Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Euro Elite 1: Late race Valve problem gives Han DeVice first career last-place finish at Hungaroring

Han DeVice picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL Sun Energy Whelen Euro Elite 1 career in last Saturday's Round 9 at Hungaroring when his #83 Food Country USA Dodge fell out with valve problems after completing 5 of 12 laps.

The finish came in his 9th career start. In the SCRL Sun Energy Whelen Euro Elite 1, it's the 1st for car #83 and the 1st for valve issues. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 4th for the #83 and the 5th for valve issues.

DeVice was one of twenty four drivers to sign up to complete in the SCRL's newest series, and was still looking for his first career win. In his first start for the series, DeVice finished a disappointing 23rd at Monza, before quickly rebounding with a 3rd place finish at Brands Hatch and a 4th at Spa, before finishing 18th at Estoril, a 5th at Hockenheimring, 16th at Kyalami, 22nd at Red Bull and a 8th in the last race at Catalunya.

On race day, DeVice rolled off starting in the 9th spot while starting last was the #39 Sweeteners Plus Chevrolet of Matt Hamill. Hamill would trail the field for the first three turns before he knocked the #80 Monster Energy Ford of Tim Randolph into the final spot before the end of the first lap. Randolph struggled to keep up with the field through the race, falling behind some sixteen seconds behind the leader and nearly two behind the closest driver, and had nothing happened, Randolph would have scored his 5th all time last-place finish, with his most recent being on November 18, 2017 in the Season 1 SCRL CatDog Pro Series East Strutmasters.com 150 at the South Boston Speedway when he was involved in a multi-car crash after completing 6 of the 30 laps.

However thanks to the racing gods, Randolph's streak remained as on the 7th lap, DeVice began to slow in Turn 1 as the car began to smoke before he stalled completely in Turn 2, bringing out the lone caution of the day. DeVice's car was towed back to pit road, forcing the race to be extended two laps by way of the Green, White, Checkered rule and DeVice's car was retired from the race just shortly before the race was restarted.

Finishing 23rd was the #77 NAPA / Mohawk Dodge of Diego Yepez and 22nd was Brand Hatch last-place finisher the #29 Marlboro Chevrolet of Derrick Edison, both of whom was involved in a late crash shortly after the caution came out with both drivers limping around the remaining laps, the only other cautions not on the lead lap.

The remaining Bottom Five finished on the same lap as the race leaders: 21st was Circuit de Spa last-place finisher the #87 Frisby Prancer Dodge of Ryan Rush and 20th was the aforementioned #80 of Tim Randolph.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #83 has finished last at Hungaroring.
*This is the first time in series history a driver retired due to "valve" issues.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
24) #83-Han DeVice / 5 laps / valve
23) #77-Diego Yepez / 9 laps / running
22) #29-Derrick Edison / 9 laps / running
21) #87-Ryan Rush / 12 laps / running
20) #80-Tim Randolph / 12 laps / running

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