Christian Russel picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL Grand National Series career in Wednesday's Poor Man's 500 at the Canfield Speedway when his #50 Mercury completed all 20 laps under power.
The finish came in his 28th career series start. In the SCRL Grand National Series, it's the 1st for car #50 and the 22nd for running at the finish. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 11th for the #50 and 343rd for running at the finish.
Russel, who has only been competing in the SCRL since 2019, has already made a name for himself and is a future Hall of Famer. Making his debut in Season 4 of the NASCAR Legends Series, Russel would quickly make his presents known by winning in his 5th career start at Atlanta, a race which to this day is the closest finish in any SCRL series, 0.004 seconds. Two more wins at Darlington and Michigan would prove that it was no fluke, as he would cruise to his first ever SCRL Championship in his debut season. Four more wins would follow Russel over the next three years in various series, including a victory in the Grand National Series lone visit to Winchester Speedway.
Coming back for a second season in a row where he'd be competing full time, Russel started off his season with a 14th at Beach & Road Course, 4th at Charlotte, 31st at Lakeview and a 8th at Carrell before scoring his first win of the season, at Hillsborough, in a race where he set the record for closest finish in the Grand National Series 0.006 second over Nathan Ormond. A 8th at Arizona would be followed by a 19th at North Wilkesboro before Russel would once again visit victory lane for the second time this season at Martinsville.
The entry list for the fifth time this season would be filled with only the full-time drivers, as the part time drivers aren't scheduled to be back for several races.
In qualifying, Roger James would score his third career series pole with a time of 20.040 seconds. Russel would post a time of 20.524, 0.484 seconds off James's time, placing him 20th on the grid. Securing the 22nd and final starting spot was the #44 of Boston Auston, who posted a time of 20.544 seconds, 0.504 seconds off James's pole winning time.
When the race started, Auston stay in the final spot lasted for only two turns as he knocked the #81 Oldsmobile of Sergeant Young into last. Young would be determined to not trail in his first ever race as he would quickly knock Auston back to last one lap later.
Auston would trail for two laps before Russel would fall back to last for the first time on Lap 4. Russel would struggle around the half mile track as he would remain in the final spot for the next nine circuits, before finally making a move and knocking two time last-place finisher the #120 Hudson of Brian Grigsby to last on Lap 14. Grigsby was determined however to not trail again, as he would pass Russel, knocking him back to last once again on Lap 15. Over the next five laps, Russel would fight hard to trail and gain a position but wouldn't find the right time to make the pass, finishing 10.677 seconds behind the race leaders when the checkered flag waved.
Auston would trail for two laps before Russel would fall back to last for the first time on Lap 4. Russel would struggle around the half mile track as he would remain in the final spot for the next nine circuits, before finally making a move and knocking two time last-place finisher the #120 Hudson of Brian Grigsby to last on Lap 14. Grigsby was determined however to not trail again, as he would pass Russel, knocking him back to last once again on Lap 15. Over the next five laps, Russel would fight hard to trail and gain a position but wouldn't find the right time to make the pass, finishing 10.677 seconds behind the race leaders when the checkered flag waved.
The remaining Bottom Five were: 21st was the #22 Ford of Chris Kyle, 20th was the aforementioned #120 of Brian Grigsby, 19th was the #44 of Boston Auston and 18th was the #51 Cherokee Garage Oldsmobile of Austin Abilene.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #50 has finished last in a Cup race at Canfield.
*Russel now a last-place finish in each of the SCRL's top three series. Russel's lone Busch Series last-place finish happened on the May 20, 2021 at Rockingham while his lone Truck Series last-place finish happened on October 5, 2020 at Nashville. He becomes the 4th driver to complete the SCRLASTCAR Triple Crown.
*This is the first time the #50 has finished last in a Cup race at Canfield.
*Russel now a last-place finish in each of the SCRL's top three series. Russel's lone Busch Series last-place finish happened on the May 20, 2021 at Rockingham while his lone Truck Series last-place finish happened on October 5, 2020 at Nashville. He becomes the 4th driver to complete the SCRLASTCAR Triple Crown.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
22) #50-Christian Russel / 20 laps / running
21) #22-Chris Kyle / 20 laps / running
20) #120-Brian Grigsby / 20 laps / running
19) #44-Boston Auston / 20 laps / running
18) #51-Austin Abilene / 20 laps / running
21) #22-Chris Kyle / 20 laps / running
20) #120-Brian Grigsby / 20 laps / running
19) #44-Boston Auston / 20 laps / running
18) #51-Austin Abilene / 20 laps / running
S3 SCRLASTCAR SCRL Grand National Series Driver's Championship
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