 
## LASTCAR

## TRACK GUIDE

By Brock Beard

Copyright 2019 Brock Beard

Distributed by Smashwords

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Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author and enjoy this article.

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Seventh Edition – November 25, 2019

## INTRODUCTION

The following is a track-by-track breakdown of the last-place finishers of every NASCAR track that will be on the current NASCAR Cup Series schedule. I had thought of doing a race-by-race preview for each upcoming race, but I thought it would be better to put all that information in one place - like a LASTCAR equivalent of a preview and press guide. Part One contains these reviews. In Part Two, also in this eBook, are details about the last-place finishers of NASCAR's non-points exhibition races. Finally, Part Three details the last-place finishers of seven more tracks upon which the Cup Series ran in 1972, but as of this writing, no longer compete today.

For you LASTCAR enthusiasts out there, I hope you bring this volume with you on your phone or tablet when you go to the races, so you can see the last-place history of any of the starters in the field, and how they stack up against drivers from the past. It will also give you a heads-up on storylines for upcoming LASTCAR articles as well as other historical storylines.

As with my other LASTCAR eBooks, this one will be updated at the conclusion of the following season. By purchasing this book, you will have free access to those updates when they become available.

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## PART ONE:

## CURRENT CUP SERIES TRACKS

## ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Hampton, Georgia - 1.54-mile quad-oval

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

The Atlanta Motor Speedway began as a 1.522-mile oval with two short straightaways and two sets of extremely long turns banked at 24 degrees. The track held its first race on July 31, 1960, a 200-lap event called the Dixie 300. Finishing last that day was **Jimmy Pardue** , whose #54 1959 Dodge broke a fan after 19 laps. The finish was Pardue's second of ten he scored in Cup and came in his 26th series start. Curiously, that day Pardue carried sponsorship from Lowe's, the primary sponsor of 2013 NASCAR Cup Series Champion and three-time Atlanta winner Jimmie Johnson.

FIRST-TIME LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

A sizeable list of Cup Series drivers scored their first-ever last-place finishes at Atlanta, including 1988 Winston Cup Champion and two-time Daytona 500 winner **Bill Elliott** , four-time Indianapolis 500 winner **A.J. Foyt** , 1992 Daytona 500 champion **Davey Allison** , and perennial Chase contender **Kyle Busch**. Among the lesser-known names is **Roy "Buckshot" Jones** , the first last-place finisher on the current 1.54-mile layout.

Bill Gazaway

October 30, 1960 - #45 1960 Oldsmobile broke a rear end after 1 lap.

Herb Tillman

July 9, 1961 - #89 1961 Chevrolet crashed after 1 lap.

A.F. Nichols

June 10, 1962 - #50 1960 Plymouth lost oil pressure after 1 lap.

Jim Conway

April 11, 1965 - #6 1964 Ford lost the clutch after 1 lap.

Dick Brooks

March 30, 1969 - #32 1969 Plymouth lost the engine after 38 laps.

Bugs Stevens

August 2, 1970 - #36 1970 Plymouth lost the engine after 24 laps.

Tony Bettenhausen, Jr.

April 1, 1973 - #84 Vita Fresh Orange Juice 1971 Dodge suffered an oil leak after 9 laps.

Charles Barrett

July 22, 1973 - #09 Dahlongea Ford Sales 1971 Ford lost engine after 3 laps.

Dan Daughtry

July 28, 1974 - #35 DM Construction 1972 Ford lost engine after 10 laps.

Bill Elliott

March 21, 1976 - #9 Dahlongea Ford Sales Ford broke a driveshaft after 21 laps.

Jack Donohue

November 7, 1976 - #7 Thundercraft Boat Chevrolet lost the engine after 0 laps.

Jim Hurtubise

March 20, 1977 - #35 Avanti CB Ford ignition failure after 0 laps.

Jimmy Means

November 6, 1977 - #52 Bell Brothers Auto Parts Chevrolet ignition failure after 7 laps.

John Utsman

March 19, 1978 - #00 Bristol Raceway Chevrolet suffered an oil leak after 10 laps.

Keith Davis

March 18, 1979 - #53 Davis Racing Chevrolet lost the rear end after 15 laps.

John Callis

November 2, 1980 - #80 Bo Laws Automotive Ford lost the engine after 15 laps.

Elliott Forbes-Robinson

March 21, 1982 - #96 Jolly Rancher Buick did not start.

Steve Moore

November 7, 1982 - #73 Franklin City Music Park Pontiac lost oil pressure after 3 laps.

A.J. Foyt

November 11, 1984 - #14 Gilmore-Foyt Oldsmobile did not start the race.

Davey Allison

November 3, 1985 - #1 Lancaster Premium Chevrolet lost engine after 52 laps.

Ed Pimm

November 22, 1987 - #98 Sunoco Buick crashed after 30 laps.

Hut Stricklin

November 15, 1992 - #41 Kellogg's Chevrolet crashed after 1 lap.

Jack Sprague

November 10, 1996 - #52 Pedigree Pontiac crashed after 23 laps.

Buckshot Jones

November 16, 1997 - #00 Aquafresh Pontiac crashed after 38 laps.

Carl Long

November 18, 2001 - #85 Boruff Chrysler / Film Storage dodge crashed after 15 laps.

Larry Foyt

March 9, 2003 - #14 Harrah's Dodge lost the engine after 104 laps.

Brian Vickers

October 23, 2003 - #25 UAW-Delphi Chevrolet overheated after 18 laps.

Kyle Busch

October 31, 2004 - #84 Carquest Chevrolet timing problem after 44 laps.

Shane Hmiel

March 20, 2005 - #08 Win Fuel Chevrolet crashed after 0 laps.

Scott Riggs

March 18, 2007 - #10 Stanley Tools / Valvoline Dodge lost the engine after 221 laps.

Cody Ware

March 5, 2017 - #51 Spoonful of Music Foundation / Bubba Burger Chevrolet had steering problems after 74 laps.

OTHER LASTCAR STATISTICS

Two Atlanta polesitters finished last in the same race. On March 27, 1983, **Geoffrey Bodine** led 16 of the first 18 laps when his #88 Gatorade Pontiac dropped a valve. On September 5, 2010, **Denny Hamlin** led 74 of the first 143 laps when he lost the engine on his #11 Sport Clips Toyota.

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDERS

Currently, the overall lead for Atlanta last-place finishes is held by 1989 LASTCAR Cup Series Champion **Phil Parsons** —

*March 17, 1985 - #66 Skoal Bandit Chevrolet lost the engine after 39 laps.

*November 19, 1989 - #55 Crown Petroleum Oldsmobile lost the engine after 8 laps.

*March 12, 1995 - #19 Tri-Star Motorsports Ford crashed after 9 laps.

—and longtime owner-driver **G.C. Spencer:**

*June 7, 1964 - #49 1964 Chevrolet burned a piston after 1 lap.

*July 23, 1972 - #49 1970 Plymouth lost an engine after 6 laps.

*March 23, 1975 - #49 Spencer Antiques 1974 Dodge broke an oil pan after 17 laps.

TRACK RANKINGS 1960-2019

1st) Phil Parsons, G.C. Spencer (3)

2nd) Davey Allison, John Andretti, Dave Blaney, Mike Bliss, Geoffrey Bodine, Neil Bonnett, Dick Brooks, Bobby Labonte, Jimmy Means, Kyle Petty, Scott Riggs, Joe Ruttman, Bob Schacht, Hut Stricklin (2)

3rd) H.B. Bailey, Charles Barrett, Tony Bettenhausen, Eddie Bierschwale, Bunkie Blackburn, Todd Bodine, Joe Booher, Ron Bouchard, Gary Bradberry, Jeff Burton, Kyle Busch, John Callis, Landon Cassill, Neil Castles, Tim Conway, Tom Cox, Keith Davis, Dan Daughtry, Jack Donohue, Clark Dwyer, Bill Elliott, Tommy Ellis, A.J. Foyt, Larry Foyt, Gray Gaulding, Bill Gazaway, Jeff Gordon, Robby Gordon, Henley Gray, George Green, Denny Hamlin, Friday Hassler, Bobby Hillin, Jr., Shane Hmiel, Jim Hurtubise, Tommy Irwin, Buckshot Jones, John Kennedy, Terry Labonte, Elmo Langley, Paul Lewis, Kevin Lepage, Carl Long, Dave Marcis, Mark Martin, Dick May, Roy Mayne, Michael McDowell, J.D. McDuffie, Steve Moore, Joe Nemechek, A.F. Nichols, Richie Panch, Jimmy Pardue, Steve Park, David Pearson, Ed Pimm, Ken Ragan, Elliott Sadler, Ken Schrader, John Sears, Mike Skinner, Dub Simpson, Wayne Smith, Lake Speed, Scott Speed, Jack Sprague, Bugs Stevens, Herb Tillman, E.J. Trivette, John Utsman, Brian Vickers, Darrell Waltrip, Michael Waltrip, Blackie Watt, Bobby Wawak, Cody Ware, Josh Wise (1)

FOLDS OF HONOR QUIKTRIP 500

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Michael McDowell - #34 FR8 Auctions Ford

2018) Gray Gaulding - #23 Earthwater Toyota

2017) Cody Ware - #51 Spoonful of Music Foundation / Bubba Burger Chevrolet

2016) Josh Wise - #30 Key Realty Group Chevrolet

2015) Landon Cassill - #40 Snap Fitness Chevrolet

## AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Fontana, California - 2-mile D-shaped oval

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

This sprawling oval made its Cup Series debut on June 22, 1997 with the running of the California 500 Presented by NAPA. The first last-place finisher of the race was Calera, Alabama driver **Hut Stricklin** , whose #8 Circuit City Chevrolet crashed off Turn 4 after 28 laps. The finish, Stricklin's fifth of a career total of seven, came in Stricklin's 240th Cup Series start during his final full season of Cup competition. The next year, Stricklin would go on to finish last in the inaugural Cup race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Stricklin's career-best finish were a pair of 2nd-place runs following Davey Allison at Michigan in 1991 and Jeff Gordon in the 1996 Southern 500 at Darlington.

FIRST-TIME LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

So far, just four drivers have scored their first last-place finishes at the Auto Club Speedway, including 2008 NASCAR Truck Series Champion **Johnny Benson, Jr.** and 2006 Indianapolis 500 winner **Sam Hornish, Jr.:**

Johnny Benson, Jr.

May 2, 1999 - #26 Cheerios / Lloyd's BBQ Ford crashed after 3 laps.

Elliott Sadler

April 30, 2000 - #21 Citgo Ford lost the engine after 94 laps.

Jeff Fuller

September 5, 2004 - #50 Arnold Development Companies Dodge overheated after 5 laps.

Sam Hornish, Jr.

February 25, 2008 - #77 Mobil 1 Dodge crashed after 20 laps.

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDER

**Joe Nemechek** was the inaugural polesitter for the inaugural race at Auto Club, and he ironically leads all drivers with three career last-place finishes:

*September 2, 2007 - #78 Furniture Row Chevrolet lost an engine after 9 laps.

*August 31, 2008 - #78 Furniture Row Chevrolet crashed after 67 laps.

*February 22, 2009 - #87 NEMCO Motorsports Toyota broke a fuel pump after 36 laps.

TRACK RANKINGS 1997-2019

1st) Joe Nemechek (3)

2nd) Aric Almirola, Mike Bliss, Bill Elliott, Sam Hornish, Jr. (2)

3rd) Trevor Bayne, Johnny Benson, Jr., Clint Bowyer, Derrike Cope, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Jeff Fuller, Brendan Gaughan, Robby Gordon, Stuart Kirby, Kyle Larson, Jason Leffler, Michael McDowell, Joe Ruttman, Elliott Sadler, Ken Schrader, Reed Sorenson, Tony Stewart, Hut Stricklin, Michael Waltrip (1)

AUTO CLUB 400

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Clint Bowyer - #14 Rush Truck Centers / Haas Automation Ford

2018) Trevor Bayne - #6 Performance Plus Motor Oil Ford

2017) Jeffrey Earnhardt - #33 K1Speed Chevrolet

2016) Kyle Larson - #42 Target / Cottonelle Chevrolet

2015) Sam Hornish, Jr. - #9 Medallion Bank / Mercury Marine Ford

## BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Bristol, Tennessee - 0.533-mile concrete oval

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

The Bristol Motor Speedway began as a half-mile paved bullring with 22-degree corners. In the Volunteer 500, the first Cup race held on July 30, 1961, the first last-place finisher was a local driver, Bluff City, Tennessee's **Layman Utsman**. Utsman's #25 1960 Dodge fell out with handling troubles after 35 of 500 laps. It was Utsman's only last-place finish and came in his third and final Cup start, his first in nearly two years since his career-best 20th-place finish at North Wilkesboro in 1959. Utsman passed away on August 3, 2014.

FIRST-TIME LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

Joining Layman Utsman among Bristol's first-time last-place finishers are several big names, including three-time series champion **David Pearson** , inaugural Talladega winner **Richard Brickhouse** , tenacious 1986 Southern 500 winner **Tim Richmond** , and Daytona 500-winning brothers **Darrell** **and Michael Waltrip**.

Layman Utsman

July 30, 1961 - #25 1969 Dodge fell out with handling troubles after 35 laps.

Allan Harley

July 29, 1962 - #65 1960 Dodge fell out with handling troubles after 5 laps.

Jerome Warren

March 31, 1963 - #93 1962 Ford fell out with handling troubles after 1 lap.

Chuck Huckabee

July 28, 1963 - #63 1962 Mercury fell out with a busted differential after 4 laps.

Gene Hobby

March 22, 1964 - #99 M.E. Whitmore 1962 Dodge flagged off the track after 2 laps.

Darrell Bryant

July 26, 1964 - #36 1962 Dodge lost fuel pressure after 1 lap.

David Pearson

July 25, 1965 - #6 Southeastern Dodge Dealers 1965 Dodge crashed after 8 laps.

Frank Warren

July 24, 1966 - #79 1964 Chevrolet suffered a distributor failure after 0 laps.

Joe Edd Neubert

March 19, 1967 - #85 1965 Chevrolet lost the engine after 4 laps.

Richard Brickhouse

July 21, 1968 - #03 1967 Plymouth lost the engine after 8 laps.

Richard D. Brown

April 9, 1972 - #91 1972 Chevrolet lost the engine after 32 laps.

Darrell Waltrip

March 25, 1973 - #95 1971 Mercury lost the engine after 51 laps.

Jackie Rogers

July 4, 1974 - #7 Belden Asphalt 1974 Chevrolet suffered ignition failure after 9 laps.

Bill Green

August 26, 1978 - #36 B&G Chevrolet crashed after 0 laps.

Ralph Jones

April 1, 1979 - #98 Ford lost the brakes after 31 laps.

Buck Simmons

March 30, 1980 - #12 Ramey's Chevy City Chevrolet lost the clutch after 168 laps.

Bobby Sands

August 23, 1980 - #84 Sands Racing Chevrolet lost the transmission after 2 laps.

Mike Potter

May 21, 1983 - #76 Larry's Nightclub Buick lost the rear end after 50 laps.

John McFadden

August 27, 1983 - #45 McFadden Racing Buick lost the brakes after 44 laps.

Tim Richmond

April 6, 1985 - #27 Old Milwaukee Pontiac crashed after 36 laps.

Michael Waltrip

April 6, 1986 - #23 Hawaiian Punch Buick lost the engine after 22 laps.

Brad Noffsinger

August 27, 1988 - #98 Sunoco Buick crashed after 1 lap.

Bobby Hamilton

April 4, 1993 - #68 Country Time Ford lost the engine after 27 laps.

Kenny Irwin, Jr.

March 29, 1998 - #28 Texaco / Havoline Ford crashed after he completed 88 laps.

Dave Blaney

August 26, 2000 - #93 Amoco Pontiac crashed after 49 laps.

Casey Mears

April 3, 2005 - #41 Target Dodge crashed after 20 laps.

Jamie McMurray

March 16, 2008 - #26 Crown Royal Ford finished running, 127 laps down.

Josh Wise

March 18, 2012 - #26 MDS Transport Ford broke a spindle after 16 laps.

Timmy Hill

March 16, 2014 – #33 Little Joe's Autos Chevrolet crashed after he completed 160 laps.

Michael Annett

August 22, 2015 - #46 Pilot / Flying J Chevrolet lost an engine after 0 laps.

Ross Chastain

April 16, 2018 - #15 Low T Center Chevrolet crashed after he completed 3 laps.

OTHER LASTCAR STATISTICS

In its twice-yearly races, just three drivers have swept both Bristol last-place finishes in the same season: **Richard D. Brown** (1972), **Ronnie Thomas** (1987), and **Dave Blaney** (2009).

The Bristol track acquired its distinctive concrete banking in time for the night race on August 29, 1992, when **Dave Marcis** trailed the field in one of his handful of starts for owner Larry Hedrick in the #41 Kellogg's Chevrolet. Marcis fell out after 101 laps due to crash damage. Today's track, its corners reduced from the 36-degree banking in 1992 to 26-30 degrees, debuted in the night race on August 25, 2007, when **Denny Hamlin** scored his second last-place finish after his #11 FedEx Freight Chevrolet lost the engine after 209 laps.

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDERS

With four finishes apiece, the all-time leaders in Bristol last-place runs are **Dave Blaney** :

*August 26, 2000 - #93 Amoco Pontiac crashed after 49 laps.

*March 22, 2009 - #66 Hyde Park Storage Suites Toyota had steering issues after 33 laps.

*August 22, 2009 - #66 PRISM Motorsports Toyota crashed after 8 laps.

*August 23, 2014 - #37 Accell Construction Inc. Chevrolet overheated after 37 laps.

and **Joe Nemechek** :

*March 25, 2001 - #33 Oakwood Homes Chevrolet overheated after 108 laps.

*March 24, 2002 - #26 Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford crashed after 167 laps.

*March 21, 2010 - #87 ComputerWorks Toyota broke a rear gear after 30 laps.

*August 24, 2013 - #87 England's Stove Works Toyota lost the engine after 1 lap.

Nemechek's fourth Bristol finish tied him with the late **J.D. McDuffie** for the most last-place finishes in Cup Series history (32).

TRACK RANKINGS 1961-2019

1st) Dave Blaney, Joe Nemechek (4)

2nd) J.D. McDuffie (3)

3rd) Mike Bliss, Richard D. Brown, Ross Chastain, Derrike Cope, Cecil Gordon, Robby Gordon, Dave Marcis, Sterling Marlin, Michael McDowell, Jimmy Means, Kyle Petty, Mike Potter, Reed Sorenson, Ronnie Thomas, Rusty Wallace, Michael Waltrip, Frank Warren, Rick Wilson (2)

4th) Bobby Allison, Justin Allgaier, Aric Almirola, Michael Annett, Buddy Arrington, Buddy Baker, Johnny Benson, Jr., Geoffrey Bodine, Todd Bodine, Richard Brickhouse, Dick Brooks, Darrell Bryant, Chris Buescher, Ward Burton, Earle Canavan, Landon Cassill, Derrike Cope, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Larry Frank, Allen Franklin, Joe Frasson, Harry Gant, Gray Gaulding, Henley Gray, Bill Green, Bobby Hamilton, Denny Hamlin, Allan Harley, Kevin Harvick, Timmy Hill, Andy Hillenburg, Gene Hobby, Chuck Huckabee, Kenny Irwin, Jr., Ernie Irvan, Buckshot Jones, Ralph Jones, John Kennedy, Terry Labonte, Larry LeMay, Kevin Lepage, Bobby Mausgrover, Dick May, John McFadden, Jamie McMurray, Casey Mears, Ted Musgrave, Joe Edd Neubert, Brad Noffsinger, David Pearson, Tom Pistone, Robert Pressley, Tim Richmond, Jackie Rogers, Ricky Rudd, Greg Sacks, Hermie Sadler, Bobby Sands, Elton Sawyer, Ken Schrader, Bill Seifert, Bill Shirey, Buck Simmons, Jabe Thomas, Dick Trickle, E.J. Trivette, Layman Utsman, Darrell Waltrip, Jerome Warren, Bobby Wawak, Josh Wise (1)

FOOD CITY 500

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Aric Almirola - #10 Shazam! / Smithfield Ford

2018) Ross Chastain - #15 Low T Centers Chevrolet

2017) Chris Buescher - #37 Bush's Beans / Scott Products / Kingsford Chevrolet

2016) Reed Sorenson - #55 ChampionMachinery.com Chevrolet

2015) Landon Cassill - #40 Link-Belt Mid-Atlantic Chevrolet

FOOD CITY 500

EVENT RANKINGS 1961-2019

1st) Derrike Cope, J.D. McDuffie, Joe Nemechek, Reed Sorenson (2)

2nd) Bobby Allison, Aric Almirola, Buddy Baker, Dave Blaney, Mike Bliss, Dick Brooks, Richard D. Brown, Chris Buescher, Earle Canavan, Landon Cassill, Ross Chastain, Larry Frank, Harry Gant, Robby Gordon, Henley Gray, Bobby Hamilton, Timmy Hill, Andy Hillenburg, Gene Hobby, Kenny Irwin, Jr., Ernie Irvan, Ralph Jones, Larry LeMay, Dave Marcis, Sterling Marlin, Dick May, Michael McDowell, Jamie McMurray, Jimmy Means, Casey Mears, Ted Musgrave, Joe Nemechek, Joe Edd Neubert, Mike Potter, Tim Richmond, Greg Sacks, Hermie Sadler, Elton Sawyer, Ken Schrader, Buck Simmons, Jabe Thomas, Ronnie Thomas, E.J. Trivette, Layman Utsman, Darrell Waltrip, Michael Waltirp, Frank Warren, Jerome Warren, Bobby Wawak, Rick Wilson, Josh Wise (1)

BASS PRO SHOPS NRA NIGHT RACE

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Kevin Harvick - #4 Busch Beer Ford

2018) Gray Gaulding - #99 StarCom Fiber Chevrolet

2017) Jeffrey Earnhardt - #33 Hulu Chevrolet

2016) Justin Allgaier - #46 Pilot / Flying J / Battle at Bristol Chevrolet

2015) Michael Annett - #46 Pilot / Flying J Chevrolet

BASS PRO SHOPS NRA NIGHT RACE

EVENT RANKINGS 1961-2019

1st) Dave Blaney (3)

2nd) Cecil Gordon, Kyle Petty, Rusty Wallace (2)

3rd) Justin Allgaier, Michael Annett, Buddy Arrington, Johnny Benson, Jr., Mike Bliss, Geoffrey Bodine, Todd Bodine, Richard Brickhouse, Richard D. Brown, Darrell Bryant, Ward Burton, Derrike Cope, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Allen Franklin, Joe Frasson, Gray Gaulding, Robby Gordon, Bill Green, Denny Hamlin, Allan Harley, Kevin Harvick, Chuck Huckabee, Buckshot Jones, John Kennedy, Terry Labonte, Kevin Lepage, Dave Marcis, Sterling Marlin, Bobby Mausgrover, Michael McDowell, J.D. McDuffie, John McFadden, Jimmy Means, Joe Nemechek, Brad Noffsinger, David Pearson, Tom Pistone, Mike Potter, Robert Pressley, Jackie Rogers, Ricky Rudd, Bobby Sands, Bill Seifert, Bill Shirey, Ronnie Thomas, Dick Trickle, Darrell Waltrip, Michael Waltrip Frank Warren, Rick Wilson (1)

## CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Concord, North Carolina - 1.5-mile quad-oval

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

The first Cup Series race at Charlotte was also the inaugural running of its signature event, the World 600. On June 19, 1960, that last-place finish went to **Lennie Page** , whose #83 1959 T-Bird was disqualified with five others for cutting through the grass between the track surface and pit road during the race. Page had also started last in the 60-car field. The finish, Page's first and only in Cup competition, came in his 16th of 20 series starts from 1956 through 1960. His career-best finishes in Cup were three 6th-place finishes at three tracks in New York state: the Monroe County Fairgrounds in 1956, the New York State Fairgrounds in 1957, and the Montgomery Air Base in 1960.

FIRST-TIME LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

Among the first-time last-place finishers at Charlotte are several past Daytona 500 champions, including **Fred Lorenzen** , **Sterling Marlin** , **Dale Jarrett** , and **Ryan Newman**. Newman was the polesitter to the 2001 Coca-Cola 600 and led the opening ten laps before he crashed while leading. Also on the list are Firecracker 400 winners **Jimmy Spencer** and **Greg Sacks**. In the fall of 2002, **Jason Hedlesky's** lone Cup start - and last-place finish - was the 863rd and final Cup start in a points race for longtime car owner Junie Donlavey. **Kevin Harvick** is one of the biggest names on this list – the 2018 Coca-Cola 600 saw his first-ever last-place run in a combined 1,089 Cup, XFINITY and Truck Series starts dating back to 1995.

Lennie Page

June 19, 1960 - #83 1959 T-Bird disqualified after 0 laps.

Fred Lorenzen

October 16, 1960 - #28 1960 Ford suffered a vibration after 4 laps.

Junior Spencer

May 23, 1965 - #17 1964 Ford suffered an oil leak after 9 laps.

Joel Davis

May 22, 1966 - #33 1966 Chevrolet broke the gas tank after 1 lap.

Armond Holley

May 28, 1967 - #00 1965 Dodge lost the engine after 31 laps.

Whitey Gerken

October 15, 1967 - #54 Pre-Heat Carburetor 1967 Ford crashed after 2 laps.

Larry Baumel

May 24, 1970 - #68 Auto Lad 1969 Ford lost the engine after 6 laps.

Alton Jones

May 27, 1973 - #3 Crimson Dale Nursery 1973 Chevrolet lost the engine after 2 laps.

Terry Ryan

May 30, 1976 - #81 WAM Racing Chevrolet broke a hub after 11 laps.

Al Holbert

October 10, 1976 - #9 Days Inn Ford lost the engine after 7 laps.

Ramo Stott

May 29, 1977 - #60 Chevrolet lost the engine after 3 laps.

Jerry Jolly

May 28, 1978 - #28 Ski Machine Chevrolet broke the suspension after 20 laps.

Bobby Fisher

October 8, 1978 - #71 Stroh's Beer Chevrolet lost the engine after 3 laps.

Jim Sauter

October 5, 1980 - #05 Prototype Engines / Buck Stove Chevrolet lost the engine after 33 laps.

Rick Wilson

May 24, 1981 - #62 Florida Equipment & Service Oldsmobile crashed after 4 laps.

John Anderson

May 30, 1982 - #19 Shoney's Buick lost the engine after 5 laps.

Ron Bouchard

May 29, 1983 - #47 Race Hill Farm Buick broke the oil seal after 14 laps.

Sterling Marlin

October 9, 1983 - #17 Hesco Exhaust Chevrolet lost the engine after 53 laps.

Donny Paul

October 7, 1984 - #53 Paul Brothers Chevrolet lost the engine after 1 lap.

Randy Baker

October 5, 1986 - #87 Baker Racing Chevrolet lost the engine after 18 laps.

Greg Sacks

October 11, 1987 - #50 Valvoline Pontiac crashed after 20 laps.

Dale Jarrett

May 29, 1988 - #67 Raven Boats Chevrolet lost the engine after 27 laps

Jimmy Spencer

October 7, 1990 - #57 Heinz Pontiac crashed after 97 laps.

Dorsey Schroeder

October 6, 1991 - #66 TropArtic Pontiac blew the head gasket after 2 laps.

Todd Bodine

October 10, 1993 - #75 Factory Stores Ford crashed after 140 laps.

Chad Little

May 28, 1995 - #97 Harris-Teeter Ford lost the engine after 9 laps.

Gary Bradberry

October 8, 1995 - #93 Bradberry Racing Chevrolet crashed after 6 laps.

Jeremy Mayfield

October 6, 1996 - #37 Kmart / Little Ceasars Ford crashed after 17 laps.

Ryan Newman

May 27, 2001 - #02 Alltel Ford crashed after 11 laps.

Jason Hedlesky

October 13, 2002 - #90 Lucas Oil Ford fell out with handling problems after 31 laps.

Justin Allgaier

May 24, 2015 - #51 Brandt Chevrolet crashed after 135 laps.

Kevin Harvick

May 27, 2018 - #4 Mobil 1 / Busch Beer Ford crashed after 83 laps.

