CUP: Chris Kyle trails in caution free race at Dayton; now tied with Nick Kennedy and Cole with second most last-place finishes in a career

Chris Kyle picked up the 2nd last place finish of his SCRL Grand National Series career in the March 16 Race 29 at the Dayton Speedway when his #22 Hudson completed all 20 laps under power.

The finish, which came in his 48th career series start, was his first on the circuit since the Southern 500 at the Darlington Raceway when he fell out with header problems after completing 23 of the 40 laps; 5 races ago. In the SCRL Grand National Series, it's the 2nd for car #22 and the 40th for running at the finish. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 19th for the #22 and 361st for running at the finish.

After trailing at Darlington and getting no points, Kyle would rebound in the next round at Columbia, finishing 11th, before struggling to finish 16th at Central City, rebounding with back-to-back finishes of at 5th at Langhorne and Charlotte.

The entry list for the 21st time this season would be filled with only the full-time drivers, with the part-time drivers not making an appearance since Langhorne; 2 races ago.

In qualifying, Cole O'Ash would score his third career pole, with a time of 21.022 seconds. Kyle would fair decent around the bumpy half mile track, posting a time of 21.308 seconds, 0.286 seconds behind O'Ash, placing Kyle 10th on the starting line up. Securing the 22nd and final starting spot was Canfield last-place finisher the #50 Mercury of Christian Russel, who posted a time of 21.671 seconds, 0.649 seconds behind O'Ash's time.

When the race started, Russel would struggle to keep up with the field at first, trailing for the first two circuits before finally getting a handle on his car, knocking two-time last-place finisher the #92 Fabulous Hudson Hornet Hudson of Andrew James into last on Lap 3. James would find it difficult to pass much like Russel had, trailing for the next two laps before knocking three-time last-place finisher the #81 Ford of Sergeant Young into last on Lap 6. Young would struggle as well, trailing for four laps before knocking two-time last-place finisher the #69 Oldsmobile of Chakat Duskwatcher to last on Lap 11.

Duskwatcher's stay in the final spot lasted only two laps as she knocked current SCRLASTCAR leader the #120 Hudson of Brian Grigsby into last on Lap 13. Grigsby was determined to not trail for the fourth time in his career, as he stay in the final spot lasted only two last before knocking Air Base last-place finisher the #82 Oates Motor Co. Hudson of Breezy Brisbane into last on Lap 15. Brisbane would trail for only two circuits before he knocked two-time last-place finisher the #60 Plymouth of Josh Barker into last on Lap 17. Entering the white flag, Barker still held down the final spot, but entering Turn 1, Barker made his move and knocked Kyle back to last, with Kyle unable to make a move over the final quarter mile, he trailed only the final lap when the checkered flag waved.

The remaining Bottom Five were: 21st was the aforementioned #60 of Josh Barker, 20th was Columbia last-place finisher the #78 Lincoln of Addy Jade, 19th was the #82 of Breezy Brisbane and 18th was the #120 of Brian Grigsby.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #22 has finished last in a Cup race at Dayton.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
22) #22-Chris Kyle / 20 laps / running
21) #60-Josh Barker / 20 laps / running
20) #78-Addy Jade / 20 laps / running
19) #82-Breezy Brisbane / 20 laps / running
18) #120-Brian Grigsby / 20 laps / running

S3 SCRLASTCAR Grand National Series Driver's Championship

CUP: Brent James trails at Charlotte; becomes fourth driver to trail in back-to-back races

Brent James picked up the 3rd last place finish of his SCRL Grand National Series career in Wednesday's Race 28 at the Charlotte Speedway when his #89 Plymouth completed all 20 laps under power.

The finish, which came in his 28th career series start, was his first on the circuit since the Race 27 at the Langhorne Speedway when his #89 Plymouth completed 14 of the 15 laps under power; 1 race ago. In the SCRL Grand National Series, it's the 3rd for car #89 and the 39th for running at the finish. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 5th for the #89 and 360th for running at the finish.

