CART: Engine failure prevents Matt McIntyre from completing a lap at Trenton

Matt McIntyre picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL CART Series career in Tuesday's Trenton Twin Indy #2 at the Trenton Speedway when his #33 Purina entry fell out with engine issues without completing any of the 10 laps.

The finish came in his 6th career start. In the CART Series, it's the 1st for the #33 and the 1st for engine issues. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 5th for the #33 and 60th for engine issues.

McIntyre is still a relative when it comes to the SCRL, as he made his debut in the first ever SCRL Chili Bowl, a race he would advance to and would go on to finish 13th in the overall race. With only one race under his belt, McIntyre was amazingly able to find a ride for the brand new CART Series, and would finish a respectable 14th in his first ever start at Phoenix. A 8th place finish in the first Atlanta event would be followed by a 10th in the race's second event before going on to finish 16th in the series's biggest race of the season at Indy, before finishing 28th in the last round at Trenton. 

For the second time this season, qualifying wasn't held, with the field being lined up based on where they had finished in the race before, so that meant that points leader Riley Spurlytube would lead the field to the green and McIntyre would be starting in the 28th position. Starting in the final spot would be first Trenton last-place finisher the #14 Pepto-Bistol entry of Derek Greene.

On race day as the drivers began to make their lone pace lap of the race, McIntyre's car would stall on the outside line, holding up the line, while at the same time, the #54 Atari entry of Carol Dent would also stall on the start, with both drivers being towed back to the pits. As the field made their way into Turn 1, second Atlanta last-place finisher the #18 Miller entry of Jack Lagasee would be forced to limp back around to the pits, reporting of a flat tire. The officials were forced to wave off the start of the race, with Lagasee getting back to the pits, his team replacing only the right side tires before sending him back out on track; Jack would go on to finish 25th.

As for McIntyre and Dent, Carol's team was able to repair the brake problems the car had and would send her back out and would go on to finish 30th, but the engine problems that McIntyre had was too severe, with the team pushing the car behind the wall. It wouldn't be until Lap 2 that McIntyre's car would be retired from the race.

The next two spots would be filled by the race's first caution of the day. As the #24 Charlotte Hornets entry of Samet Ozkan, who entered the event 462 points behind Spurlytube, would be taken out in a Lap 2 crash at the same time as McIntyre's car was listed as "out". Ozkan was racing for  place when he was spun out by the #13 Interstate Batteries entry of Dexter Black, sending Ozkan up the track and right in front of the #97 Mountain Dew entry of Dilan Ebrahimian, with Ozkan flipping over five times before landing on all four wheels, while Ebrahimian would hit the outside wall nearly head on, both cars destroyed and done for the day.

Rounding out the Bottom Five in 29th was the #21 Alpha Beta entry of Clay Myers, who would be involved in the final caution that would send the #6 RCA entry of Daniel Bouchard head on into the outside wall, as Myers would limp back around and took the checkered flag on pit road.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first time the #33 had finished last in the CART Series as well at Trenton.
*This marked the first time a driver has finished last due to engine issues.
*This marked the first time a driver has failed to complete a lap since the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway when Mairin Tayami's #2 Coppertone entry was involved in a multi-car crash; 2 races ago.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
33) #33-Matt McIntyre / 0 laps / engine
32) #24-Samet Ozkan / 2 laps / crash
31) #97-Dilan Ebrahimian / 2 laps / crash
30) #54-Carol Dent / 9 laps / running
29) #21-Clay Myers / 9 laps / running

CART: Derek Greene trails flag to flag at Trenton

Derek Greene picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL CART Series career in Monday's Trenton Twin Indy #1 at the Trenton Speedway when his #14 Pepto-Bistol entry completed all 20 laps under power.

The finish came in his 5th career start. In the CART Series, it's the 1st for the #14 and the 3rd for running at the finish. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 8th for the #14 and 285th for running at the finish.