OTHER LASTCAR STATISTICS

In 1975, **Coo Coo Marlin** became the first driver to sweep both last-place finishes at Charlotte, both times driving his familiar #14 his son Sterling would race nearly thirty years later. It didn't happen again until 1998, when **David Green** swept both 1998 races for two different teams: the #96 Caterpillar Chevrolet owned by Buzz McCall crashed after 71 laps in the spring while his Larry Hedrick-owned #41 Kodiak Chevrolet crashed after 68 laps in the fall.

In 1997, owner-driver **Geoffrey Bodine's** #7 swept both Charlotte races with he and brother Todd behind the wheel. In the spring, **Todd Bodine** drove in relief of Geoffrey in the 600 only to lose the engine after 47 laps. In the fall, Geoffrey returned to Charlotte to win the pole, only to crash after 100 laps. In 2004, the #51 Chevrolet owned by Joe Auer matched Bodine's feat by finishing last in both races with two different drivers: **Kevin Lepage** overheated after 56 laps in the spring while **Tony Raines** crashed after 2 laps in the fall.

No driver scored back-to-back last-place finishes in the Coca-Cola World 600 until 1985, when **Benny Parsons** lost the engine on his #55 Copenhagen Chevrolet after 8 laps. The only other drivers to match Parsons' feat were **Larry Pearson** (1990-1991) and **Chad Little** (1995-1996).

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDERS

The all-time leaders in Charlotte last-place runs are 1988 LASTCAR Cup Series Champion **Jimmy Means** , including the 17th and final last-place run of his Cup career in 1992—

*October 7, 1979 - #14 Cunningham-Kelley Chevrolet had handling problems after 1 lap.

*October 9, 1988 - #52 Eureka Vacuum Cleaners Pontiac lost the engine after 8 laps.

*May 24, 1992 - #52 Means Racing Pontiac lost the engine after 8 laps.

—and three-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion **Cale Yarborough** , including the 16th of his 17 last-place finishes in 1987 and a race where he wrecked out of the lead in 1968:

*May 26, 1968 - #21 60 Minute Cleaners 1968 Mercury crashed after 45 laps.

*October 11, 1970 - #21 Kar-Kare / 60 Minute Cleaners 1969 Mercury crashed after 10 laps.

*May 24, 1987 - #29 Hardee's Oldsmobile broke an oil line after 19 laps.

TRACK RANKINGS 1960-2019

(RANKINGS INCLUDE 600 AND 500-MILE OVAL RACES, BUT EXCLUDES "ROVAL")

1st) Jimmy Means, Cale Yarborough (3)

2nd) Dave Blaney, Mike Bliss, Todd Bodine, Bill Elliott, David Green, Dale Jarrett, Kevin Lepage, Chad Little, Roy Mayne, Coo Coo Marlin, Jeremy Mayfield, Ed Negre, Joe Nemechek, Ryan Newman, Benny Parsons, Larry Pearson, Mike Skinner, Jim Vandiver, J.J. Yeley (2)

3rd) Johnny Allen, Justin Allgaier, A.J. Allmendinger, John Anderson, Buddy Arrington, Walter Ballard, Buddy Baker, Randy Baker, Larry Baumel, Greg Biffle, Brett Bodine, Geoffrey Bodine, Neil Bonnett, Ron Bouchard, Clint Bowyer, Gary Bradberry, Ward Burton, Kurt Busch, Ricky Craven, Curtis Crider, Joel Davis, Dale Earnhardt, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Bobby Fisher, Joe Frasson, Harry Gant, Whitey Gerken, David Gilliland, Robby Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Jason Hedlesky, Jimmy Helms, Bruce Hill, Bobby Hillin, Jr., Al Holbert, Armond Holley, Ron Hutcherson, Jerry Jolly, Alton Jones, Erik Jones, Kasey Kahne, Bobby Labonte, Jason Leffler, Fred Lorenzen, Sterling Marlin, Casey Mears, Butch Miller, Bud Moore, Lennie Page, Donny Paul, Ken Ragan, Tony Raines, Marty Robbins, Ken Rush, Terry Ryan, Greg Sacks, Elliott Sadler, Jim Sauter, Dorsey Schroeder, Reed Sorenson, Scott Speed, Jimmy Spencer, Junior Spencer, Billy Standridge, Pete Stewart, Ramo Stott, Travis Tiller, E.J. Trivette, Bobby Waddell, Mike Wallace, Darrell Waltrip, Frank Warren, Rick Wilson, Josh Wise (1)

COCA-COLA 600

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Erik Jones - #20 Reser's Main St. Bistro Toyota

2018) Kevin Harvick - #4 Mobil 1 / Busch Beer Ford

2017) Jeffrey Earnhardt - #33 Towne Bank Chevrolet

2016) Reed Sorenson - #55 World Record Striper Company / Hauling Bass Chevrolet

2015) Justin Allgaier - #51 Brandt Chevrolet

COCA-COLA 600

EVENT RANKINGS 1960-2019

1st) Todd Bodine, Bill Elliott, Dale Jarrett, Kevin Lepage, Chad Little, Jeremy Mayfield, Benny Parsons, Larry Pearson, Cale Yarborough (2)

2nd) Justin Allgaier, John Anderson, Randy Baker, Walter Ballard, Larry Baumel, Greg Biffle, Dave Blaney, Mike Bliss, Brett Bodine, Ron Bouchard, Kurt Busch, Curtis Crider, Joel Davis, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Joe Frasson, David Gilliland, David Green, Robby Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Armond Holley, Ron Hutcherson, Jerry Jolly, Alton Jones, Erik Jones, Coo Coo Marlin, Jimmy Means, Butch Miller, Ed Negre, Ryan Newman, Lennie Page, Ken Ragan, Terry Ryan, Mike Skinner, Reed Sorenson, Scott Speed, Junior Spencer, Billy Standridge, Pete Stewart, Ramo Stott, E.J. Trivette, Jim Vandiver, Bobby Waddell, Darrell Waltrip, Rick Wilson, Josh Wise (1)

## CHARLOTTE "ROVAL"

Conocord, North Carolina – 2.280-mile infield road course at the Charlotte Motor Speedway

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

Separate and apart from the races run on Charlotte's 1.5-mile oval since 1960, the Charlotte "Roval" debuted in 2018 and saw a wild race. Finishing last was second generation stuntman turned racer **Stanton Barrett** , who was making his return to the Cup circuit for the first time in more than a decade. Barrett suffered brake issues in the early laps and ultimately collided with the Turn 1 barrier, nicknamed "Heartburn Turn" by sponsor Tums. The finish marked Barrett's first last-place finish in a Cup Series race since October 23, 2005 at Martinsville, where he trailed after 110 laps of the Subway 500 due to engine trouble.

BANK OF AMERICA ROVAL 400

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Erik Jones - #20 Craftsman Toyota

2018) Stanton Barrett - #51 Jacob Companies Ford

BANK OF AMERICA ROVAL 400

EVENT RANKINGS 2018-2019

1st) **Stanton Barrett, Erik Jones (1)**

## CHICAGOLAND SPEEDWAY

Joliet, Illinois - 1.5-mile D-shaped oval

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

The first race at Chicagoland took place on July 15, 2001 with the inaugural running of the Tropicana 400. Finishing last that day was rookie driver **Andy Houston** , a Truck Series regular from Hickory, North Carolina driving his first full Cup season for Cal Wells' PPI Motorsports. Houston started 14th in the race, but lost the engine on his #96 McDonald's Ford after just three laps. It was Houston's second last-place finish in just his 17th Cup start. The #96 ran only through the inaugural Kansas race that September, finishing 18th, before the team closed. The Kansas run was one spot shy of Houston's career-best 17th at Martinsville. Wells' team car, the #32, ran through 2006.

FIRST-TIME LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

As of this writing, Chicagoland's first-time last-place finishers have included a short list of up-and-coming drivers, including 2003 NASCAR Truck Series Champion **Travis Kvapil** and three-time LASTCAR Cup Series Champion **Michael McDowell**.

Stuart Kirby

July 14, 2002 - #57 CLR Ford broke the rear end after 124 laps.

Chad Blount

July 11, 2004 - #37 Carter's Royal Dispos-All Dodge had electrical problems after 3 laps.

Travis Kvapil

July 10, 2005 - #77 Jasper Engines / Kodak Dodge lost the engine after 13 laps.

David Reutimann

July 15, 2007 - #00 Burger King Toyota lost the engine after 43 laps.

Michael McDowell

July 12, 2008 - #00 Champion Mortgage Toyota finished running, 8 laps down.

Austin Dillon

September 20, 2015 - #3 American Ethanol E15 Chevrolet finished running, 69 laps down.

Ray Black, Jr.

September 17, 2017 - #51 ScubaLife Chevrolet finished running, 16 laps down.

Quin Houff

June 30, 2019 - #77 Sleep6 Chevrolet broke the track bar after 100 laps.

OTHER LASTCAR STATISTICS

Three consecutive Cup races at Chicagoland in 2015, 2016, and 2017 did not have a single DNF, meaning that each last-place finisher ( **Ray Black, Jr.** , **Joey Gase** , and **Austin Dillon** ) came home under power, laps down to the leader. The streak ended in 2018 when **Timmy Hill** retired late with a busted oil cooler.

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDERS

In 2013, **Michael McDowell** joined Tom Hubert (Sonoma, 2004-2006) as the only two Cup Series drivers who have finished last in three consecutive Cup races at the same track. He also finished last in his first Chicagoland appearance in 2008:

*July 12, 2008 - #00 Champion Mortgage Toyota finished under power, 7 laps down.

*September 19, 2011 - #66 James Fund Toyota lost the brakes after 25 laps.

*September 16, 2012 - #98 Phil Parsons Racing Ford broke the rear gear after 38 laps.

*September 15, 2013 - #98 Phil Parsons Racing Ford lost the brakes after 29 laps.

TRACK RANKINGS 2001-2019

1st) Michael McDowell (4)

2nd) Ray Black, Jr., Dave Blaney, Mike Bliss, Chad Blount, Derrike Cope, Austin Dillon, Joey Gase, Timmy Hill, Quin Houff, Andy Houston, Stuart Kirby, Travis Kvapil, Terry Labonte, Joe Nemechek, David Reutimann (1)

CHICAGO 400

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Quin Houff - #77 Sleep6 Chevrolet

2018) Timmy Hill - #66 CrashClaimsR.us Toyota

2017) Ray Black, Jr. - #51 ScubaLife Chevrolet

2016) Joey Gase - #32 JT Concrete / Carolina Cooker Ford

2015) Austin Dillon - #3 American Ethanol E15 Chevrolet

## DARLINGTON RACEWAY

Darlington, South Carolina - 1.366-mile egg-shaped oval

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

The first Cup race at the challenging Darlington Raceway was the inaugural running of the Southern 500, which took place on September 4, 1950. Finishing last in the 75-car field was Forrest Park, Georgia driver **Roscoe Thompson** , whose 1949 Oldsmobile owned by Charles Venable started 63rd, then dropped out of the running for unknown reasons after 24 of 367 laps. It was Thompson's second of 29 career Cup starts from 1950 through 1962 and his first of two career last-place finishes. His career-best finish were a pair of 8th-place finishes in 1961 during the Firecracker 250 at Daytona and the Southern 500.

FIRST-TIME LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

There are several interesting names on the list of first-time last-place finishers at Darlington. Included are **Ned Jarrett** , who also won by NASCAR's largest margin of victory at the same track. **Jim Paschal** , who would go on to win 25 Cup Series races, also scored his first here. It was here that 1992 NASCAR Cup Series Champion **Alan Kulwicki** scored his only last-place finish in Cup. **Bobby Hillin, Jr.** , one of the Cup Series' youngest winners, trailed his first field at this track. Prolific car owner **Richard Childress** scored his first here, as did fellow owner-driver **H.B. Bailey** , whose career extended from 1962 through 1993, and current Truck Series underdog **Norm Benning** in his fourth and most recent Cup Series start.

Roscoe Thompson

September 4, 1950 - #?? 1949 Oldsmobile left the race after 24 laps.

Joe Staton

May 10, 1952 - #94 1951 Nash suffered a tire failure after 10 laps.

Jim Paschal

September 1, 1952 - #12 1952 Oldsmobile lost the engine after 18 laps.

Ned Jarrett

September 7, 1953 - #79 1950 Oldsmobile broke an oil line after 8 laps.

Jimmy Thompson

September 6, 1954 - #75 1952 Oldsmobile broke the fuel tank after 4 laps.

Bob Perry

September 1, 1958 - #84 1957 Ford lost the engine after 1 lap.

Matt DeMatthews

September 3, 1962 - #38 1961 Ford lost oil pressure after 2 laps.

Jimmy Helms

May 9, 1964 - #86 1962 Chrysler lost a bearing after 2 laps.

Frank Graham

September 7, 1964 - #0 1962 Ford overheated after 1 lap.

Wayne Smith

May 8, 1965 - #38 1965 Chevrolet crashed after 3 laps.

Sonny Lamphear

April 30, 1966 - #95 1964 Ford lost the engine after 0 laps.

Bob Ashbrook

May 10, 1969 - #44 Giachetti Brothers 1967 Chevrolet lost the engine after 2 laps.

Richard Childress

September 3, 1973 - #96 L.C. Newton Trucking 1973 Chevrolet lost the engine after 19 laps.

H.B. Bailey

September 1, 1975 - #36 Almeda Auto Parts 1975 Pontiac broke the carburetor after 1 lap.

Joe Mihalic

September 5, 1977 - #61 Chevrolet lost the engine after 12 laps.

Travis Tiller

April 8, 1979 - #46 Little B Coal Dodge lost the engine after 5 laps.

Kenny Hemphill

September 1, 1980 - #77 Warren Fabricating Chevrolet lost the engine after 21 laps.

Mike Alexander

April 12, 1981 - #37 Rogers Auto Leasing Buick lost the engine after 9 laps.

Connie Saylor

September 7, 1981 - #4 Spencer Racing Oldsmobile lost the engine after 6 laps.

Bobby Hillin, Jr.

September 5, 1983 - #8 Trap Rock Industries Buick lost the engine after 11 laps.

Jeff Hooker

April 14, 1985 - #53 Smith's Auto Service Oldsmobile lost the engine after 11 laps.

Alan Kulwicki

September 6, 1987 - #7 Zerex Ford lost the engine after 77 laps.

Norm Benning

March 28, 1993 - #63 O'Neil Racing Oldsmobile had handling problems after 1 lap.

Ted Musgrave

September 6, 1998 - #15 Rescue Engine Formula Ford lost the engine after 83 laps.

Stacy Compton

March 18, 2001 - #92 Kodiak Dodge crashed after 113 laps.

Jason Leffler

September 2, 2001 - #01 Cingular Wireless Dodge overheated after 90 laps.

Christian Fittipaldi

August 31, 2003 - #43 Cheerios Heart Health Dodge crashed after 9 laps.

David Gilliland

May 9, 2009 - #71 TRG Motorsports Chevrolet broke a fuel pump after 27 laps.

OTHER LASTCAR STATISTICS

No driver finished last in more than one Darlington race until September 5, 1966, when **Jimmy Helms** scored his second after his #73 1964 Ford broke a driveshaft after 1 lap.

From 1951 through 2003, Darlington ran two races a year, and **Darrell Bryant** pulled the first season sweep in 1976. Driving his #50 Chevrolet in both races, Bryant crashed after 23 laps in the spring and lost an engine after 3 laps in the fall.

"The Silver Fox," **David Pearson** , a ten-time winner at Darlington, also scored back-to-back last-place finishes in the 1984 and 1985 runnings of the Southern 500. Both times he qualified near the front of the pack. In 1984, he timed in 9th, but broke a valve on his #16 Chattanooga Chew Chevrolet after 28 laps. In 1985, he started outside-pole to eventual Winston Million winner Bill Elliott, but lost an engine after 17 laps. They were the final two of Pearsons' six career last-place finishes.

Five times the polesitter at Darlington ended up finishing last, the most of any track in this book. On September 3, 1951, **Frank "Rebel" Mundy** finished 82nd when his #23 1951 Studebaker lost oil pressure after 12 laps, paving the way for his LASTCAR Championship. On September 6, 1965, **Junior Johnson's** #26 Holly Farms Poultry 1965 Ford suffered ignition failure after 1 lap. On April 4, 1982, **Buddy Baker** broke a flywheel on his #1 UNO Buick, having led just the first of the three laps he completed. On April 13, 1986, **Geoffrey Bodine's** #5 Levi Garrett Chevrolet broke the camshaft after he completed just 1 lap, having already lost the lead to teammate Tim Richmond. Finally, on May 10, 2008, **Greg Biffle** led 95 laps, the most of any last-place finisher in NASCAR history, but his #16 3M Ford lost an engine after 234 of 367 laps.

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDERS

As of this writing, two of NASCAR's most prolific veterans hold equal title to the Darlington record. The first is longtime owner-driver **James Hylton** , whose last-place finish in 1989 was just his third in a Cup career that dated back to 1964:

*September 3, 1989 - #49 Hylton Racing Buick lost an engine after 13 laps.

*September 1, 1991 - #48 D & M Transportation Buick flagged off the track after 12 laps.

*March 29, 1992 - #48 Rumple Furniture Pontiac flagged off the track after 7 laps.

—And the second is none other than three-time Darlington winner **Richard Petty** :

*May 6, 1961 - #43 1961 Plymouth lost the engine after 11 laps.

*August 31, 1986 - #43 STP Pontiac crashed after 6 laps.

*March 27, 1988 - #43 STP Pontiac crashed after 4 laps.

TRACK RANKINGS 1950-2019

1st) James Hylton, Richard Petty (3)

2nd) Buddy Baker, Todd Bodine, Darrell Bryant, Neil Castles, Ricky Craven, Jimmy Helms, Bobby Hillin, Jr., J.D. McDuffie, David Pearson, Lennie Pond, Morgan Shepherd, Rusty Wallace, Cale Yarborough (2)

3rd) Mike Alexander, Bob Ashbrook, H.B. Bailey, Walter Ballard, Trevor Bayne, Norm Benning, Greg Biffle, Dave Blaney, Mike Bliss, Geoffrey Bodine, Neil Bonnett, Clint Bowyer, Earl Brooks, Carl Burris, Earle Canavan, Richard Childress, Stacy Compton, Derrike Cope, Wally Dallenbach, Jr., Matt DeMatthews, Christian Fittipaldi, Jeff Fuller, Harry Gant, Joey Gase, David Gilliland, Frank Graham, Ferrel Harris, Kenny Hemphill, Larry Hess, Bruce Hill, Andy Hillenburg, Jeff Hooker, Bobby Isaac, Ned Jarrett, Bobby Johns, Junior Johnson, Alan Kulwicki, Terry Labonte, Sonny Lamphear, Jason Leffler, Dave Marcis, Rick Mast, Bobby Mausgrover, Dick May, Michael McDowell, John McFadden, B.J. McLeod, Joe Mihalic, Arden Mounts, Frank Mundy, Ted Musgrave, Jerry Nadeau, Joe Nemechek, George Parrish, Phil Parsons, Jim Paschal, Bob Perry, Lee Reitzel, Fireball Roberts, Joe Ruttman, Connie Saylor, Bob Schacht, Ken Schrader, Bill Seifert, Mike Skinner, Wayne Smith, Reed Sorenson, Lake Speed, G.C. Spencer, Joe Staton, Don Tarr, Jabe Thomas, T.A. Toomes, Jimmy Thompson, Roscoe Thompson, Travis Tiller, E.J. Trivette, Brian Vickers, Mike Wallace, Darrell Waltrip, Rex White, Cole Whitt, Josh Wise, Emanuel Zervakis (1)

BOJANGLES' SOUTHERN 500

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) B.J. McLeod - #51 Jacob Companies Stroker Ace Throwback

2018) Joey Gase - #23 Agri-Supply / Sparks Energy Toyota

2017) Clint Bowyer - #14 Carolina Ford Dealers Throwback Ford

2016) Trevor Bayne - #6 AdvoCare Ford

2015) Cole Whitt - #35 Speed Stick Ford

## DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

Daytona Beach, Florida - 2.5-mile tri-oval superspeedway

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

Although L.D. Austin was the first last-place finisher of a points race at Daytona because the qualifying races were points-scoring events in 1959, that accomplishment will be featured in Part Two of this book dealing with that event.

For purposes of this piece, the focus is instead on **Ken Marriott** , who two days after Austin scored his first and only last-place finish as the first last-place finisher of the Daytona 500. It was the fifth and final start for the driver from Baltimore, Maryland whose #75 1958 Ford lost the engine after 1 lap around the mammoth 2.5-mile facility. Interestingly, the same day Austin finished last in his qualifying race, Marriott and his #75 also trailed the field in Daytona's inaugural Convertible Series race when engine troubles again stopped him after a single lap. Marriott's career-best Cup finish came at the challenging Langhorne Speedway on September 15, 1957, where he came home 8th.

FIRST-TIME LAST-PLACE FINISHERS (EXCLUDING ALL QUALIFYING RACES)

Three-time Daytona 500 Champion **Cale Yarborough** scored his first last-place finish on the Daytona high-banks along with 1986 winner **Geoffrey Bodine**. 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Champion **Rusty Wallace** and 2000 Winston Cup Champion **Bobby Labonte** also trailed their first fields here. In fact, several of today's stars scored their first last-place finishes at Daytona, including **Denny Hamlin** , **Carl Edwards** , and **Joey Logano** , as well as current pace car driver **Brett Bodine** , 1991's "Mr. September," **Harry Gant** , and three-time series champion **Tony Stewart**.

Ken Marriott

February 22, 1959 - #75 1958 Ford lost the engine after 1 lap.

Dick Freeman

February 14, 1960 - #50 1960 Ford crashed after 5 laps.

Ed Markstellar

July 4, 1960 - #86 1958 Ford overheated after 7 laps.

Cale Yarborough

February 18, 1962 - #52 1961 Ford had an electrical problem after 4 laps.

Robert Vaughn

February 14, 1965 - #39 1963 Pontiac lost oil pressure after 1 lap.

Ken White

July 4, 1965 - #89 1965 Oldsmobile lost the clutch after 0 laps.

Coo Coo Marlin

February 26, 1967 - #04 Charlie Hughes 1965 Chevrolet lost the transmission after 1 lap.

Bill Champion

July 4, 1967 - #10 1966 Ford lost the engine after 0 laps.

Dub Simpson

February 25, 1968 - #06 1967 Dodge lost oil pressure after 0 laps.

Ron Keselowski

February 14, 1971 - #88 Messina Trucking 1970 Dodge quit after 1 lap.

Joe Frasson

July 4, 1972 - #18 1972 Dodge lost the engine after 4 laps.

Pete Hamilton

February 18, 1973 - #9 Housby Mack Inc. 1972 Plymouth lost the engine after 33 laps.

Warren Tope

February 16, 1975 - #81 Lester Tires & Wheels 1973 Ford crashed after 3 laps.

Johnny Rutherford

July 4, 1975 - #83 Smithville Farms 1975 Chevrolet broke the transmission after 1 lap.

Bobby Wawak

February 20, 1977 - #32 Encyclopedia Britannica Chevrolet suffered a fire after 3 laps.

D.K. Ulrich

July 4, 1977 - #40 Hair Shack Chevrolet lost the engine after 4 laps.

Harry Gant

February 19, 1978 - #66 C.C.C. Buick lost the engine after 1 lap.

Geoffrey Bodine

February 14, 1982 - #23 Bahre Racing Buick crashed after 3 laps.

Joe Ruttman

July 4, 1982 - #75 Pet Dairy Buick broke a fuel pump after 6 laps.

Delma Cowart

February 17, 1985 - #0 Heyward Grooms Construction Chevrolet had an oil leak after 38 laps.

Rusty Wallace

July 4, 1985 - #2 Alugard Pontiac lost the engine after 2 laps.

Brad Teague

July 4, 1987 - #99 Slender You Figure Salons Chevrolet crashed after 5 laps.

Brett Bodine

July 2, 1988 - #15 Crisco / Motorcraft Ford crashed after 1 lap.

Terry Byers

July 7, 1990 - #06 Byers Racing Pontiac crashed after 1 lap.

Bobby Labonte

July 3, 1993 - #22 Maxwell House Ford crashed after 21 laps.

John Andretti

February 20, 1994 - #14 Financial World Chevrolet crashed after 47 laps.

Tim Steele

July 2, 1994 - #12 ReLife Ford suffered a vibration after 20 laps.

Steve Grissom

July 1, 1995 - #29 Meineke Chevrolet crashed after 34 laps.

Kevin Lepage

February 15, 1998 - #91 Little Joe's Auto Chevrolet lost the engine after 98 laps.

Andy Houston

July 7, 2001 - #96 McDonald's Ford crashed after 86 laps.

Tony Stewart

February 17, 2002 - #20 Home Depot Pontiac lost the engine after 2 laps.

Carl Edwards

February 19, 2006 - #99 Office Depot Ford crashed after 78 laps.

Denny Hamlin

July 7, 2007 - #11 FedEx Kinko's Chevrolet finished running, 61 laps down.

Joey Logano

February 15, 2009 - #20 Home Depot Toyota crashed after 79 laps.

David Ragan

February 27, 2012 - #34 Scorpion Truck Bed Liners Ford crashed after 1 lap.

Matt DiBenedetto

February 21, 2016 - #93 Dustless Blasting Toyota crashed after 91 laps.

Chris Buescher

July 2, 2016 - #34 Love's Travel Stops Ford crashed after 89 laps.

Ryan Sieg

July 1, 2017 - #83 Dustless Blasting Toyota lost the engine after 7 laps.

Daniel Suarez

July 7, 2019 - #41 Haas Automation Ford crashed after 83 laps.

OTHER LASTCAR STATISTICS

The summer race at Daytona, known for years as the Firecracker 400, has had three back-to-back last-place finishers: **J.D. McDuffie** (1968-1969), **Bruce Hill** (1978-1979), and **Dave Blaney** (2009-2010). In 1990, a tremendous wreck exiting the tri-oval on Lap 2 gobbled up 23 of the race's 40 starters. 40th-place qualifier Philip Duffie missed the wreck, but 39th-place **Terry Byers** did not, giving Byers the last spot in the Australian's fifth and final Cup start.

2013 saw Jimmie Johnson become the first driver in thirty-one years to win both the Daytona 500 and Firecracker 400 in the same year. When it comes to last-place finishers, just one driver has accomplished that feat: **Curtis "Crawfish" Crider** , the year he claimed his LASTCAR Cup Series Championship in 1963.

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDERS

Ironically, nine-time Daytona winner **Cale Yarborough** is also the leader in last-place finishes at NASCAR's first superspeedway, including two July races where he won the pole and led, only to lose an engine after five laps. In the July 1980 race, then engine failure took place while he was leading. The July 1983 finish prevented Yarborough from pulling a season sweep at Daytona.

*February 18, 1962 - #52 1961 Ford suffered an electrical problem after 4 laps.

*February 15, 1976 - #11 Holly Farms Chevrolet lost an engine after 1 lap.

*July 4, 1980 - #11 Busch Oldsmobile lost an engine after 5 laps.

*July 4, 1983 - #28 Hardee's Chevrolet lost an engine after 5 laps.

