The finish came in his 10th career series start. In the SCRL ARCA Midget Series, it's the 1st for car #04 and the 7th where the car was still running. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 8th for the #04 and the 256th where the vehicle was still running.
Entering the first ever season for the SCRL ARCA Midgets Series, Junqueira had never competed in a SCRL race and was looking to make a impact in her first ever season. In his first ever start, Junqueira finished a disappointing 19th at Toledo, 13th at Salem, and a 7th at Flat Rock before entering his 4th career start, Junqueira scored his first career win at Devil's Bowl. A 13th at Kil-Kare, 7th at Indianapolis Speedrome, 4th at Santa Fe, 13th at Columbus before finishing 14th in the last round at Grundy County.
In qualifying, Michael Brown scored his first career series pole with a time of 15.458 seconds with Junqueira posting a time of 15.509 seconds, 0.051 seconds behind Brown's pole run, placing Junqueira 3rd on the grid while starting last was the #11 of Keri Benjamin, 0.219 seconds off Brown's pole sitting time.
Benjamin would hold onto the final spot for the first lap before giving it up to two-time last-place finisher the #16 of Daniel Hunter, a position he would hold until Lap 4 when the event's lone caution came out when Junqueira, who was running in 2nd, lost control of his car and spun out in Turn 1, before coming back down the track and being hit by Devil's Bowl last-place finisher the #21 of John Hunter, causing severe damage to Junqueira's car and would lose a lap in the pits for repairs. No one knew it at the time, but the battle for last would be over during that same caution, as Junqueira was never able to gain the lap back and scored the first last-place finish of his rookie career.
Finishing 19th was fellow two time last-place finisher the #76 of Dave Benjamin, who would lose a lap late in the race when a right front tire went flat and would get back out on track to just barely hang on to finishing last for the third time this season.
The remaining Bottom Five would be filled by drivers who would finish on the same lap as the race leaders: 18th was the aforementioned #21 of John Hunter, 17th was Grundy County last-place finisher the #1 of Chakat Silverpaw and 16th was Salem last-place finisher the #23 Jeremy Hawkins.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first time the #04 has finished last in a SCRL ARCA Midget race as well at Eldora.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
20) #04-Mario Junqueira / 19 laps / running
19) #76-Dave Benjamin / 19 laps / running
18) #21-John Hunter / 20 laps / running
17) #1-Chakat Silverpaw / 20 laps / running
16) #23-Jeremy Hawkins / 20 laps / running
No comments:
Post a Comment