Greene was one of twelve drivers making their CART Series debut when the series was announced in early March. Greene would impress in his first ever race, qualifying and finishing 6th in his debut at Phoenix, 31st in the first Atlanta race before coming back to finishing 13th in the second trip to Atlanta before finishing 33rd in the last round at Indy after being caught in the race's first caution of the day. 

The entry list for the series's fifth race of the season was back to the usual thirty three drivers as both Chris Kyle and Blaise Zebrataur's attempt at Indy are the lone planned starts for the two drivers for the entire season.

Ray Dent Jr. would win the pole with a time of 38.621 seconds, while Greene would struggle with his car, posting a time of 39.444 seconds, 0.823 seconds behind Dent's pole winning time, with Green posting the slowest time during qualifying and would start at the tail end of the field.

On race day, Greene would struggle more in the race, with the driver reporting to his team that the car was a struggle to drive and it was too tight, but Greene decided to stay on track, hoping another car would have a problem or a caution would come out to fix his car, but neither of those would come, as the the second time this second the race was ran caution free, with Greene finishing seven seconds behind the race leaders.

The remaining Bottom Five were: 32nd was the #4 entry of Joe Jefferson, 31st was the #42 entry of Danyal Gitirokh, 30th was the #87 entry of Chase Miller and 29th was the #44 Carl's Jr. entry of Georgio Tsutomu.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first time the #14 had finished last in the CART Series as well at Trenton.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
33) #14-Derek Greene / 10 laps / running
32) #4-Joe Jefferson / 10 laps / running
31) #42-Danyal Gitirokh / 10 laps / running
30) #87-Chase Miller / 10 laps / running
29) #44-Georgio Tsutomu / 10 laps / running

CART: Multi-car crash just seconds after the start of the Indy 500 prevents Mairin Tayami from completing a lap

Mairin Tayami picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL CART Series career in Sunday's Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway when his #2 Coppertone entry was involved in a multi-car crash without completing any of the 20 laps.

The finish came in his 4th career start. In the CART Series, it's the 1st for the #2 and the 2nd from a crash. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 15th for the #2 and 270th from a crash.

Tayami was one of twelve drivers not only making their CART Series debut, but making their overall SCRL debut, with all twelve drivers looking to make a name for themselves in the SCRL's newest series. Tayami would qualify 16th at Phoenix but would finish a disappointing 24th. At the second race of the season at Atlanta, Tayami would qualify an impressive 8th but again would finish down in the order, a 19th. With qualifying not being held and the field set by how they finished in the first Atlanta event, Tayami would start 19th and would go on to score the worst finish of his career so far, a 27th.

The entry list for the series's first ever trip to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, for the site of the most prestigious race of the season, the Indianapolis 500, would be bumped up from the usual 33 cars to 35. The first newest driver to be added to the entry list by the Porsche Motorsports team, and would be the #41 Pedigree entry of Blaise Zebrataur, who was looking to compete in his first SCRL race since the Chili Bowl in January, a race he finished 14th in. While just hours after Blaise entered the event, the field was knocked up to 35 cars, the biggest field in CART Series history to date, when ISCR League Owner Chris Kyle was entered by owner Vince Granatelli to drive the #60 Target entry, in Kyle's first ever race since the Chili Bowl as well, a race he placed 20th in.

Samet Ozkan would win the pole with a time of 48.063 seconds, while Tayami would struggle with his car, posting a time of 48.459 seconds, 0.396 seconds behind Ozkan's pole winning time, placing Tayami in 26th position. Posting the slowest time during qualifying was the #7 entry of Jay Jefferson, who was 0.707 seconds behind Ozkan's lap time.

