The finish, which occurred in his 81st career series start, was hir first on the circuit since the Season 2 Craftsman 200 at the Portland Speedway when his #15 L.C. Smith Sales Ford was involved in a multi-truck crash after 8 of 22 laps, 65 races ago. In the Truck Series, it's the 3rd for the #22 and the 24th where the truck was still running. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 17th for the #22 and 281st where the vehicle was still running.
Entering his fourth ever season in the Truck Series, Spurlytube has built up a great career, having scored 15 total wins in the SCRL, but had yet to score a championship in the SCRL and was hoping that would turn around in Season 4 as he signed to driver for Roger Penske. Spurlytube wound finish a disappointing 24th in the season's first event at Walt Disney, 30th at Homestead, 24th at Phoenix, 4th at Portland, 2nd at Evergreen, 7th at I-70, 27th at Watkins Glen, 7th at Texas, 10th at Bristol, 27th at Milwaukee Mile, 19th at Nazareth, 36th at Fontana, 7th at Pikes Peak, 29th at IRP, 17th at Loudon, 2nd at Flemington before finishing 29th in the last round at Nashville.
The entry list for the seventh time, and third race in a row, this season would be only 31 trucks. Chris Kyle would collect his second career pole of his career in qualifying, posting a time of 92.243 seconds, while Spurlytube would struggle in qualifying, post a time of 92.916 seconds, 0.673 seconds behind Kyle's pole winning time, which would place him a disappointing 22nd position. Posting the slowest time during qualifying was the #52 Purolator PureOne Filters Chevrolet of Blaise Zebrataur, who was a full 1.347 seconds behind Kyle's time.
On race day as the field began their lone pace lap around the twisting 2.100 mile road course, Spurlytube's truck stalled on pit road, with the cause of the problem being a flat tire. The field would circle back around the track and took the green flag with Spurlytube's team working on the truck as the field raced around the track, as the team had trouble getting the jack under before finally getting it as the field entered Turn 12 before putting four fresh tires and sending their driver back out on the track just as the leaders lapped him. Spurlytube was able to keep up with the leaders and actually had one of the fastest laps as a scoring error actually scored Spurlytube in 11th before it was finally fixed, and with a rather calm and uneventful race that no cautions would come out, Spurlytube would trail from flag to flag.
The remaining Bottom Five would finish on the same lap as the race leaders: 30th was the #15 Acxiom Ford of Colby Harris, 29th was Fontana last-place finisher the #2 Team ASE Racing Ford of Monika Flores, 28th was the #50 Grainger Ford of Cameron Hathway and 27th was the aforementioned #52 of Blaise Zebrataur.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #22 has finished last in a Truck Series race at Heartland Park.
*This is the first time the #22 has trailed in a Truck Series race since the Season 2 Stevens Beil / Genuine Parts 200 at the Flemington Speedway when Cam Nixey's own turned in the #22 Red Dog Ford completed all 20 laps under power; 54 races ago.
*This is the first time the #22 has finished last in a Truck Series race at Heartland Park.
*This is the first time the #22 has trailed in a Truck Series race since the Season 2 Stevens Beil / Genuine Parts 200 at the Flemington Speedway when Cam Nixey's own turned in the #22 Red Dog Ford completed all 20 laps under power; 54 races ago.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
31) #22-Riley Spurlytube / 8 laps / running
30) #15-Colby Harris / 9 laps / running
29) #2-Monika Flores / 9 laps / running
28) #50-Cameron Hathaway / 9 laps / running
27) #52-Blaise Zebrataur / 9 laps / running
31) #22-Riley Spurlytube / 8 laps / running
30) #15-Colby Harris / 9 laps / running
29) #2-Monika Flores / 9 laps / running
28) #50-Cameron Hathaway / 9 laps / running
27) #52-Blaise Zebrataur / 9 laps / running
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