Throwback LEGENDS: Draco Drakul gets first career last-place finish of the season in first series race at Martinsville

Draco Drakul picked up the 1st last place finish of his ONL NASCAR Legends Series career in the Season 1 Virginia 500 at the Martinsville Speedway when his #32 Bestline Products Plymouth completed 49 of the 50 laps under power.

The finish, came in his 11th career series start. In his series debut for the league, Draco finished 18th at Riverside before scoring a 4th place finish in the very next round at Ontario, and other then a finish of 8th at North Carolina, Draco struggled to finish even inside the Top ten, finishing 15th at Charlotte in the last round as the series traveled to Virginia for the first ever event at the legendary half-mile.

On race day, Drakul would roll off the grid starting last and due to the early results of this league being lost in time, not much in known about the race other then who won, and by the time the Checkered Flag had flown, Draco had lost a lap and the first last-place finish of his career was his.

Finishing 19th was four time last-place finisher the #64 Woodfield Ford of dragonboy, who was the only other driver to lose a lap during the event.

The remaining Bottom Five finished on the same lap as the race leaders: 18th was the #40 7-Up Plymouth of Dinkdrinker, 17th was the unsponsored #27 Ford of Clone and finishing 16th was the #11 Don Wagner Ford of Onuki.

Draco's 4th at Ontario would be the best finish the driver would have in his NASCAR Legends career, but he would find success in a short amount of time picking up three career wins, scoring one in the now discontinued ONL Classic Truck Series, and back-to-back victories at Talladega and Michigan in Season 3 of the SCRL IROC Series, a season in which he walked away as the Series Champion. Draco is known to pop up from time to time to compete against the rising rookies of the future in the SCRL, and has shown he still has the talent he had when he won the SCRL IROC Championship.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first time the #32 had finished last in a Legends race as well as at Martinsville.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
20) #32-Draco Drakul / 49 laps / running
19) #64-dragonboy / 49 laps / running
18) #40-Dinkdrinker / 50 laps / running
17) #27-Clone / 50 laps / running
16) #11-Onuki / 50 laps / running

Throwback Formula E: Broken Valve prevents Nicolas Lothaire-Irvine from completing a lap at Long Beach; becomes the second driver in series history to not complete a lap

Nicolas Lothaire-Irvine picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL Formula E Series career in the Season 1 Long Beach ePrix at the Long Beach Street Circuit when his #19 Williams Martini Racing fell out with valve issues without completing any of the 10 laps.

The finish came in his 5th start. Nicolas is the brother of Marc Lothaire-Irvine and both are sons to Benoit Lothaire-Irvine who had been competing in several series up to this point, with Benoit still looking for his own success. Nicolas's debut started off with a 5th at Mexico City, a 3rd at Kyalami, 9th at Hockenheimring, 7th at Shanghai before struggling for the first time at Monaco, where he finished 15th.

On race day, Nicolas was scheduled to rolled off starting 4th, the best starting spot of his career, while starting in the final spot was the #11 Sahara Force India F1 Team of Tommy Hudson, but as the field rolled off pit road to begin their lone pace lap, Nicolas pulled to the right and into the paddock as the crew looked over the car, finding that the valve had been broken. Due to not having as much funds as the other Formula E teams, it was decided by the team to withdraw from the event and focus on the next round at Hungaroring.

By the end of the second lap, three more spots would be filled in the Bottom Five, as a multi-car crash would break out in Turn 6 when the Nicolas's teammate the #77 Williams Martini Racing of Jonathan Raines, the #33 Red Bull Racing of Jay Barker and the #30 Renault Sport F1 Team of Josh Barker would all be involved with Raines and Jay both being scored having completed only one lap, while Josh completed 2 before pulling into the paddock.

Rounding out the Bottom Five was the #88 Manor Racing of Kelly Lee, who herself crashed into the Turn 6 tire barriers on Lap 5.

