Whelen: Mid race Header problem gives Bafode Sacko first career last-place finish at Twin State

Bafode Sacko picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL Icebreakers Whelen Series career in the Whitcomb / Granite State 85 at the Twin State Speedway when his #48 A-Best Forklift Chevrolet of Bafode Sacko fell out with tire problems after completing 8 of the 20 laps.

The finish came in his 10th career start. In the SCRL Icebreakers Whelen Series, it's the 1st for car #48 and the 1st for tire issues. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 4th for the #48 and the 12th for tire issues.

Entering Season 1 of the SCRL Icebreakers Whelen Series, Sacko is one of many drivers still trying to make a name for himself in the SCRL. In his Whelen debut, Sacko finished a respectable 13th at Thompson. Over the next three races Sacko could only score a 11th place finish at the second Martinsville event until the series made a return trip to New Egypt, where Sacko would score his first Top 5 and Top 10 be finishing 4th at New Egypt. A finish of 15th at Spencer and 17th at Riverhead in the last round has made his season somewhat of a disappointment for the driver.

On race day, Sacko would roll off starting in the 22nd spot while starting last was Waterford last-place finisher the #1 DMC Auto Exchange Chevrolet of Anthony Lopez. By the time the first lap was completed, the #43 Supreme Mfg. Co. Chevrolet of Marko Tellez trailed for the first two laps before the #4 Overland Driveshaft Chevrolet of AJ Jones took the final spot on Lap 3 and trailed till Lap 5 before Riverhead last-place finisher the #99 Gearhart Chevrolet of Joshua Rush entered the battle on Lap 7 and was trailing the field as the cars made their way around the track under caution when Sacko's car began to slow down the backstretch as the driver pulled into the garage, the team retiring due to tire problems.

Just seconds later, the #3 D & H Potato Farms Chevrolet of Nick Kennedy would pulled into the garage as well, citing header problems as the cause. Finishing 23rd was the aforementioned #4 of AJ Jones, taken out on a Lap 14 crash. Finishing 22nd was Spencer last-place finisher the #23 unsponsored Chevrolet of Cole Nixey, the only other car to finish down a lap to the leaders.

Rounding out the Bottom Five as the last driver on the lead lap in 21st was Thompson last-place finisher the #59 Space Fitters / Ed Bennett Prop. Chevrolet of Zachary Fitzwater.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #48 has finished last in a Whelen race as well as at Twin State.
*This is the first time a driver finished last due to tire issues since Gatlin Downey failed to complete any laps in the Season 2 of the SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series Kroger 200 at the Indianapolis Raceway Park.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
25) #48-Bafode Sacko / 8 laps / tire
24) #3-Nick Kennedy / 8 laps / header
23) #4-AJ Jones / 14 laps / crash led 2 laps
22) #23-Cole Nixey / 19 laps / running
21) #59-Zachary Fitzwater / 20 laps / running