On race day, Tayami would trail for the first three turns around the two and half mile track when chaos would break out in Turn 3. As the leaders entered Turn 3 at full throttle, the leaders slid up the track and into the outside wall with the #14 Pepto-Bistol entry of Derek Greene being hit and spinning out right in front of the field, with most drivers being able to avoid his spun out car, except for the #68 Jordache Jeans entry of Christian Russel, who slammed into Greene's car, causing his car to flip over once before landing back on all four wheels. While directly right behind Russel, Tayami had nowhere to go and slammed into the back of Russel, destroying the front end of his car and sliding up the track, narrowly getting hit by another car before Tayami was able to regain control of his car. While Russel's car stayed on the track unable to move, Tayami would make it back to pit road and then pulled behind the wall, with the officials first scoring Russel last, before with no explanation, Tayami's car was moved back to last place despite the fact he was able to drive back to the garage, both cars being scored having not completed a lap.

Finishing 33rd was the #14 of Derek Greene, who amazingly was able to not only drive it back around to the pits, but the team was able to work on the car briefly, sent him back out then told him to pull behind the wall, insuring that he would be scored having completed a lap, and he was able to a roar of cheers from the crowd.

The remaining Bottom Five wouldn't be filled for another five laps when the race's second caution of the day came out: 32nd was the #6 RCA entry of Daniel Bouchard and 31st was the #44 Carl's Jr. entry of Georgio Tsutomu.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first time the #2 had finished last in the CART Series as well at Indy.
*This marked the first time in series history a trail has failed to complete a lap.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
35) #2-Mairin Tayami / 0 laps / crash
34) #68-Christian Russel / 0 laps / crash
33) #14-Derek Greene / 1 lap / crash
32) #6-Daniel Bouchard / 6 laps / crash
31) #44-Georgio Tsutomu / 6 laps / crash

CART: Mid race crash at Atlanta gives Jack Lagasee the first last-place finish of his CART career

Jack Lagasee picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL CART Series career in Friday's Gould Twin Dixie 125 #2 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway when his #18 Miller entry was eliminated in a multi-car accident after 9 of 20 laps.

The finish came in his 3rd career start. In the CART Series, it's the 1st for the #18 and the 1st from a crash. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 9th for the #18 and 269th from a crash.

Jack is one of the most successful drivers in the SCRL having picked up 10 career wins, as well as winning a championship in the SCRL Wrangler Jeans Busch Grand National Series. Jack signed up to drive full time in the brand new CART Series, Jack finished 29th in his CART debut at Phoenix before finishing 11th in the first round at Atlanta.

Qualifying wouldn't be held due to the field being set by the finishing order of the first Atlanta race, with first Atlanta last-place finisher the #1 Doritos entry of Casey Nanako starting in the final spot.

On race day, Nanako would remain in last for only the first two turns before she passed and knocked the #13 Interstate Batteries entry of Dexter Black into last, a spot he would hold for only one lap before knocking the #3 Canon entry of Michael Brown a spot he would hold for one lap as well before knocking Phoenix last-place finisher the #98 Miller entry of Al Lagasee into last on Lap 3. Al would also remain in last for one lap before knocking the #30 BP entry of Titus Marciniak before knocking Casey Nanako back to last on Lap 5, but the next lap the #2 Coppertone entry of Mairin Tayami was in the final spot, and the trend would continue as on Lap 7 the #68 Jordache Jeans entry of Christian Russel into last on Lap 8 before Nanako would fall back to last on Lap 8 and was running in the spot when the battle for last came to an end.

While battling for 10th, Lagasee was spun out by the #42 Danyal Gitirokh with Jack spinning down the track and hitting the inside guardrail before spinning back across the track and in front of the #04 of Matt Boyle, who hit Jack head on as the two cars spun across the track in Turn 1, collecting three other drivers in what turned out to be the lone caution of the day. Lagasee's car would be unable to move from the spot while Boyle would limp back to pit road and then into the garage, with Jack being towed back to the garage, both cars would be scored as competing 9 laps, while Jack was scored in the final spot due to being towed back.