Nicolas would top his career best 3rd at Kyalami with a runner up finish to James Barker at Suzuka, the closest he would get to victory lane. Nicolas would finish 12th in his final race at CTMP and would finish 10th in the final point standings. He hasn't competed in a SCRL race since.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This marked the first SCRL Formula E Series last-place finish for the #19 as well at Long Beach.
*This marked the first time "valve" has finished last in the SCRL Formula E Series
*This marked the second time a driver has failed to complete a lap; the only other time it had happened was the Shanghai Sprint at the Shanghai International Circuit when the #44 Mercedes of Daniel Evans fell out with engine issues without completing any of the 6 laps; 2 races ago.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
22) #19-Nicolas Lothaire-Irvine / 0 laps / valve
21) #77-Jonathan Raines / 1 lap / crash
20) #33-Jay Barker / 1 lap / crash
19) #30-Josh Barker / 2 laps / crash
18) #88-Kelly Lee / 5 laps / crash

INTERVIEW: SCRL's first ever series champion and former all time winningest driver Truttle talks about his career and the future for him

Truttle

Throughout the six year history of the SCRL there will always be one inaugural champion that being Truttle. League owner Blaise Zebrataur sat down with the league's first ever champion and at one time the all time winningest drivers in league history, the one and only Truttle.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN RACING?

"I've found racing to be quite fun and exciting. Having a good friend who is a mechanic has taught me a little about vehicles."

YOU WERE ONE OF TWENTY DRIVERS WHO TOOK THE GREEN FLAG IN THE LEAGUE'S VERY FIRST RACE AT RIVERSIDE SIX YEARS AGO, YOU STARTED ON POLE AND WOULD FINISH A IMPRESSIVE SECOND THAT DAY. HOW DID IT FEEL TO DRIVE FOR THE FIRST TIME?

"It was a whole lot of fun. I got quite nervous on that road but I buckled down and pulled through."

IT WOULD TAKE JUST THREE STARTS IN YOUR CAREER BEFORE YOU SCORED YOUR FIRST CAREER WIN, AT RICHMOND, A RACE WHERE YOU STARTED ON POLE AND LED EVERY SINGLE LAP. DID YOU EXPECT TO FIND SUCCESS IN THE CAR SO FAST?

"Oh absolutely not. I know how tough the competition is and I consider myself lucky to be able to compete in such a respectable sport. I hold the other racers in high regard and am sure the race can turn around at any moment."

THAT WIN AT RICHMOND WOULD BE THE BEGINNING OF A CAREER SEASON FOR YOU AS YOU WOULD WIN SEVEN OTHER TIMES, A SERIES AND LEAGUE RECORD THAT STILL STANDS TO THIS DAY, AND WOULD LEAD YOU TO YOUR FIRST EVER CHAMPIONSHIP. WHEN YOU FIRST STEPPED INTO THE CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME, WOULD YOU HAVE EVER SEEN YOURSELF BECOMING CHAMPION IN YOUR DEBUT SEASON?

"I never would have guessed. I'm grateful that I was able to achieve what I did and totally enjoy the experience. If asked, I would race again."

AFTER A DOMINATING FIRST SEASON, YOU WOULD COME BACK THE NEXT SEASON AND WOULD HAVE A SOMEWHAT DISAPPOINTING SEASON, SCORING ONLY TWO WINS, BUT FINISHING SECOND IN THE POINTS TO YOUR RIVAL BULLDOG67. WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE OFF SEASON OR DURING THE ACTUAL SEASON IT'S SELF THAT CAUSED YOU TO NOT BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS YOUR FIRST?

"You can't always predict what the outcome of a race may be. Win or lose, you always gotta give 100%. I'm sure we'll see a change in the next season."

OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST SIX YEARS, YOU HAVE COLLECTED WIN AFTER WIN, BECOMING THE ALL TIME WINNINGEST DRIVER IN LEAGUE HISTORY AT THE TIME WITH 26, WINNING ON ALL DIFFERENT TRACK TYPES SUCH AS SUPERSPEEDWAYS, SHORT TRACKS AND ROAD COURSES. FOR YOU, WHAT IS THE MOST TOUGHEST AND HOW DID YOU GET TO BE SO SKILLED ON WINNING ON ALL SURFACES WHILE OTHERS STRUGGLED?

"It's about practice and training but also about luck. Gotta stay on your toes when getting behind the wheel. One small slip up is all it takes in this game."

THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER YOU HAVE TRAILED THE FIELD A TOTAL OF 10 TIMES, RANKING YOU 5TH ON THE ALL TIME LIST. IT'S NOT SOMETHING MOST WOULD BE PROUD ABOUT, BUT SOME DAYS IN RACING YOU FINISH FIRST AND THE NEXT YOU FINISH IN THE TAIL END OF THE FIELD. HOW DOES A RACER BOUNCE BACK SO FAST?

