Matt Johnson picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series career in the Season 1 Gene Lovelace 200 at the Langley Speedway when his #37 Hayes Jewelers Pontiac completed all 10 laps under power.
The finish came in his 21st start.
Johnson would make his debut at Daytona, finishing 40th after being caught up in the big one. Johnson would continue to struggle to find any success in the Busch Series, scoring a best finish of 15th in the first Langley event and finish 30th or worse twelve times in the first sixteen races before scoring a series best runner up at Rockingham. The good finish would not be a sign of things to come as finishes of 39th at Caraway, 29th South Boston and 41st in the last round at Hickory would follow.
On race day, Johnson rolled off starting 18th while starting last was two-time last-place finisher the #88 unsponsored Pontiac of Keith Stevens, the ten laps would be calm much like other LCQ(Last Chance Qualifier) have been this season, as Johnson would fall back into the final spot over the final laps.
The remaining Bottom Five were; 41st was Richmond last-place finisher the #47 unsponsored Pontiac of Jesse Turner, 40th was Martinsville last-place finisher the #75 PET Dairy Pontiac of Jay Jefferson, 39th was second Richmond last-place finisher the #63 Ashby Sheet Metal & Machine Shop Pontiac of James Barker and 38th was the aforementioned #88 of Keith Stevens.
Through all the bad finishes, the team knew that sooner or later they would find success, and they were right; as only five races later, Johnson scored his first Busch Series win at Martinsville. Johnson would finish 41st in the final point standings and currently has five career wins in the SCRL.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first time the #37 had finished last in the Busch Series as well at Langley.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
42) #37-Matt Johnson / 10 laps / running
41) #47-Jesse Turner / 10 laps / running
40) #75-Jay Jefferson / 10 laps / running
39) #63-James Barker / 10 laps / running
38) #88-Keith Stevens / 10 laps / running
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