Whelen: Mid race mechanical problem gives Eddie Wycombe first last-place finish at Martinsville

Eddie Wycombe picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL Icebreakers Whelen Series career in the September 7th Miller Time 500 at the Martinsville Speedway when his #42 Patterson Farm / NAPA / Spafco Chevrolet fell out with camshaft problems after completing 26 of the 50 laps.

The finish came in his 2nd career start. In the SCRL Icebreakers Whelen Series, it's the 1st for car #42 and the 1st for reason by camshaft. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 3rd for the #42 and 27th for reason by camshaft.

For the first time in almost four years, the SCRL brought back then Whelen division, and Wycombe was one of 25 drivers to signup to compete. In the series return, Wycombe started fourth at Thompson and it took him only four laps to take the lead as he would easily go on to score the win, his second in league history, and he had high hopes coming into Martinsville to try and become the first driver to win back-to-back races in the Whelen Series.

The entry list for the Martinsville race was only 24 as the #79 Coors Light / Mr. Rooter Chevrolet of Ace Horsebutt withdrew his name from the remaining twenty eight races so as not to get in the way of any championship contenders.

On race day, Wycombe would roll off starting in the 20th spot while the #48 A-Best Forklift Chevrolet of Bafode Sacko would roll off last, a spot he would hold until the backstretch when Sacko knocked the #09 Riverhead Building Supply Chevrolet of Kyle Hunter back to the final spot as he would trail the field until Lap 9 when Wycombe entered the battle for the first time, a spot he would hold for eight laps before the #0 Stakey's Pumpkins / Jessup Chevrolet of Carter Friesen into the final spot, a position he would hold until Lap 27 when the battle for last ended quickly.

At that time, Wycombe had worked his way into the top fifteen and was entering Turn 2 when suddenly his car began to smoke, as the driver quickly pulled his car to the left and onto the backstretch pit road and then into the garage, his day done as the team reported a broken camshaft as the cause of the smoking, and the car was officially listed as "out" on that same lap he pulled in.

The remaining Bottom Five finished on the same lap as the race leaders; 23rd went to the #88 Buzz Chez Chevrolet / GT Vodka of Dexter Black, 22nd went to the #1 DMC Auto Exchange Chevrolet of Anthony Lopez, 21st went to the #43 Supreme Mfg. Co. Chevrolet of Marko Tellez and finishing 20th was the aforementioned #48 of Bafode Sacko.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #42 has finished last in a Whelen race as well as at Martinsville.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
24) #42-Eddie Wycombe / 26 laps / camshaft
23) #88-Dexter Black / 50 laps / running
22) #1-Anthony Lopez / 50 laps / running
21) #43-Marko Tellez / 50 laps / running
20) #48-Bafode Sacko / 50 laps / running