TRACK RANKINGS 1959-2019 (EXCLUDING ALL QUALIFYING RACES)

1st) Cale Yarborough (4)

2nd) John Andretti, Bobby Labonte, J.D. McDuffie, Joe Nemechek (3)

3rd) Dave Blaney, Bill Champion, Ricky Craven, Curtis Crider, A.J. Foyt, Harry Gant, Casey Mears, Tony Stewart, Dick Trickle (2)

4th) Bobby Allison, A.J. Allmendinger, Buddy Arrington, Buck Baker, Johnny Benson, Jr., Don Biederman, Greg Biffle, Ryan Blaney, Brett Bodine, Geoffrey Bodine, Neil Bonnett, Chris Buescher, Terry Byres, Landon Cassill, Neil Castles, Rene Charland, Richard Childress, Kevin Conway, Derrike Cope, Delma Cowart, Wally Dallenbach, Jr., Joel Davis, Matt DiBenedetto, Dale Earnhardt, Carl Edwards, Joe Eubanks, Joe Frasson, Dick Freeman, Cecil Gordon, Henley Gray, Steve Grissom, Bobby Hamilton, Pete Hamilton, Denny Hamlin, Bruce Hill, Andy Houston, Ken Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Ron Keselowski, Terry Labonte, Corey LaJoie, Kevin Lepage, Chad Little, Joey Logano, Fred Lorenzen, Dave Marcis, Ed Markstellar, Coo Coo Marlin, Ken Marriott, Mark Martin, Jeremy Mayfield, John McFadden, Paul Menard, Michael McDowell, Ryan Newman, Benny Parsons, Phil Parsons, Jeff Purvis, David Ragan, Johnny Rutherford, Joe Ruttman, Greg Sacks, Bob Schacht, Kirk Shelmerdine, Morgan Shepherd, Ryan Sieg, Dub Simpson, Lake Speed, Billy Standridge, Tim Steele, Daniel Suarez, Don Tarr, Brad Teague, Martin Truex, Jr., D.K. Ulrich, Warren Tope, Jim Vandiver, Robert Vaughn, Kenny Wallace, Rusty Wallace, Blackie Wangerin, Bobby Wawak, Bob Welborn, Ken White, Raymond Williams, Rick Wilson, J.J. Yeley (1)

DAYTONA 500

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Casey Mears - #27 Rim Ryderz Chevrolet

2018) Corey LaJoie - #72 Schluter Systems Chevrolet

2017) Matt Kenseth - #20 DeWalt FlexVolt Toyota

2016) Matt DiBenedetto - #93 Dustless Blasting Toyota

2015) Landon Cassill - #40 CarsForSale.com Chevrolet

DAYTONA 500

EVENT RANKINGS 1959-2019

1st) Joe Nemechek (3)

2nd) John Andretti, Harry Gant, Tony Stewart, Dick Trickle, Cale Yarborough (2)

3rd) Bobby Allison, Don Biederman, Geoffrey Bodine, Neil Bonnett, Landon Cassill, Neil Castles, Rene Charland, Richard Childress, Delma Cowart, Curtis Crider, Wally Dallenbach, Jr., Matt DiBenedetto, Carl Edwards, Dick Freeman, A.J. Foyt, Cecil Gordon, Bobby Hamilton, Pete Hamilton, Ken Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Ron Keselowski, Bobby Labonte, Corey LaJoie, Kevin Lepage, Joey Logano, Dave Marcis, Coo Coo Marlin, Ken Marriott, Mark Martin, Casey Mears, Ryan Newman, Benny Parsons, Phil Parsons, Jeff Purvis, David Ragan, Greg Sacks, Bob Schacht, Morgan Shepherd, Dub Simpson, Warren Tope, Martin Truex, Jr., Jim Vandiver, Robert Vaughn, Kenny Wallace, Blackie Wangerin, Bobby Wawak, Raymond Williams, J.J. Yeley (1)

COKE ZERO 400

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Daniel Suarez - #41 Haas Automation Ford

2018) Ryan Blaney - #12 BodyArmor Ford

2017) Ryan Sieg - #83 Dustless Blasting Toyota

2016) Chris Buescher - #34 Love's Travel Stops Ford

2015) Bobby Labonte - #32 C&J Energy Services Ford

COKE ZERO 400

EVENT RANKINGS 1959-2019

1st) J.D. McDuffie (3)

2nd) Dave Blaney, Bill Champion, Ricky Craven, Bruce Hill, Bobby Labonte, Cale Yarborough (2)

3rd) A.J. Allmendinger, John Andretti, Buddy Arrington, Buck Baker, Johnny Benson, Jr., Greg Biffle, Ryan Blaney, Brett Bodine, Chris Buescher, Terry Byres, Kevin Conway, Derrike Cope, Curtis Crider, Joel Davis, Dale Earnhardt, Joe Eubanks, A.J. Foyt, Joe Frasson, Henley Gray, Steve Grissom, Denny Hamlin, Andy Houston, Terry Labonte, Chad Little, Fred Lorenzen, Ed Markstellar, Jeremy Mayfield, John McFadden, Casey Mears, Paul Menard, Michael McDowell, Johnny Rutherford, Joe Ruttman, Kirk Shelmerdine, Ryan Sieg, Lake Speed, Billy Standridge, Tim Steele, Daniel Suarez, Don Tarr, Brad Teague, D.K. Ulrich, Rusty Wallace, Bob Welborn, Ken White, Rick Wilson (1)

## DOVER INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

Dover, Delaware - 1-mile concrete oval

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

Before it acquired its concrete surface in 1995, the track then known as Dover Downs International Speedway held its first Cup race, the Mason-Dixon 300, on July 6, 1969. Finishing last that day was **James Cox** , a driver from Radford, Virginia who was making his Cup Series debut in the Don Robertson-owned #25 1967 Plymouth. Cox's debut began from the 15th starting spot, but ended with the first of eight career last-place finishes when the engine let go after 1 lap. Cox made a total of 22 Cup starts through 1972 with a career-best finish of 13th at Richmond in 1971.

FIRST-TIME LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

James Cox

July 6, 1969 - #25 1967 Plymouth lost the engine after 1 lap.

Clarence Lovell

June 4, 1972 - #61 Bierschwale-Haverlah 1971 Ford crashed after 2 laps.

George Altheide

September 17, 1972 - #0 1970 Dodge lost the transmission after 36 laps.

Eddie Pettyjohn

June 3, 1973 - #90 Truxmore Industries 1971 Mercury crashed after 12 laps.

Johnny Barnes

September 15, 1974 - #75 Hawks Enterprises 1972 Chevrolet lost the engine after 0 laps.

Bruce Hill

May 16, 1976 - #47 Chevrolet lost the engine after 2 laps.

Kenny Brightbill

September 18, 1977 - #84 Makar Enterprises Mercury crashed after 12 laps.

Dave Dion

May 21, 1978 - #28 Ford lost the engine after 0 laps.

Jeff Halverson

September 16, 1979 - #13 Chevrolet crashed after 1 lap.

Jocko Maggiacomo

May 15, 1983 - #63 Tele-Video Oldsmobile crashed after 39 laps.

Jimmy Ingalls

September 16, 1984 - #6 U.S. Racing Chevrolet crashed after 32 laps.

Eddie Bierschwale

May 19, 1985 - #6 U.S. Racing Chevrolet lost the engine after 73 laps.

Joe Fields

May 18, 1986 - #38 Hanover Printing Ford crashed after 0 laps.

Ron Shephard

May 31, 1987 - #31 National Parts Peddler / L.B.S. Graphics Chevrolet engine lost after 22 laps.

Rodney Combs

September 18, 1988 - #97 GM Tech Team Buick burned a piston after 16 laps.

Bill Flowers

June 4, 1989 - #49 Hylton Racing Buick lost the engine after 2 laps.

Freddie Crawford

June 3, 1990 - #48 Josiah Chevrolet lost a cylinder after 6 laps.

Andy Belmont

September 15, 1991 - #59 Slick 50 Ford flagged off the track after 11 laps.

Graham Taylor

May 31, 1992 - #53 Means Racing Pontiac quit after 14 laps.

Randy LaJoie

May 31, 1998 - #50 Budweiser Chevrolet crashed after 9 laps.

Mike Bliss

September 24, 2000 - #27 Pfizer / Viagra Pontiac crashed after 2 laps.

Stanton Barrett

June 6, 2004 - #94 Husqvarna Chevrolet lost the rear end after 2 laps.

A.J. Allmendinger

September 23, 2007 - #84 Red Bull Toyota lost the engine after 4 laps.

Johnny Sauter

May 16, 2010 - #36 Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet had electrical problems after 29 laps.

Jeb Burton

October 4, 2015 - #23 Dr. Pepper / Estes Express Lines Toyota crashed after 186 laps.

OTHER LASTCAR STATISTICS

Four drivers have swept both last-place finishes at Dover: **Dick May** (1975), **Bruce Hill** (1976), **Benny Parsons** (1981), and **Graham Taylor** (1992).

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDERS

Coming into the 2018 season, seventeen drivers had finished last in two Cup races at Dover, tying them all for the lead. That lead was finally broken on October 7, 2018 when Timmy Hill earned his third, all of them in fall races (2014, 2017, 2018).

TRACK RANKINGS 1969-2019

1st) Timmy Hill (3)

2nd) Stanton Barrett, Eddie Bierschwale, Jeff Fuller, Bruce Hill, Bobby Hillin, Jr., Dale Jarrett, Dick May, Michael McDowell, J.D. McDuffie, Joe Nemechek, Benny Parsons, Kyle Petty, Morgan Shepherd, Graham Taylor, Kenny Wallace, Michael Waltrip (2)

3rd) A.J. Allmendinger, George Altheide, Buddy Arrington, Larry Baumel, Johnny Barnes, Trevor Bayne, Andy Belmont, Dave Blaney, Mike Bliss, Kenny Brightbill, Richard D. Brown, Jeb Burton, Ward Burton, Kyle Busch, John Callis, Derrike Cope, James Cox, Freddie Crawford, Dean Dalton, Matt DiBenedetto, Dave Dion, Chase Elliott, Joe Fields, Bill Flowers, Harry Gant, David Gilliland, Steve Gray, Steve Grissom, Jeff Halverson, Denny Hamlin, Jimmy Ingalls, Travis Kvapil, Corey LaJoie, Randy LaJoie, Chad Little, Clarence Lovell, Jocko Maggiacomo, Rick Mast, B.J. McLeod, Jamie McMurray, Jimmy Means, Rick Newsom, Phil Parsons, Larry Pearson, Eddy Pettyjohn, Mike Potter, Tony Raines, Maurice Randall, Scott Riggs, Greg Sacks, Hermie Sadler, Johnny Sauter, Elton Sawyer, Wendell Scott, Ron Shephard, Reed Sorenson, Scott Speed, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Brad Teague, Jabe Thomas, Dick Trickle, D.K. Ulrich, Brian Vickers, Raymond Williams (1)

AAA 400 DRIVE FOR AUTISM 400

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) B.J. McLeod - #52 Belmont Classic Cars Chevrolet

2018) Corey LaJoie - #72 TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet

2017) Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. - #17 Little Hug Fruit Barrels Ford

2016) Matt DiBenedetto - #83 Cosmo Motors Toyota

2015) Trevor Bayne - #6 AdvoCare Ford

AAA 400 DRIVE FOR AUTISM 400

EVENT RANKINGS 1969-2019

1st) Eddie Bierschwale, Bobby Hillin, Jr., Dale Jarrett (2)

2nd) Stanton Barrett, Trevor Bayne, Larry Baumel, Richard D. Brown, John Callis, James Cox, Freddie Crawford, Dave Dion, Joe Fields, Bill Flowers, Jeff Fuller, Harry Gant, David Gilliland, Steve Grissom, Denny Hamlin, Bruce Hill, Corey LaJoie, Randy LaJoie, Clarence Lovell, Jocko Maggiacomo, Rick Mast, Dick May, Michael McDowell, B.J. McLeod, Jamie McMurray, Jimmy Means, Joe Nemechek, Benny Parsons, Kyle Petty, Eddie Pettyjohn, Scott Riggs, Greg Sacks, Hermie Sadler, Johnny Sauter, Morgan Shepherd, Scott Speed, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Graham Taylor, Dick Trickle, D.K. Ulrich, Brian Vickers, Michael Waltrip, Raymond Williams (1)

DELAWARE 400

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Chase Elliott - #9 Hooters – Give A Hoot Chevrolet

2018) Timmy Hill - #66 Ternio Toyota

2017) Timmy Hill - #66 OCR Gaz Bar Chevrolet

2016) Jamie McMurray - #1 Credit One Bank Chevrolet

2015) Jeb Burton - #23 Dr. Pepper / Estes Express Lines Toyota

DELAWARE 400

EVENT RANKINGS 1970-2019

1st) Timmy Hill (3)

2nd) J.D. McDuffie, Kenny Wallace (2)

3rd) A.J. Allmendinger, George Altheide, Buddy Arrington, Johnny Barnes, Stanton Barrett, Andy Belmont, Dave Blaney, Mike Bliss, Kenny Brightbill, Jeb Burton, Ward Burton, Kyle Busch, Rodney Combs, Derrike Cope, Dean Dalton, Chase Elliott, Jeff Fuller, Steve Gray, Jeff Halverson, Bruce Hill, Jimmy Ingalls, Travis Kvapil, Chad Little, Dick May, Michael McDowell, Jamie McMurray, Joe Nemechek, Rick Newsom, Benny Parsons, Phil Parsons, Larry Pearson, Kyle Petty, Mike Potter, Tony Raines, Maurice Randall, Elton Sawyer, Wendell Scott, Morgan Shepherd, Reed Sorenson, Graham Taylor, Brad Teague, Jabe Thomas, Michael Waltrip (1)

## HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY

Homestead, Florida - 1.5-mile oval

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

Homestead opened in 1995 as a four-corner rectangular oval similar to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but was converted into a flat 1.5-mile oval in time for the inaugural Pennzoil 400 Presented by Kmart on November 14, 1999. The first Cup Series last-place finish went to Franklin, Tennessee's three-time Cup champion **Darrell Waltrip** , who two years earlier trailed the first Cup field at the Texas Motor Speedway. At Homestead, Waltrip's #66 Big Kmart / Route 66 Ford qualified 42nd, then fell out with handling problems after 85 laps. The finish came in Waltrip's 780th Cup start and was his 14th last-place finish. The next season would be Waltrip's last in Cup competition. Though dubbed "The Victory Tour," Waltrip would finish last twice more and finish no better than 11th.

FIRST-TIME LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

As of this writing, just two drivers have scored their first-ever last-place finishes in a Cup race at Homestead. Rookie contender and open-wheel racer **Scott Pruett** trailed the field in 2000. Three years later, **Matt Kenseth** finished last just one week after clinching the 2003 NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Rockingham. Kenseth's finish was also the first race on the Homestead track's current gradient-banked configuration. **Regan Smith** trailed the 2018 race, his first last-place finish in his 224th series start.

Scott Pruett

November 12, 2000 - #32 Tide Ford crashed after 23 laps.

Matt Kenseth

November 16, 2003 - #17 DeWalt Power Tools Ford lost the engine after 28 laps.

Regan Smith

November 18, 2018 - #95 Dumont Jets Chevrolet finished under power, completing 240 laps.

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDERS

**Michael McDowell's** series-leading three last-place finishes at Homestead have all taken place in the last five runnings, but never in consecutive years. McDowell and Mike Bliss scored every Homestead last-place finish from 2009-2013 in alternating years.

*November 22, 2009 - #36 Wave Energy Drink Toyota overheated after 35 laps.

*November 20, 2011 - #66 HP Racing Toyota broke a driveshaft after 13 laps.

*November 17, 2013 - #98 Phil Parsons Racing Ford lost the brakes after 63 laps.

TRACK RANKINGS 1999-2019

1st) Michael McDowell (3)

2nd) Mike Bliss, Kurt Busch (2)

3rd) Aric Almirola, Johnny Benson, Jr., Dave Blaney, Clint Bowyer, Stacy Compton, Joey Gase, Matt Kenseth, Kyle Larson, Scott Pruett, Hermie Sadler, Regan Smith, Tony Stewart, Brian Vickers, Darrell Waltrip (1)

FORD ECOBOOST 400

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Kyle Larson - #42 Credit One Bank Chevrolet

2018) Regan Smith - #95 Dumont Jets Chevrolet

2017) Joey Gase - #83 Eternal Fan / Premier Millwright Toyota

2016) Aric Almirola - #43 Smithfield Ford

2015) Clint Bowyer - #15 5-Hour Energy Toyota

## INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Speedway, Indiana - 2.5-mile oval

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

The inaugural running of the Brickyard 400 took the green flag on August 6, 1994. Finishing last that day was Berwick, Pennsylvania's "Mr. Excitement," **Jimmy Spencer** , who in the four races before Indianapolis had scored both of his two career Cup wins at Daytona and Talladega. Spencer qualified 34th in the 43-car field, but was involved in a hard single-car crash entering Turn 3 on Lap 12. Spencer injured his ribs in the accident, causing him to miss the next race at Watkins Glen. Road racer Tommy Kendall finished 22nd in Spencer's car. The Indy finish was Spencer's second of a career total of six and his first in Cup since Charlotte in the fall of 1990.

FIRST-TIME LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

As of this writing, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has just one first-time last-place finisher:

Elton Sawyer

July 28, 1995 - #27 Hooters Ford broke a valve after 17 laps.

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDERS

There has yet to be a single repeat last-place finisher at this track. The list contains several big names, including two-time Daytona 500 winner **Sterling Marlin** (1997), frequent championship contender **Mark Martin** (2000), 1994 Rookie of the Year **Jeff Burton** (2013), Indy 500 starters **John Andretti** (2003) and **Robby Gordon** (2011), both brothers **Darrell and Michael Waltrip** (1996 and 2008, respectively), and fan favorite **Dale Earnhardt, Jr.** (2005). The track also boasts last-place finishes by current all-time LASTCAR leader **Jeff Green** (2007) and by **Joe Nemechek** (2009), the Cup Series last-place record holder.

TRACK RANKINGS 1994-2019

1st) John Andretti, Trevor Bayne, Mike Bliss, Alex Bowman, Jeff Burton, Landon Cassill, Matt DiBenedetto, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Robby Gordon, Jeff Green, Andy Houston, Corey LaJoie, Jason Leffler, Chad Little, Sterling Marlin, Mark Martin, Joe Nemechek, Max Papis, Elliott Sadler, Elton Sawyer, Jimmy Spencer, Martin Truex, Jr. Kenny Wallace, Mike Wallace, Darrell Waltrip, Michael Waltrip (1)

BRICKYARD 400

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Landon Cassill - #00 Sherfick Companies Chevrolet

2018) Martin Truex, Jr. - #78 Auto Owner Insurance Toyota

2017) Corey LaJoie - #23 Dr. Pepper Toyota

2016) Matt DiBenedetto - #83 ScienceLogic Hybrid Cloud Toyota

2015) Alex Bowman - #7 Marsh Supermarkets Chevrolet

## ISM RACEWAY

Avondale, Arizona - 1-mile tri-oval

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

The Checker 500, the first Cup race held at the Phoenix International Raceway, is best known as the day Alan Kulwicki drove a "Polish Victory Lap" around the one-mile track to celebrate his first career victory. The November 6, 1988 race is less known as site of **Brett Bodine's** second last-place finish. The Chemung, New York driver was rounding out his first full season in the Cup Series driving the #15 Crisco Ford owned by Bud Moore. He had qualified for his 43rd start in the 22nd position, but lost the engine after just 13 laps. Bodine would go on to take his only checkered flag at North Wilkesboro two years later. He is currently employed as NASCAR's pace car driver.

FIRST-TIME LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

The current list features **Kenny Wallace** , who in 1991 started the Phoenix race with brothers Mike, making his Cup debut that day, and Rusty. It was the first time three brothers started the same Cup race since the Flock brothers decades earlier. **Rick Carelli** parked in the 1992 race due to injuries suffered in a Southwest Tour Series wreck that weekend. As of this writing, there have been no first-time last-place finishers at the track since the 2011 reconfiguration.

Kenny Wallace

November 3, 1991 - #24 Team III Racing Pontiac fell out with steering problems after 1 lap.

Rick Carelli

November 1, 1992 - #37 Chesrown Chevrolet quit after 1 lap.

Ernie Cope

October 29, 1995 - #19 Straight Arrow Chevrolet lost the engine after 19 laps.

Chad Chaffin

November 13, 2005 - #34 Fiesta Inn Resort Chevrolet overheated after 14 laps.

Brandon Ash

April 22, 2006 - #02 Sprinter Trucking, Inc. Dodge broke a transmission after 98 laps.

Brandon Whitt

November 12, 2006 - #72 Dutch Quality Stone Chevrolet broke a rear end after 123 laps.

David Stremme

April 21, 2007 - #40 Coors Light Dodge finished running, 64 laps down.

Brendan Gaughan

November 14, 2010 - #71 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet crashed after 1 lap.

Jeffrey Earnhardt

March 19, 2017 - #33 NiceRide Apparel Chevrolet broke a transmission after 9 laps.

OTHER LASTCAR STATISTICS

The only polesitter to finish last in a Cup race at Phoenix is **Ryan Newman** , who on April 12, 2008 led 37 of the first 134 laps before the engine let go on his #12 Alltel Dodge. **Martin Truex, Jr.** 's three last-place finishes at Phoenix have all been in the fall race, and in four-year intervals (2008, 2012, 2016).

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDERS

Journeyman driver **Tony Raines** swept the season at Phoenix in 2009 for two different teams and currently leads all drivers with four finishes. As of this writing, no one else has more than two:

*November 10, 2002 - #74 Staff America Chevrolet lost an engine after 120 laps.

*April 18, 2009 - #73 Quality Concrete Dodge lost the brakes after 56 laps.

*November 15, 2009 - #37 Long John Silver's / A&W Chevrolet had an electrical problem after 6 laps.

*November 10, 2013 - #33 Circle Sport Chevrolet suffered brake problems after 29 laps.

TRACK RANKINGS 1988-2019

1st) Tony Raines (4)

2nd) Michael McDowell, Martin Truex, Jr. (3)

3rd) Brett Bodine, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Timmy Hill, Jeremy Mayfield, Ryan Newman (2)

4th) John Andretti, Brandon Ash, Mike Bliss, Geoffrey Bodine, Todd Bodine, Rick Carelli, Chad Chaffin, Derrike Cope, Ernie Cope, Ricky Craven, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Chase Elliott, Brendan Gaughan, Bobby Hamilton, Travis Kvapil, Corey LaJoie, Kyle Larson, Carl Long, Butch Miller, Joe Nemechek, Kyle Petty, Scott Riggs, Morgan Shepherd, David Stremme, Kenny Wallace, Michael Waltrip, Brandon Whitt (1)

GOOD SAM 500(K)

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Michael McDowell - #34 Dockside Logistics Ford

2018) Corey LaJoie - #72 Schluter Systems Chevrolet

2017) Jeffrey Earnhardt - #33 NiceRide Apparel Chevrolet

2016) Ryan Newman - #31 Grainger Chevrolet

2015) Dale Earnhardt, Jr. - #88 Nationwide Chevrolet

GOOD SAM 500(K)

EVENT RANKINGS 2005-2019

1st) Michael McDowell (3)

2nd) Ryan Newman (2)

3rd) Brandon Ash, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Corey LaJoie, Kyle Larson, Carl Long, Joe Nemechek, Tony Raines, Scott Riggs, Morgan Shepherd, David Stremme (1)

CAN-AM 500(K)

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Chase Elliott - #9 NAPA AutoCare Centers Chevrolet

2018) Timmy Hill - #66 Rewards.com Toyota

2017) Kyle Larson - #42 Refresh Your Car! Chevrolet

2016) Martin Truex, Jr. - #78 Furniture Row / Denver Mattress Toyota

2015) Timmy Hill - #62 Prairie Auto Credit Chevrolet

CAN-AM 500(K)

EVENT RANKINGS 1988-2019

1st) Tony Raines, Martin Truex, Jr. (3)

2nd) Brett Bodine, Timmy Hill, Jeremy Mayfield (2)

3rd) John Andretti, Mike Bliss, Geoffrey Bodine, Todd Bodine, Rick Carelli, Chad Chaffin, Derrike Cope, Ernie Cope, Ricky Craven, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Chase Elliott, Brendan Gaughan, Bobby Hamilton, Travis Kvapil, Kyle Larson, Butch Miller, Kyle Petty, Kenny Wallace, Michael Waltrip, Brandon Whitt (1)

## KANSAS SPEEDWAY

Kansas City, Kansas - 1.5-mile D-shaped oval

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

The inaugural running of the Protection One 400 at the Kansas Speedway took place on September 30, 2001. As at the Texas Motor Speedway, the race began with a multi-car accident on the opening lap. This time, the wreck involved just four cars, including 5th-place starter **Casey Atwood** of Antioch, Tennessee. Atwood, a rising star from the NASCAR XFINITY Series, was making his 30th career start, nearing the end of his rookie season as driver of the #19 Dodge / UAW Dodge for Ray Evernham's start-up team. Entering Turn 1, Atwood lost control and slid up the track into traffic, resulting in his first and only last-place finish. Atwood's career-best 3rd-place finish came six races later at Homestead. His 75th and final start came at Indianapolis in 2003.

FIRST-TIME LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

Like Atwood, most of Kansas' first-time last-place finishers include rookie drivers such as Chip Ganassi Racing driver **Reed Sorenson** , part-timer **Landon Cassill** , and IndyCar export **Danica Patrick**. Patrick's accident resembled that of Atwood - a multi-car wreck that began when she lost control in the first corner. **Martin Truex, Jr.** was the only retiree from the 2008 race, in which he also led 27 laps.

Casey Atwood

September 30, 2001 - #19 Dodge / UAW Dodge crashed after 0 laps.

Reed Sorenson

October 1, 2006 - #41 Target Dodge crashed after 18 laps.

Martin Truex, Jr.

September 28, 2008 - #1 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet lost the transmission after 229 laps.

Landon Cassill

October 3, 2010 - #64 Little Joe's Autos Toyota lost the rear gear after 33 laps.

Danica Patrick

October 6, 2013 - #10 GoDaddy Breast Cancer Awareness Chevrolet crashed after 0 laps.

Ryan Truex

May 10, 2014 - #83 Burger King Toyota crashed after 57 laps.

Ty Dillon

May 12, 2018 - #13 Twisted Tea Chevrolet crashed after 247 laps.

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDERS

In 2019, **Ryan Newman** broke a three-way tie with Dave Blaney and Landon Cassill for the most last-place finishes at this track, finishing in the rear for three different teams:

*September 30, 2007 - #12 Alltel Dodge lost an engine after 108 laps.

*May 13, 2017 - #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet broke the oil pump after 154 laps.

*October 20, 2019 - #6 Roush Performance / Mazola Ford crashed after 72 laps.

TRACK RANKINGS 2001-2019

1st) Ryan Newman (3)

2nd) Dave Blaney, Landon Casill (2)

3rd) Aric Almirola, Casey Atwood, Alex Bowman, Ward Burton, Derrike Cope, Ty Dillon, Bobby Hamilton, Jr., Timmy Hill, Bobby Labonte, Michael McDowell, Paul Menard, Joe Nemechek, Danica Patrick, Scott Riggs, Kirk Shelmerdine, Reed Sorenson, Martin Truex, Jr., Ryan Truex, J.J. Yeley (1)

GOBOWLING.COM 400

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Cody Ware - #51 Jacob Companies Chevrolet

2018) Ty Dillon - #13 Twisted Tea Chevrolet

2017) Ryan Newman - #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet

2016) Paul Menard - #27 NIBCO / Menards Chevrolet

2015) Alex Bowman - #7 Accell Construction Chevrolet

GOBOWLING.COM 400

EVENT RANKINGS 2011-2019

1st) Dave Blaney, Alex Bowman, Timmy Hill, Paul Menard, Joe Nemechek, Ryan Newman, Scott Riggs, Ryan Truex, Cody Ware (1)

HOLLYWOOD CASINO 400

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Ryan Newman - #6 Roush Performance / Mazola Ford

2018) Timmy Hill - #66 Ternio Toyota

2017) Derrike Cope - #00 StarCom Fiber Chevrolet

2016) Aric Almirola - #43 Smithfield Ford

2015) Landon Cassill - #40 CarsForSale.com / Breast Cancer Awareness Chevrolet

HOLLYWOOD CASINO 400

EVENT RANKINGS 2001-2019

1st) Landon Cassill, Ryan Newman (2)

2nd) Aric Almirola, Casey Atwood, Dave Blaney, Mike Bliss, Ward Burton, Derrike Cope, Bobby Hamilton, Jr., Timmy Hill, Bobby Labonte, Michael McDowell, Danica Patrick, Kirk Shelmerdine, Reed Sorenson, Martin Truex, Jr., J.J. Yeley (1)

## KENTUCKY SPEEDWAY

Sparta, Kentucky - 1.5-mile D-shaped oval

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

Kentucky, as of this writing the newest track on the Cup Series circuit, ran its first Quaker State 400 on the night of July 9, 2011. Finishing last was Ontario, California driver **Mike Skinner** , whose #60 Big Red Toyota fell out with electrical problems after he completed 17 of 267 laps. Skinner, the 1995 NASCAR Truck Series Champion, 1997 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year, and 2005 LASTCAR Cup Series Champion, was making his 273rd Cup start driving a "start-and-park" entry for Germain Racing. The finish was Skinner's 12th of his career and his third of four he scored in 2011 alone. His career-best Cup finish remains a 2nd behind Jeff Gordon at Talladega in 2000.

FIRST-TIME LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

No driver scored their first last-place finish in the Cup race at Kentucky until 2016, when **Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.** wrecked out early. It was his first last-place run in his 236th series start.

Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.

July 9, 2016 - #17 Fifth Third Bank Ford crashed after 9 laps.

