Whelen Southern: Starting violation gives Jim Marks first last place finish in Whelen Southern Series debut at Caraway

Jim Marks picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL Snap-On Tools Whelen Southern Series career in the SCRL Whelen Southern Modified Tour 150 at the Caraway Speedway when his #71 Vista-Pro Automotive Chevrolet completed all 20 laps under power.

The finish came in his 1st career start. In the SCRL Snap-On Tools Whelen Southern Series, it's the 1st for car #71 and the 1st for running at the finish. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 6th for the #71 and 118th for reason running at the finish.

With the announcement that the SCRL was bringing back the Whelen Series, due to the small amount of fields, the SCRL Snap-On Tools Whelen Southern Series was created to allow those unable to signup for the main series to compete in another series for a championship as well. A field of twenty drivers have joined with five spots still open for those who want to compete against some of the best the SCRL has to offer. Signups can be found here.

On race day, Marks would roll off starting in the 2nd spot while the #99 Supreme Mfg. Co. Chevrolet of Jeremy Baylor would roll off in the 20th and final spot. No one knew it at the time but the start of the race would decide who finished last as the #11 S&R Motor Co. / Pegg Realty Dodge of TJ Dent got a slow start on the inside of the track, causing the #71 of Jim Marks to get a run on the outside and beat Dent to the line and cleared Dent well past Turn 1. The SCRL uses the same rules run by NASCAR, the leader has to be the first one to the line, and if the second place driver beats the leader, that driver has to give it back or will be black flagged.

The start of the race.

Marks refused to come to pit road as he stayed on track, leading every single lap and crossed the start/finish line and appeared to be the winner, pulling into victory lane, but officials told the driver he had been black flagged and moved from first to last for his refusal of answering the black flag, handing the win over to Chris Kyle, who took the lead from Colin Dryburgh with two laps to go. 

The aforementioned restart at Shanghai.

This is not the first time there has been a controversial decision about a start/restart, as in the season finale of the SCRL Red Bull Formula One Series at Shanghai, Dinkdrinker passed Nick Kennedy well before the start/finish line and was black flagged, costing him both the race win and the championship.




The remaining Bottom Five finished on the same lap as the race leaders; 19th was the #4 DMC Auto Exchange Chevrolet of Chase McDowell, 18th was the aforementioned #99 of Jeremy Baylor, 17th was the #5 Ebersole Excavating Chevrolet of Adam McDowell and finishing 16th was the #48 Wheelers Auto / Mr. Rooter Chevrolet of Joe Jefferson.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #71 has finished last at Caraway as well as in a Whelen Southern race.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
20) #71-Jim Marks / 15 laps / running
19) #4-Chase McDowell / 15 laps / running
18) #99-Jeremy Baylor / 15 laps / running
17) #5-Adam McDowell / 15 laps / running
16) #48-Joe Jefferson / 15 laps / running