CUP: Flat tire at Pine Grove gives Josh Barker his second career last-place finish

Josh Barker picked up the 3rd last place finish of his SCRL Grand National Series career in Monday's Race 33 at the Pine Grove Speedway when his #60 Ford completed 18 of the 20 laps under power.

The finish, which came in his 33rd career series start, was his first on the circuit since Race 14 at the Grand Rapids Speedrome when he completed all 20 laps under power; 19 races ago. In the SCRL Grand National Series, it's the 4th for car #60 and the 44th for running at the finish. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 5th for the #60 and 365th for running at the finish.

After trailing the field at Grand Rapids, Barker would rebound by scoring points in the next event at Bainbridge, before finishing 19th at Heidelberg, 2nd at Asheville-Weaverville, 13th at Monroe County, 18th at Altamont-Schenectady, 6th at Michigan State Fairgrounds, 19th at Fort Miami, 9th at Morristown, 12th at Air Base, 13th at Darlington, 8th at Columbia, 19th at Central City, 17th at Langhorne, 6th at Charlotte, 21st at Dayton, 13th at Wilson, 33rd at Hillsborough before finishing 27th in the last round at Thompson.

The entry list for the 23rd time this season would be filled with only the full-time drivers, the first time since Race 30 at the Wilson Speedway, 2 races ago. The part-time drivers are not scheduled to be back on track till Race 36, the Wilkes 200, at the North Wilkesboro Speedway.

In qualifying, Austin Abilene scored his second pole of the year, with a time of 20.981 seconds. Barker would fair decent around the half mile paved track, posting a time of 21.121 seconds, 0.140 seconds behind Abilene's time, placing Barker 13th on the starting line up. Securing the 22nd and final starting spot was three-time last-place finisher the #89 Plymouth of Brent James, who posted a time of 21.284 seconds, 0.303 seconds behind Abilene's time.

Barker on pit road at the start of the race.

As the field began their lone pace lap, Barker's car wouldn't start as the field rolled off pit road, with Barker in his pit stall as the field took the green flag, with his team replacing all four tires before sending their driver back out onto the track, a full two laps behind the race leaders. Barker and his team hoped some other driver would have a problem to allow them a chance to at least get one lap back, but it wouldn't happen, as Barker would remain in last from flag-to-flag, easily scoring his second last-place finish of the year.

The remaining Bottom Five finished on the same lap as the race leaders: 21st was the #100 of Jeff Stott, 20th was Asheville-Weaverville last-place finisher the #58 Kaiser of Brent Davison, 19th was three-time last-place finisher the #81 Ford of Sergeant Young and 18th was second Carrell last place-finisher the #77 Oldsmobile of McKenzie Dell.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #60 has finished last in a Cup race at Pine Grove.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
22) #60-Josh Barker / 18 laps / running
21) #100-Jeff Stott / 20 laps / running
20) #58-Brent Davison / 20 laps / running
19) #81-Sergeant Young / 20 laps / running
18) #77-McKenzie Dell / 20 laps / running

S3 SCRLASTCAR Grand National Series Driver's Championship