The remaining Bottom Five finished on the same lap as the race leaders: 31st was the #6 RCA entry of Daniel Bouchard, 30th was the #77 of Ryan Pritchard and 29th was the aforementioned #30 of Titus Marciniak.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first time the #18 had finished last in the CART Series as well at Atlanta.
*This marked the first time a driver has finished last due to a crash.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
33) #18-Jack Lagasee / 9 laps / crash
32) #04-Matt Boyle / 9 laps / crash
31) #6-Daniel Bouchard / 20 laps / running
30) #77-Ryan Pritchard / 20 laps / running
29) #30-Titus Marciniak / 20 laps / running

CART: Engine problems keeps Casey Nanako in last at Atlanta

Casey Nanako picked up the 1st last place finish of her SCRL CART Series career in Thursday's Gould Twin Dixie 125 #1 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway when her #1 Doritos entry completed 18 of the 20 laps under power.

The finish came in her 2nd career start. In the CART Series, it's the 1st for the #1 and the 2nd for running at the finish. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 15th for the #1 and 284th for running at the finish.

Nanako was one of twelve drivers not only making their CART Series debut, but making their overall SCRL debut, and Nanako would struggle in her first race, finishing 30th after a race long battle. With the first race of the season complete, the teams and drivers traveled across the country and to the one and a half mile track in Hampton, Georgia for the first of two twin races.

Danyal Gitirokh would win the pole with a time of 27.204 seconds, while Nanako would struggle with her car, posting a time of 27.302 seconds, while only 0.098 seconds behind Gitirokh's pole winning time, it placed Nanako in 27th position overall. Posting the slowest time during qualifying was the #14 Pepto-Bistol entry of Derek Greene, who was 0.159 seconds behind Gitirokh's lap time.

On race day as the field began their lone pace lap, Nanako would pull to the inside of the track, reporting to her team of problems with the engine, following the pace car down pit road while the other thirty two drivers took the green flag. Nanako's team would look over the engine to see what could be done, with Casey losing one lap before the race's lone caution coming out for a multi-car crash, and then a second lap before the team would finally fix the problem as best they could, sending her back out on track. While back on track, Nanako's car would be under powered and would trail for every single lap on track and would finish last for the first time in her SCRL career.

Finishing 32nd and 31st was the #13 Interstate Batteries entry of Dexter Black and the aforementioned #14 of Derek Greene, who both was damaged in the lone caution on Lap 1, and was severely damaged, both going a lap down on the last lap.

The remaining Bottom Five finished on the same lap as the race leaders: 30th was the #6 RCA entry of Daniel Bouchard and 29th was the #54 Atari entry of Carol Dent.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first time the #1 had finished last in the CART Series as well at Atlanta.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
33) #1-Casey Nanako / 18 laps / running
32) #13-Dexter Black / 19 laps / running
31) #14-Derek Greene / 19 laps / running
30) #6-Daniel Bouchard / 20 laps / running
29) #54-Carol Dent / 20 laps / running

CART: Al Lagasee trails in caution free race at Phoenix in series first ever race

Al Lagasee picked up the 1st last place finish of his SCRL CART Series career in the Season 1 Arizona Republic Jimmy Bryan 150 at the Phoenix International Raceway when his #98 Miller entry completed all 20 laps under power.

The finish came in his 1st career start. In the CART Series, it's the 1st for the #98 and the 1st for running at the finish. Across all the series in the SCRL, it's the 8th for the #98 and 283rd for running at the finish.

After several years of team owners, who disagreed with the direction and leadership of USAC, with the then-novel idea of car owners sanctioning and promoting their own series collectively instead of relying on a neutral body to do so, the Championship Auto Racing Teams, or CART, was born. After a few months of teams getting together sponsorship and cars, a full roster of thirty three drivers would travel to the desert in Arizona for the first ever sanctioned race of the brand new series.

