Thursday, February 10, 2022

Throwback TRUCKS: Crash shortly after mid-race at North Wilkesboro gives Nitahbk the first of two-last place finishes in the truck series



Nitahbk picked up the 1st last place finish of her SCRL Rainbow Dash Truck Series career in the Season 1 Lowe's 150 at the North Wilkesboro Speedway when her #61 Roush Performance Products Ford was involved in a multi-truck wreck after 24 of the 40 laps.

The finish came in her 17th career series start. 

Nitahbk had been a veteran in the SCRL before the truck series had even been made, having competed in the then ONL NASCAR Legends Series, having scored 7 career wins and was looking to bring that same success over to the trucks as she signed up to compete in a part-time schedule. She would forever write her name in the history books by winning the series first ever event by winning at Phoenix, before the team would decide to skip the next seven events, making their return at Bristol, where Nitahbk would finish 15th after being involved in several wrecks throughout the night. A 30th at Milwaukee, 34th at Colorado and a 8th at Heartland Park would follow before she would pick up career win number two at IRP. After choosing to miss the Flemington, the team returning at Richmond, where she would finish 20th before finishing 31st in the last round at Martinsville.

On race day, Nitahbk would roll off starting 26th while starting last was the #75 Spears Manufacturing Chevrolet of Zachary Fitzwater. The first twenty three laps around the 0.625 mile short track would be both calm and exciting, with no cautions flying and drivers giving each other space, but shortly after the halfway mark, that all changed and the battle for last was over. While battling for the 24th spot, the #20 Walker Evans Racing Dodge of Aidan Shepherd was spun out by two time last-place finisher the #32 Straight Arrow / Mane 'n Tail Ford Sebastian Torres, sending Shepherd's truck up the track and hitting the outside wall before sliding down the track right in front of Nitahbk, who had nowhere to go and slammed into Shepherd, destroying the front end of her truck while seconds later the #21 Ortho Lawn & Garden Care Ford of Chakat Whitelion ran into the back of her truck. While both drivers would be able to limp back around to complete another lap, both drivers would pull behind the wall, with Nitahbk being scored in the final spot.

The remaining Bottom Five would finish on the same lap as the race leaders; 38th was the #3 GM Goodwrench Service Chevrolet of Jay Jefferson, 37th was the #88 unsponsored Churchill Motorsports Ford of Luke Rainey and finishing 36th was the aforementioned #20 of Aidan Shepherd.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first time the #61 had finished last in a Truck Series race as well as at North Wilkesboro.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
40) #61-Nitahbk / 24 laps / crash
39) #21-Chakat Whitelion / 24 laps / crash
38) #3-Jay Jefferson / 40 laps / running
37) #88-Luke Rainey / 40 laps / running
36) #20-Aidan Shepherd / 40 laps / running

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