Whelen: Hard late race crash makes Nick Kennedy first driver to trail in back-to-back races at Thompson

Nick Kennedy picked up the 2nd last place finish of his SCRL Icebreakers Whelen Series career in the Outside Pole Qualifier at the Thompson Speedway when his #3 D & H Potato Farms Chevrolet was involved in a single-car crash after completing 16 of 22 laps.

The finish came in his 12th career start, was his first on the circuit since November 14, 2018 in the Axelrod Tire Modified Madness at the Stafford Motor Speedway when failed to complete any of the 20 laps due to engine problems, 1 race ago. In the SCRL Icebreakers Whelen Series, it's the 2nd for car #3 and the 5th from a crash. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 10th for the #3 and the 195th from a crash.

After scoring his ninth career last-place finish which ranks him 4th all time on the last-place finishing rankings, Kennedy was looking to rebound at Thompson, a track where he had finished 21st earlier in the season.

On race day, Kennedy rolled off starting in the 9th spot while starting last was the #09 Riverhead Building Supply Chevrolet of Kyle Hunter. Hunter would trail for only the first two turns before New Egypt last-place finisher the #11 Marek Engineering Chevrolet of Evan Hunter had fallen back to last and would trail the field for the first thirteen laps. On Lap 14 the #43 Supreme Mfg. Co. Chevrolet of Marko Tellez took the final spot and was trailing the field the next lap when Kennedy, who was running in 4th at the time, went wide in Turn 4 and hit the outside guardrail head on, flipping the car over onto it's roof. The driver was able to climb from the car shaken, but unharmed and the car was done for the day.

Finishing 23rd was the #4 Overland Driveshaft Chevrolet of AJ Jones, who had led all 17 laps up to that point, but had to pit due to a flat tire. 22nd was the #121 of Ryan Pritchard, who had ran into Kennedy's flipped over car and gotten damage. 21st was the #43 of Marko Tellez, who suffered brake problems just before the green, white, checkered was to come out to extend the race.

Rounding out the Bottom Five was Spencer last-place finisher the #23 unsponsored Chevrolet of Cole Nixey.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #3 has finished last at Thompson.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
24) #3-Nick Kennedy / 16 laps / crash
23) #4-AJ Jones / 18 laps / running led 17 laps
22) #121-Ryan Pritchard / 19 laps / running
21) #43-Marko Tellez / 19 laps / brakes
20) #23-Cole Nixey / 22 laps / running