttle / 18 lap / crash
17) #21-Jus Nimh / 18 laps / crash
16) #5-Bulldog67 / 31 laps / running
15) #20-Bo Dinger / 32 laps / running
14) #6-Alex Pedro / 32 laps / running