ARCA Late Model: Late race spin at Winchester gives rookie Kevin Cook the first last-place finish of his short career

Kevin Cook picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL ARCA Late Model Series career in Wednesday's Winchester 100 at the Winchester Speedway when his #7 PH Crane and Hoist Chevrolet completed all 20 laps under power.

The finish came in his 10th career series start. In the SCRL ARCA Late Model Series, it's the 1st for car #7 and the 10th where the car was still running. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 14th for the #7 and the 259th where the car was still running. 

Entering the brand new year of racing, Cook was one of several new drivers looking to make a name for himself in the SCRL, signing up for the ARCA division's second lowest series, the ARCA Late Model Series. Cook finished 9th in his SCRL debut in the series first ever race at Toledo before finishing 3rd in back-to-back races at Wisconsin and Elko. A 7th place finish at Lanier and a 4th at Salem would continue his hot streak but it ended with a disappointing 17th at Flat Rock, before he rebounded with a 6th at Nashville, before struggling again with a 18th at Louisville before finishing 7th in the last round at South Boston.

In qualifying Shane Russell would score his first career series pole with a time of 19.115, while Kevin would struggle, posting a time of 19.558, over half a second behind Russell, which would place him 13th on the starting grid, while starting last was the #9 Champion Direct Chevrolet of Tracey Dent.

Tracey's stay in the final spot would be brief as she quickly knocked the #29 Bailey's Chevrolet of Richard Torres into the final spot, but the very next lap he knocked South Boston last-place finisher the unsponsored #28 Ford of Franz DeVice, but his stay in last was also brief and would knock Richard back into last on Lap 3, before Franz reclaimed last on Lap 4. Franz this time would remain in last for two laps, before knocking Richard back into last on Lap 6. The very next lap, Richard knocked the #48 Spray Paint and Equipment Chevrolet of Shannon Lowe into the final spot on Lap 7.

Lowe would continue to struggle to stay caught up with the rest of the field as he fell to seven seconds behind the race leader. While racing with Cook on Lap 13, Cook was tapped by Lowe in Turn 4, causing Cook to spin out briefly on the frontstretch, while no caution would come out, Cook would be passed and would try to pass Lowe back but never could over the remaining seven laps, with Lowe finishing just a half second before Cook.

The remaining Bottom Five were: 18th was two time last-place finisher the #84 Community Pharmacies Dodge, 17th was the aforementioned #29 of Richard Torres and 16th was the #28 Franz DeVice.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first time the #7 has finished last in the SCRL ARCA Late Model Series as well at Winchester.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
20) #7-Kevin Cook / 20 laps / running
19) #48-Shannon Lowe / 20 laps / running
18) #84-Carter Friesen / 20 laps / running
17) #29-Richard Torres / 20 laps / running
16) #28-Franz DeVice / 20 laps / running