Whelen: Mid race wreck gives Zachary Fitzwater first last-place finish at Thompson in Whelen Series return

Zachary Fitzwater picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL Icebreakers Whelen Series career in the Icebreaker at the Thompson Speedway when his #59 Space Fitters / Ed Bennett Prop. Chevrolet was involved in a multi-car crash after 12 of the 20 laps.

The finish came in his 1st career start. In the SCRL Snap-On Tools Whelen Southern Series, it's the 1st for car #59 and the 1st for reason by crash. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 2nd for the #59 and 189th for reason by crash.

For the first time in almost four years, the SCRL brought back then Whelen division, having ran two races under the then ONL name, before the series was cancelled. Unlike the previous time the series was ran, a full field of drivers filled up the division in less then an hour with several rookies, veterans and several former champions including Nick Kennedy, Chakat Whitelion and Jack Lagasee.

On race day, Fitzwater would roll off starting in the 8th spot while the #43 Supreme Mfg. Co. Chevrolet of Marko Tellez would roll off last, a spot he would hold for only two turns before the #4 Overland Driveshaft Chevrolet of AJ Jones took the final spot on Lap 1, the #71 Draco / Purple Spring / Fluidyne Chevrolet of Daniel Bouchard on Lap 2, the #09 Riverhead Building Supply Chevrolet of Kyle Hunter on Lap 3, before Daniel Bouchard took the final spot on Lap 4 again then on Lap 5 the #3 Reynold's Auto Wrecking Chevrolet of Nick Kennedy took the final spot.

Kennedy would keep a hold on last until Lap 10 when the #34 American Powder Coating / Warner Chevrolet of Al Lagasee took last on lap 11 when the second caution came out when Fitzwater ran into the back of another car, damaging the radiator and knocked him out of the race, but it wouldn't be until Lap 14 that he was knocked back to last place when Al Lagasee passed Fitzwater.

Finishing 24th was the #18 Buoy One Seafood Restaurant of Chakat Whitelion, who got damage in the same wreck that knocked Fitzwater out, as shi finished 2 laps down. The aforementioned #34 of Al Lagasee finished 23rd, the only other driver who finished a lap down to the leaders.

The remaining Bottom Five finished on the same lap as the race leaders; 22nd was the #57 M-M Stone Chevrolet of Danyal Gitirokh and finishing 21st was the aforementioned #3 of Nick Kennedy.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #59 has finished last at Thompson as well as in a Whelen race.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
25) #59-Zachary Fitzwater / 12 laps / crash
24) #18-Chakat Whitelion / 18 laps / running
23) #34-Al Lagasee / 19 laps / running
22) #57-Danyal Gitirokh / 20 laps / running
21) #3-Nick Kennedy / 20 laps / running