Throwback MEXICO: Zachary Fitzwater trails flag to flag at Willow Springs in series first ever trip to California

Zachary Fitzwater picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL Telcel Mexico Series career in the Season 1 California 150 at the Willow Springs Speedway when his #20 Avaya / Axtel X-Tremo Toyota completed all 6 laps under power.

The finish came in his 3rd career series start. 

Fitzwater was one of twelve drivers to signup to compete in the brand new series ran mostly in Mexico. In his series debut, Fitzwater finished 11th at Phoenix after being taken out in a Lap 25 crash and finished 5th in the last round at Central Texas as the series traveled to California for their first ever road course event at the 2.500 mile road course.

On race day, Fitzwater would roll off the field starting in the final spot. A hot track resulted in drivers struggled on the two and a half mile track as Fitzwater had lost touch with the rest of the field by Lap 2, nearly three seconds behind, five by Lap 4 and when the Checkered Flag was shown, Fitzwater was over twelve seconds behind.

The remaining Bottom Five were: 11th was the #31 54D Chevrolet of Rocco Twyman, 10th was the #18 Canel's / HDI Seguros / Scotiabank Toyota of Chakat Whitelion, 9th was the #46 Avaya / Axtel X-Tremo Toyota of Connor Hurley and finishing 8th was the #3 Telcel / Samsung Toyota of Morgan McPherson.

For Fitzwater, it would be the lone last-place finish of his career in the Mexico Series as at the very next event at Saugus, he would score his first series win and would go on to finish 9th in the final point standings. Fitzwater has gone on to have a very successful career, scoring 1 career wins along the way to winning 4 championships.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first time the #20 had finished last in a Mexico series race as well as at Willow Springs.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
12) #20-Zachary Fitzwater / 6 laps / running
11) #31-Rocco Twyman / 6 laps / running
10) #18-Chakat Whitelion / 6 laps / running
9) #46-Connor Hurley / 6 laps / running
8) #3-Morgan McPherson / 6 laps / running