Hank Willis picked up the 2nd last place finish of his SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series career in the Season 1 Coca-Cola 200 at the North Carolina Motor Speedway when his #39 unsponsored Chevrolet was involved in a multi-car crash after 2 of the 50 laps.
The finish, which came in his 17th start, was his first on the circuit since the Hampton Chevy 200 at the Langley Speedway when he completed all 10 laps under power, 7 races ago.
After trailing at Langley, Willis would rebound quickly by finishing 4th at Dover, 10th in the second Hickory event, finishing runner up to Todd Kennedy at Charlotte. A 12th at Asheville, a 24th at the third Hickory event before finishing 10th in the last round at South Boston.
On race day, Willis rolled off starting 27th while starting last was the #24 Budweiser Light Ford of Jeff Arndt as the first lap would be rather calm, but coming off Turn 4, the #04 unsponsored Pontiac of Eli Bright was spun out by the #29 Longwood Restaurant Dodge of Zachary Fitzwater, as Bright's car would side through the tri-oval before coming back up the track in front of the field, right in front of Jeff Arndt, sending Bright for a flip. While trying to avoid the flipping car of Bright, Willis moved to the high side to try and avoid, but ran into the #16 Bobby Cash Auto Parts Pontiac of Riley Spurlytube, destroying the front end of Willis, and quickly ending his day.
The remaining Bottom Five would also be involved in the same crash; 41st was the #41 unsponsored Pontiac of Tim Randolph, 40th was two-time last-place finisher the #88 unsponsored Pontiac of Keith Stevens, 39th was the aforementioned #16 of Riley Spurlytube and 38th was the aforementioned #24 of Jeff Arndt.
For Willis, he would never come close to victory lane other then his runner up finish at Charlotte, with his final career start being in the season finale at Martinsville where he finished 12th and would finish 15th in the final point standings. Willis hasn't competed in a SCRL race since.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first time the #39 had finished last at Rockingham.
*This was the first time the #39 had finished last at Rockingham.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
42) #39-Hank Willis / 2 laps / crash
41) #41-Tim Randolph / 2 laps / crash
40) #88-Keith Stevens / 2 laps / crash
39) #16-Riley Spurlytube / 2 laps / crash
38) #24-Jeff Arndt / 2 laps / crash
42) #39-Hank Willis / 2 laps / crash
41) #41-Tim Randolph / 2 laps / crash
40) #88-Keith Stevens / 2 laps / crash
39) #16-Riley Spurlytube / 2 laps / crash
38) #24-Jeff Arndt / 2 laps / crash
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