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDERS

It took only three runnings for **Scott Riggs** to become Kentucky's first repeat last-place finisher. He has scored both of the most recent events for two different teams:

*June 30, 2012 - #23 North Texas Pipe Chevrolet had electrical problems after 12 laps.

*June 30, 2013 - #44 No Label Watches Ford broke the transmission after 6 laps.

TRACK RANKINGS 2011-2019

1st) Scott Riggs (2)

2nd) Alex Bowman, Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, B.J. McLeod, Mike Skinner, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Josh Wise (1)

QUAKER STATE 400

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) B.J. McLeod - #52 Jacob Companies Chevrolet

2018) Alex Bowman - #88 Axalta Chevrolet

2017) Jimmie Johnson - #48 Lowe's Chevrolet

2016) Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. - #17 Fifth Third Bank Ford

2015) Josh Wise - #98 Big Red / Xyience Ford

## LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Las Vegas, Nevada - 1.5-mile D-shaped oval

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

The Las Vegas Motor Speedway joined the Cup schedule for the March 1, 1998 running of the Las Vegas 400. At the time, the track's corners were banked at 12 degrees instead of today's 20-degree gradient banks. In the race, **Hut Stricklin** , who the previous summer trailed the field in the inaugural race at the Auto Club Speedway of Southern California, finished last when his #8 Circuit City Chevrolet suffered an electrical problem after 150 laps. It was Stricklin's sixth of seven career last-place finishes and one of the last for the venerable Stavola Brothers Racing team, which had fielded Cup cars since 1984.

FIRST-TIME LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

So far, only two drivers have scored their first Cup Series last-place finish at Las Vegas, and none since the track was reconfigured. The drivers are 1998 Rookie of the Year candidate and two-time race winner **Steve Park** , **Kirk Shelmerdine** , the former championship crew chief of **Dale Earnhardt** who became an owner-driver, and 2017 rookie candidate **Corey LaJoie.**

Steve Park

March 5, 2000 - #1 Pennzoil / Mission ToMars Chevrolet lost the engine after 92 laps.

Kirk Shelmerdine

March 7, 2004 - #72 Freddie B's / Tucson Ford lost the engine after 8 laps.

Corey LaJoie

March 12, 2017 - #83 JAS Expedited Trucking Toyota crashed after 18 laps.

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDERS

It took seventeen runnings for **Michael McDowell** to become the first repeat last-place finisher at Las Vegas. As of this writing, he now holds the lead over the rest of the field:

*March 10, 2013 - #98 Ambient Edge HVAC Ford had a vibration after 21 laps.

*March 9, 2014 - #95 WRL General Contractors Ford lost the engine after 141 laps.

*March 4, 2018 - #34 Love's Travel Stops / Speedco Ford lost the engine after 100 laps.

The rest of the list includes **Matt Kenseth** , who in 2009 scored one of only two Cup Series last-place finishes after he won the season's first two races at Daytona and the Auto Club Speedway of Southern California. On the same list are fellow past Cup champions **Tony Stewart** (2008) and **Rusty Wallace** (2001), fellow Daytona 500 champion **Ryan Newman** (2006), and inaugural race winner **Mark Martin** (2003).

TRACK RANKINGS 1998-2019

1st) Michael McDowell (3)

2nd) Aric Almirola, Alex Bowman, Ward Burton, Kurt Busch, Landon Cassill, Joey Gase, Bobby Hamilton, Matt Kenseth, Corey LaJoie, Erik Jones, Mark Martin, Ryan Newman, Ricky Rudd, Steve Park, Kirk Shelmerdine, Tony Stewart, Hut Stricklin, Brian Vickers, Rusty Wallace, Cole Whitt, J.J. Yeley (1)

KOBALT 400

EVENT RANKINGS 1998-2019

1st) Michael McDowell (3)

2nd) Aric Almirola, Alex Bowman, Ward Burton, Landon Cassill, Joey Gase, Bobby Hamilton, Matt Kenseth, Corey LaJoie, Mark Martin, Ryan Newman, Ricky Rudd, Steve Park, Kirk Shelmerdine, Tony Stewart, Hut Stricklin, Brian Vickers, Rusty Wallace, Cole Whitt, J.J. Yeley (1)

KOBALT 400

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Joey Gase - #66 Donate Life Nevada Toyota

2018) Michael McDowell - #34 Love's Travel Stops / Speedco Ford

2017) Corey LaJoie – #83 JAS Expedited Trucking Toyota

2016) Cole Whitt - #98 Speed Stick Chevrolet

2015) Alex Bowman - #7 Nikko / Road Rippers Chevrolet

SOUTH POINT 400

EVENT RANKINGS 2018

1st) Kurt Busch, Erik Jones (1)

SOUTH POINT 400

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Kurt Busch - #1 Gear Wrench Chevrolet

2018) Erik Jones - #20 DeWalt Toyota

## MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY

Martinsville, Virginia - 0.526-mile oval

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

As the oldest track on the current NASCAR Cup Series circuit, the Martinsville Speedway began as a half-mile dirt track for its first 200-lap race on September 25, 1949. Finishing last that day was **Otis Martin** of nearby Basset, Virginia. Martin, making his third series start in NASCAR's inaugural season, qualified 9th in the 15-car field, but his #4 Raymond Lewis-owned 1948 Buick fell out for unknown reasons after 16 laps. Martin would go on to compete in 23 Cup races through 1954 and in 1953 scored a career-best 6th at the Charlotte Speedway, scene of NASCAR's first-ever race.

FIRST-TIME LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

As NASCAR's oldest track, Martinsville's first thirteen last-place finishers were all first-timers, including two-time series champion **Herb Thomas** and two-time race winner **Jimmy Pardue**. Because of a rain-shortened spring race, there were three Martinsville races in 1961, and all three had first-time last-place finishers: **Bob Barron** , **Allen Franklin** , and **Joe Jones**.

Many last-placers at Martinsville have been championship winners in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, including **Morgan Shepherd** , **Sam Ard** , **Tommy Ellis** , and **David Green**. Ard's came in his only Cup Series start. **Jeff Burton's** first last-place run came here in 1994, and he would sweep the season at Martinsville on his way to Rookie of the Year. **Mike Skinner** got his first last-place finish here in 1986, eleven years before his own rookie title in 1997. **Hideo Fukuyama** , NASCAR's first Cup driver from Japan, also scored his first here in his second of four career series starts. His final start at Sonoma in 2003 also resulted in a last-place finish.

There were also several unusual last-place finishers at this track. **Jimmy Massey's** first finish came here in the fall of 1963 while driving Petty Enterprises' #43, the car with the most wins at this track. It was one of only a handful of starts where **Richard Petty** ran a number other than #43, and Petty himself never finished last here until 1988. **Jimmy Hensley** technically finished last for the first time here in 1989 when he qualified **Dale Earnhardt's** car on the pole, then handed the ride back to Earnhardt before the start of the race. Martinsville-born owner-driver **Buddy Arrington** is credited with his first last-place finish here as both he and **Doug Yates** failed to start the race in the fall of 1964, but Arrington qualified worse.

Otis Martin

September 25, 1949 - #4 1948 Buick fell out after 16 laps.

Bob Apperson

May 21, 1950 - #11 1949 Oldsmobile lost the engine after 14 laps.

Leon Sales

October 15, 1950 - #98 Southern 500 Winner 1950 Plymouth crashed after 27 laps.

Donald Thomas

May 6, 1951 - #93 1950 Plymouth fell out after an unknown number of laps.

Jack Wade

October 14, 1951 - #?? 1951 Oldsmobile fell out after an unknown number of laps.

Shorty Gibbs

April 6, 1952 - #?? 1951 Nash fell out with a busted head gasket after 11 laps.

Jack Holloway

October 19, 1952 - #90 1950 Plymouth crashed after 12 laps.

Arden Mounts

May 17, 1953 - #108 1952 Hudson fell out after unknown number of laps.

Herb Thomas

October 18, 1953 - #92 FABULOUS 1953 Hudson broke a fuel pump after 28 laps.

Joel Million

May 16, 1954 - #13 1953 Oldsmobile crashed after 22 laps.

Walt Flinchum

October 17, 1954 - #52 1951 Plymouth lost the transmission after 9 laps.

Ken Pace

May 15, 1955 - #1 1954 Chevrolet broke a hub after 9 laps.

Jimmy Pardue

October 16, 1955 - #24 1955 Chevrolet broke a hub after 10 laps.

T.A. Toomes

May 19, 1957 - #421 1956 Dodge blew a gasket after 121 laps.

Bill Massey

October 6, 1957 - #1A 1956 Ford lost the transmission after 86 laps.

Curtis Crider

September 25, 1960 - #83 1958 Ford broke a connecting rod after 1 lap.

Bob Barron

April 9, 1961 - #71 1960 Dodge lost an engine after 21 laps.

Allen Franklin

April 30, 1961 - #8 1960 Rambler fell out with handling problems after 5 laps.

Joe Jones

September 24, 1961 - #77 1960 Ford lost an engine after 0 laps.

Johnny Nave

April 22, 1962 - #79 1960 Ford lost the transmission after 1 lap.

Jimmy Massey

September 22, 1963 - #43 1963 Plymouth crashed after 0 laps.

Buddy Arrington

September 27, 1964 - #78 1963 Dodge did not start the race.

Terry Murchison

April 25, 1965 - #0 1964 Ford burned the clutch after 2 laps.

Ed Jordan

April 24, 1966 - #50 1964 Ford fell out with handling problems after 1 lap.

Don Tarr

April 28, 1968 - #0 1966 Chevrolet burned the clutch after 14 laps.

Paul Dean Holt

September 22, 1968 - #57 1967 Dodge lost oil pressure after 1 lap.

David Ray Boggs

April 30, 1972 - #57 1970 Dodge suffered an ignition failure after 35 laps.

Bobby Fleming

April 28, 1974 - #51 Strong Racing 1972 Chevrolet had an oil leak after 53 laps.

Paul Radford

September 29, 1974 - #90 Truxmore Industries 1972 Ford lost the engine after 20 laps.

Ronnie Thomas

April 26, 1981 - #25 Thomas Racing Pontiac crashed after 3 laps.

Tommy Ellis

September 27, 1981 - #55 Industrial Boiler Chevrolet crashed after 14 laps.

Morgan Shepherd

April 24, 1983 - #01 Zervakis Racing Buick had an oil leak after 8 laps.

Sam Ard

September 23, 1984 - #02 Zervakis Enterprises Chevrolet fell out with steering problems 1 lap.

Mike Skinner

September 21, 1986 - #19 Zanworth Racing Team Pontiac lost oil pressure after 34 laps.

Rick Mast

April 23, 1989 - #66 Raven Boats Chevrolet los the engine after 251 laps.

Jimmy Hensley

September 24, 1989 - Did not start the race as relief driver for #3 Goodwrench Chevrolet.

Dick Trickle

April 28, 1991 - #34 Allen's Glass Buick overheated after 12 laps.

Jeff Burton

April 24, 1994 - #8 Raybestos Brakes Ford burned the clutch after 286 laps.

David Green

April 20, 1998 - #96 Caterpillar Chevrolet crashed after 71 laps.

Hideo Fukuyama

October 20, 2002 - #66 Standing Together / World Berries Ford crashed after 400 laps.

Mike Garvey

April 10, 2005 - #75 Jani-King / Rinaldi Air Conditioning Dodge lost the brakes after 18 laps.

Aric Almirola

October 21, 2007 - #01 U.S. Army Chevrolet suffered electrical problems after 111 laps.

OTHER LASTCAR STATISTICS

On September 27, 1959, **Jimmy Lewallen** became the first driver to finish last at Martinsville more than once. No driver scored more than one last-place finish in the spring race until April 28, 1985, when **Ronnie Thomas** ' #41 Thomas Racing Chevrolet lost the engine after 1 lap.

**Bill Champion** became the first driver to pull the season sweep in 1973. **Morgan Shepherd** swept both 1983 races for two different teams (Emanuel Zervakis #01, Jim Stacy #2), a feat matched by **Reed Sorenson** in 2012 (Turn One Racing #74, Humphrey-Smith Racing #91).

**Richard Brickhouse's** #14 1969 Dodge crashed out of the race on September 28, 1969, resulting in a last-place finish in Brickhouse's first start after crossing the picket line, then the finish line at Talladega.

Fifteen times, **Richard Petty** took the checkered flag at Martinsville, the most of any driver. Petty never finished last at the track until April 24, 1988, when his #43 STP Pontiac lost an engine after 31 laps.

On September 28, 1992, Martinsville became the site of **Dale Earnhardt's** fifth and final last-place finish. Earnhardt's #3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet lost the engine after 111 laps.

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDERS

As of this writing, only four drivers have scored three last-place finishes at NASCAR's shortest track: 2004 LASTCAR Cup Champion **Todd Bodine** —

*April 8, 2001 - #66 Kmart Ford lost an engine after 12 laps.

*October 24, 2004 - #50 Arnold Development Companies Dodge crashed after 1 lap.

*March 29, 2009 - #64 Gunselman Motorsports Toyota lost an engine after 3 laps.

—five-time LASTCAR Cup Champion **J.D. McDuffie** —

*September 26, 1971 - #70 1969 Mercury broke the rear end after 58 laps.

*September 28, 1975 - #70 Butler's 1975 Chevrolet lost an engine after 18 laps.

*April 26, 1987 - #70 McDuffie Racing Pontiac lost an engine after 21 laps.

\---current LASTCAR Cup Series record holder **Joe Nemechek** (the third taking the Cup last-place record from McDuffie)---

*October 19, 2008 - #78 Furniture Row Chevrolet crashed out after 115 laps.

*April 3, 2011 - #87 AM FM Energy / Pellet & Wood Stoves Toyota lost the brakes after 25 laps

*March 30, 2014 - #66 Land Castle Title Toyota crashed out after 310 laps.

—and fellow owner-driver **G.C. Spencer** :

*September 26, 1965 - #49 1964 Ford crashed after 1 lap.

*September 25, 1966 - #49 1965 Plymouth broke the radiator after 8 laps.

*April 27, 1969 - #49 1967 Plymouth lost an engine after 1 lap.

TRACK RANKINGS 1949-2019

**1st) Todd Bodine, J.D. McDuffie, Joe Nemechek,** **G.C. Spencer (3)**

2nd) A.J. Allmendinger, Aric Almirola, John Andretti, Buddy Baker, Jeff Burton, Bill Champion, Jimmy Hensley, Bobby Labonte, Jimmie Lewallen, Sterling Marlin, Rick Mast, Michael McDowell, Ed Negre, Rick Newsom, Hermie Sadler, Morgan Shepherd, Mike Skinner, Reed Sorenson, Ronnie Thomas, Dick Trickle (2)

3rd) Mike Alexander, Bob Apperson, Sam Ard, Buddy Arrington, Stanton Barrett, Bob Barron, Dave Blaney, Geoffrey Bodine, David Ray Boggs, Clint Bowyer, Richard Brickhouse, Ward Burton, Landon Cassill, Neil Castles, Ricky Craven, Curtis Crider, Wally Dallenbach, Jr., Dean Dalton, Dave Dion, Dale Earnhardt, Bill Elliott, Tommy Ellis, Bobby Fleming, Walt Flinchum, Allen Franklin, Hideo Fukuyama, Mike Garvey, Shorty Gibbs, Cecil Gordon, Robby Gordon, David Green, Bruce Hill, Andy Hillenburg, Bill Hollar, Jack Holloway, Paul Dean Holt, Tommy Irwin, Dale Jarrett, Jimmie Johnson, Junior Johnson, Joe Jones, Ed Jordan, Travis Kvapil, Terry Labonte, Kevin Lepage, Ralph Liguori, Chad Little, Larry Manning, Otis Martin, Bill Massey, Jimmy Massey, Dick May, Jamie McMurray, Larry Miller, Joel Million, Arden Mounts, Terry Murchison, Gary Myers, Johnny Nave, Whitey Norman, Ken Pace, Jimmy Pardue, Richard Petty, Robert Pressley, Baxter Price, Paul Radford, David Ragan, Clay Rogers, Joe Ruttman, Leon Sales, Bill Shirey, Wayne Smith, Lake Speed, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Hut Stricklin, Don Tarr, Donald Thomas, Herb Thomas, Jimmy Thompson, T.A. Toomes, E.J. Trivette, Roy Tyner, D.K. Ulrich, Billy Wade, Jack Wade, Kenny Wallace, Rusty Wallace, Darrell Waltrip, Cody Ware, Bobby Wawak (1)

STP 500

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Cody Ware - #51 Jacob Companies Chevrolet

2018) Landon Cassill - #00 USFRA.org / StarCom Fiber Chevrolet

2017) Jamie McMurray - #1 Cessna / Beechcraft Chevrolet

2016) Aric Almirola - #43 STP Ford

2015) A.J. Allmendinger - #47 Bush's Beans / Kingsford / Scott Products Toyota

STP 500

EVENT RANKINGS 1950-2019 (Includes both April 1961 races)

1st) Todd Bodine, Michael McDowell, Joe Nemechek, Ronnie Thomas, Dick Trickle (2)

2nd) Mike Alexander, John Andretti, Bob Apperson, Bob Barron, Dave Blaney, Geoffrey Bodine, David Ray Boggs, Jeff Burton, Landon Cassill, Bill Champion, Ricky Craven, Wally Dallenbach, Jr., Dean Dalton, Bill Elliott, Bobby Fleming, Allen Franklin, Mike Garvey, Shorty Gibbs, Robby Gordon, David Green, Andy Hillenburg, Tommy Irwin, Junior Johnson, Ed Jordan, Bobby Labonte, Terry Labonte, Ralph Liguori, Chad Little, Sterling Marlin, Rick Mast, Dick May, J.D. McDuffie, Jamie McMurray, Arden Mounts, Larry Miller, Joel Million, Terry Murchison, Gary Myers, Johnny Nave, Ed Negre, Rick Newsom, Whitey Norman, Ken Pace, Richard Petty, Joe Ruttman, Hermie Sadler, Morgan Shepherd, Wayne Smith, Reed Sorenson, G.C. Spencer, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Don Tarr, Donald Thomas, T.A. Toomes, Roy Tyner, D.K. Ulrich, Billy Wade, Darrell Waltrip, Cody Ware, Bobby Wawak (1)

FIRST DATA 500

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Jimmie Johnson - #48 Ally Chevrolet

2018) Hermie Sadler - #7 Virginia Lottery Chevrolet

2017) A.J. Allmendinger - #47 Kroger ClickList / Butterfinger / Crest Chevrolet

2016) Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. - #17 Louisville / Fastenal Ford

2015) Clint Bowyer - #15 Maxwell House Toyota

FIRST DATA 500

EVENT RANKINGS 1949-2019

1st) Buddy Baker, Jimmy Hensley, Jimmie Lewallen, J.D. McDuffie, Mike Skinner, G.C. Spencer (2)

2nd) A.J. Allmendinger, Aric Almirola, John Andretti, Sam Ard, Buddy Arrington, Stanton Barrett, Todd Bodine, Clint Bowyer, Richard Brickhouse, Jeff Burton, Ward Burton, Neil Castles, Bill Champion, Curtis Crider, Dave Dion, Dale Earnhardt, Tommy Ellis, Walt Flinchum, Hideo Fukuyama, Cecil Gordon, Bruce Hill, Bill Hollar, Jack Holloway, Paul Dean Holt, Dale Jarrett, Jimmie Johnson, Joe Jones, Travis Kvapil, Bobby Labonte, Kevin Lepage, Larry Manning, Sterling Marlin, Otis Martin, Bill Massey, Jimmy Massey, Rick Mast, Ed Negre, Joe Nemechek, Rick Newsom, Jimmy Pardue, Robert Pressley, Baxter Price, Paul Radford, David Ragan, Clay Rogers, Hermie Sadler, Leon Sales, Morgan Shepherd, Bill Shirey, Reed Sorenson, Lake Speed, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Hut Stricklin, Herb Thomas, Jimmy Thompson, E.J. Trivette, Jack Wade, Kenny Wallace, Rusty Wallace (1)

## MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

Brooklyn, Michigan - 2-mile D-shaped oval

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

On June 15, 1969, the Michigan International Speedway welcomed the Cup Series for the first time in the 250-lap Motor State 500. Finishing last that day was 18th-place starter **Wayne Gillette** , whose #80 1967 Chevrolet broke the rear end after 1 lap, putting an abrupt stop to his Cup debut. The finish was Gillette's first of his Cup career during the only season in which he competed. The Atlanta, Georgia driver scored a career-best 19th at the Asheville-Weaverville Speedway on August 24.

FIRST-TIME LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

Two immediately recognizable names on Michigan's list of first-time last-place finishers are "The Alabama Gang" member and television personality **Neil Bonnett** and 2004 NASCAR Cup Series Champion **Kurt Busch** , the latter sweeping the season in 2001. However, it also includes several other notable figures such as **Kerry Earnhardt** , who trailed the field the only time that three Earnhardts raced in a Cup Series event, and 2011 Daytona 500 champion **Trevor Bayne**. Three foreign-born drivers also scored their first last-place finishes here: **Juan Pablo Montoya** (Columbia), **Dario Franchitti** (Scotland), and **Marcos Ambrose** (Tasmania).

Wayne Gillette

June 15, 1969 - #80 1967 Chevrolet lost the rear end after 1 lap.

Gary Myers

August 25, 1974 - #87 Myers Racing 1972 Chevrolet lost the engine after 1 lap.

Tighe Scott

August 22, 1976 - #30 Scotty's Fashions Chevrolet overheated after 6 laps.

Ferrel Harris

June 19, 1977 - #25 Chevrolet lost the engine after 9 laps.

Neil Bonnett

June 18, 1978 - #5 Armor All Dodge lost the engine after 24 laps.

Blackie Wangerin

August 19, 1979 - #39 Mercury crashed after 2 laps.

Edward Cooper

August 19, 1990 - #91 Refrigeration Sales Oldsmobile broke a rocker arm after 17 laps.

Stanley Smith

August 18, 1991 - #49 Interstate Batteries Buick suffered ignition failure after 30 laps.

Jimmy Horton

June 20, 1993 - #32 Active Trucking Chevrolet crashed after 2 laps.

Rich Bickle

August 15, 1993 - #45 Terminal Trucking Ford lost the engine after 10 laps.

Kerry Earnhardt

August 20, 2000 - #71 RealTree Camouflage Chevrolet crashed after 5 laps.

Kurt Busch

June 10, 2001 - #97 Sharpie / Rubbermaid Ford crashed after 16 laps.

Tony Raines

August 18, 2002 - #74 Staff America Chevrolet overheated after 69 laps.

Todd Kleuver

August 20, 2006 - #06 3M Post-It Ford crashed after 10 laps.

Juan Pablo Montoya

June 17, 2007 - #42 Texaco / Havoline Dodge crashed after 67 laps.

Dario Franchitti

June 15, 2008 - #40 Juicy Fruit Slim Pack Dodge lost an engine after 30 laps.

Marcos Ambrose

August 17, 2008 - #21 Little Debbie Ford lost an engine after 17 laps.

Trevor Bayne

June 17, 2012 - #21 Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford lost an engine after 7 laps.

Kyle Larson

August 17, 2014 - #42 Target / Degree Men Chevrolet crashed after 94 laps.

Garrett Smithley

June 10, 2018 - #99 Victory Lane Quick Oil Change Chevrolet broke the transmission after 1 lap.

Kyle Weatherman

June 10, 2019 - #51 Jacob Companies Ford crashed after 69 laps.

Spencer Boyd

August 11, 2019 - #53 Chelle Corporation Ford crashed after 123 laps.

OTHER LASTCAR STATISTICS

Michigan's first repeat last-placer was **Dick May** , who on August 16, 1981 broke a cam on his #19 Belden Asphalt Buick after 4 laps.

On August 11, 1985, **Tim Richmond** scored his final Cup Series last-place finish at Michigan when he started 3rd, but lost the engine on his #27 Old Milwuakee Pontiac after 3 laps. In a career cut short by his tragic death from AIDS, Richmond won thirteen races in just 185 starts and only finished last twice.

**Rodney Combs** scored back-to-back last-place finishes in the June race in 1989 and 1990, both in the #89 Evinrude Pontiac fielded by the Mueller Brothers: the first was an engine failure after 2 laps while the second was a burned piston after 15.

As of this writing, the only two drivers to sweep both last-place finishes at Michigan are **Kyle Petty** (1995) and **Kurt Busch** (2001).

The only polesitter to finish last at Michigan was **Ward Burton** , who on August 22, 1999 crashed his #22 Caterpillar Pontiac after leading only the first of the race's first 52 laps.

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDERS

In 1998, three-time LASTCAR Cup Series Champion **Derrike Cope** broke a nine-way tie to take overall Michigan lead as the first three-time Michigan last-place finisher. He has since added a fourth and a fifth, keeping him two finishes ahead of the pack:

*June 23, 1991 - #10 Purolator Chevrolet lost an engine after 2 laps.

*June 23, 1996 - #12 Badcock Ford burned a piston after 53 laps.

*August 16, 1998 - #30 Gumout Pontiac crashed after 7 laps.

*June 18, 2006 - #74 Howes Lubricator / Royal Admin. Dodge overheated after 12 laps.

*August 13, 2017 - #15 StarCom Fiber Toyota lost an engine after 107 laps.

TRACK RANKINGS 1969-2019

1st) Derrike Cope (5)

2nd) Kyle Busch (3)

3rd) H.B. Bailey, Buddy Baker, Todd Bodine, Kurt Busch, Rodney Combs, Bobby Labonte, Dick May, Joe Nemechek, Kyle Petty, Tony Raines, Ricky Rudd, Greg Sacks, Morgan Shepherd, Rick Wilson, J.J. Yeley (2)

4th) Marcos Ambrose, Tony Bettenhousen, Rich Bickle, Neil Bonnett, Clint Bowyer, Spencer Boyd, Gary Bradberry, Dick Brooks, Richard D. Brown, Ward Burton, Earle Canavan, Neil Castles, Bill Champion, Edward Cooper, Clark Dwyer, Kerry Earnhardt, Dario Franchitti, Joe Frasson, Harry Gant, Wayne Gillette, Cecil Gordon, Bobby Hamilton, Ferrel Harris, Friday Hassler, Jimmy Hensley, Timmy Hill, Jimmy Horton, Henry Jones, Todd Kluever, Travis Kvapil, Terry Labonte, Corey LaJoie, Kyle Larson, Jason Leffler, Sterling Marlin, Michael McDowell, J.D. McDuffie, Juan Pablo Montoya, Gary Myers, Rick Newsom, Max Papis, Benny Parsons, Danica Patrick, Robert Pressley, Maurice Randall, Tim Richmond, Jackie Rogers, Joe Ruttman, Tighe Scott, Bill Seifert, Kirk Shelmerdine, Stanley Smith, Garrett Smithley, Jimmy Spencer, Dick Trickle, Roy Tyner, Kenny Wallace, Mike Wallace, Blackie Wangerin, Bobby Wawak, Kyle Weatherman, Cale Yarborough (1)

FIREKEEPERS CASINO 400

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Kyle Weatherman - #51 Jacob Companies Ford

2018) Garrett Smithley - #99 Victory Lane Quick Oil Change Chevrolet

2017) Danica Patrick - #10 TaxAct Ford

2016) Kyle Busch - #18 M&M's Red, White & Blue Toyota

2015) Kyle Busch - #18 M&M's Crispy Toyota

FIREKEEPERS CASINO 400

EVENT RANKINGS 1969-2019

1st) Derrike Cope (3)

2nd) H.B. Bailey, Kyle Busch, Rodney Combs, Ricky Rudd, Rick Wilson (2)

3rd) Trevor Bayne, Tony Bettenhousen, Todd Bodine, Neil Bonnett, Spencer Boyd, Gary Bradberry, Richard D. Brown, Kurt Busch, Neil Castles, Bill Champion, Dario Franchitti, Joe Frasson, Wayne Gillette, Bobby Hamilton, Ferrel Harris, Jimmy Hensley, Jimmy Horton, Henry Jones, Travis Kvapil, Bobby Labonte, Dick May, Michael McDowell, J.D. McDuffie, Juan Pablo Montoya, Rick Newsom, Max Papis, Benny Parsons, Kyle Petty, Tony Raines, Maurice Randall, Bill Seifert, Kirk Shelmerdine, Morgan Shepherd, Garrett Smithley, Jimmy Spencer, Kenny Wallace, Mike Wallace, Bobby Wawak (1)

CONSUMERS ENERGY 400

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Spencer Boyd - #53 Chelle Corporation Ford

2018) Corey LaJoie - #72 Schluter Systems Chevrolet

2017) Derrike Cope - #15 StarCom Fiber Toyota

2016) Clint Bowyer - #15 5-hour Energy Chevrolet

2015) Timmy Hill - #98 Premium Motorsports Chevrolet

CONSUMERS ENERGY 400

EVENT RANKINGS 1969-2019

1st) Buddy Baker, Derrike Cope, Joe Nemechek, Greg Sacks, J.J. Yeley (2)

2nd) Marcos Ambrose, Trevor Bayne, Rich Bickle, Todd Bodine, Clint Bowyer, Spencer Boyd, Dick Brooks, Ward Burton, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Earle Canavan, Edward Cooper, Clark Dwyer, Kerry Earnhardt, Harry Gant, Cecil Gordon, Friday Hassler, Timmy Hill, Todd Kluever, Corey LaJoie, Kyle Larson, Jason Leffler, Sterling Marlin, Dick May, Gary Myers, Bobby Labonte, Terry Labonte, Kyle Petty, Robert Pressley, Tony Raines, Tim Richmond, Jackie Rogers, Joe Ruttman, Tighe Scott, Morgan Shepherd, Stanley Smith, Dick Trickle, Roy Tyner, Blackie Wangerin, Cale Yarborough (1)

## NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Loudon, New Hampshire - 1.058-mile oval

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

Although the track had held NASCAR XFINITY Series races since 1990, the Cup Series did not make its debut at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway until July 11, 1993. During that day's running of the Slick 50 300, the first last-place finish went to Auburn, New York driver **Jerry O'Neil**. O'Neil was making his 15th of 16 career Cup starts that day, having made the inaugural event in his #65 Aroneck Racing Chevrolet after qualifying 36th in a field of 40. On race day, two multi-car wrecks slowed the race's first seventeen laps. O'Neil was involved in the second, a collision with Ken Schrader, Michael Waltrip, and Phil Parsons ending his day after 9 laps. O'Neil made his final Cup start at Charlotte that October, where he finished 34th, though he attempted races into the 1994 season. O'Neil's best career finish was a 21st at Pocono in 1992.

