ARCA Midget: Late tire problem at Flat Rock gives Bafode Sacko his 4th career last-place finish in the SCRL

Bafode Sacko picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL ARCA Midget Series career in the Season 1 Metro Tire Centers 100 at the Flat Rock Speedway when his #71 finished under power after 17 of 20 laps.

The finish came in his 3rd start. In the SCRL ARCA Midget Series, it's the 1st for car #71 and the 3rd where the car was still running. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 8th for the #71 and the 236th where the car was still running. 

Entering Season 1 of the SCRL ARCA Midget Series, Sacko was still looking to make a name for himself in the SCRL, and despite having competed in several series, Sacko was still looking for his breakthrough victory. Sacko chose to signup to compete in the ARCA's smallest division for an attempt to possibly get that first career win. In his debut, Sacko finished 10th at Toledo before finishing a disappointing 17th in the last round at Salem.

As with all SCRL races, there would be no practice for the drivers, so their first look at the track came in qualify, with Sacko posting a time of 14.133 seconds, 0.587 seconds off the pace of pole sitter Conner Thunder, while the #21 of John Hunter posted the slowest lap, almost a half second off Thunder's pace.

On race day, Hunter would trail for the first two turns before knocking the #11 of Keri Benjmain into the final spot. Benjamin would continue to trail the field for the first seven laps around the quarter mile track before knocking her brother, Toledo last-place finisher the #76 of Dave Benjamin into the final spot on Lap 8, who had fallen a lap down at this point after a flat tire. Dave would remain in last for the next six laps when Sacko entered the battle, being forced to pit himself for a flat tire and would fall three laps down and would easily trail the field.

Dave Benjamin would fight hard to try and get one of his two laps back, but a late caution would prevent that and place him 19th in the final rundown.

The remaining Bottom Five would all be scored a lap down to the race leaders: 18th was the #56 of Ethan Walker, 17th was the #24 of Michael Brown and 16th was the #12 of Nick Kennedy.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first time the #71 has finished last in the SCRL ARCA Midget Series as well at Flat Rock.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
20) #71-Bafode Sacko / 17 laps / running
19) #76-Dave Benjamin / 18 laps / running
18) #56-Ethan Walker / 19 laps / running
17) #24-Michael Brown / 19 laps / running
16) #12-Nick Kennedy / 19 laps / running