Zachary DiLello picked up the 2nd last place finish of his SCRL Rainbow Dash Truck Series career in the Ram Tough 200 at the Gateway International Raceway when his #21 HS Die & Engineering Ford completed all 16 laps under power.
The finish, which came in his 19th career series start, was his first on the circuit since the Power Stroke 200 by Ford at the Indianapolis Raceway Park when his #21 HS Die & Engineering Ford completed all 20 laps under power; 1 race ago. In the Truck Series's last-place rankings, it was the 36th for running at the finish and 2nd for the #21. Across SCRL's top three series, it was the 126th for running at the finish and the 4th for #21.
After a disappointing finish at IRP, DiLello and his Steele Racing team was looking forward to rebounding by having a good running in the Truck Series second ever appearance at the 1.250 mile speedway as both driver and team would be making their first ever attempt at the track. With DiLello placed 13th in points and 3rd in the Rookie of the Year, DiLello's season needed to be turned around if he was going to be a contender in both.
The entry list for the thirteenth time this season would the usual 36 entries. In qualifying, Chakat Whitelion would score his fourth career series pole, posting a time of 35.742 seconds. DiLello would truck struggle in qualifying around the 1.250 mile track, posting a time of 35.996 seconds, 0.254 seconds behind Whitelion's time, placing him 30th on the starting line up. Texas last-place finisher the #16 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet of Samet Ozkan would be the last to get in on speed, posting a time of 36.170 seconds, who was 0.428 seconds behind Whitelion's lap time.
On race night, DiLello would start his night off well as he would knock the #24 GMAC Financial Services Chevrolet of Alexander Rowe into last place as Rowe would trail for the first lap and than the second before he'd knock DiLello back to last once again on Lap 3. DiLello would remain in the final spot over the next five laps before making a move and knocking Nashville last-place finisher the #2 Team ASE Racing Ford of Dilan Ebrahimian into last on Lap 9. Ebrahimian would struggle to keep up with the field over the final laps as it appeared he'd be finishing last for the second time this season as the field took the white flag. DiLello however at this time was struggling for grip on the track and would be passed by Ebrahimian in Turn 2 on the final lap and would be unable to regain the position back over the final two turns and would cross the start/finish line in last place for the second straight race.
The remaining Bottom Five were: 35th was the aforementioned #1 of Angel Gutiérrez, 34th was the #44 of Mitchell Hodack, 33rd was the #0 Buyers Choice Chevrolet of Rogal Doran and 32nd was the #83 of Max Anderson.
SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This is the first time the #21 has finished last in a Truck Series race at Gateway.
*This is the first time a driver has finished last in back-to-back races in the Truck Series since Chris Kyle finished last at I-70 and then Bristol earlier in the season.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
36) #21-Zachary DiLello / 16 laps / running
35) #2-Dilan Ebrahimian / 16 laps / running
34) #16-Samet Ozkan / 16 laps / running
33) #86-Cameron Hathaway / 16 laps / running
32) #24-Alexander Rowe / 16 laps / running
S5 SCRLASTCAR Rainbow Dash Truck Series Driver's Championship
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