Throwback CUP: Late race crash gives Zach Houseknecht first career last-place finish at North Wilkesboro

Zach Houseknecht picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL Strictly Stock Series career in the Season 1 Wilkes 200 at the North Wilkesboro Speedway when his #108 unsponsored Oldsmobile was involved in a two-car accident after he completed 34 of the 40 laps.

The finish came in his 7th start. Zach Houseknecht was one of 42 drivers who entered Season 1 of the brand new SCRL Cup Series and was looking to make a name for himself. In his first start for the series, Houseknecht started 5th and finished 10th at Charlotte, a finish he would repeat two races later at Occoneechee. In the very next race at Langhorne, Houseknecht finished a career best 4th, and in the last round at Heidelberg, Houseknecht finished 37th, his worse finish to date.

On race day, Houseknecht rolled off 32nd spot while the #58 unsponsored Ford of Gabryel Wanderley would start last for the second race in a row. The battle up front for the lead wouldn't be found as not a single lead change would happen, while almost every other spot changed during the race. By Lap 34, Houseknecht was spun out on the backstretch as the #5 Oldsmobile of Brian Fox had no where to go and slammed hard into the driver's door, sending Houseknecht for a wild tumble down the backstretch, before coming to stop on his roof just short of the pit road entrance. Houseknecht was able to climb from his car, amazingly unhurt, but both his car and Fox's were done for the day, the only two cars to not finish the race.

Finishing 41st was the #77 Oldsmobile of Rodriguez Zapatos, the only other driver to not finish on the lead lap, having lost two laps due to tire problems. Rounding out the Bottom Five were drivers who finished on the same lap as the race leaders: 40th was the #46 of Rubens Wanderley, 39th the aforementioned #58 of Gabryel Wanderley and finishing 38th was Charlotte last-place finisher the #13 unsponsored Ford of Eli Bright, who was the first driver to fail to complete a lap.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first time the #108 had finished last in a Cup Series race as well at North Wilkesboro.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
42) #108-Zach Houseknecht / 34 laps / crash
41) #5-Brian Fox / 34 laps / crash
40) #96-Truttle / 39 laps / running
39) #01-Derrick Edison / 39 laps / running
38) #24-Kyle Mests / 39 laps / running