Throwback BUSCH: Jay Jefferson's early mechanical issue gives him first last-place finish at Martinsville

Jay Jefferson picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series career in the Season 1 Dogwood 500 at the Martinsville Speedway when his #75 PET Dairy Pontiac suffered camshaft problems after completing 6 of the 50 laps.

The finish came in his 4th start. Entering Season 1 of the Busch Series, Jay is part of the Jefferson family, along with his brother Joe, both drivers were excited to compete in the second highest division the SCRL ran. Jay finished 26th in his series debut at Daytona, followed up by finishing 31st at Richmond Fairgrounds and finishing a career best 6th at Bristol in the last round.

On race day, Jefferson would roll off starting in the 31st spot while the #00 Thomas Bros. Country Ham Buick of Riley Spurlytube started last when the green flag dropped. Spurlytube would remain in last through the first caution and as the field circled the track behind the pace car, Jefferson's car began to smoke. Jefferson quickly pulled to the inside lane to prevent getting oil on the racing surface, Jefferson pulled onto pit road and then into the garage, his team reporting a broken camshaft as the cause and by the time the field took the green again, Jefferson was officially listed as "out" on Lap 10.

Finishing 41st was the #29 Longwood Restaurant Dodge of Zachary Fitzwater, who suffered valve problems after completing 11 laps. Finishing 40th was the #02 unsponsored Pontiac of Grayson Acevedo and 39th was the #15 Wrangler Jeans Pontiac of John Arndt, both taken out in a Lap 34 wreck.

Rounding out the Bottom Five was the #39 unsponsored Chevrolet of Hank Willis, who suffered piston problems just two laps later.

Jay Jefferson continues to compete in the SCRL to this very day as he has raked up nine career wins, one above his brother Joe has, and is currently competing in Season 1 of the SCRL Snap-On Tools Whelen Southern Modified Tour, and has scored one win, coming in the second event at the Caraway Speedway.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first time the #75 had finished last in the busch series as well as at Martinsville.
*This was the first time a driver trailed the field in the busch series due to camshaft problems.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
42) #75-Jay Jefferson / 6 laps / camshaft
41) #29-Zachary Fitzwater / 11 laps / valve
40) #02-Grayson Acevedo / 34 laps / crash
39) #15-John Arndt / 34 laps / crash
38) #39-Hank Willis / 36 laps / piston