After trailing at Langhorne and getting no points, James and his team traveled south to Charlotte, North Carolina, the site of the series' second and final stop at the half mile dirt track, a track where James had finished 18th in his second ever career start and was looking for redemption.

The entry list for the 20th time this season would be filled with only the full-time drivers, the first time since the Race 26 at Central City Speedway, two races ago.

In qualifying, Josh Barker would score his first career pole, with a time of 26.083 seconds. Securing the 22nd and final starting spot was James, who was one of nine drivers who didn't post a time during qualifying.

When the race started, James was determined to not trail for every single lap like he had done at Langhorne, as he would quickly knock the #2 Ford of Bronson Minnick into last, who would trail for the first two circuits before on Lap 3 he would knock Columbus last-place finisher the #51 Cherokee Garage Oldsmobile of Austin Abilene into last. Abilene's stay in last was brief, as he would knock two time last-place finisher the #92 Fabulous Hudson Hornet Hudson of Andrew James back to last on Lap 4, but Andrew's stay in last was also brief, knocking the #44 of Boston Auston into last on Lap 5. Auston would struggle around the half mile track for the next four laps before knocking Brent back to last on Lap 10. Brent would try his hardest to gain and position back over the final laps but was unable to by the time the checkered flag waved.

The remaining Bottom Five finished on the same lap as the race leaders: 21st was the aforementioned #92 of Andrew James, 20th was the #100 of Jeff Stott, 19th was the #44 of Boston Auston and 18th was the #59 Buesink Police Special Ford of Cole O'Ash.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #89 has finished last in a Cup race at Charlotte.
*James becomes the fourth ever driver to trail in back-to-back races in the Cup Series; Daniel Bouchard(S1 Hamburg and Martinsville), Bruce Webster(S2 Martinsville and Canfield) and Brent Davison(S2 Hamburg and Darlington).

THE BOTTOM FIVE
22) #89-Brent James / 20 laps / running
21) #92-Andrew James / 20 laps / running
20) #100-Jeff Stott / 20 laps / running
19) #44-Boston Auston / 20 laps / running
18) #59-Cole O'Ash / 20 laps / running

S3 SCRLASTCAR Grand National Series Driver's Championship

CUP: Flat tire gives second in points Brent James second last-place finish at Langhorne

Brent James picked up the 2nd last place finish of his SCRL Grand National Series career in Monday's Race 27 at the Langhorne Speedway when his #89 Plymouth completed 14 of the 15 laps under power.

The finish, which came in his 27th career series start, was his first on the circuit since the Race 18 at the Monroe County Fairgrounds when he completed all 20 laps under power; 9 races ago. In the SCRL Grand National Series, it's the 2nd for car #89 and the 38th for running at the finish. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 4th for the #89 and 359th for running at the finish.

After trailing at Monroe County, James would continue to struggle as he finished 19th in the next round at Altamont-Schenectady and 38th at Michigan State Fairgrounds before rebounding to a runner up finish at Fort Miami, 11th at Morristown and Air Base before finishing 3rd at Darlington. A 9th at Columbia and 3rd in the last round at Central City would keep James in the battle for the championship.

The entry list for the 8th time this season would be filled with both full time and part-time drivers, the first time since the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, three races ago, a race which part-time driver Chase Abott would win, giving him the points lead, which he has continued to hold despite missing the last two events.

In qualifying, two time and defending champion Sebastian Torres would score his second pole of the year, with a time of 29.563 seconds. James would struggle in qualifying around the bumpy one mile track, posting a time of 29.795, 0.232 off Torres's pole time, placing placing James 20th on the grid. Securing the 42nd and final starting spot was the #7 Gray Ghost Oldsmobile of John Alabama, who posted a time of 30.071, 0.508 seconds off Torres's time.

Brent James on pit road.

As the field began its lone pace lap, James's car wouldn't fire, as he would hold up the outside line before being towed to pit lane. As the field took the green flag, James's car make it back to pit road and the team quickly replaced all four tires and sent their driver back out onto the track, but he had already lost a lap, with hopes of a caution would give their driver a chance to get back on the lead lap, but it wouldn't happen, as a caution free race meant that James was the only car not on the lead lap when the checkered flag waved.

