Whelen Southern: Jay Jefferson's starting violation at Caraway gives him 5th career last-place finish

Jay Jefferson picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL Snap-On Tools Whelen Southern Series career in last Tuesday's SCRL Whelen Southern Modified Tour 150 at the Caraway Speedway when his #48 Wheelers Auto / Mr. Rooter Chevrolet completed all 15 laps under power.

The finish came in his 4th career start. In the SCRL Snap-On Tools Whelen Southern Series, it's the 1st for car #48 and the 4th for running at the finish. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 3rd for the #48 and 127th for reason running at the finish.

Jay Jefferson is one of the most successful drivers in the five year history of the SCRL, as he has picked up nine career wins, one higher then brother Joe Jefferson, which his last victory coming in Season 2 of the SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series by becoming the first ever winner at the Greenville-Pickens Speedway. Jay was one of twenty drivers to sign up for the Whelen's second highest division, the Southern Series. In his debut for the series, Jay finished a disappointing 16th at Caraway, while in the very next event, he scored career win #9 in the second event at Caraway and in the last event he finished 9th at the third round at Caraway.

Jay Jefferson jumps the start.

On race day, Jefferson would roll off starting in the 2nd spot while the #41 Kernersville Motorsports Dodge of Ty Dent would roll off in the 20th and final spot. Dent's stay in the final spot last only a couple of seconds as Jay would jump the start, beating the #10 of Mitchell Collins to the line by nearly a full car length. Much like how Jim Marks had been blacked flagged in the first ever Caraway event, Jay was stripped of his lead and scored last due to not given the lead back.


The remaining Bottom Five finished on the same lap as the race leaders; 19th was the #11 S&R Motor Co. / Pegg Realty Dodge of TJ Dent, 18th was the #99 Supreme Mfg. Co. Chevrolet of Jeremy Baylor, 17th was the #5 Ebersole Excavating Chevrolet of Adam McDowell and 16th the #07 Patterson Automotive Group Pontiac of Keith Stevens.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #48 has finished last at Caraway as well as in a Whelen Southern race.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
20) #48-Jay Jefferson / 15 laps / running
19) #11-TJ Dent / 15 laps / running
18) #99-Jeremy Baylor / 15 laps / running
17) #5-Adam McDowelll / 15 laps / running
16) #07-Keith Stevens / 15 laps / running