FIRST-TIME LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

New Hampshire has only had a handful of first-time last-place finishers, but its list boasts both NASCAR's Most Popular Driver, **Dale Earnhardt, Jr.** , and NASCAR Truck Series and XFINITY Series Champion **Greg Biffle**.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

July 11, 1999 - #8 Budweiser Chevrolet suffered ignition failure after 44 laps.

Greg Biffle

September 14, 2003 - #16 Grainger ford lost an engine after 108 laps.

Ted Christopher

September 19, 2004 - #80 Commercial Truck & Trailer Ford lost an engine after 17 laps.

Wayne Anderson

September 18, 2005 - #75 Rinaldi Air Conditioning Dodge lost an engine after 16 laps.

Kelly Bires

September 23, 2012 - #79 BBI / Bestway Ford lost its brakes after 20 laps.

Clay Rogers

September 21, 2014 - #93 Iowa City Capital Partners / Iowa Chop House Toyota overheated after 45 laps.

Daniel Hemric

July 21, 2019 - #8 Okuma Chevrolet crashed after 110 laps.

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDERS

Within months of his Daytona 500 victory in 2002, **Ward Burton** scored his fifth and final Cup win at Loudon, and though his brother Jeff also has four victories at the track, Ward remains the track's last-place leader with three. Included among them is the race run in November 2001, the September race postponed because of the terrorist attacks of September 11th. As of this writing, that race is the only event since the 1997 finale at Atlanta to have fewer than 43 cars in the starting field:

*July 10, 1994 - #31 Hardee's Chevrolet had electrical problems after 100 laps.

*November 23, 2001 - #22 Caterpillar Dodge lost an engine after 129 laps.

*July 1, 2007 - #4 State Water Heaters Chevrolet lost an engine after 4 laps.

TRACK RANKINGS 1993-2019

1st) Ward Burton (3)

2nd) Mike Bliss, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jeff Green, J.J. Yeley (2)

3rd) A.J. Allmendinger, Aric Almirola, Wayne Anderson, John Andretti, Michael Annett, Greg Biffle, Kelly Bires, Brett Bodine, Geoffrey Bodine, Patrick Carpentier, Landon Cassill, Ted Christopher, Ricky Craven, Steve Grissom, Daniel Hemric, Jimmy Hensley, Erik Jones, Travis Kvapil, Terry Labonte, Carl Long, Michael McDowell, Joe Nemechek, Jerry O'Neil, Max Papis, Robert Pressley, Tony Raines, Scott Riggs, Clay Rogers, Hermie Sadler, Morgan Shepherd, Mike Skinner, Brian Vickers, Kenny Wallace, Rusty Wallace, Cody Ware, Josh Wise (1)

NEW HAMPSHIRE 301

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Daniel Hemric - #8 Okuma Chevrolet

2018) Landon Cassill - #00 StarCom Fiber Chevrolet

2017) Erik Jones - #77 5-hour Energy Extra Strength Toyota

2016) Josh Wise - #30 The Motorsports Group Chevrolet

2015) J.J. Yeley - #23 Dr. Pepper Toyota

NEW HAMPSHIRE 301

EVENT RANKINGS 1993-2019

1st) Ward Burton, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., J.J. Yeley (2)

2nd) A.J. Allmendinger, John Andretti, Mike Bliss, Brett Bodine, Geoffrey Bodine, Patrick Carpentier, Landon Cassill, Jeff Green, Steve Grissom, Daniel Hemric, Jimmy Hensley, Erik Jones, Terry Labonte, Carl Long, Jerry O'Neil, Max Papis, Hermie Sadler, Morgan Shepherd, Rusty Wallace, Josh Wise (1)

## POCONO RACEWAY

Long Pond, Pennsylvania - 2.5-mile tri-oval

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

The first Purolator 500 at the triangular Pocono Raceway was held on August 4, 1974. Finishing

last that day was one of two Canadians in the field (the other being 13th-place finisher Earl Ross), Long Branch, Ontario's **Jim Bray**. Bray had qualified 33rd for his 13th Cup Series start, but his #56 Bray Realty Chevrolet broke the suspension after just 2 laps. It was Bray's third and final last-place finish in fifteen career Cup starts. His career-best finish was a 13th at Richmond in 1962 when he was driving for longtime owner-driver Neil Castles.

FIRST-TIME LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

The list of first-time Pocono last-placers features two significant drivers in LASTCAR history. **Jeff Green** , NASCAR's current all-time last-place leader, scored his first here in 1996, two years after three-time LASTCAR Cup Series Champion and 2002 Daytona 500 winner **Ward Burton**. ARCA stars **Frank Kimmel** , **Bobby Gerhart** , and **Bob Schacht** also trailed their first Cup fields here, as did **Jody Ridley** , the only driver to win for car owner Junie Donlavey. **Rich Vogler's** occurred posthumously - slated to make his Cup debut, his car was withdrawn after he was killed in a USAC Series wreck that weekend.

Steve Gray

July 30, 1979 - #19 Belden Asphalt Chevrolet crashed after 1 lap.

Jimmy Walker

June 6, 1982 - #96 Walker Enterprises Ford crashed after 10 laps.

Jody Ridley

July 25, 1982 - #90 J.D. Stacy Ford lost an engine after 7 laps.

Bobby Gerhart

June 12, 1983 - #19 Gray Racing Buick lost an engine after 44 laps.

Clark Dwyer

July 24, 1983 - #10 Kings Inn Chevrolet lost oil pressure after 6 laps.

Cliff Hucul

July 20, 1986 - #60 Vernon & Sons Pontiac burned the clutch after 2 laps.

Bob Schacht

July 24, 1988 - #6 Learn Ford lost an engine after 5 laps.

Tommie Crozier

June 18, 1989 - #65 Leonard Racing Chevrolet broke the transmission after 16 laps.

Larry Pearson

July 23, 1989 - #16 Chattanooga Chew Buick broke an oil line after 2 laps.

Jerry O'Neil

June 17, 1990 - #53 Aroneck Racing Oldsmobile broke a crank after 22 laps.

Rich Vogler

July 22, 1990 - #50 Coors Light Chevrolet was withdrawn from the event.

T.W. Taylor

July 18, 1993 - #02 Children's Miracle Network Ford burned a clutch after 26 laps.

Ward Burton

June 12, 1994 - #31 Hardee's Chevrolet crashed after 16 laps.

Jeff Green

July 21, 1996 - #14 Racing For Kids Chevrolet crashed after 2 laps.

Frank Kimmel

June 9, 2002 - #46 Advance Auto Parts Ford overheated after 8 laps.

P.J. Jones

August 1, 2004 - #50 Arnold Development Companies Dodge lost the brakes after 8 laps.

Kasey Kahne

August 2, 2015 - #5 Aquafina Chevrolet crashed after 3 laps.

Bubba Wallace

June 3, 2018 - #43 Weis Chevrolet lost the engine after 108 laps.

B.J. McLeod

July 29, 2018 - #51 Jacob Companies Chevrolet lost the engine after 77 laps.

Chase Elliott

July 28, 2019 - #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet crashed after 83 laps.

OTHER LASTCAR STATISTICS

Pocono's first and only polesitter to finish last in the same race was **Todd Bodine** , who on July 29, 2001 led two laps, then fell out with handling problems after 128 laps in his #66 Kmart Blue Light Special Ford.

Unfortunately, like the last-place finish of Rich Vogler, two other Pocono last-place finishers are shrouded in tragedy. On June 19, 1988, **Jocko Maggiacomo** scored his second last-place finish when his #63 Jocko's Racing Chevrolet was unable to avoid the spinning car of Bobby Allison, resulting in a serious accident that ended Allison's career. On June 9, 2013, **Jason Leffler** scored his seventh last-place finish when his #19 Humphrey-Smith Racing Toyota fell out with transmission failure after 8 laps. Just three days later, Leffler was killed in an accident during a sprint car race in New Jersey.

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDERS

**Greg Sacks** scored the final three of his eleven career last-place finishes at Pocono, in the process becoming the first driver to sweep both Pocono races in 2005. The 2005 Pocono events were also the final two starts of Sacks' 263-race career. He is currently tied for the record—

*June 8, 1997 - #40 Coors Light Chevrolet crashed after 8 laps.

*June 12, 2005 - #13 Sacks Motorsports Dodge overheated after 12 laps.

*July 24, 2005 - #13 Sacks Motorsports Dodge lost the brakes after 5 laps.

—with **Ronnie Thomas** , Pocono's first two-time last-placer:

*July 26, 1981 - #25 Shelton Construction Pontiac burned a cylinder head after 62 laps.

*July 22, 1984 - #41 Thomas Racing Chevrolet lost an engine after 7 laps.

*June 9, 1985 - #41 92 WXTU Chevrolet lost an engine after 1 lap.

TRACK RANKINGS 1974-2019

1st) Greg Sacks, Ronnie Thomas (3)

2nd) Aric Almirola, Dave Blaney, Ward Burton, J.D. McDuffie, Scott Riggs, Bob Schacht, Ken Schrader, Rusty Wallace, Darrell Waltrip, Michael Waltrip (2)

3rd) Gary Balough, Andy Belmont, Todd Bodine, Jim Bray, Kyle Busch, Earle Canavan, Patrick Carpentier, Landon Cassill, Ricky Craven, Tommie Crozier, Matt DiBenedetto, Austin Dillon, Clark Dwyer, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Chase Elliott, Bobby Gerhart, Joe Frasson, Cecil Gordon, Robby Gordon, Steve Gray, Jeff Green, Denny Hamlin, Cliff Hucul, James Hylton, Kenny Irwin, Jr., P.J. Jones, Kasey Kahne, Frank Kimmel, Bobby Labonte, Jason Leffer, Kevin Lepage, Jocko Maggiacomo, Dave Marcis, Mark Martin, Michael McDowell, B.J. McLeod, Casey Mears, Joe Nemechek, Jerry O'Neil, Steve Park, Larry Pearson, Jody Ridley, Johnny Sauter, Morgan Shepherd, Mike Skinner, Reed Sorenson, Hut Stricklin, Graham Taylor, T.W. Taylor, Travis Tiller, Rich Vogler, Jimmy Walker, Bubba Wallace, Mike Wallace, Cody Ware, Rick Wilson, Cale Yarborough, J.J. Yeley (1)

POCONO 400

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Austin Dillon - #3 Dow Chevrolet

2018) Bubba Wallace - #43 Weis Chevrolet

2017) Cody Ware - #51 Clemson Tigers National Champions Chevrolet

2016) Matt DiBenedetto - #83 E.J. Wade Construction Toyota

2015) Aric Almirola - #43 Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs Ford

POCONO 400

EVENT RANKINGS 1974-2019

1st) Dave Blaney, Greg Sacks, Ken Schrader, Ronnie Thomas, Rusty Wallace, Darrell Waltrip (2)

2nd) Andy Belmont, Jim Bray, Ward Burton, Kyle Busch, Earle Canavan, Patrick Carpentier, Landon Cassill, Ricky Craven, Tommie Crozier, Austin Dillon, Joe Frasson, Bobby Gerhart, Cecil Gordon, Steve Gray, James Hylton, Frank Kimmel, Bobby Labonte, Jason Leffler, Kevin Lepage, Jocko Maggiacomo, J.D. McDuffie, Casey Mears, Joe Nemechek, Jerry O'Neil, Scott Riggs, Graham Taylor, Travis Tiller, Bubba Wallace, Jimmy Walker, Michael Waltrip, Cody Ware, Cale Yarborough (1)

PENNSYLVANIA 400

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Chase Elliott - #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet

2018) B.J. McLeod - #51 Jacob Companies Chevrolet

2017) Aric Almirola - #43 Smithfield Ford

2016) Reed Sorenson - #55 Vydox Plus Chevrolet

2015) Kasey Kahne - #5 Aquafina Chevrolet

PENNSYLVANIA 400

EVENT RANKINGS 1982-2019

1st) Bob Schacht (2)

2nd) Aric Almirola, Gary Balough, Todd Bodine, Ward Burton, Clark Dwyer, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Chase Elliott, Robby Gordon, Jeff Green, Denny Hamlin, Cliff Hucul, Kenny Irwin, Jr., P.J. Jones, Kasey Kahne, Dave Marcis, Mark Martin, Michael McDowell, J.D. McDuffie, B.J. McLeod, Steve Park, Larry Pearson, Jody Ridley, Scott Riggs, Greg Sacks, Johnny Sauter, Morgan Shepherd, Mike Skinner, Reed Sorenson, Hut Stricklin, T.W. Taylor, Ronnie Thomas, Mike Wallace, Michael Waltrip, Rick Wilson, Rich Vogler, J.J. Yeley (1)

## RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

Richmond, Virginia - 0.750-mile oval

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

Today's three-quarter-mile D-shaped short track began its life as a half-mile dirt oval outside Richmond, Virginia, where on April 19, 1953, the first Richmond 200 was held. Finishing last that day was **Coleman Lawrence** of Martinsville, Virginia, who was making his 18th of 22 career Cup starts dating back to 1951. Records do not indicate where Lawrence started in the 27-car field, nor what ailed his #71 1950 Ford, but it is recorded that he finished there. It was to be Lawrence's first and only last-place finish of his Cup career. His best career finish was a 7th at his home track in Martinsville on October 14, 1951.

FIRST-TIME LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

Lawrence is one of a surprising few drivers to score their first Cup last-place finish at Richmond. Among them is 1990 Daytona 500 winner and three-time LASTCAR Cup Series Champion **Derrike Cope** , who scored the final last-place finish on the old Fairgrounds circuit in the spring of 1988. 1995 Rookie of the Year **Ricky Craven** also scored his first finish here in his first appearance on the track. **Clint Bowyer** scored his first last-place finish in 298 Cup starts here in the spring of 2014.

Coleman Lawrence

April 19, 1953 - #71 1950 Ford fell out after an unknown number of laps.

Bailey Wynkoop

September 14, 1958 - #5 1956 Chevrolet lost an engine after 15 laps.

John Dodd, Jr.

June 5, 1960 - #75 1960 Ford lost an engine after 37 laps.

Larry Manning

April 7, 1963 - #09 1962 Chevrolet lost an engine after 35 laps.

Bob Cooper

March 10, 1964 - #61 1962 Pontiac did not start the race.

Danny Byrd

March 7, 1965 - #07 1964 Ford fell out with handling problems after 1 lap.

Bill Seifert

May 15, 1966 - #93 1964 Ford lost oil pressure after 1 lap.

Clyde Lynn

September 10, 1967 - #20 1966 Ford crashed after 10 laps.

John Kenney

April 13, 1969 - #1 1967 Ford was flagged off the track after 1 lap.

Johnny Halford

March 1, 1970 - #57 1969 Dodge had an oil leak after 8 laps.

Walter Ballard

March 7, 1971 - #30 Ballard Racing 1971 Ford crashed after 2 laps.

Gordon Birkett

November 14, 1971 - #50 Gordon Birkett 1969 Chevrolet lost an engine after 43 laps.

Vic Parsons

February 25, 1973 - #45 Seifert Rent-A-Racer 1971 Mercury crashed after 1 lap.

Baxter Price

September 9, 1973 - #33 Price Racing 1972 Chevrolet crashed after 3 laps.

Joey Arrington

September 8, 1974 - #67 J.R. Stanley Trucking 1972 Plymouth broke an axle after 1 lap.

Skip Manning

March 7, 1976 - #92 Stratagraph Chevrolet overheated after 84 laps.

Larry LeMay

September 12, 1976 - #23 Schlitz Chevrolet parked after 87 laps due to driver illness.

Nelson Oswald

February 26, 1978 - #09 Perfect Alignment Chevrolet flagged off the track after 50 laps.

Roger Hamby

March 11, 1979 - #17 Hamby-Ellis Chevrolet overheated after 68 laps.

Gary Balough

February 21, 1982 - #75 Sanyo Buick crashed after 42 laps.

Derrike Cope

February 21, 1988 - #68 Purolator Filters Ford crashed after 47 laps.

Ricky Craven

March 5, 1995 - #41 Kodiak Chevrolet lost an engine after 141 laps.

Randy Renfrow

May 5, 2002 - #59 Price Motorsports Dodge broke an oil pump after 58 laps.

Patrick Carpentier

May 3, 2008 - #10 LifeLock Dodge crashed after 228 laps.

Clint Bowyer

April 26, 2014 - #15 AAA Insurance Toyota broke the suspension after 159 laps.

Joey Gase

April 26, 2015 - #32 Donate Life Virginia / CorvetteParts.net Ford crashed after 124 laps.

Erik Jones

April 30, 2017 - #77 GameStop / Prey Toyota crashed after 4 laps.

OTHER LASTCAR STATISTICS

No driver scored two last-place finishes at Richmond until March 24, 1968, when **Buck Baker** started 5th in Neil Castles' #06 1967 Plymouth only to lose oil pressure after 30 laps. The finish was the thirteenth and final of Baker's career.

Although **Baxter Price** was the first driver to score consecutive last-place finishes in the spring race in 1980 and 1981, no driver swept both Richmond events until 1983, when **Tommy Gale** did so for two different teams. In the spring, Gale's #02 Midlothian Texaco Buick owned by Bud Reeder crashed after 30 laps. In the fall, when he drove for Elmo Langley, Gale's #64 Thermo-Guard Ford lost an engine after 39 laps. Since then, only two other drivers have swept at Richmond: **Harry Gant** (1990) and **Dave Blaney** (2009).

Richmond was also the site of the Cup Series' first last-place finish by disqualification since 1992. On September 21, 2019, **Erik Jones** finished 4th, completing a sweep of the top four finishing positions by Joe Gibbs Racing. However, the car was then found to have a rear toe end infraction, which meant a disqualification under NASCAR's revamped post-race inspection rules. The result dropped him to last in the running order, behind original last-place finisher **Reed Sorenson**.

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDERS

**J.D. McDuffie's** four Richmond last-place finishes all came in the fall race, including a rare start in a car not his own when he drove Doc Faustina's #5 Plymouth in 1972. McDuffie retained sole possession of the Richmond last-place record when the track was reconfigured in 1988.

*September 8, 1968 - #70 1967 Buick lost oil pressure after 12 laps.

*September 7, 1969 - #70 1967 Buick lost an engine after 22 laps.

*September 10, 1972 - #5 1970 Plymouth broke the transmission after 3 laps.

*September 7, 1980 - #70 Bailey Excavating Chevrolet burned a cylinder head after 44 laps.

It wasn't until 2006 that **Morgan Shepherd** tied McDuffie's Richmond record by scoring his third last-place finish in the fall race:

*September 8, 1985 - #00 Helen Rae Special Chevrolet crashed after 28 laps.

*September 13, 1987 - #26 Quaker State Buick crashed after 12 laps.

*March 2, 1997 - #1 Delco Remy America Pontiac lost an engine after 131 laps.

*September 9, 2006 - #89 Victory In Jesus Dodge lost the brakes after 18 laps.

TRACK RANKINGS 1953-2019

1st) J.D. McDuffie, Morgan Shepherd (4)

2nd) Derrike Cope, Baxter Price, Reed Sorenson (3)

3rd) Buck Baker, Dave Blaney, Todd Bodine, Ricky Craven, Tommy Gale, Harry Gant, Erik Jones, Rick Mast, Ed Negre, Joe Nemechek, Rick Newsom, Joe Ruttman, Scott Speed, Frank Warren, J.J. Yeley (2)

4th) Mike Alexander, A.J. Allmendinger, Michael Annett, Joey Arrington, Buddy Baker, Walter Ballard, Gary Balough, Eddie Bierschwale, Gordon Birkett, Mike Bliss, Brett Bodine, Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton, Danny Byrd, Patrick Carpentier, Landon Cassill, Bob Cooper, Curtis Crider, Wally Dallenbach, Jr., Dean Dalton, John Dodd, Jr., Christian Fittipaldi, Tim Flock, Larry Frank, Mike Garvey, Joey Gase, Gray Gaulding, Cecil Gordon, Robby Gordon, David Green, Johnny Halford, Roger Hamby, Bobby Hamilton, Jr., Ernie Irvan, John Kenney, Terry Labonte, Randy LaJoie, Elmo Langley, Kyle Larson, Coleman Lawrence, Jason Leffler, Larry LeMay, Jimmie Lewallen, Chad Little, Clyde Lynn, Larry Manning, Skip Manning, Dave Marcis, Sterling Marlin, Michael McDowell, Jimmy Means, Paul Menard, Ralph Moody, G.T. Nolan, Nelson Oswald, Jimmy Pardue, Steve Park, Phil Parsons, Vic Parsons, David Pearson, Larry Pearson, Kyle Petty, Richard Petty, Robert Pressley, Randy Renfrow, Jim Sauter, Elton Sawyer, Bill Seifert, Bill Shirey, Jack Smith, Lake Speed, Dick Trickle, Roy Tyner, Darrell Waltrip, Michael Waltrip, Bobby Wawak, Bailey Wynkoop, Cale Yarborough, Doug Yates (1)

TOYOTA OWNERS 400

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Kyle Larson - #42 McDonald's Chevrolet

2018) Reed Sorenson - #55 VIPRacingExperience.com Chevrolet

2017) Erik Jones - #77 GameStop / Prey Toyota

2016) Reed Sorenson - #55 ChampionMachinery.com Chevrolet

2015) Joey Gase - #32 Donate Life Virginia / CorvetteParts.net Ford

TOYOTA OWNERS 400

EVENT RANKINGS 1953-2019

1st) Buck Baker, Derrike Cope, Ricky Craven, Rick Mast, Baxter Price (2)

2nd) Walter Ballard, Gary Balough, Eddie Bierschwale, Dave Blaney, Mike Bliss, Todd Bodine, Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton, Danny Byrd, Patrick Carpentier, Bob Cooper, Wally Dallenbach, Jr., John Dodd, Jr., Tim Flock, Tommy Gale, Harry Gant, Mike Garvey, Joey Gase, Gray Gaulding, Cecil Gordon, David Green, Johnny Halford, Roger Hamby, Erik Jones, John Kenney, Randy LaJoie, Kyle Larson, Coleman Lawrence, Jimmie Lewallen, Larry Manning, Skip Manning, Dave Marcis, Jimmy Means, Ralph Moody, Ed Negre, Joe Nemechek, Rick Newsom, Nelson Oswald, Jimmy Pardue, Steve Park, Vic Parsons, David Pearson, Randy Renfrow, Jim Sauter, Bill Seifert, Morgan Shepherd, Reed Sorenson, Scott Speed, Dick Trickle, Roy Tyner, Frank Warren, Bobby Wawak, J.J. Yeley (1)

FEDERATED AUTO PARTS 400

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Erik Jones - #20 Craftsman Toyota

2018) Gray Gaulding - #52 Live! Hotel & Casino Ford

2017) Landon Cassill - #34 CSX "Play It Safe" Ford

2016) Paul Menard - #27 Dutch Boy / Menards Chevrolet

2015) Michael Annett - #46 Switch Hitch Chevrolet

FEDERATED AUTO PARTS 400

EVENT RANKINGS 1958-2019

1st) J.D. McDuffie (4)

2nd) Morgan Shepherd (3)

3rd) Joe Ruttman (2)

4th) Mike Alexander, A.J. Allmendinger, Michael Annett, Joey Arrington, Buddy Baker, Gordon Birkett, Dave Blaney, Brett Bodine, Todd Bodine, Landon Cassill, Derrike Cope, Curtis Crider, Christian Fittipaldi, Larry Frank, Tommy Gale, Harry Gant, Gray Gaulding, Robby Gordon, Bobby Hamilton, Jr., Ernie Irvan, Erik Jones, Terry Labonte, Elmo Langley, Jason Leffler, Larry LeMay, Chad Little, Clyde Lynn, Sterling Marlin, Michael McDowell, Paul Menard, Ed Negre, Joe Nemechek, Rick Newsom, G.T. Nolan, Phil Parsons, Larry Pearson, Kyle Petty, Richard Petty, Robert Pressley, Baxter Price, Elton Sawyer, Bill Shirey, Jack Smith, Reed Sorenson, Lake Speed, Scott Speed, Darrell Waltrip, Michael Waltrip, Frank Warren, Bailey Wynkoop, Cale Yarborough, Doug Yates, J.J. Yeley (1)

## SONOMA RACEWAY

Sonoma, California - 1.99-mile road course

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

After the closure of Riverside International Raceway, the NASCAR Cup Series invaded the California Bay Area and what was then Sears Point International Raceway, a 2.52-mile road course in the Napa Valley. After a weekend of crash-filled practice and qualifying sessions, the first last-place finisher of the Banquet Frozen Foods 300 on June 11, 1989 was Hickory, North Carolina driver **Dale Jarrett** , whose #29 Hardee's Pontiac broke the transmission after 8 laps. Jarrett was making his 69th series start and had qualified 33rd in a field of 42. His first of 32 career wins was still just over two years away. Jarrett went on to win three Daytona 500s and the 1999 NASCAR Cup Series Championship, but in nineteen starts at Sonoma through 2007, Jarrett scored just four top tens.

FIRST-TIME LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

Among the few first-time last-placers at Sonoma are two victims of extremely hard crashes. In 1991, **R.K. Smith** lost the engine on his Pontiac in the Carousel corner and wound up with his car on two wheels in the embankment. In 1998, **Jerry Nadeau** started outside-pole, damaged his car trying to pass Jeff Gordon for the lead, and broke a track bar that sent him head-on into an embankment in the Esses. Both drivers were shaken, but not seriously injured.

R.K. Smith

June 9, 1991 - #09 Midgley Racing Pontiac lost an engine after 2 laps.

Dan Obrist

May 7, 1995 - #72 Fight Team USA Chevrolet suffered ignition failure after 7 laps.

Jerry Nadeau

June 28, 1998 - #13 FirstPlus Financial Ford crashed after 13 laps.

Butch Gilliland

June 27, 1999 - #38 Ralph's / Food 4 Less / Coca-Cola Ford lost an engine after 3 laps.

Tom Hubert

June 27, 2004 - #72 Freddie B's Ford flagged off the track for running too slow after 5 laps.

Brian Simo

June 22, 2008 - #34 No Fear Ford suffered transmission failure after 20 laps.

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDERS

Road race specialist **Tom Hubert** , who leads all drivers with three last-place finishes at Sonoma, became the first driver to finish last in the same Cup Series event in three consecutive years. In each, Hubert drove for a single-car operation owned by Kirk Shelmerdine, a longtime crew chief of Dale Earnhardt's who went on to start several Cup races of his own in the early 2000's. Hubert's most spectacular exit came in 2006, when he collided with the stopped Ford of Ken Schrader in the Esses on the first lap.