The remaining Bottom Five finished on the same lap as the race leaders: 41st was the #43 Nash of Nathan Ormond, 40th was the #42 Petty Special Plymouth of Ty Westner, 39th was the the #23 Studebaker of John Autzen and 38th was the #30 Plymouth of Jeremiah Weaver.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #89 has finished last in a Cup race at Langhorne.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
42) #89-Brent James / 14 laps / running
41) #43-Nathan Ormond / 15 laps / running
40) #42-Ty Westner / 15 laps / running
39) #23-John Autzen / 15 laps / running
38) #30-Jeremiah Weaver / 15 laps / running

S3 SCRLASTCAR Grand National Series Driver's Championship

CUP: Andrew James trails in caution free race at Central City

Andrew James picked up the 2nd last place finish of his SCRL Grand National Series career in the February 3 Race 26 at the Central City Speedway when his #51 Plymouth completed all 20 laps under power.

The finish, which came in his 26th career series start, was his first on the circuit since the Wilkes County 150 at the North Wilkesboro Speedway when he completed 19 of the 20 laps under power; 19 races ago. In the SCRL Grand National Series, it's the 3rd for car #92 and the 37th for running at the finish. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 8th for the #92 and 358th for running at the finish.

After trailing at North Wilkesboro, James would rebound to finish 11th in the next round at Martinsville, 6th at Canfield and a 7th at Columbus before scoring his first career win at Columbia in just his 11th career start.  A 13th at Dayton, 7th at Carrell, 5th at Grand Rapids, 7th at Bainbridge, 3rd at Heidelberg, 20th at Asheville-Weaverville, 11th at Monroe County, 10th at Altamont-Schenectady before finishing 2nd at Michigan State Fairgrounds. A 12th at Fort Miami, 10th at Morristown, 7th at Air Base before finishing 9th in the last round at Darlington.

The entry list for the 19th time this season would be filled with just the part-time drivers, the second race in a row.

In qualifying, Chakat Duskwatcher would score hir second career pole, with a time of 20.960 seconds. James would struggle in qualifying around the bumpy half mile track, posting a time of 21.272, 0.312 off Duskwatcher's pole time, placing placing James 20th on the grid. Securing the 22nd and final starting spot was two-time last-place finisher the #60 Plymouth of Josh Barker, who posted a time of 21.294, 0.348 seconds off Tuckett's time.

When the race started, Barker would trail for the first lap around the half mile track but next time around he had knocked Andrew back to last on Lap 2. James's stay in the final spot lasted only one lap as he knocked Darlington last-place finisher the #22 Ford of Chris Kyle to last on Lap 3. Kyle would trail for two circuits before he would knock Canfield last-place finisher the #50 Mercury of Christian Russel back to last on Lap 5. Russel's stay in last was only one lap as the next time around he had knocked Asheville-Weaverville last-place finisher the #58 Kaiser of Brent Davison into last on Lap 6, but Davison would also remain in last for only a lap before the next time by he had knocked #42 Petty Special Plymouth of Ty Westner into last on Lap 7.

Westner would trail for two laps before knocking the #100 of Jeff Stott into last on Lap 9. Stott would trail for three laps around the half-mile track before making a move and knocking Davison back to last on Lap 12. Over the next eight laps, Davison would struggle to gain any spots, but as the field took the white flag, he made a move in Turn 1 before passing and knocking James back to last on the Backstretch, with James unable to make a move in the last two turns, James trailed the field as the field took the Checkered Flag.

The remaining Bottom Five were: 21st was the aforementioned #58 of Brent Davison, 20th was the #42 of Ty Westner, 19th was the #60 of Josh Barker and 18th was the #100 of Jeff Stott.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #92 has finished last in a Cup race at Central City.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
22) #92-Andrew James / 20 laps / running
21) #58-Brent Davison / 20 laps / running
20) #42-Ty Westner / 20 laps / running
19) #60-Josh Barker / 20 laps / running
18) #100-Jeff Stott / 20 laps / running

S3 SCRLASTCAR Grand National Series Driver's Championship