"I couldn't tell you even if I wanted to. Sometimes the cards just aren't on your side. All you can really do is play with the deck you've been given and give it your all. It's in the game."

DESPITE YOUR CAREER OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS SLOWING DOWN AND YOU NO LONGER BEING THE MOST WINNINGEST DRIVER, YOU ARE NO DOUBT A FIRST CLASS BALLOT HALL OF FAMER. LOOKING BACK ON YOUR CAREER WITH ALL THE RACE WINS AND CHAMPIONSHIP, WHAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT RACE WIN TO YOU?

"To be honest, every race was fun and valuable. A learning experience and so much fun. I'm glad to have participated."

WE SAW YOU TAKE A SIX MONTH BREAK AFTER BEING PLACED ON SUSPENSION AFTER FAILING TO COMMENT ON RACES, RETURNED FOR A ONE OFF IN THE IROC SERIES BEFORE COMPETING IN THE MOST RECENT ARCA SERIES, DO YOU EVER SEE YOURSELF GETTING BACK ON TRACK AND COMPETING CONSISTENTLY TO TRY AND GO FOR ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP AND TAKE YOUR SPOT BACK AS THE MOST WINNINGEST DRIVER OR DO YOU SEE YOURSELF NEAR THE END OF YOUR CAREER?

"Honestly it's hard to say right at this moment. I'm not sure what I might decide. The future isn't quite clear."

THAT BEING SAID, YOU HAVE BEEN COMPETING ON AND OFF FOR OVER SIX YEARS, IN OVER A HUNDRED RACES AND IN NEARLY EVERY SINGLE SERIES, BECAME THE FIRST EVER LEAGUE CHAMPION AND THE FORMER ALL TIME RACE WINNER, WHEN IS IT TIME FOR TRUTTLE TO HANG UP THE HELMET AND GLOVES FOR THE FINAL TIME?

"Hmm...I have considered that but I don't think I'll give it up any time soon. We'll leave it up to fate to decide."

Throwback ARCA TRUCK: Late race crash at Oxford Plains prevents Anthony Lopez from scoring a win

Anthony Lopez picked up the 3rd last place finish of his SCRL ARCA Truck Series career in the Season 1 Oxford Plains 150 at the Oxford Plains Speedway when his #20 unsponsored Chevrolet was involved in a multi-truck crash after 20 of the 25 laps.

The finish, which came in his 7th career series start, was his first on the circuit since he completed all 20 laps of the Army Strong 150 at the Bowman Gray Stadium, 3 races ago.

After trailing at Bowman Gray, Lopez rebounded by scoring back-to-back 7th place finishes at Gateway and in the last round at Eldora.

On race day, Lopex would roll off the field starting 1st while starting last for the second race in a row was Gateway last-place finisher the #26 Coyote Entertainment Chevrolet of Isaac Nicholls. The small track led to drivers battling for position every single lap, while up from Lopez dominated, keeping all the drivers behind him for the first eighteen laps before his truck began to lose power as he battled for the lead with Oscar Isaac. Entering Turn 1, Isaac made contact with the #8 Gearheart Timber Management Chevrolet of Zach Borgerding, sending Bordergding into Lopez as Lopez's truck spun out off the track and hit the outside wall with the passenger side of the truck. While Borgerding limped back around to the pit for repairs while Lopez pulled into the garage, his chance at a win over.

The remaining Bottom Five finished on the same lap as the race leaders; 25th was the #51 Exxon Chevrolet of Adam Karlson, 24th was the #4 unsponsored Chevrolet of AJ Jones, 23rd was the aforementioned #8 of Zach Borgerding and 22nd was the #27 unsponsored Chevrolet of Caly Weatherman.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS

*This was the first time the #20 had finished last at Oxford Plains.

THE BOTTOM FIVE

26) #20-Anthony Lopez / 20 laps / crash led 18 laps

25) #51-Adam Karlson / 25 laps / running

24) #4-AJ Jones / 25 laps / running

23) #8-Zach Borgerding / 25 laps / running

22) #27-Caly Weatherman / 25 laps / running