*June 27, 2004 - #72 Freddie B's Ford flagged for driving too slow after 5 laps.

*June 26, 2005 - #27 Freddie B's / NAPA Ford lost oil pressure after 33 laps.

*June 25, 2006 - #27 Interush Ford crashed after 0 laps.

TRACK RANKINGS 1989-2019

1st) Tom Hubert (3)

2nd) P.J. Jones, Sterling Marlin, Hershel McGriff (2)

3rd) A.J. Allmendinger, John Andretti, Geoffrey Bodine, Clint Bowyer, Landon Cassill, Derrike Cope, Hideo Fukuyama, Butch Gilliland, David Gilliland, Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte, Kevin Lepage, Jerry Nadeau, Joe Nemechek, Dan Obrist, Max Papis, Greg Sacks, Brian Simo, R.K. Smith, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Mike Wallace, J.J. Yeley (1)

TOYOTA / SAVE MART 350

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) J.J. Yeley - #51 Jacob Companies Chevrolet

2018) A.J. Allmendinger - #47 Kroger ClickList / Cheerios / Breyer's Chevrolet

2017) Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. - #17 Fastenal Ford

2016) Clint Bowyer - #15 5-hour Energy Chevrolet

2015) David Gilliland - #38 Love's Travel Stops Ford

## TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY

Talladega, Alabama - 2.66-mile tri-oval superspeedway

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

On a weekend where concerns over tire wear led to a boycott of NASCAR's biggest and fastest track, the inaugural Talladega 500 on September 14, 1969 saw not only a first-time winner in Richard Brickhouse, but a first-time last-place finisher in **Don Schissler**. Schissler, who hailed from Detroit, Michigan, was making his first Cup start in nearly two years. Schissler gave Bud Moore his only Cup start of 1969, driving his #16 1969 Mercury to the 30th starting spot in the 36-car field. Schissler lost the engine before he could complete a lap around the 2.66-mile course, and he followed Doug Easton's 1968 Ford to the garage area. It was to be Schissler's third and final Cup Series start. His best career finish remained his 14th-place run at the Asheville-Weaverville Speedway on November 5, 1967.

FIRST-TIME LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

A significant list of drivers scored their first-ever Cup Series last-place finishes at Talladega. Included are singer-songwriter and part-time racer **Marty Robbins** , who was disqualified for a technical infraction, Canadians **Earl Ross** , **John Banks** , and **Trevor Boys** , and current broadcaster **Wally Dallenbach, Jr.** Versatile racer **Robby Gordon** scored his first last-place finish in the first start for the #28 car following the untimely passing of **Davey Allison** in 1993. Two-time LASTCAR Cup Series Champion **Joe Nemechek** claimed his first at this track as well. 2010 Rookie of the Year **Kevin Conway** , who scored his first here in 2011, was also the first driver to sweep both last-place finishes at Talladega in the same season.

Don Schissler

September 14, 1969 - #16 1969 Mercury lost an engine after 0 laps.

Bill Shirey

April 12, 1970 - #74 1969 Plymouth lost an engine after 3 laps.

Bub Strickler

May 16, 1971 - #35 1969 Ford lost an engine after 1 lap.

Marty Robbins

May 7, 1972 - #42 Marty Robbins 1972 Dodge disqualified after having run 179 laps.

Robert Wales

August 6, 1972 - #63 1970 Dodge lost an engine after 1 lap.

Paul Tyler

August 12, 1973 - #83 Smithville Farms 1971 Mercury suffered ignition failure after 10 laps.

Earl Ross

May 5, 1974 - #52 Carling 1974 Chevrolet lost an engine after 28 laps.

John Banks

May 4, 1975 - #55 Banks Alignment 1974 Dodge lost an engine after 0 laps.

Randy Tissot

August 17, 1975 - #74 Tilitco Enterprises 1974 Chevrolet lost an engine after 1 lap.

Tommy Gale

August 8, 1976 - #64 Ford lost an engine after 1 lap.

Joe Booher

August 2, 1981 - #25 Thomas Racing Pontiac lost an engine after 4 laps.

David Simko

May 2, 1982 - #54 Mound Steel Pontiac crashed after 4 laps.

Jim Hurlbert

August 1, 1982 - #00 Hurlbert Racing Buick suffered ignition failure after 1 lap.

Rick Baldwin

May 5, 1983 - #96 White Crown Engineering Buick lost an engine after 7 laps.

Dick Skillen

July 31, 1983 - #78 Truss Builders Pontiac crashed after 1 lap.

Grant Adcox

July 29, 1984 - #29 Adcox-Kirby Chevrolet lost an engine after 1 lap.

Trevor Boys

May 5, 1985 - #98 McCaig Racing Chevrolet lost an engine after 6 laps.

Pancho Carter

July 27, 1986 - #17 K-Mart / Wynn's Oil Chevrolet lost an engine after 29 laps.

Chet Fillip

May 3, 1987 - #81 Pannill Knitting Ford lost an engine after 3 laps.

Wally Dallenbach, Jr.

July 28, 1991 - #90 Orkin Pest Control Ford crashed after 2 laps.

Robby Gordon

July 25, 1993 - #28 Texaco / Havoline Ford crashed after 55 laps.

Joe Nemechek

May 1, 1994 - #41 Meineke Chevrolet lost an engine after 75 laps.

Jay Sauter

October 6, 2002 - #71 RealTree Camouflage Chevrolet crashed after 46 laps.

Hermie Sadler

April 6, 2003 - #02 Aaron's Dream Machine Chevrolet crashed after 3 laps.

Bobby Hamilton, Jr.

October 3, 2004 - #32 Tide Chevrolet crashed after 120 laps.

Paul Menard

April 29, 2007 - #15 Menards Chevrolet lost an engine after 22 laps.

Kevin Conway

April 17, 2011 - #97 ExtenZe Toyota fell out with an electrical problem after 1 lap.

Brian Scott

May 3, 2015 - #33 Shore Lodge Chevrolet lost an engine after 18 laps.

Ryan Blaney

October 25, 2015 - #21 Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford lost an engine after 84 laps.

Justin Marks

October 15, 2017 - #7 Golden Corral / Katerra Chevrolet crashed after 16 laps.

OTHER LASTCAR STATISTICS

It took only five races at Talladega for a driver to score their second last-place finish at the track: **Neil Castles** did the honors on August 22, 1971 when his #06 1970 Dodge lost the ignition after he competed just 1 lap.

The #32 Tide Chevrolet owned by PPI Motorsports swept both Talladega races in 2004 with two different drivers. In the spring, **Ricky Craven** lost an engine after 7 laps. In the fall, **Bobby Hamilton, Jr.** crashed after 120 laps. No one driver has yet to sweep both Talladega last-place finishes in the same season.

Talladega's only polesitter to finish last is **Stacy Compton** , who on April 22, 2001 led the opening 2 laps in his #92 Kodiak Dodge, but lost the engine after 116 laps. Compton's crew chief at the time was a former member of Jeff Gordon's pit crew of "Rainbow Warriors" named Chad Knaus.

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDERS

When Bobby Allison's crash in 1987 resulted in today's restrictor-plate rules, Neil Castles, Coo Coo Marlin, and **Jimmy Means** had the most last-place finishes here with two apiece. Means took the overall lead with a third in 1989:

*May 6, 1984 - #52 Broadway Motors Chevrolet lost oil pressure after 6 laps.

*July 28, 1985 - #52 Broadway Motors Pontiac lost an engine after 10 laps.

*May 7, 1989 - #52 Alka-Seltzer Pontiac lost an engine after 5 laps.

Means held sole possession of the record until 2006, when **Derrike Cope** matched him by trailing the first Cup race on the newly-repaved Alabama track:

*May 6, 1990 - #10 Purolator Chevrolet lost the engine after 3 laps.

*April 30, 1995 - #12 Straight Arrow Ford crashed after 64 laps.

*October 8, 2006 - #74 Dodge overheated after 9 laps.

And **Michael McDowell** joined the group in 2019:

*May 5, 2012 - #98 Curb Records Ford had a vibration after 2 laps.

*October 14, 2018 - #34 Speedco / Rotella Ford finished running after 155 of 188 laps.

*April 28, 2019 - #34 Love's Travel Stops / Brisk Ford crashed after 10 laps.

TRACK RANKINGS 1969-2019

1st) Derrike Cope, Michael McDowell, Jimmy Means (3)

2nd) Jeff Burton, Neil Castles, Kevin Conway, Coo Coo Marlin, Joe Nemechek, Ryan Newman, Hermie Sadler, Reed Sorenson, Darrell Waltrip (2)

3rd) Grant Adcox, Rick Baldwin, Walter Ballard, John Banks, Trevor Bayne, Dave Blaney, Ryan Blaney, Brett Bodine, Geoffrey Bodine, Joe Booher, Alex Bowman, Spencer Boyd, Trevor Boys, Richard D. Brown, Darrell Bryant, Pancho Carter, Stacy Compton, Ricky Craven, Wally Dallenbach, Jr., Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Bill Elliott, Chet Fillip, Larry Foyt, Jeff Fuller, Tommy Gale, Robby Gordon, Bobby Hamilton, Bobby Hamilton, Jr., Bruce Hill, Andy Hillenburg, Bobby Hillin, Jr., Jim Hurlbert, James Hylton, Kenny Irwin, Jr., Terry Labonte, Kyle Larson, Kevin Lepage, Justin Marks, Mark Martin, Dick May, John McFadden, Paul Menard, Ed Negre, Phil Parsons, Larry Pearson, Kyle Petty, Ken Ragan, Tony Raines, Jody Ridley, Marty Robbins, Earl Ross, Ricky Rudd, Joe Ruttman, Jay Sauter, Don Schissler, Brian Scott, Morgan Shepherd, Bill Shirey, Dick Skillen, Mike Skinner, David Simko, Jimmy Spencer, Billy Standridge, Tony Stewart, Bub Strickler, Travis Tiller, Randy Tissot, Martin Truex, Jr., Paul Tyler, Robert Wales, Rusty Wallace, Michael Waltrip, Josh Wise (1)

GEICO 500

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Michael McDowell - #34 Love's Travel Stops / Brisk Ford

2018) Kyle Larson - #42 Credit One Bank Chevrolet

2017) Reed Sorenson - #55 Xchange of America Toyota

2016) Dale Earnhardt, Jr. - #88 Nationwide Insurance Chevrolet

2015) Brian Scott - #33 Shore Lodge Chevrolet

GEICO 500

EVENT RANKINGS 1970-2019

1st) Derrike Cope, Jimmy Means, Hermie Sadler, Reed Sorenson (2)

2nd) Rick Baldwin, John Banks, Trevor Bayne, Dave Blaney, Brett Bodine, Geoffrey Bodine, Spencer Boyd, Trevor Boys, Richard D. Brown, Darrell Bryant, Jeff Burton, Stacy Compton, Kevin Conway, Ricky Craven, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Bill Elliott, Chet Fillip, Bobby Hamilton, Kyle Larson, Coo Coo Marlin, Mark Martin, Michael McDowell, John McFadden, Paul Menard, Ed Negre, Joe Nemechek, Ryan Newman, Larry Pearson, Kyle Petty, Ken Ragan, Jody Ridley, Marty Robbins, Earl Ross, Ricky Rudd, Brian Scott, Morgan Shepherd, Bill Shirey, David Simko, Tony Stewart, Bub Strickler, Travis Tiller, Darrell Waltrip (1)

TALLADEGA 500

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Spencer Boyd - #52 Manscaped / Factor One Source Chevrolet

2018) Michael McDowell - #34 Speedco / Rotella Ford

2017) Justin Marks - #7 Golden Corral / Katerra Chevrolet

2016) Martin Truex, Jr. - #78 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Toyota

2015) Ryan Blaney - #21 Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford

TALLADEGA 500

EVENT RANKINGS 1969-2019

1st) Neil Castles (2)

2nd) Grant Adcox, Walter Ballard, Ryan Blaney, Joe Booher, Alex Bowman, Spencer Boyd, Jeff Burton, Pancho Carter, Kevin Conway, Derrike Cope, Wally Dallenbach, Jr., Dale Earnhardt, Larry Foyt, Jeff Fuller, Tommy Gale, Robby Gordon, Bobby Hamilton, Jr., Bruce Hill, Andy Hillenburg, Bobby Hillin, Jr., Jim Hurlbert, James Hylton, Kenny Irwin, Jr., Terry Labonte, Kevin Lepage, Justin Marks, Coo Coo Marlin, Dick May, Michael McDowell, Jimmy Means, Joe Nemechek, Ryan Newman, Phil Parsons, Tony Raines, Joe Ruttman, Jay Sauter, Don Schissler, Dick Skillen, Mike Skinner, Jimmy Spencer, Billy Standridge, Randy Tissot, Martin Truex, Jr., Paul Tyler, Robert Wales, Rusty Wallace, Darrell Waltrip, Michael Waltrip, Josh Wise (1)

## TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Fort Worth, Texas - 1.5-mile quad-oval

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

The inaugural Interstate Batteries 500 at the new Texas Motor Speedway on April 6, 1997 got off to an inauspicious start when water seeping through the track surface triggered a thirteen-car wreck in the first corner. Despite the carnage, the only car that failed to complete that first lap belonged to **Darrell Waltrip**. Waltrip, who would go on to finish last in the inaugural Cup race at Homestead two years later, was competing in his final full season as the owner-driver of the #17 Parts America Chevrolet. His 695th career start resulted in his 11th last-place finish.

FIRST-TIME LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

As of this writing, only two drivers have scored their first last-place finishes at Texas:

J.J. Yeley

April 15, 2007 - #18 Interstate Batteries Chevrolet crashed after 1 lap.

Gray Gaulding

November 5, 2017 - #83 Earthwater Toyota lost an engine after 159 laps.

OTHER LASTCAR STATISTICS

In 2013, **Michael McDowell** became the first driver to sweep the last-place finishes of both Texas races, doing so in his final year behind the wheel of the #98 Phil Parsons Racing Ford. In the spring, McDowell overheated after 44 laps, then drove in relief of Bobby Labonte before that car also lost an engine. In the fall, McDowell led a lap under caution, then suffered a vibration after 27 laps. **Josh Wise** repeated McDowell's feat in 2016, including a Cup-XFINITY Series sweep in the spring.

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDERS

2005 LASTCAR Cup Series Champion **Mike Skinner** is a three-time last-place finisher at the Texas Motor Speedway---

*November 6, 2005 - #37 Patron Tequila / BoSPOKER.net Dodge broke the rear end after 151 laps.

*November 8, 2009 - #70 TRG Motorsports Chevrolet lost the brakes after 6 laps.

*April 9, 2011 - #60 Big Red Toyota broke the rear gear after 36 laps.

\---along with first-timer **J.J. Yeley:**

*April 15, 2007 - #18 Interstate Batteries Chevrolet crashed after 1 lap.

*November 6, 2011 - #55 Ingersoll Rand Ford lost fuel pressure after 10 laps.

*April 11, 2015 - #23 Dr. Pepper "I'm A Pepper" Toyota lost an engine after 13 laps.

TRACK RANKINGS 1997-2019

1st) Mike Skinner, J.J. Yeley (3)

2nd) Dave Blaney, Jeff Gordon, Michael McDowell, Josh Wise (2)

3rd) Todd Bodine, Ward Burton, Landon Cassill, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jeffrey Earnhardt, Bill Elliott, Gray Gaulding, Jeff Green, Ernie Irvan, Corey LaJoie, Kyle Larson, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jerry Nadeau, Joe Nemechek, Robert Pressley, David Reutimann, Reed Sorenson, Scott Speed, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Martin Truex, Jr., Brian Vickers, Darrell Waltrip, Michael Waltrip (1)

O'REILLY AUTO PARTS 500

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Kyle Larson - #42 Credit One Bank Chevrolet

2018) Martin Truex, Jr. - #78 Bass Pro Shops / 5-hour Energy Toyota

2017) Jeffrey Earnhardt - #33 Superior Logistics / Chris Kyle Memorial Chevrolet

2016) Josh Wise - #30 CrawfestNB.com / Radisson Fort Worth Chevrolet

2015) J.J. Yeley - #23 Dr. Pepper "I'm A Pepper" Toyota

O'REILLY AUTO PARTS 500

EVENT RANKINGS 1997-2019

1st) Dave Blaney, Jeff Gordon, J.J. Yeley (2)

2nd) Todd Bodine, Ward Burton, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jeffrey Earnhardt, Bill Elliott, Jeff Green, Ernie Irvan, Kyle Larson, Michael McDowell, Jerry Nadeau, Robert Pressley, Mike Skinner, Scott Speed, Martin Truex, Jr., Brian Vickers, Darrell Waltrip, Josh Wise (1)

AAA TEXAS 500

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. - #17 Fastenal / Norton Saint-Gobain Ford

2018) Corey LaJoie - #72 Gas Monkey Garage Chevrolet

2017) Gray Gaulding - #83 Earthwater Toyota

2016) Josh Wise - #30 The Motorsports Group Chevrolet

2015) Ryan Blaney - #21 Snap-on Tools Ford

AAA TEXAS 500

EVENT RANKINGS 2005-2019

1st) Mike Skinner (2)

2nd) Ryan Blaney, Landon Cassill, Gray Gaulding, Corey LaJoie, Michael McDowell, Juan Pablo Montoya, Joe Nemechek, David Reutimann, Reed Sorenson, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Michael Waltrip, Josh Wise, J.J. Yeley (1)

## WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL

Watkins Glen, New York - 2.450-mile road course

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

Two years before he finished last in Daytona's first qualifying race in 1959, Greenville, South Carolina driver **L.D. Austin** also picked up NASCAR's first last-place run on the Watkins Glen road course. Austin started 12th in the 20-car field, but suffered a distributor problem that took him out of the running after 6 of 44 laps. It was one of four DNFs Austin scored in his first season on the Cup Series tour and his only last-place finish that year. The Watkins Glen finish came in Austin's 26th of 169 career Cup starts. His career-best finishes were a pair of 5th-place runs at the Coastal Speedway in South Carolina in 1957 and at Pennsylvania's Heidelberg Raceway in 1960.

FIRST-TIME LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

Joining Austin among the first-time last-place finishers on this list are prolific international road racers such as **Ron Fellows** (Canada), **Marc Goossens** (Belgium), and **Max Papis** (Italy). In 2016, **Jimmie Johnson** claimed his first last-place finish here in his 529th series start – then went on to claim his seventh series title.

L.D. Austin

August 4, 1957 - #74 1956 Chevrolet broke a distributor after 6 laps.

Chuck Schroedel

August 10, 1987 - #1 Henley Gray Racing Pontiac lost the engine after 8 laps.

Ron Fellows

August 13, 2000 - #87 Bully Hill Vineyards Chevrolet lost the engine after 21 laps.

Larry Gunselman

August 15, 2004 - #98 Mach One Inc. Ford broke the transmission after 2 laps.

Marc Goossens

August 13, 2006 - #90 CitiFinancial Ford crashed after 58 laps.

Max Papis

August 10, 2008 - #70 Haas Automation Chevrolet crashed after 81 laps.

Tony Ave

August 10, 2009 - #37 Long John Silver's Dodge broke the transmission after 8 laps.

Scott Speed

August 8, 2010 - #82 Red Bull Toyota lost the engine after 28 laps.

Cole Whitt

August 10, 2014 - #26 Bully Hill Vineyards Toyota crashed after 9 laps.

Jimmie Johnson

August 7, 2016 - #48 Lowe's / Jimmie Johnson Foundation Chevrolet crashed after 52 laps.

OTHER LASTCAR STATISTICS

Tragedy struck at Watkins Glen on August 11, 1991 when **J.D. McDuffie** became the first driver to finish last in a Cup Series race due to a fatal accident suffered in the event. McDuffie's #70 L.C. Whitford Pontiac suffered a catastrophic suspension failure and slammed into a tire barrier on Lap 5. It was the 32nd last-place finish of McDuffie's 653-race career, setting a record that was not matched for twenty-two years.

Three times the last-place finisher at Watkins Glen did not complete a single lap: **E.J. Trivette** (1965), **Dorsey Schroeder** (1993), and **Brian Vickers** (2012).

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDERS

1990 Daytona 500 Champion **Derrike Cope** leads all Cup drivers with three last-place finishes at Watkins Glen, all of them due to engine failures in the first five laps. Cope scored back-to-back finishes in 1988 and 1989, then a third in 1994, the year he swept both road course last-place finishes following a spectacular wreck at Sonoma that May:

*August 14, 1988 - #68 Purolator Ford lost the engine after 2 laps.

*August 13, 1989 - #10 Purolator Pontiac lost the engine after 3 laps.

*August 14, 1994 - #12 Straight Arrow Ford lost the engine after 5 laps.

TRACK RANKINGS 1957-2019

1st) Derrike Cope (3)

2nd) L.D. Austin, Tony Ave, Pete Boland, Jeff Burton, Ward Burton, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Ron Fellows, Marc Goossens, Larry Gunselman, James Hylton, Jimmie Johnson, Chad Little, Joey Logano, Sterling Marlin, J.D. McDuffie, Max Papis, Kyle Petty, David Reutimann, Greg Sacks, Elliott Sadler, Chuck Schroedel, Dorsey Schroeder, Morgan Shepherd, Mike Skinner, Reed Sorenson, Scott Speed, Tony Stewart, Hut Stricklin, Dick Trickle, E.J. Trivette, Brian Vickers, Rusty Wallace, Cole Whitt (1)

GO BOWLING AT THE GLEN

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Reed Sorenson - #77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

2018) Joey Logano - #22 Shell / Pennzoil Ford

2017) Dale Earnhardt, Jr. - #88 Axalta Chevrolet

2016) Jimmie Johnson - #48 Lowe's / Jimmie Johnson Foundation Chevrolet

2015) Tony Stewart - #14 Bass Pro Shops / Mobil 1 Chevrolet

## PART TWO:

## EXHIBITION RACES

## THE CLASH AT DAYTONA

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

Known first as the "Busch Clash of '79," the inaugural pole winner's race was run at the Daytona International Speedway on February 11, 1979. Trailing the nine-car field was the 20-lap race's only retiree, Sanford, North Carolina owner-driver **J.D. McDuffie**. Though McDuffie had amassed nineteen of his record 32 last-place finishes by the start of the 1979 season, he hadn't trailed a field since 1975 and had finished 11th and 12th in points in the three seasons that followed.

But McDuffie's biggest prize came in 1978, when he scored the only pole position of his career at Dover for the September 17 running of the Delaware 500. That pole granted his #70 Bailey Excavating Oldsmobile a spot in the Clash - the 5th spot, determined by random draw in a ceremony where the drivers selected marked cans of Busch beer. McDuffie fell to the back early, then pulled off the track three laps from the finish. He would go on to finish 25th in the Daytona 500 and 13th in points, but led more laps in 1979 than any other in his career - 118 - with 111 of them at the Nashville Fairgrounds on May 12.

CURRENT LASTCAR EVENT RECORD HOLDER

Two-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion and 1985 Clash winner **Terry Labonte** has competed in eighteen runnings of this event, but has finished last in his three most recent starts. In 2013, he broke out of a seven-way tie for the overall lead in his first appearance in the event since 2006. Both the 2006 and his prior finish in 2005 were due to withdrawals when Labonte was eligible to run the event and had a ride set up, but did not participate. 2014's early exit was because the team used Labonte's Daytona 500 car in the race, which they wanted to save for the main event.

*February 12, 2005 - #44 Kellogg's Chevrolet withdrew from the event.

*February 12, 2006 - #96 DLP HDTV / Tweeter Chevrolet withdrew from the event.

*February 16, 2013 - #32 C&J Energy Services Ford suffered a vibration after 2 laps.

*February 15, 2014 - #32 C&J Energy Services Ford suffered a vibration after 1 lap.

THE CLASH

EVENT RANKINGS 1979-2019

1st) Terry Labonte (4)

2nd) John Andretti, Geoffrey Bodine, Derrike Cope, Jeff Gordon, David Pearson, Ricky Rudd (2)

3rd) Donnie Allison, Chuck Bown, Jeff Burton, Kurt Busch, Bill Elliott, Harry Gant, Jeff Green, Bobby Hamilton, Kevin Harvick, Jimmy Hensley, Erik Jones, P.J. Jones, Kasey Kahne, Brad Keselowski, Jason Leffler, Joey Logano, J.D. McDuffie, Jamie McMurray, Jimmy Means, Joe Milikan, Benny Parsons, Tim Richmond, Morgan Shepherd, Darrell Waltrip, Michael Waltrip (1)

THE CLASH

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Erik Jones - #20 Sport Clips Toyota

2018) Jamie McMurray - #1 Cessna Chevrolet

2017) Kurt Busch - #41 Monster Energy Ford

2016) Kevin Harvick - #4 Busch Beer Chevrolet

2015) Brad Keselowski - #2 Miller Lite Ford

## DUEL AT DAYTONA

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

The first-ever SpeedWeeks at Daytona in 1959 featured just one qualifying race in place of today's two, marking the only time that has ever been done. The last-place finisher of that race was **L.D. Austin** , who also trailed the first Cup field at Watkins Glen two years earlier. On February 20, 1959, Austin started 35th in the 38-car field behind the wheel of his #74 1957 Chevrolet. Steering problems put him out of the running after just 1 lap. This gave Austin the 58th spot in the 59-car field for that Sunday's Daytona 500, where he came home 44th with a busted generator.

CURRENT LASTCAR EVENT RECORD HOLDERS

As of this writing, eleven drivers hold equal claim to the record number of last-place finishes in this event with two apiece, including World of Outlaws legend **Steve Kinser** (1993, 1995), eight-time ARCA at Daytona winner **Bobby Gerhart** (1988, 2000), 1985 Firecracker 400 winner **Greg Sacks** (1989, 2005), popular road racer **Boris Said** (2009, 2010), and ageless veterans **Morgan Shepherd** (1991, 2005) and **Hershel McGriff** (1975, 1977):

BUDWEISER DUELS

EVENT RANKINGS 1959-2019

**1st) Dave Blaney,** **Delma Cowart, Bobby Gerhart, Tommy Irwin, Steve Kinser, Carl Long, Hershel McGriff, Casey Mears,** **Greg Sacks, Boris Said, Morgan Shepherd (2)**

2nd) Grant Adcox, Davey Allison, Donnie Allison, Aric Almirola, L.D. Austin, H.B. Bailey, Buck Baker, Buddy Baker, John Banks, Phil Barkdoll, Trevor Bayne, Arnold Bennett, Norm Benning, Lem Blankenship, Mike Bliss, Brett Bodine, Joe Booher, Jim Bray, Earl Brooks, Ward Burton, Rick Carelli, Landon Cassill, Neil Castles, Rene Charland, Richard Childress, Jim Cook, Ricky Craven, Jimmy Crawford, Johnny Dollar, Gerald Duke, Phil Finney, Woody Fisher, George Follmer, Dario Franchitti, Jeff Fuller, Tommy Gale, Mark Gibson, David Gilliland, Jack Goodwin, Robby Gordon, David Green, Jimmy Hensley, Ben Hess, Joe Hines, Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski, Terry Labonte, Kyle Larson, Kevin Lepage, Dwayne Leik, Terry Link, Dave Mader, Jocko Maggiacomo, Coo Coo Marlin, Sterling Marlin, Rick Mast, Dick May, Dick McCabe, Buzz McCann, J.D. McDuffie, B.J. McLeod, Jimmy Means, Ken Meisenhelder, Juan Pablo Montoya, Joe Nemechek, Ryan Newman, Dan Pardus, Steve Park, Joe Penland, Dick Poling, Tim Richmond, Bob Riley, Scott Riggs, Tommy Robbs, Greg Sacks, Hermie Sadler, Ronnie Sanders, Jim Sauter, Bob Schacht, David Simko, Mike Skinner, Mark Stahl, Don Stives, Bub Strickler, Al Terrell, Dick Trickle, Curtis Turner, Rusty Wallace, Blackie Wangerin, Cody Ware, Bobby Wawak, Allan West, Cole Whitt, Josh Wise, Ricky Woodward, J.J. Yeley (1)

BUDWEISER DUELS

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019, Race 1) Cody Ware - #52 Winn Dixie Chevrolet

2019, Race 2) B.J. McLeod - #51 Jacob Companies Chevrolet

2018, Race 1) Aric Almirola - #10 Smithfield Ford

2018, Race 2) Kyle Larson - #42 Credit One Bank Chevrolet

2017, Race 1) Chris Buescher - #37 Cottonelle Mega Roll Chevrolet

2017, Race 2) A.J. Allmendinger - #47 Kroger ClickList / Stouffer's / Cheez-It Chevrolet

2016, Race 1) Cole Whitt - #98 RTIC Coolers Toyota

2016, Race 2) Ryan Newman - #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet

2015, Race 1) Casey Mears - #13 GEICO Chevrolet

2015, Race 2) Josh Wise - #98 Phoenix Construction / Curb Records Ford

## THE ALL-STAR OPEN

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

Today's All-Star Open race was not actually added to the All-Star schedule until the second running in 1986, the only year to date when the event ran on a track other than the Charlotte Motor Speedway. And even then, it was held after the All-Star Race, so there was no possibility of the winner transferring into the main event. Known as the Atlanta Invitational for running on the Atlanta Motor Speedway, the fourteen-car field raced 100 laps on May 11, 1986.

