ARCA Late Model: Flat tire at Lanier gives Georgio Tsutomu the first last-place finish of his short SCRL career

Georgio Tsutomu picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL ARCA Late Model Series career in Monday's Season 1 Georgia 150 at the Lanier National Speedway when his #53 T&K Concrete Chevrolet finished under power after 17 of 20 laps.

The finish came in his 4th start. In the SCRL ARCA Late Model Series, it's the 1st for car #53 and the 4th where the car was still running. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 1st for the #53 and the 244th where the car was still running. 

Tsutomu was one of several rookies making their SCRL debut by competing in the SCRL ARCA Late Model Series, Tsutomu finished 13th in his debut at Toledo, finishing 19th at Wisconsin before finishing 12th in the last round at Elko.

The series would travel down the country and to the state of Georgia for the first time, at the 0.375 mile short track. Said Ismail won his first career SCRL sanctioned pole with Tsutomu posting a qualifying time of 15.147, a time that would place him 6th on the grid, while starting last was the #48 Spray Paint and Equipment Chevrolet of Shannon Lowe.

When the race started, Lowe's stay in last would only last two turns before he knocked the unsponsored #28 Ford of Franz DeVice, who would trail the first lap but just seconds later, the battle for last ended when Tsutomu slowed entering Turn 1 before stalling in Turn 2 on the low lane of the track, with the leaders having to avoid the stalled car. With no caution coming out, Tsutomu's car would be towed back to the pit road, with the crew quickly putting on four fresh tires and sending their driver back out onto the track, having lost three laps to the racer leaders, and with no cautions or other cars having problems, the last place battle had been decided by lap 2.

The remaining Bottom Five would all finish on the same lap as the race leaders: 19th was the #15 Chebucto / Fraserway Ford of Carter Joey, 18th was the #24 Lux Enterprises / Pullen Heavy In Chevrolet of Matt McIntyre, 17th was the #13 Menards Chevrolet of Draco Drakul and 16th was the #84 Community Pharmacies Dodge of Carter Friesen.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first time the #53 has finished last in the SCRL ARCA Late Model Series as well at Lanier.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
20) #53-Georgio Tsutomu / 17 laps / running
19) #15-Carter Joey / 20 laps / running
18) #24-Matt McIntyre / 20 laps / running
17) #13-Draco Drakul / 20 laps / running
16) #84-Carter Friesen / 20 laps / running