Austin Line picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL Grand National Series career in Monday's Race 31 at the Occoneechee Speedway when his #4 Blevins Motor Co. Studebaker completed all 15 laps under power.
The finish came in his 31st career series start. In the SCRL Grand National Series, it's the 1st for car #4 and the 42nd for running at the finish. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 17th for the #4 and 363rd for running at the finish.
Line was not only making his Grand National Series debut, but also his overall SCRL debut when he signed up to complete full time for the series third ever season, so when the driver finished a disappointing 37th in his debut at Daytona Beach, it wasn't a surprise due to the lack of experience. A points paying 8th place at Charlotte, would be followed by a 19th at Lakeview, 13th at Carrell, 34th at Hillsborough, 21st at Arizona State, 11th at North Wilkesboro, 10th at Martinsville, 4th at Canfield, 20th at Columbus, 3rd at Columbia, before in just his 12th career start, Line would score his first career win at Dayton.
After scoring his first win, Line would back up his first ever win with a runner up in the second Carrell event, before struggling to a 18th at Grand Rapids, a 12th at Bainbridge, a 22nd at Heidelberg, a 7th at Asheville-Weaverville, a 15th at Monroe County, a 13th at Altamont-Schenectady, a 15th at Michigan State Fairgrounds, a 3rd at Fort Miami, a 18th at Morristown, a 4th at Air Base, a 36th at Darlington, a 21st at Columbia, a 13th at Central City, a 35th at Langhorne, a 7th at Charlotte, a 6th at Dayton before finishing 11th in the last round at Wilson.
The entry list for the 9th time this season would be filled with both full time and part time drivers, the first time since Race 27 at the Langhorne Speedway, 4 races ago.
In qualifying, Allison Marley scored her first career pole, with a time of 43.625 seconds. Line would struggle around the one mile dirt track, posting a time of 44.561 seconds, 0.936 seconds behind Marley's, placing Line 37th on the starting line up. Securing the 42nd and final starting spot was Columbia last-place finisher the #78 Lincoln of Addy Jade, who posted a time of 45.102 seconds, 1.477 seconds behind Marley's time.
When the race started, Jade's stay in the final spot was brief, as she instantly would knock Arizona last-place finisher the #88 Rocket Oldsmobile of Amber Reid into last in Turn 1, with Reid trailing the first lap. Over the next five circuits, Reid would struggle to make any gains on the drivers in front of her despite staying in contact with the tail end of the field and it appeared she would trail for the second time in her career, but by Lap 7, Line had fallen back and would be passed by Reid. Much like with Reid, once in the final spot, Line found it hard to make any positions up for the remaining laps and was nearly a full second behind the car in front of him when the checkered flag waved.
The remaining Bottom Five were: 41st was the aforementioned #88 of Amber Reid, 40th was two time last-place finisher the #92 Fabulous Hudson Hornet Hudson of Andrew James, 39th was the #78 of Addy Jade and 38th was the #24 Plymouth of David Waide.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #4 has finished last in a Cup race at Hillsborough.
*This is the first time the #4 has finished last in a Cup race at Hillsborough.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
42) #4-Austin Line / 15 laps / running
41) #88-Amber Reid / 15 laps / running
40) #92-Andrew James / 15 laps / running
39) #78-Addy Jade / 15 laps / running
38) #24-David Waide / 15 laps / running
42) #4-Austin Line / 15 laps / running
41) #88-Amber Reid / 15 laps / running
40) #92-Andrew James / 15 laps / running
39) #78-Addy Jade / 15 laps / running
38) #24-David Waide / 15 laps / running
S3 SCRLASTCAR Grand National Series Driver's Championship
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