Finishing last that day was the only Canadian in the field: Calgary, Alberta's **Trevor Boys**. Boys started 13th in the field, but his #6 U.S. Racing Chevrolet burned a piston after 24 laps. Boys ran 102 Cup Series points races from 1982 through 1993. His final start at Pocono on June 13, 1993 came while driving James Hylton's #48 - the last time that number ran in Cup before Jimmie Johnson's first Cup start in 2001. Boys' best finish also came in Hylton's equipment: a 9th at Richmond on September 11, 1983.

CURRENT LASTCAR EVENT RECORD HOLDERS

Inaugural Showdown last-place finisher **Trevor Boys** scored a second last-place finish the following year, becoming the event's only back-to-back last-place finisher:

*May 11, 1986 - #6 U.S. Racing Chevrolet burned a piston after 24 laps.

*May 17, 1987 - #08 Broadway Motors Chevrolet broke a transmission after 1 lap.

For years, the only other two-time last-place finisher of the event was ARCA Series veteran **Andy Hillenburg** , whose first last-place run in 1996 came while driving in relief of Robert Pressley, injured in a practice accident:

*May 20, 1996 - #33 Skoal Bandit Racing Chevrolet crashed after 5 laps.

*May 16, 1998 - #95 Shoney's Inn Chevrolet had an oil leak after 0 laps.

Then **Reed Sorenson** joined the group in 2018:

*May 21, 2016 - #55 World Record Striper Company / Hauling Bass Chevrolet running after 49 laps.

*May 19, 2018 - #55 Internetwork Engineering Chevrolet running after 50 laps.

THE SHOWDOWN

EVENT RANKINGS 1986-2019

1st) Trevor Boys, Andy Hillenburg, Reed Sorenson (2)

2nd) Mike Bliss, Geoffrey Bodine, Todd Bodine, Gary Brooks, Jeff Burton, Patrick Carpentier, Pancho Carter, Stacy Compton, Derrike Cope, Delma Cowart, Phillip Duffie, David Green, Timmy Hill, Frank Kimmel, Corey LaJoie, Carl Long, Mark Martin, Jeremy Mayfield, B.J. McLeod, Casey Mears, Patty Moise, Joe Nemechek, Scott Riggs, Mike Skinner, David Stremme, Bill Venturini, Jon Wood, J.J. Yeley (1)

OTHER LASTCAR STATISTICS

Ten times in the history of the Showdown, the last-place finisher did not complete the opening lap. One of the most famous examples came in 2004, when outside-polesitter Casey Mears' transmission let go at the green-flag, triggering an 11-car pileup that left **Jeff Burton** and his #99 Roundup FastAct Ford in last.

However, there are other less-notable examples that did not involve on-track misfortunes. For four straight years from 1991 through 1994, the last-place finisher did not even start the race. 1992 last-placer **Gary Brooks** , whose number on his Brooks Racing Oldsmobile is yet unknown, was one of four drivers who did not start the event, and is credited for the spot by being ranked behind Jerry Hill, Ted Musgrave, and John McFadden. **Delma Cowart** was unable to make his final Cup start in the 1997 running when his #0 Masters Economy Inn Ford was disallowed for not going through inspection. And ARCA veteran **Frank Kimmel** was to round out the 2002 field, but Travis Carter withdrew his #26 Pork, The Other White Meat Ford before the race.

THE SHOWDOWN

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) B.J. McLeod - #53 Enlisted Nine Flight Company Chevrolet

2018) Reed Sorenson - #55 Internetwork Engineering Chevrolet

2017) Corey LaJoie - #83 Hope for the Warriors Toyota

2016) Reed Sorenson - #55 World Record Striper Company / Hauling Bass Chevrolet

2015) Mike Bliss - #32 Alpha Canvas Race Covers / JoseUSA.com Ford

## THE ALL-STAR RACE

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

The inaugural NASCAR All-Star Race, then known as The Winston, was run at the Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25, 1985, the day before that year's running of the Coca-Cola World 600. Twelve drivers started the 70-lap race, but only one did not finish: the #5 Levi Garrett Chevrolet of last-place finisher **Geoffrey Bodine**. Bodine, who scored his first three of eighteen Cup Series wins in 1984, lost the engine after 14 laps.

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDERS

At this moment, just four drivers have finished last in more than one running of the All-Star Race: **Carl Edwards** , who won the 2011 event between his two last-place runs—

*May 22, 2010 - #99 Aflac Ford crashed after 90 laps.

*May 19, 2012 - #99 Fastenal Ford lost an engine after 25 laps.

—1992 runner-up **Kyle Petty** —

*May 21, 1989 - #42 Peak / Uniden Pontiac crashed after 3 laps.

*May 22, 1993 - #42 Mello Yello Pontiac dropped a valve after 30 laps.

— **Greg Sacks** —

*May 11, 1986 - #10 DiGard Chevrolet finished under power, 1 lap down.

*May 22, 1988 - #50 Dingman Brothers Pontiac burned a piston after 5 laps.

—and 1989 NASCAR Cup Series Champion **Rusty Wallace**.

*May 20, 1990 - #27 Miller Genuine Draft Pontiac lost an engine after 8 laps.

*May 18, 2002 - #2 Miller Lite / Harley Davidson Ford crashed after 14 laps.

THE ALL-STAR RACE

EVENT RANKINGS 1985-2019

1st) Carl Edwards, Kyle Petty, Greg Sacks, Rusty Wallace (2)

2nd) John Andretti, Johnny Benson, Jr., Greg Biffle, Geoffrey Bodine, Alex Bowman, Neil Bonnett, Jeff Burton, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Ricky Craven, Bobby Hamilton, Kevin Harvick, Ernie Irvan, Erik Jones, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Alan Kulwicki, Bobby Labonte, Terry Labonte, Joey Logano, Danica Patrick, Ricky Rudd, Ken Schrader, Tony Stewart, Hut Stricklin, Martin Truex, Jr. (1)

THE ALL-STAR RACE

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2019) Erik Jones - #20 Craftsman Toyota

2018) Alex Bowman - #88 Axalta Chevrolet

2017) Matt Kenseth - #20 DeWalt Benefiting Wounded Warrior Project Toyota

2016) Tony Stewart - #14 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet

2015) Danica Patrick - #10 Mobil 1 / Aspen Dental Chevrolet

## PART THREE:

## TRACKS NO LONGER ON THE CIRCUIT

While this section only includes tracks that were on the Cup Series schedule from 1972 through the present day, the track rankings include all races run at each facility since NASCAR's first season in 1949. Where applicable, both races run at each facility are listed separately.

## NASHVILLE FAIRGROUNDS SPEEDWAY

Nashville, Tennessee - 0.596-mile oval

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

On August 10, 1958, the NASCAR Cup Series ran its first race on a half-mile track founded in 1904, but paved just the year before the race. The Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway ran the Nashville 200 that day, culminating with the first career victory of future two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Joe Weatherly. Finishing last that day was Red Springs, North Carolina driver **Roy Tyner** , whose Spook Crawford-owned #67 1957 Dodge lost an engine without completing the first lap. The last-place finish, the third of Tyner's career, came in just his 22nd series start in his second season on the tour. Eleven years later, Tyner would go on to score the first last-place finish at the Texas World Speedway, another track no longer on today's schedule. In all, Tyner competed in 311 Cup Series races through 1970 with a career-best finish of 2nd behind the great Junior Johnson at the Greenville-Pickens Speedway on June 13, 1959.

THE FINAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

The last Cup race at this track took place on July 14, 1984, when Geoffrey Bodine took the checkered flag in the Music City 420. With increased banking, the track had been extended to its present 0.596-mile configuration, making it faster than ever before.

Finishing last that night was a local second-generation driver from Columbia, Tennessee named **Sterling Marlin**. Marlin, son of superspeedway racer Coo Coo, won Rookie of the Year the previous season, but ended up driving for four different teams in 1984. Nashville marked the only time he drove for longtime owner-driver and 1988 LASTCAR Cup Champion Jimmy Means. Marlin's #52 Broadway Motors Pontiac started 19th in the field of 30, but crashed after 116 of 420 laps. It was Marlin's second last-place finish out of a career total of twelve. At the time, Marlin's first Cup Series victory in the Daytona 500 was still nearly a decade away.

Today, the Nashville track still stands, and is now known as the Music City Motorplex.

FIRST-TIME LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

A number of names stand out on Nashville's first-time last-placers list, including 1980 Daytona 500 winner **Buddy Baker** , World War II veteran and longtime car owner **Bud Moore** , and a midwestern ASA driver making his second Cup Series start named **Mark Martin**. **Jimmy Hindman** finished last in his only career Cup start while **Maurice Randall** gave Chrysler one of its final last-place runs in the series.

Tommy Thompson

May 24, 1959 - #13 1959 Chevrolet finished running, 40 laps down.

Buddy Baker

August 9, 1959 - #89 1958 Chevrolet lost an engine after 10 laps.

Hank Grillot

August 5, 1962 - #74 1962 Studebaker suffered handling problems after 1 lap.

Bud Moore

August 2, 1964 - #66 1963 Ford overheated after 3 laps.

Walter Wallace

July 29, 1967 - #91 1965 Plymouth fell out with a vibration after 11 laps.

Bobby Poole

May 12, 1973 - #08 Poole Racing 1971 Mercury fell out with ignition failure after 2 laps.

Robert Brown

August 25, 1973 - #58 Jones Construction 1973 Chevrolet broke the suspension after 5 laps.

Mike Kempton

July 16, 1977 - #69 Jayhawk Sports Chevrolet overheated after 12 laps.

Jimmy Hindman

July 14, 1979 - #10 Ford suffered an oil leak after 2 laps.

Mark Martin

May 9, 1981 - #02 Ams Oil / Prototype Pontiac broke a cam after 2 laps.

Don Satterfield

July 11, 1981 - #08 Satterfield Racing Chevrolet lost the brakes after 1 lap.

Ronnie Hopkins

May 7, 1983 - #26 Food Country USA Chevrolet lost the engine after 11 laps.

Maurice Randall

May 12, 1984 - #93 Randall Racing Chrysler lost the engine after 50 laps.

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDERS

Only three drivers ever finished last in two races at Nashville: 1966 LASTCAR Cup Series Champion **Buddy Arrington** —

*June 3, 1965 - #67 1964 Dodge crashed after 1 lap.

*May 10, 1975 - #67 J.R. Stanley Trucking 1973 Plymouth overheated after 2 laps.

—1979 LASTCAR Cup Champion **Dick May** , who drove as Arrington's teammate in his 1980 finish:

*July 24, 1971 - #67 1969 Ford broke the suspension after 5 laps.

*July 12, 1980 - #77 Reid Trailer Sales Dodge lost the brakes after 4 laps.

and **G.C. Spencer**.

*August 4, 1963 - #03 1962 Chevrolet burned a piston after 1 lap.

*July 25, 1970 - #49 1969 Plymouth lost an engine after 1 lap.

TRACK RANKINGS 1959-1984

1st) Buddy Arrington, Dick May, G.C. Spencer (2)

2nd) L.D. Austin, Buddy Baker, Walter Ballard, Dick Brooks, Robert Brown, Raymond Carter, Bill Champion, Dean Dalton, Darel Dieringer, Joe Frasson, Harry Gant, Wayne Gillette, Hank Grillot, Jimmy Hindman, Ronnie Hopkins, Ned Jarrett, Slick Johnson, Mike Kempton, Sterling Marlin, Mark Martin, Jimmy Means, Bud Moore, Rick Newsom, Richie Panch, Bobby Poole, Maurice Randall, Don Satterfield, Wendell Scott, Lake Speed, Tommy Thompson, Roy Tyner, D.K. Ulrich, Walter Wallace, Frank Warren, LeeRoy Yarbrough, Doug Yates (1)

COORS 420

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

1984) Maurice Randall - #93 Randall Racing Chrysler

1983) Ronnie Hopkins - #26 Food Country USA Chevrolet

1982) Lake Speed - #17 Yazoo Mowers Pontiac

1981) Mark Martin - #02 Ams Oil / Prototype Pontiac

1980) Dick Brooks - #7 Sanyo Chevrolet

COORS 420

EVENT RANKINGS 1959-1984

1st) Buddy Arrington (2)

2nd) L.D. Austin, Dick Brooks, Dean Dalton, Harry Gant, Hank Grillot, Jimmy Hindman, Ned Jarrett, Mark Martin, Jimmy Means, Rick Newsom, Richie Panch, Bobby Poole, Maurice Randall, Lake Speed, Tommy Thompson (1)

PEPSI 420

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

1984) Sterling Marlin - #52 Broadway Motors Pontiac

1983) D.K. Ulrich - #02 Reeder Racing Buick

1982) Slick Johnson - #40 Price Racing Buick

1981) Don Satterfield - #08 Satterfield Racing Chevrolet

1980) Dick May - #77 Reid Trailer Sales Dodge

PEPSI 420

EVENT RANKINGS 1958-1984

1st) Dick May, G.C. Spencer (2)

2nd) Buddy Baker, Walter Ballard, Robert Brown, Raymond Carter, Bill Champion, Darel Dieringer, Joe Frasson, Wayne Gillette, Ronnie Hopkins, Slick Johnson, Mike Kempton, Sterling Marlin, Bud Moore, Don Satterfield, Wendell Scott, Roy Tyner, D.K. Ulrich, Walter Wallace, Frank Warren, LeeRoy Yarbrough, Doug Yates (1)

## NORTH WILKESBORO SPEEDWAY

North Wilkesboro, North Carolina - 0.625-mile oval

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

The unusually-banked bullring in Wilkes County, North Carolina is almost as old as the Cup Series itself. On October 16, 1949, the track was a half-mile dirt oval which held the season finale for NASCAR's first year. Bob Flock was flagged the winner while Red Byron was crowned the sport's first champion. Finishing last in the 22-car field was **Frank "Rebel" Mundy** from Atlanta, Georgia. Mundy's #2 1949 Ford fell out of the race after 38 of 200 laps due to reasons not recorded in the official results. Mundy went on to run 52 Cup races through 1956, scoring three series victories in 1951, including the first by a Studebaker in Cup Series competition. Ironically, that same year Mundy became a LASTCAR Cup Series Champion with three last-place finishes.

THE FINAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

The final race run on the old short track, now in its five-eighths of a mile configuration, was the Tyson Holly Farms 400 run on September 29, 1996. The final checkered flag went to Jeff Gordon, who as a rookie three years earlier swept both the track's last-place finishes in 1993. Finishing last was **Derrike Cope** of Spanaway, Washington, the surprise winner of the 1990 Daytona 500 who was driving for Bobby Allison in the veteran's final year of car ownership. Cope's #12 Badcock Ford qualified a strong 7th, and though he finished under power, the short track carnage left him 31 laps down in last place. It was the second-straight year that every car in the event finished the race It was Cope's 13th of 26 last-place finishes in Cup and his third of the season, securing him his first of three LASTCAR Cup Series Championships.

North Wilkesboro Speedway still stands today, and even hosted a handful of races in 2010 and 2011, the first racing events held at the track since 1996. Grassroots efforts such as "Save The Speedway" are still actively seeking the preservation of the track.

FIRST-TIME LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

Much like Martinsville, North Wilkesboro has a long list of first-time last-placers, including an even greater number of big names. Included are the sport's first superstar, **Glenn "Fireball" Roberts** , its first three-time champion, **Lee Petty** , the sport's iron man, **Ricky Rudd** , and the four-time Cup champion and three-time Daytona 500 winner **Jeff Gordon**. Gordon, also the 1993 LASTCAR Cup Champion, is the last of three drivers to sweep both North Wilkesboro last-place finishes the same season, joining **G.C. Spencer** (1970) and **John Kennedy** (1978). 1991 Daytona 500 champion **Ernie Irvan** is on this list as well, plus XFINITY Series veteran **Tommy Houston** , **Blackie Pitt** , NASCAR's first Rookie of the Year and 1954 LASTCAR Cup Champion, and **Rob Moroso** , the first rookie to claim that title posthumously.

Frank Mundy

October 16, 1949 - #2 1949 Ford fell out of the race after 38 laps.

Tex Keene

September 24, 1950 - #14 1950 Plymouth fell out of the race after an unknown number of laps.

Glenn "Fireball" Roberts

April 29, 1951 - #11 1950 Oldsmobile broke a fuel line after 3 laps.

J.C. White

October 21, 1951 - #?? 1951 Studebaker fell out of the race after an unknown number of laps.

Harold Mays

March 30, 1952 - #?? 1951 Chrysler crashed after 1 lap.

June Cleveland

March 29, 1953 - #11 1952 Studebaker lost the engine after an unknown number of laps.

Ralph Dutton

October 11, 1953 - #?? 1953 Dodge fell out of the race after an unknown number of laps.

Blackie Pitt

April 4, 1954 - #100 1950 Plymouth broke a wheel after 12 laps.

Lee Petty

October 24, 1954 - #42 1954 Chrysler broke a hub after 12 laps.

Boyce Hildreth

April 3, 1955 - #57 Hildreth Motors 1953 Hudson blew a gasket after 5 laps.

Ted Cannady

October 23, 1955 - #71 1955 Oldsmobile suffered steering problems after 25 laps.

Harvey Henderson

April 8, 1956 - #19 1955 Chevrolet lost an engine after 13 laps.

Roy Tyner

October 20, 1957 - #51 1956 Ford crashed after 0 laps.

Cecil Grubbs

May 18, 1958 - #10 1956 Ford lost an engine after 79 laps.

Barney Shore

October 19, 1958 - #97 1957 Chevrolet broke a radiator after 26 laps.

Paul Lewis

October 2, 1960 - #1 Faircloth 1960 Chevrolet lost an engine after 9 laps.

George Fox

September 30, 1962 - #5 1960 Dodge broke the transmission after 3 laps.

Sam Fogle

April 28, 1963 - #31 1961 Mercury fell out with handling problems after 20 laps.

Larry Miller

April 16, 1967 - #32 1965 Dodge lost its brakes after 1 lap.

Frog Fagan

October 1, 1967 - #75 1966 Ford lost an engine after 16 laps.

Leonard Brock

April 21, 1968 - #31 1966 Ford lost an engine after 1 lap.

Rick Newsom

April 8, 1973 - #20 Holbrook Waterproofing 1971 Ford lost an engine after 2 laps.

Ronnie Childress

April 21, 1974 - #75 Childress racing 1972 Chevrolet suffered ignition failure after 43 laps.

Ricky Rudd

April 6, 1975 - #10 Champion Racing 1973 Ford crashed after 3 laps.

Jeff Handy

April 4, 1976 - #33 Chevrolet lost an engine after 3 laps.

Junior Miller

October 2, 1977 - #95 Miller Roofing Chevrolet quit after 5 laps.

Henry Jones

October 14, 1979 - #69 Pro Shoppe Chevrolet lost an engine after 10 laps.

Tommy Houston

April 20, 1980 - #95 Carpenter Designs Chevrolet suffered an oil leak after 9 laps.

Slick Johnson

April 18, 1982 - #48 Palatine Auto Parts Pontiac dropped a valve after 8 laps.

Ed Baugess

October 2, 1983 - #68 Baugess Racing Chevrolet lost oil pressure after 13 laps.

Dean Combs

April 8, 1984 - #97 Best Products Oldsmobile crashed after 3 laps.

Joe Millikan

September 28, 1986 - #37 Short Pump Ford lost an engine after 9 laps.

Lee Faulk

October 16, 1988 - #31 Slender You Figure Salons Oldsmobile lost the rear end after 129 laps.

Rob Moroso

April 22, 1990 - #20 Crown Petroleum Oldsmobile crashed after 9 laps.

Mickey Gibbs

April 21, 1991 - #24 Team III Racing Pontiac broke a header after 110 laps.

Ernie Irvan

September 29, 1991 - #4 Kodak Film Chevrolet crashed after 164 laps.

Jeff Purvis

October 5, 1992 - #12 Raybestos Brakes Chevrolet lost an engine after 35 laps.

Jeff Gordon

April 18, 1993 - #24 DuPont Auto Finishes Chevrolet crashed after 25 laps.

Jay Hedgecock

April 17, 1994 - #78 Wilson-Inman Ford broke a rear end after 53 laps.

Mike Wallace

April 9, 1995 - #90 Heilig-Meyers Ford crashed after 226 laps.

OTHER LASTCAR STATISTICS

On October 24, 1954, **Lee Petty** finished last in the season finale here when his #42 1954 Chrysler broke a hub after 12 laps. It was his first last-place finish in Cup, but he still claimed his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. It was a feat matched in 2003 by **Matt Kenseth** , who trailed the field in the final race of the season in Homestead due to an early engine failure.

It is also the only track where **Lee, Richard, and Kyle Petty** all have at least one last-place finish. Kyle's first came on April 17, 1983, when his #7 7-Eleven Pontiac broke an oil cooler after 19 laps. Richard's didn't come until October 15, 1989 when his #43 STP Pontiac fell out with crash damage after 124 laps. It was the fifteenth and final last-place finish of Richard's career, and it came the day Geoffrey Bodine slipped past Dale Earnhardt and Ricky Rudd on the final lap to win.

**Glenn "Fireball" Roberts** became the first driver to finish last here more than once when his #22 1964 Ford did not start the race due to damage the car sustained in practice. The finish, the fourth of Roberts' career, took place on April 19, 1964, less than a month before the crash at Charlotte that took his life.

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDERS

North Wilkesboro's last-place record belongs to **J.D. McDuffie** , the only driver to trail four Cup Series fields at the track:

*September 29, 1968 - #70 1967 Buick lost an engine after 1 lap.

*October 3, 1982 - #70 Macks Stores Pontiac lost an engine after 9 laps.

*October 14, 1984 - #70 Rumple Furniture Pontiac broke an axle after 21 laps.

*April 5, 1987 - #70 Rumple Furniture Pontiac lost an engine after 29 laps.

TRACK RANKINGS 1949-1996

1st) J.D. McDuffie (4)

2nd) Jimmy Means (3)

3rd) Richard D. Brown, Slick Johnson, John Kennedy, Rick Newsom, Fireball Roberts, Wayne Smith, G.C. Spencer (2)

4th) Bobby Allison, Buddy Arrington, Buddy Baker, Ed Baugess, Trevor Boys, Leonard Brock, Ted Cannady, Neil Castles, Ronnie Childress, June Cleveland, Dean Combs, Doug Cooper, Derrike Cope, James Cox, Bill Dennis, Ralph Dutton, Frog Fagan, Lee Faulk, Sam Fogle, George Fox, Mickey Gibbs, Cecil Gordon, Cecil Grubbs, Jeff Handy, Jay Hedgecock, Harvey Henderson, Boyce Hildreth, Tommy Houston, Ernie Irvan, Joe Lee Johnson, Junior Johnson, Henry Jones, Joe Jones, Tex Keene, Terry Labonte, Harry Leake, Jimmie Lewallen, Paul Lewis, Coo Coo Marlin, Mark Martin, Rick Mast, Harold Mays, Junior Miller, Larry Miller, Joe Millikan, Rob Moroso, Frank Mundy, Ed Negre, Phil Parsons, Jim Paschal, Kyle Petty, Lee Petty, Richard Petty, Blackie Pitt, Tom Pistone, Dick Poling, Jeff Purvis, Ricky Rudd, Bill Seifert, Barney Shore, Jimmy Spencer, Joe Staton, Jimmy Thompson, Roy Tyner, D.K. Ulrich, Bobby Waddell, Mike Wallace, Darrell Waltrip, Michael Waltrip, J.C. White (1)

FIRST UNION 400

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

1996) Mark Martin - #6 Valvoline Ford

1995) Mike Wallace - #90 Heilig-Meyers Ford

1994) Jay Hedgecock - #78 Wilson-Inman Ford

1993) Jeff Gordon - #24 DuPont Automotive Finishes Chevrolet

1992) Jimmy Means - #52 Means Racing Pontiac

FIRST UNION 400

EVENT RANKINGS 1951-1996

1st) Jimmy Means (3)

2nd) Rick Newsom, Fireball Roberts (2)

3rd) Buddy Baker, Trevor Boys, Leonard Brock, Neil Castles, Ronnie Childress, June Cleveland, Dean Combs, Bill Dennis, Sam Fogle, Mickey Gibbs, Cecil Gordon, Jeff Gordon, Cecil Grubbs, Jeff Handy, Jay Hedgecock, Harvey Henderson, Boyce Hildreth, Tommy Houston, Joe Lee Johnson, Slick Johnson, John Kennedy, Harry Leake, Mark Martin, Harold Mays, J.D. McDuffie, Rob Moroso, Larry Miller, Jim Paschal, Kyle Petty, Tom Pistone, Blackie Pitt, Dick Poling, Ricky Rudd, Bill Seifert, G.C. Spencer, Jimmy Thompson, Bobby Waddell, Mike Wallace, Michael Waltrip (1)

TYSON HOLLY FARMS 400

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

1996) Derrike Cope - #12 Badcock Ford

1995) Jimmy Spencer - #23 Smokin' Joes Ford

1994) Phil Parsons - #9 Melling Engine Parts Ford

1993) Jeff Gordon - #24 DuPont Automotive Finishes Chevrolet

1992) Jeff Purvis - #12 Raybestos Brakes Chevrolet

TYSON HOLLY FARMS 400

EVENT RANKINGS 1949-1996

1st) J.D. McDuffie (3)

2nd) Richard D. Brown, Wayne Smith (2)

3rd) Bobby Allison, Buddy Arrington, Ed Baugess, Trevor Boys, Ted Cannady, Doug Cooper, Derrike Cope, James Cox, Ralph Dutton, Frog Fagan, Lee Faulk, George Fox, Jeff Gordon, Ernie Irvan, Joe Jones, Tex Keene, Junior Johnson, Slick Johnson, Henry Jones, John Kennedy, Terry Labonte, Jimmie Lewallen, Paul Lewis, Coo Coo Marlin, Rick Mast, Junior Miller, Joe Millikan, Frank Mundy, Ed Negre, Phil Parsons, Lee Petty, Richard Petty, Jeff Purvis, Barney Shore, G.C. Spencer, Jimmy Spencer, Joe Staton, Roy Tyner, D.K. Ulrich, Darrell Waltrip, J.C. White (1)

## ONTARIO MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Ontario, California - 2.5-mile oval

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

California's nearly-exact clone of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway ran its first Cup Series race on February 28, 1971, two weeks after Richard Petty scored his second of seven Daytona 500 victories. The win in the Miller High Life 500 that day went to the equally-great A.J. Foyt, his fourth of seven series victories. Finishing last in Ontario's 51-car field was **Dean Dalton** , a driver from Asheville, North Carolina who was making his Cup Series debut. Dalton qualified 43rd, but his #17 1969 Ford was flagged off the track after just 2 laps. For his next start at Atlanta, Dalton changed his car number from #17 to #7, the number he would run for most of his 118 Cup starts through 1977. His best career finish came at Darlington on April 15, 1973, when he finished 6th.

THE FINAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

The final race at Ontario Motor Speedway was run on November 15, 1980, the day Dale Earnhardt officially claimed his first of seven NASCAR Cup Series Championships. The winner of that day's Los Angeles Times 500 was Benny Parsons, who scored his fifth and final victory for owner M.C. Anderson. Finishing last for the first time that day was **Don Puskarich** , a local driver from Garden Grove, California. All seventeen of Puskarich's Cup starts from 1975 through 1982 came while driving for his family's team on the two Californian tracks. Fourteen of those starts came at the Riverside International Raceway, scene of his best career finish of 12th in his Cup debut. That day at Ontario, however, Puskarich lost the engine on his #13 Puskarich Racing Chevrolet after just 2 laps.

