The finish came in his 18th start. In the SCRL Lucas Oil ARCA Racing Series, it's the 1st for car #3 and the 3rd for engine issues. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 18th for the #3 and the 275th where the vehicle was still running.
Entering Season 3 of the ARCA Series, Guthrie had never competed in the SCRL and was looking to have a decent season in hopes of one day competing in the highest SCRL series. In his first career start, Guthrie would shock the world by scoring the pole, as well as leading the first lap before going on to finish a disappointing 24th at Daytona. An 11th at Atlanta, would be followed by a runner up finish at Nashville in his first career short track appearance. He would struggle over the three races with finishes of 29th at Salem, 31st at Talladega and 27th at Charlotte, before scoring a second runner up finish at Gateway. A 19th in the first Pocono race, 34th at Chicagoland, 17th at Lucas Oil, 32nd at Kentucky, before scoring a series record 3rd runner up finish at Iowa. A 37th at DuQuoin in his first dirt track race, 38th at Michigan, then scoring his 4th runner up in the series's second trip to Pocono. A 22nd at Salem would be followed up in a 25th place finish in his first ever race on a road course.
In qualifying at the "World's Fastest 1/2 mile", Greg Torres would score his first career General Tire Pole Award with a time of 20.722 seconds(86.864 mph), while Guthrie would struggle to find any speed during his lap, posting a time of 21.391 seconds(84.148mph), a full two miles per hour behind Torres's speed, placing him 39th. Starting last would be the #69 Messina's / Ingersoll Rand Ford of Ray Dent Jr., 0.673 seconds off Torres's pole winning time.
When the command was given for drivers to start their engines and begin their lone pace lap, Guthrie's car began to smoke as he left pit road, pulling down to the inside of the track and would follow the pace car down while the 39 other drivers took the green flag. Guthrie would make that sharp left turn and pulled behind the wall and toward the garage. As the field raced around the track, Guthrie would exit his car in disgust as the team looked over the car and would quickly discover that the engine had blown up and was beyond repair, with the car being listed as "out" by the 3rd lap.
The remaining Bottom Five would finish on the same lap as the race leader; 39th was Atlanta last-place finisher the #25 ZLOOP Computer & Electronics Recycling Toyota of Joe Jefferson, 38th was Talladega last-place finisher the #23 Allegiant Air Chevrolet of Jack Lagasee, 37th was the unsponsored #29 Hixson Motorsports Chevrolet of Ray Jones and 36th was the unsponsored #17 Roulo Brothers Racing Ford of Marcus Saatchi.
In the SCRLASTCAR Championship battle, the very second Guthrie's retirement was announced, it officially gave the championship to Tony Newman. Even though he only has trailed in two races, Newman has 6 Bottom Five finishes and even if Oriana Dent trailed at Kansas, she would only tie him in terms of last-place finishes, but Newman would win the tie breaker in terms of Bottom Five finishes, 6-5.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first time the #3 has finished last in a ARCA Series race as well at Winchester.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
40) #3-Dale Guthrie / 0 laps / engine
39) #25-Joe Jefferson / 30 laps / running
38) #23-Jack Lagasee / 30 laps / running
37) #29-Ray Jones / 30 laps / running
36) #17-Marcus Saatchi / 30 laps / running
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