Roger James picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL Grand National Series career in Saturday's Race 34 at the Martinsville Speedway when his #93 Plymouth completed all 20 laps under power.
The finish came in his 53rd career series start. In the SCRL Grand National Series, it's the 1st for car #93 and the 45th for running at the finish. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 1st for the #93 and 366th for running at the finish.
James has been competing in the SCRL for several years now but had never visited victory lane before, despite competing in a full season in the Grand National Series in season 2, a season he would score a best finish of 2nd at Daytona Beach and Road Course and finishing 16th in points. James would return to Daytona Beach by finishing 7th, before struggling to finish 15th at Charlotte, 9th at Lakeview, 6th at Carrell, 35th at Hillsborough, 10th at Arizona State, 20th at North Wilkesboro, 19th at Martinsville, before scoring a season best 3rd at Canfield. A disappointing 16th at Columbus, 17th at Columbia, 16th at Dayton, 18th at Carrell, 4th at Grand Rapids, 21st at Bainbridge, 6th at Heidelberg, 12th at Asheville-Weaverville, 7th at Monroe County, 5th at Altamont-Schenectady, 32nd at Michigan Fairgrounds before in his 40th career start, James would score his first career win at Fort Miami.
With a win in the bag, James would finish 4th in the next round at Morristown, 16th at Air Base, 22nd at Darlington, 6th at Columbia, 15th at Central City, 36th at Langhorne, 2nd at Charlotte, 10th at Dayton, 4th at Wilson, 4th at Hillsborough, 39th at Thompson before finishing 14th in the last round at Pine Grove.
The entry list for the 24th time this season would be filled with only the full-time drivers, the first time since Race 33 at the Pine Grove Speedway, 1 race 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, Christian Russel scored his fourth pole of the year, with a time of 26.435 seconds. Securing the 22nd and final starting spot was James, who posted a time of 27.027 seconds, 0.592 seconds behind Russel's time.
When the race started, it was clear to see that James was going to struggle all race long, as by the time the first lap had been completed, he was already more then half a second behind the car in front of him. As the laps ticked by, James struggled to remain with the drivers in front of him, falling to a full thirteen seconds behind the leaders when the checkered flag waved.
The remaining Bottom Five were: 21st was two-time last-place finisher the #22 Hudson of Chris Kyle, 20th was Air Base last-place finisher the #82 Oates Motor Co. Hudson of Breezy Brisbane, 19th was first Charlotte last-place finisher the #8 Fry Motors Lincoln of Chris Tuckett and 18th was the #2 Ford of Bronson Minnick.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #93 has finished last in a Cup race as well at Martinsville.
*This is the first time the #93 has finished last in a Cup race as well at Martinsville.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
22) #93-Roger James / 20 laps / running
21) #22-Chris Kyle / 20 laps / running
20) #82-Breezy Brisbane / 20 laps / running
19) #8-Chris Tuckett / 20 laps / running
18) #2-Bronson Minnick / 20 laps / running
22) #93-Roger James / 20 laps / running
21) #22-Chris Kyle / 20 laps / running
20) #82-Breezy Brisbane / 20 laps / running
19) #8-Chris Tuckett / 20 laps / running
18) #2-Bronson Minnick / 20 laps / running
S3 SCRLASTCAR Grand National Series Driver's Championship
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