The Chevron Land Company bought the Ontario track after the 1980 race and demolished the facility for real estate development.

FIRST-TIME LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

Dalton and Puskarich are two of six first-time last-place finishers at this track, joined by **Bobby Allison's** younger brother **Donnie Allison** , who clashed with **Cale Yarborough** in the Daytona 500 just over a year later, and **Ray Elder** , a two-time winner at the Riverside International Raceway.

Dean Dalton

February 28, 1971 - #17 1969 Ford flagged off the track after 2 laps.

Carl Adams

November 24, 1974 - #56W Marck Motors 1974 Ford lost an engine after 2 laps.

Donnie Allison

November 20, 1977 - #1 Hawaiian Tropic Chevrolet suffered an electrical problem after 9 laps.

Ray Elder

November 19, 1978 - #32 Midland Motor Homes Dodge lost an engine after 2 laps.

Vince Giamformaggio

November 18, 1979 - #19 Belden Asphalt Chevrolet lost an engine after 26 laps.

Don Puskarich

November 15, 1980 - #13 Puskarich Racing Chevrolet lost an engine after 2 laps.

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDERS

In the nine Cup races run at this track, there was never a repeat last-place finisher. In 1976, five years before his first series championship, **Darrell Waltrip** finished last here when his #88 Gatorade Chevrolet started 6th, only to lose an engine after 10 laps. It was the fourth of Waltrip's sixteen career last-place finishes.

TRACK RANKINGS 1971-1980

1st) Carl Adams, Donnie Allison, Dean Dalton, Ray Elder, Vince Giamformaggio, Ed Negre, Don Puskarich, Jim Vandiver, Darrell Waltrip (1)

LOS ANGELES TIMES 500

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

1980) Don Puskarich - #13 Puskarich Racing Chevrolet

1979) Vince Giamformaggio - #19 Belden Asphalt Chevrolet

1978) Ray Elder - #32 Midland Motor Homes Dodge

1977) Donnie Allison - #1 Hawaiian Tropic Chevrolet

1976) Darrell Waltrip - #88 Gatorade Chevrolet

## RIVERSIDE INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

Riverside, California - 2.631-mile road course

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

The dusty and treacherous Riverside International Raceway opened its doors in 1957 and held its first Cup Series road course race on June 1, 1958. Local part-time driver Eddie Gray picked up his first of four west coast NASCAR wins that day in the Crown America 500 after polesitter Parnelli Jones crashed out of the lead. Finishing last in the 46-car field was **Arley Scranton** of Compton, California, who was making his fourth of nine career Cup starts. Scranton started 9th, but his #33 1957 Pontiac crashed on the opening lap, taking him out of the running. It was Scranton's first and only last-place finish in the Cup Series. His best career finish remained a 21st at the Carrell Speedway in Gardena, California on May 30, 1954.

THE FINAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

Like the Ontario Motor Speedway before it, Riverside fell victim to encroaching urban development. By the June 12, 1988 running of the Budweiser 400, suburban houses had practically surrounded the track on all sides. Rusty Wallace took the final checkered flag while the last-place finish went to longtime owner-driver **Jimmy "Smut" Means**. Means, who was on his way to the 1988 LASTCAR Cup Series Championship, lost the engine on his #52 Eureka Vacuum Cleaners Pontiac after 5 laps. The finish, the 11th of Means' career, came in his 330th Cup start. When his 455-race career ended in 1993, his best finish remained a 7th-place finish at Talladega in 1983.

Riverside formally closed its doors in the summer of 1989, at which point the track was slowly demolished by urban sprawl. Much of the property is now covered by a shopping mall.

FIRST-TIME LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

Due in part to the large number of Winston West competitors running companion events with the Cup Series drivers in the same event, nearly every race at the Riverside International Raceway had a first-time last-place finisher. Among them is San Fernando, California's **Bill Clinton** , of no relation to the U.S. President. However, several Cup regulars stand out on this list, including 1973 NASCAR Cup Series Champion **Benny Parsons** , two-time champion **Terry Labonte** , and of course, seven-time champion **Dale Earnhardt**. Also on this list are **Chuck Bown** and **Hershel McGriff** , who both ran Cup races for sixteen and twenty-seven seasons, respectively, and current broadcaster and team owner **Phil Parsons**. 1967 last-place finisher **Billy Foster** did not actually start the event. Foster lost his life in a crash in practice after he'd qualified ninth.

Arley Scranton

June 1, 1958 - #33 1957 Pontiac crashed after 0 laps.

Bill Clinton

May 21, 1961 - #15 1960 Ford busted a radiator after 1 lap.

Bruce Worrell

November 3, 1963 - #48 1962 Chevrolet lost an engine after 1 lap.

Al Brand

January 19, 1964 - #20W 1962 Chevrolet broke a wheel after 7 laps.

Charles Powell

January 23, 1966 - #38 1964 Ford broke a differential after 1 lap.

Billy Foster

January 22, 1967 - #22 Dodge did not start after a fatal post-qualifying crash.

Joe Clark

January 21, 1968 - #46 1965 Plymouth blew a head gasket after 0 laps.

Bob England

February 1, 1969 - #8 1969 Chevrolet lost an engine after 1 lap.

Paul Dorrity

June 14, 1970 - #15 1969 Chevrolet lost an engine after 0 laps.

Pat Fay

January 10, 1971 - #99 1971 Ford lost an engine after 1 lap.

Mike James

June 20, 1971 - #10 1969 Chevrolet lost an engine after 1 lap.

Benny Parsons

January 23, 1972 - #72 L.G. DeWitt 1971 Ford crashed after 13 laps.

Chuck Bown

January 26, 1974 - #03 1972 Dodge lost an engine after 9 laps.

Hershel McGriff

June 9, 1974 - #26W Almost Heaven, West Virginia 1973 Chevrolet broke a driveshaft after 1 lap.

Ivan Baldwin

January 19, 1975 - #7 Noble Auto Parts 1974 Dodge lost an engine after 4 laps.

Harry Jefferson

January 18, 1976 - #90 Jefferson Racing Ford suffered an oil leak after 14 laps.

Ron Esau

June 13, 1976 - #20 Peralta Ford burned a clutch after 6 laps.

Don Noel

June 12, 1977 - #98 Noel's Welding Shop broke the transmission after 0 laps.

Gary Johnson

January 22, 1978 - #44 Armstrong Electric Chevrolet broke the rear end after 3 laps.

Norm Palmer

June 11, 1978 - #93 Dodge crashed after 8 laps.

Terry Labonte

January 14, 1979 - #44 Duck Industries Chevrolet lost an engine after 7 laps.

Bill Osborne

January 13, 1980 - #97 Chevrolet lost the rear end after 20 laps.

Jimmy Insolo

June 14, 1981 - #1 San Fernando Valley Lumber Buick did not start.

Dale Earnhardt

November 21, 1982 - #15 Wrangler Jeans Ford suffered an oil leak after 8 laps.

Pat Mintey

June 5, 1983 - #35 Grimes & Son Pontiac overheated after 3 laps.

John Krebs

June 3, 1984 - #91 Coca-Cola Oldsmobile lost an engine after 6 laps.

Phil Parsons

November 18, 1984 - #66 Skoal Bandit Chevrolet broke a shock after 15 laps.

OTHER LASTCAR STATISTICS

**Markey James** , a local driver from Medford, Oregon, became the first two-time Riverside last-placer when he trailed two consecutive summer races in 1971 and 1972 due to engine failures after the first lap. In 1975, Modesto, California's **Ivan Baldwin** became the first driver to sweep both races. In the spring, Baldwin's #7 1974 Dodge started 14th, but lost the engine after 4 laps. In the summer, the same car suffered an oil leak after 5 laps. James and Baldwin ran only a combined eleven Cup races, nearly all of them at Riverside.

On January 11, 1981, **Cecil Gordon** became last driver to trail the field in a full-sized stock car when his #24 Gordon Racing Oldsmobile lost an engine after 2 laps. NASCAR's new downsized cars, of which only three raced at Riverside that day, became mandatory for the following race at Daytona.

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDERS

Only five drivers ever repeated as last-place finishers at Riverside. Joining **Ivan Baldwin** and **Markey James** were fellow Winston West competitors **Ron Esau** (Summer 1976, Fall 1985), **Hershel McGriff** (Summer 1974, Fall 1987), and **John Krebs** (Summer 1984, Fall 1986).

TRACK RANKINGS 1958-1988

1st) Ivan Baldwin, Ron Esau, Jimmy Insolo, Markey James, Hershel McGriff, John Krebs (2)

2nd) Bobby Allison, Chuck Bown, Al Brand, Joe Clark, Bill Clinton, Dean Dalton, Lloyd Dane, Paul Dorrity, Dale Earnhardt, Bob England, Pat Fay, Billy Foster, Cecil Gordon, Dana Hall, Harry Jefferson, Gary Johnson, Terry Labonte, Elmo Langley, Dave Marcis, J.D. McDuffie, Jimmy Means, Pat Mintey, Don Noel, Bill Osborne, Norm Palmer, Benny Parsons, Phil Parsons, Richard Petty, Charles Powell, Ricky Rudd, Joe Ruttman, Arley Scranton, D.K. Ulrich, Rusty Wallace, Frank Warren, Bruce Worrell (1)

BUDWEISER 400

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

1988) Jimmy Means - #52 Eureka Vacuum Cleaners Pontiac

1987) Rusty Wallace - #27 Kodiak Pontiac

1986) Joe Ruttman - #26 Quaker State Buick

1985) J.D. McDuffie - #70 Rumple Furniture Pontiac

1984) John Krebs - #91 Coca-Cola Oldsmobile

BUDWEISER 400

EVENT RANKINGS 1959-1988 (RACES UNDER 500 MILES ONLY)

1st) Markey James (2)

2nd) Ivan Baldwin, Bill Clinton, Dean Dalton, Paul Dorrity, Ron Esau, Jimmy Insolo, John Krebs, Elmo Langley, J.D. McDuffie, Hershel McGriff, Jimmy Means, Pat Mintey, Don Noel, Norm Palmer, Richard Petty, Joe Ruttman, D.K. Ulrich, Rusty Wallace, Bruce Worrell (1)

WINSTON WESTERN 500

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

1987) Hershel McGriff - #04 U.S. Bank Pontiac

1986) John Krebs - #38 Skoal Bandit Pontiac

1985) Ron Esau - #49 McDonald's Chevrolet

1984) Phil Parsons - #66 Skoal Bandit Chevrolet

1983) Jimmy Insolo - #12 Miller High Life Buick

WINSTON WESTERN 500

EVENT RANKINGS 1958-1987 (500-MILE RACES ONLY)

1st) Bobby Allison, Ivan Baldwin, Al Brand, Chuck Bown, Carl Cardey, Joe Clark, Lloyd Dane, Dale Earnhardt, Bob England, Ron Esau, Pat Fay, Cecil Gordon, Jimmy Insolo, Harry Jefferson, Gary Johnson, John Krebs, Terry Labonte, Dave Marcis, Hershel McGriff, Bill Osborne, Benny Parsons, Phil Parsons, Bob Perry, Charles Powell, Ricky Rudd, Arley Scranton, Frank Warren (1)

## ROCKINGHAM SPEEDWAY

Rockingham, North Carolina - 1.017-mile oval

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

Known as "The Rock," and established as the North Carolina Motor Speedway, this one-mile track with abrasive pavement ran its first Cup Series race on October 31, 1965. The grueling American 500 was won by Curtis Turner, his first checkered flag since being banned from the sport for participating in a labor union. Finishing last that day was **Darel Dieringer** , who scored the third of five career last-place runs when his #10 1964 Ford crashed on the opening lap. Hailing from Indianapolis, Indiana, Dieringer scored seven Cup victories, including a career-high three the year after he finished 3rd in the points for 1965. His 181st and final start came at Charlotte in 1975.

THE FINAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

Though not originally billed as the final Cup race at Rockingham as the 2005 schedule had yet to be announced, the Subway 400 on February 22, 2004 proved to be an instant classic, featuring a spectacular accident by Carl Long and a photo finish between race winner Matt Kenseth and sudden rookie sensation Kasey Kahne. Finishing last that day was **Joe Ruttman** , a 59-year-old veteran and two-time LASTCAR Cup Series Champion from Upland, California who provided another storyline of his own. Without sufficient cars for a 43-car field, NASCAR brought in several fledgling teams at the last minute, including part-time Phoenix Racing, which ran the Daytona 500 the week before. Tabbed to drive the #09 Phoenix Racing Dodge was Joe Ruttman, making his first Cup start since 1995. Just one lap into the race, Ruttman was parked because the Phoenix team did not provide a pit crew for their car. This resulted in Ruttman's first last-place finish in Cup since 1988, his first last-place run at Rockingham since 1985, and an ongoing controversy about so-called "field-fillers" and "start-and-parks" that continues to this day.

The Rockingham Speedway, as it is now called, is still in existence today. NASCAR returned to the track in 2012 for a Truck Series race, allowing Kasey Kahne to take the victory that narrowly eluded him eight years earlier. As of this writing, however, the track's future is still in doubt as it has been removed from the 2014 schedule.

FIRST-TIME LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

The list of first-time last-placers at Rockingham includes two drivers with close ties to the track itself: third-generation racer **Kyle Petty** would go on to win three out of six races here from 1990 through 1992, often in dominant fashion, and in 2007, **Andy Hillenburg** would go on to buy the track where he trailed his first Cup field in 1991. Also on this list is **Ken Schrader** , a three-time polesitter for the Daytona 500, 1988 Darlington winner **Lake Speed** , Australian Formula One driver **Frank Gardner** in his lone Cup start, **Lennie Pond** , who defeated **Darrell Waltrip** for Rookie of the Year in 1973, 1977 LASTCAR Cup Champion **Earle Canavan** , 1978 LASTCAR Cup Champion **John Kennedy** , and XFINITY Series standout **Robert Pressley**.

Bobby Mausgrover

June 16, 1968 - #88 1967 Oldsmobile broke a rear end after 4 laps.

Frank Gardner

October 27, 1968 - #11 1968 Ford was flagged off the track after 1 lap.

John Kennedy

October 26, 1969 - #29 1967 Chevrolet crashed after 17 laps.

Maynard Troyer

October 24, 1971 - #60 Nagle Racers 1969 Mercury lost an engine after 13 laps.

Jackie Oliver

March 12, 1972 - #90 1971 Ford lost an engine after 1 lap.

Ron Hutcherson

October 22, 1972 - #90 Truck Equipment 1971 Ford crashed after 29 laps.

Charlie Roberts

March 3, 1974 - #77 Blackwell Kenworth 1974 Chevrolet fell out with handling problems after 57 laps.

Earle Canavan

March 2, 1975 - #01 Kava Coffee 1974 Dodge lost an engine after 2 laps.

Lennie Pond

October 23, 1977 - #54 Chevrolet lost an engine after 66 laps.

Woody Fisher

March 5, 1978 - #19 Belden Asphalt Chevrolet crashed after 0 laps.

Bill Elswick

October 19, 1980 - #05 Performer Boats Oldsmobile crashed after 9 laps.

Kyle Petty

November 1, 1981 - #42 STP Buick lost an engine after 19 laps.

Lake Speed

March 28, 1982 - #17 Kings Inn Buick crashed after 42 laps.

Ernie Cline

March 13, 1983 - #06 Brochure Furniture Pontiac crashed after 35 laps.

Ken Schrader

March 3, 1985 - #90 Ultra Seal Ford lost an engine after 55 laps.

Jerry Holden

March 1, 1987 - #68 Altra-Dry Chevrolet lost an engine after 8 laps.

Butch Miller

March 5, 1989 - #51 Miller Racing Chevrolet lost an engine after 50 laps.

Charlie Baker

October 22, 1989 - #93 Baker Racing Buick broke an oil pump after 37 laps.

J.T. Hayes (now Terri O'Connell)

March 4, 1990 - #91 Crossroads City of Corinth Ford was flagged off the track after 10 laps.

Andy Hillenburg

March 3, 1991 - #29 MAX-Orb Buick lost an engine after 6 laps.

Loy Allen, Jr.

October 24, 1993 - #37 Naturally Fresh Foods Ford crashed after 8 laps.

Billy Standridge

February 27, 1994 - #47 Johnson Racing Ford crashed after 55 laps.

Robert Pressley

February 26, 1995 - #33 Skoal Bandit Chevrolet lost an engine after 38 laps.

OTHER LASTCAR STATISTICS

Rockingham's first and only polesitter to finish last in a the same Cup race was **Davey Allison** , who as a rookie on October 25, 1987 led 22 of the race's first 74 laps before the gear broke on his #28 Havoline Ford.

**Henley Gray** became the first driver to sweep both Rockingham last-place finishes in a single season, when in 1976 he trailed both fields for two different teams due to engine failures after 1 lap. Gray drove his own #19 Belden Asphalt Chevrolet in the spring and G.C. Spencer's #49 Dodge in the fall. Two other drivers swept both Rockingham events, **John McFadden** (1992), **Derrike Cope** (2003), both of them LASTCAR champions of those respective seasons.

In 2002, A.J. Foyt's #14 Conseco Pontiacs also swept both Rockingham races with two different drivers: **Stacy Compton** lost an engine after 24 laps in the spring and **Mike Wallace** crashed after 120 laps in the fall.

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDERS

**Loy Allen, Jr.** made just 48 starts in a brief six-year career, but in that time claimed the record for the most Cup Series last-place finishes at Rockingham. His first career finish in the fall of 1993 came while driving a #37 Naturally Fresh Foods Ford that crashed early in the race. This same car may have been the one acquired by 1993 Goody's Dash Series Champion Rodney Orr, who was killed in a practice crash for the Daytona 500 driving car #37.

*October 24, 1993 - #37 Naturally Fresh Foods Ford crashed after 8 laps.

*October 23, 1994 - #19 Hooters Ford crashed after 25 laps.

*March 23, 1997 - #19 Child Support Recovery Ford burned the clutch after 68 laps.

TRACK RANKINGS 1965-2004

1st) Loy Allen, Jr. (3)

2nd) Buddy Arrington, Charlie Baker, Derrike Cope, Joe Frasson, Bill Hollar, James Hylton, John McFadden, Rick Newsom, Kyle Petty, Robert Pressley, Joe Ruttman (2)

3rd) Davey Allison, Earl Brooks, Brett Bodine, Ward Burton, Earle Canavan, Bill Champion, Ernie Cline, Rodney Combs, Stacy Compton, Jimmy Crawford, Darel Dieringer, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Bill Elswick, Woody Fisher, Frank Gardner, Walson Gardner, Robby Gordon, Henley Gray, J.T. Hayes, Bruce Hill, Andy Hillenburg, Jerry Holden, Ron Hutcherson, John Kennedy, Bobby Labonte, Kevin Lepage, Tiny Lund, Bobby Mausgrover, Butch Miller, Junior Miller, Jackie Oliver, Richard Petty, Lennie Pond, Mike Potter, J.T. Putney, Charlie Roberts, Ricky Rudd, Ken Schrader, Tighe Scott, Lake Speed, G.C. Spencer, Jimmy Spencer, Billy Standridge, Ronnie Thomas, Maynard Troyer, Kenny Wallace, Mike Wallace, Blackie Wangerin, Frank Warren, Raymond Williams, Cale Yarborough (1)

SUBWAY 400

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2004) Joe Ruttman - #09 Phoenix Racing Dodge

2003) Derrike Cope - #37 Friendly's Ice Cream Chevrolet

2002) Stacy Compton - #14 Conseco Pontiac

2001) Dale Earnhardt, Jr. - #8 Budweiser Chevrolet

2000) Robert Pressley - #77 Jasper Engines Ford

SUBWAY 400

EVENT RANKINGS 1966-2004

1st) Robert Pressley (2)

2nd) Loy Allen, Jr., Buddy Arrington, Ward Burton, Earle Canavan, Bill Champion, Ernie Cline, Stacy Compton, Derrike Cope, Jimmy Crawford, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Woody Fisher, Walson Gardner, Henley Gray, J.T. Hayes, Bruce Hill, Andy Hillenburg, Jerry Holden, Bill Hollar, James Hylton, Bobby Mausgrover, John McFadden, Butch Miller, Junior Miller, Rick Newsom, Jackie Oliver, Kyle Petty, Richard Petty, J.T. Putney, Charlie Roberts, Ricky Rudd, Joe Ruttman, Ken Schrader, Lake Speed, G.C. Spencer, Billy Standridge, Blackie Wangerin, Raymond Williams (1)

POP-SECRET MICROWAVE POPCORN 400

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

2003) Derrike Cope - #37 Friendly's Ice Cream Chevrolet

2002) Mike Wallace - #14 Conseco Pontiac

2001) Kyle Petty - #45 Sprint Dodge

2000) Kenny Wallace - #55 Square D / Cooper Lighting Chevrolet

1999) Brett Bodine - #11 Paychex Ford

POP-SECRET MICROWAVE POPCORN 400

EVENT RANKINGS 1965-2003

1st) Loy Allen, Jr., Charlie Baker, Joe Frasson, Kyle Petty (2)

2nd) Davey Allison, Buddy Arrington, Brett Bodine, Earl Brooks, Rodney Combs, Derrike Cope, Darel Dieringer, Bill Elswick, Frank Gardner, Robby Gordon, Bill Hollar, Ron Hutcherson, James Hylton, John Kennedy, Bobby Labonte, Kevin Lepage, Tiny Lund, John McFadden, Rick Newsom, Lennie Pond, Mike Potter, Joe Ruttman, Tighe Scott, Jimmy Spencer, Ronnie Thomas, Maynard Troyer, Kenny Wallace, Mike Wallace, Frank Warren, Cale Yarborough (1)

## TEXAS WORLD SPEEDWAY

College Station, Texas - 2-mile oval

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

Eleven years after scoring the first last-place finish at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, **Roy Tyner** trailed the first Cup Series field at the fast Texas World Speedway on December 7, 1969. Tyner, now an owner-driver, started 36th in the 38-car field for the Texas 500, but lost the engine on his #9 1969 Pontiac after he completed just 2 of the race's 250 laps. The finish was the fifteenth and final of his Cup career, and it came in his 297th of 311 Cup starts.

THE FINAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

The final race at the Texas World Speedway also signaled the 90th and final Cup Series start of its last-place finisher, **Baxter Price**. The native of Monroe, North Carolina made his Cup debut in 1973, and competed as an owner-driver for nearly all of those starts in car #45. It was in one such car that he scored a career-best 11th at Martinsville on April 23, 1978. However, by the early 1980s, Price was driving for other teams. For the Texas race, the Budweiser NASCAR 400 on June 7, 1981, Price drove a team car for owner-driver Jimmy Means. While Means finished 19th in his familiar #52, Price quit after 1 lap in the #50 Broadway Motors Chevrolet. It was also Price's fifth last-place finish of his Cup career.

The Texas World Speedway still exists today as a driving school and occasional testing facility. The track now includes a road course facility that as recently as 1996 held an IMSA endurance race.

FIRST-TIME LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

Out of the eight races run at the Texas World Speedway, three featured first-time last-place finishers, including 1974 LASTCAR Cup Series Champion **Richie Panch**.

Richie Panch

June 10, 1973 - #98 Panch Racing 1973 Ford suffered an ignition failure after 1 lap.

Jimmy Finger

June 3, 1979 - #32 Vita Fresh / Pharis Chevy Buick lost an engine after 5 laps.

Randy Ogden

June 1, 1980 - #18 Ogden Racing Chevrolet lost an engine after 13 laps.

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDERS

In the eight races run at this track, there was never a single repeat last-place finisher. Included on the list are both 1970 NASCAR Cup Series Champion **Bobby Isaac** (1971) and 1974 LASTCAR Cup Series Champion **Richie Panch**.

TRACK RANKINGS 1969-1981

1st) Jimmy Finger, Bobby Isaac, Randy Ogden, Richie Panch, Baxter Price, Bill Seifert, Bill Shirey, Roy Tyner (1)

BUDWEISER NASCAR 400 (SUMMER RACE)

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

1981) Baxter Price - #50 Broadway Motors Chevrolet

1980) Randy Ogden - #18 Ogden Racing Chevrolet

1979) Jimmy Finger - #32 Vita Fresh / Pharis Chevy Buick

1973) Richie Panch - #9 Panch Racing 1973 Ford

1972) Bill Shirey - #74 1970 Dodge

TEXAS 500 (FALL RACE)

PREVIOUS THREE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

1972) Bill Seifert - #44 Giachetti Brothers 1971 Mercury

1971) Bobby Isaac - #71 K&K Insurance 1971 Dodge

1969) Roy Tyner - #9 1969 Pontiac

## TRENTON SPEEDWAY

Trenton, New Jersey - 1.5-mile oval

THE INAUGURAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

When the Trenton track first joined the Cup Series schedule for the inaugural Northern 500 on May 30, 1958, the track was a one-mile paved facility. Taking the first win by more than two laps was Glenn "Fireball" Roberts. Finishing last was **Frank "Frankie" Lies** , making his first and only Cup Series start. The driver from Wichita, Kansas qualified 27th in the 34-car field, but his #78 1958 Ford lost an engine after 33 laps, leaving him in the back of the field.

THE FINAL LAST-PLACE FINISHER

By the final Trenton race on July 16, 1972, a dogleg had been added, extending the track's length to 1.5 miles. The "kidney bean" oval hosted the Northern 300, won by Bobby Allison. Finishing last that day was another first-time last-place finisher, **A.J. Cox** of Wilmington, Delaware. Cox was making his second and final Cup Series start, having finished 32nd out of 40 cars at Dover the year before. This time around, Cox's #81 Dodge overheated after just 2 laps, taking him out of the running.

The Trenton Speedway, as well as its surrounding fairgrounds, have since been plowed under and replaced by a park, a housing development, and a UPS facility.

FIRST-TIME LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

Joining Lies and Cox are three other drivers who scored their first last-place finishes at Trenton, including **Elmo Langley** , the longtime owner-driver who continued to run his own team through the 1980s, then became NASCAR's pace car driver.

Frank Lies

May 30, 1958 - #78 1958 Ford lost an engine after 58 laps.

Elmo Langley

May 17, 1959 - #110 1957 Ford broke the clutch after 25 laps.

George Davis

July 14, 1968 - #07 Malco Auto 1966 Chevrolet broke the transmission after 0 laps.

Jerry Churchill

July 18, 1971 - #73 1969 Ford quit after 2 laps.

A.J. Cox

July 16, 1972 - #81 1971 Dodge overheated after 2 laps.

CURRENT LASTCAR TRACK RECORD HOLDERS

In the eight races run at this track, there was never a single repeat last-place finisher.

TRACK RANKINGS 1958-1972

1st) Jerry Churchill, A.J. Cox, George Davis, Wayne Gillette, John Kenney, Elmo Langley, Frank Lies, Don Stives (1)

NORTHERN 300

PREVIOUS FIVE LAST-PLACE FINISHERS

1972) A.J. Cox - #81 1971 Dodge

1971) Jerry Churchill - #73 1969 Ford

1970) John Keney - #77 1968 Ford

1969) Wayne Gillette - #09 1967 Chevrolet

1968) George Davis - #07 Malco Auto 1966 Chevrolet

###

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Thank you for purchasing this book and for supporting LASTCAR.

For more LASTCAR updates, please check out my website at http://lastcar.info.

In addition, future articles such as this one will be posted for sale at the site where you purchased this one. If you would like to see your driver or team featured in a future article, or if you have any comments or suggestions for this or future articles, please contact me at brockbeard@gmail.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brock Beard is a motorsports journalist and NASCAR historian who has worked as an online insider for the Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California and is a frequent guest at RaceTalkRadio.com. He's the founder and sole statistician for LASTCAR, which provides weekly articles and statistical updates on the last-place finishers of each Cup, XFINITY, and Truck Series race. His first book, "J.D.: The Life and Death of a Forgotten NASCAR Legend," was published in July 2018. He currently resides in Antioch, California.

ALSO AVAILABLE BY BROCK BEARD

J.D.: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF A FORGOTTEN NASCAR LEGEND

LASTCAR: CUP SERIES YEAR-BY-YEAR*

LASTCAR: XFINITY AND TRUCK SERIES EXPANSION PACK*

FORMULAST ONE: STATISTICS ABOUT THE FIRST RETIREMENTS OF GRANDS PRIX*

*These eBooks are updated yearly between late November and early January. No additional purchase required. New versions can be downloaded for free where you bought this copy.