Rohan Marmot would make history by becoming the first driver to win a pole in the new series history, posting a time of 26.858 seconds, while Lagasee would struggle with his car, posting a time of 27.081 seconds, 0.223 seconds behind Rohan's pole winning time, placing Lagasee in 31st position. Posting the slowest time during qualifying was the #97 Mountain Dew entry of Dilan Ebrahimian, who was 0.323 seconds behind Rohan's lap time.

On race day, Ebrahimian would trail for only the first two turns before making a move on the backstretch and would knock the #55 Members Only entry of Ray Dent into the final spot, with Dent becoming the first driver to trail a lap in the CART Series. Dent's stay in last would last only one circuit as he knocked Al into the final spot for the first time. Al would also only trail for one lap before he knocked the #13 Interstate Batteries of Dexter Black into the final spot on Lap 3. Black would trail for two circuits before knocking Ray Dent back to last on Lap 5, but the next circuit around the #1 Doritos of Casey Nanako fell back to last on Lap 6, trailing for two laps before knocking Black back to last on Lap 8. Black would struggle with his car around the one mile track over the next few laps, but staying within one second for the entire time, before finally passing and knocking Al back to last on Lap 12. Unknown at the time, but that final drop into last would be the last change for last place, with Al staying with the tail end of the field, but never being able to make a move, finishing nine seconds behind when the checkered flag waved.

The remaining Bottom Five were: 32nd was the aforementioned #55 of Ray Dent, 31st was the #13 of Dexter Black, 30th was the #1 of Casey Nanako and 29th was Al's brother, the #18 Miller entry of Jack Lagasee.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first time the #98 had finished last at Phoenix.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
33) #98-Al Lagasee / 20 laps / running
32) #55-Ray Dent / 20 laps / running
31) #13-Dexter Black / 20 laps / running
30) #1-Casey Nanako / 20 laps / running
29) #18-Jack Lagasee / 20 laps / running

Throwback LEGENDS: ItalianDragon gets second last-place finish of the season in series debut event at Greenville-Pickens

ItalianDragon picked up the 2nd last place finish of his ONL NASCAR Legends Series career in the Season 1 Greenville 200 at the Greenville-Pickens Speedway when his #30 unsponsored Dodge completed all 20 laps under power.

The finish, came in his 14th career series start, was his first on the circuit since he completed all 32 laps of the Atlanta 500 at the Atlanta International Raceway, 9 races ago.

Ever since trailing the field at Atlanta, ItalianDragon has shown he has talent, finishing 7th at Bristol in the very next event before backing it up the very next round by finishing 8th at Talladega. A 9th place finish at Martinsville would be his best finish in the last six rounds while he struggled back to the bottom of the field, finishing 18th at Michigan and then 17th in the return trip to Riverside, as the series traveled back across the country from California to South Carolina for the series first ever event at the half mile track.

On race day, ItalianDragon would roll off the grid starting 19th while Bristol last-place finisher the #06 Warren Fox Dodge of bigdaddy RCN rolled off last. it didn't take long for the battle for last to end, as by the end of the first lap, ItalianDragon had fallen back to last and with no cautions flying, he would lose nearly five seconds on the rest of the field, barely finishing ahead of race winner Truttle, who picked up career win number five for the season.

The remaining Bottom Five finished on the same lap as the race leaders: 19th was the #6 unsponsored Dodge of Nitahbk, 18th was spring Riverside last-place finisher the #24 Casa Linda / Sahara Motel Ford of Chakat Whitelion, 17th was the #34 unsponsored Ford of Trail Blazer and 16th was four time last-place finisher the #64 Woodfield Ford of dragonboy.

SCRLASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first time the #30 had finished last at Greenville-Pickens.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
20) #30-ItalianDragon / 20 laps / running
19) #6-Nitahbk / 20 laps / running
18) #24-Chakat Whitelion / 20 laps / running
17) #34-Trail Blazer / 20 laps / running
16) #64-dragonboy / 20 laps / running