TRUCKS: Late race spin at Nashville gives Christian Russell the first last-place finish of his Truck Series career

Christian Russell picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL Rainbow Dash Truck Series career in Monday's Federated Auto Parts 250 at the Nashville Speedway when his unsponsored #60 Addington Racing Chevrolet completed all 20 laps under power.

The finish occurred in his 17th career series start. In the Truck Series, it's the 1st for the #60 and the 23rd where the truck was still running. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 1st for the #60 and 280th where the vehicle was still running.

Entering his first ever season driving a truck, Russell had found success before in the SCRL, having visited victory lane four times in his career, but had yet to really left a mark and was looking to change that in his first truck season. Having signed to drive for team owner Mike Addington's Chevrolet, Russell would be competing in all 27 events while going for his first ever championship. Russell would finish a disappointing 19th in his series debut at Walt Disney following by a 23rd at Homestead before finishing runner up to Brock Beard at Phoenix. A 12th at Portland, 18th at Evergreen, 20th at I-70, a 7th at the twisting road course at Watkins Glen, 18th at Texas, 22nd at Bristol, 28th at the Milwaukee Mile, 23rd at Nazareth, 4th at Fontana, 17th at Pikes Peak and a 21st at IRP. Brake failure, which led to a scary crash that placed Russell 36th at Loudon would be followed by the series fourth and final stop at Flemington, a race Russell would take the lead on Lap 3 by making a three wide pass between Riley Spurlytube and Chakat Snowchaser, and would win the final event at the track.

The entry list for the sixth time, and second race in a row, this season would be only 31 trucks. Fontana last-place finisher Monika Flores would collect her first career pole of his career in qualifying, posting a time of 20.710 seconds, while Russell would struggle in qualifying, posting a time of 21.648, 0.938 seconds behind Flores's pole winning time, and placing Russell in the final spot on race night.

On race night, Russell would trail for the first two turns around the 0.596 short track, he would knock Portland last-place finisher the #35 Ortho Lawn & Garden Products Chevrolet of Chakat Flaremane into the final spot as Flaremane would trail for the first lap before knocking Russell back to last on Lap 2. Russell would trail till Lap 5 when he knocked the #22 Red Dog Ford of Riley Spurlytube into the final spot on Lap 5. Spurlytube however was not long for last as he passed Russell on Lap 6, before Russell knocked Spurlytube back to last again on Lap 7. Spurlytube would fight back once again on Lap 9 and knocked Russell back to last. Russell would again trail for two laps before he knocked championship contender the #4 All American Museum Dodge of Daniel Bouchard into last on Lap 11.

Bouchard would trail for the next three laps when the battle for last came to an end. While racing three wide with Spurlytube and Bouchard off Turn 4, the three trucks made contact, with Russell spinning out while the other two trucks drove on. No caution would fly, but Russell was just a few seconds from being lapped, and when no caution would fly for the remainder of the race, Russell's first last-place finish in his truck career was his.

The remaining Bottom Five were: 30th was the aforementioned #4 of Daniel Bouchard, 29th was the #22 of Riley Spurlytube, 28th was Evergreen last-place finisher the #14 Circle Bar Motel & RV Park Ford of Mitchell Collins and 27th was Phoenix last-place finisher the #18 Dana Corporation Dodge of Carter Joey.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #60 has finished last in a Truck Series race as well at Nashville.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
31) #60-Christian Russell / 20 laps / running
30) #4-Daniel Bouchard / 20 laps / running
29) #22-Riley Spurlytube / 20 laps / running
28) #14-Mitchell Collins / 20 laps / running
27) #18-Carter Joey / 20 laps / running