CUP: Reed Sorenson Tightens 2012 LASTCAR Cup Championship With Seven Races To Go

SOURCE: Rubbin's Racin'

Reed Sorenson picked up the 8th last-place finish of his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career in Sunday’s AAA 400 at the Dover International Speedway when his #91 Plinker Tactical Toyota fell out with brake problems after completing 18 of the race’s 400 laps.

The finish was Sorenson’s third of the season, his first since Richmond three races ago. He now stands tied for 2nd in the 2012 LASTCAR Cup Series rankings, one finish behind leader Michael McDowell along with Scott Riggs, Scott Speed, and Josh Wise.

Sorenson was one of many "go-or-go-home" drivers who were impressive in Happy Hour, the #91 turning in the 15th fastest time overall. Four others ran faster still, including defending NASCAR Nationwide Series Champion Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. (12th), McDowell (11th), Speed (8th), and David Stremme (5th). However, in qualifying, Stremme narrowly missed the field, bumped out by the #37 Larry Gunselman-owned Chevrolet driven Sunday by Dave Blaney.

Sorenson qualified a respectable 29th at an average speed of 156.223 mph, whereas teammate Mike Bliss in the #19 was among those sent home.

Sorenson fell to the back of the field before the start and remained there during the opening green-flag run, eventually retiring after 18 laps. Scott Riggs, the next-closest competitor, exited eight laps later to take the 42nd spot, while Michael McDowell missed edging Joe Nemechek for a Bottom Five spot by three laps.

LASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first last-place finish for the #91 in a Cup Series race at Dover since 1999, when Dick Trickle’s Larry’s Homes Chevrolet crashed after six laps of the MBNA Platinum 400. Trickle’s car was owned by Joe Falk, the current owner of the #33 that missed Sunday’s race with driver Cole Whitt.
*This was Sorenson’s first last-place finish in a Cup Series race at Dover.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
43) #91-Reed Sorenson / 18 laps / brakes
42) #23-Scott Riggs / 26 laps / brakes
41) #37-Dave Blaney / 29 laps / overheating
40) #95-Scott Speed / 32 laps / suspension
39) #87-Joe Nemechek / 48 laps / electrical

LASTCAR CUP SERIES DRIVER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Michael McDowell (4)
2nd) Scott Riggs, Reed Sorenson, Scott Speed, Josh Wise (3)
3rd) Mike Bliss, Joe Nemechek, J.J. Yeley (2)
4th) Trevor Bayne, Kelly Bires, Landon Cassill, Brendan Gaughan, Jason Leffler, David Ragan, Brian Vickers (1)

LASTCAR CUP SERIES OWNER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) #98-Phil Parsons Racing (4)
2nd) #19-Humphrey-Smith Racing, #23-R3 Motorsports, #26-Front Row Motorsports (3)
3rd) #49-Robinson-Blakeney Racing, #79-Go Green Racing, #87-NEMCO Motorsports, #95-Leavine Family Racing, #91-Humphrey-Smith Racing (2)
4th) #21-Wood Brothers Racing, #33-Richard Childress Racing, #34-Front Row Motorsports, #55-Michael Waltrip Racing, #74-Turn One Racing, #83-BK Racing (1)

LASTCAR CUP SERIES MANUFACTURER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Ford (14)
2nd) Toyota (9)
3rd) Chevrolet (6)

N’WIDE: Lewandoski 2-For-2 In His First Races For TriStar Motorsports

SOURCE: NASCAR Media

Charles Lewandoski picked up the 2nd last-place finish of his NASCAR Nationwide Series career in Saturday’s OneMain Financial 200 at the Dover International Speeway when his unsponsored #10 TriStar Motorsports Toyota fell out with a vibration after he completed 3 of the race’s 200 laps.

The finish was Lewandoski’s second in a row in as many starts driving TriStar’s #10, driven for most of this year by all-time LASTCAR leader Jeff Green. This week, Green was given a ride in the team’s G-Oil-sponsored #44, which he drove to an impressive 15th-place finish.

Lewandoski qualified 22nd at an average speed of 150.313 mph, ranking him fifth among the sixteen "go-or-go-homers" who entered the race. This allowed him to easily beat the three drivers who did not qualify, including 2007 LASTCAR Nationwide Series Champion Morgan Shepherd and two-time 2012 last-placer Mike Harmon.

Lewandoski beat Rick Ware Racing’s Kelly Bires for last place by one lap, followed by T.J. Bell for The Motorsports Group. Behind Bell was defending LASTCAR Cup Champion Michael McDowell, who was making his first start for owner Jason Sciavicco in the #00 Toyota.

LASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first last-place finish for the #10 in a Nationwide Series race at Dover.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
43) #10-Charles Lewandoski / 3 laps / vibration
42) #15-Kelly Bires / 4 laps / brakes
41) #47-T.J. Bell / 6 laps / vibration
40) #00-Michael McDowell / 6 laps / rear end
39) #42-Josh Wise / 6 laps / electrical

LASTCAR N'WIDE SERIES DRIVER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Jeff Green (12)
2nd) Mike Harmon, Kevin Lepage, Charles Lewandoski, Chase Miller (2)
3rd) Tim Andrews, Ryan Blaney, Joey Gase, Stephen Leicht, Danica Patrick, Tony Raines, Scott Speed, Josh Wise (1)

LASTCAR N'WIDE SERIES OWNER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) #10-TriStar Motorsports (14)
2nd) #46-The Motorsports Group, #47-The Motorsports Group, #52-Means Racing, #74-Mike Harmon (2)
3rd) #7-JR Motorsports, #36-Tommy Baldwin Racing, #42-The Motorsports Group, #70-ML Motorsports, #91-TriStar Motorsports, #08-Randy Hill Racing (1)

LASTCAR N'WIDE SERIES MANUFACTURER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Toyota (15)
2nd) Chevrolet (12)
3rd) Ford (1)

TRUCKS: Greenfield Last In Lind Team’s Truck Series Debut

SOURCE: Daylife

Clay Greenfield picked up the 2nd last-place finish of his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career in Saturday’s Smith’s 350 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway when his #00 Obregon Construction Ford fell out with overheating problems after he completed 3 of the race’s 146 laps.

Both of Greenfield’s finishes have come this season, with the first taking place at Charlotte, twelve races ago.

Greenfield was locked into his seventh start of the 2012 season as only 34 trucks showed up for 36 spots. His previous six starts came while driving for his own team, Clay Greenfield Motorsports, for which he last raced to a 34th-place finish at Bristol. Las Vegas would seem him debut a new team, the #00 fielded by Rick Lind.

Greenfield qualified 31st at an average speed of 165.578 mph, then exited the race during the caution for Todd Bodine’s opening-lap spin in turn four. This allowed him to edge RSS Racing’s Chris Jones, who pulled out the #38 one lap later. Dennis Setzer, the current LASTCAR Truck Series leader, fell out after 7 laps in the RSS #93 and finished 31st.

LASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first last-place finish for the #00 in a Truck Series race since 2007, when Ken Butler’s Aaron’s Lucky Dog Toyota lost the engine after 167 laps of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Ohio 250 at Mansfield. It is only the sixth time the number has finished last in any Truck Series race; the other four were picked up by Ryan McGlynn in 1999 and 2000.
*Greenfield’s was the first Ford to finish last in a Truck Series race at Las Vegas since 2003, when Rick Crawford’s #14 Circle Bar Motel & RV Park Ford lost the engine after 3 laps of the Las Vegas 350.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
34) #00-Clay Greenfield / 3 laps / overheating
33) #38-Chris Jones / 4 laps / vibration
32) #25-B.J. McLeod / 5 laps / overheating
31) #93-Dennis Setzer / 7 laps / vibration
30) #07-Johnny Chapman / 11 laps / rear gear

LASTCAR TRUCK SERIES DRIVER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Dennis Setzer (3)
2nd) Johnny Chapman, Clay Greenfield (2)
3rd) T.J. Bell, Jeb Burton, Rick Crawford, Grant Enfinger, Blake Koch, Jennifer Jo Cobb, Brandon Knupp, Jason Leffler, Brennan Newberry, Scott Riggs (1)

LASTCAR TRUCK SERIES OWNER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) #38-RSS Racing (3)
2nd) #0-Jennifer Jo Cobb, #27-Hillman Racing (2)
3rd) #5-Wauters Motorsports, #10-Jennifer Jo Cobb, #14-Bob Newberry, #18-Kyle Busch Motorsports, #60-Turn One Racing, #68-Clay Greenfield Motorsports, #86-Clay Greenfield Motorsports, #74-Mike Harmon, #00-Rick Lind, #07-Ken Smith (1)

LASTCAR TRUCK SERIES MANUFACTURER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Chevrolet (9)
2nd) Ford, RAM (3)
3rd) Toyota (2)
　

CUP: Kelly Bires Caps Weekend Of First-Time Last-Place Finishers

SOURCE: Rob Dostie

Kelly Bires scored the 1st last-place finish of his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career in Sunday’s Sylvania 300 at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway when his #79 BBI / Bestway Ford fell out with brake problems after completing 20 of the race’s 300 laps. The finish came in Bires’ second series start.

Following his Sprint Cup debut at Loudon in July, where he came home 42nd, he narrowly missed the field at Bristol before setting sights on the September race. This time, Bires made the show with a lap of 130.367 mph, locking up the 38th starting spot. Bires then exited the race during the opening green-flag run, edging by one lap Humphrey-Smith’s Reed Sorenson in the #91.

Among the drivers who missed the race were Jason Leffler, driving the #49 that finished last at Loudon in July, and all-time LASTCAR leader Jeff Green in a one-off for Humphrey-Smith Motorsports. Also missing the race were Scott Riggs and Josh Wise, currently tied for 2nd in the LASTCAR Championship chase. Wise was originally fast enough to make it in, but his time was disallowed due to a technical infraction for his rear springs. This put David Stremme and the #30 Inception Motorsports team into the show.

LASTCAR STATISTICS
*Bires is the first Cup driver to score his first Cup Series last-place finish at Loudon since Wayne Anderson, whose #75 Rinaldi Air Conditioning Dodge lost the engine after 16 laps of the 2005 Sylvania 300.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
(With Photos Taken By LASTCAR Reader Rob Dostie)

43) #79-Kelly Bires / 20 laps / brakes

42) #91-Reed Sorenson / 21 laps / brakes

41) #37-J.J. Yeley / 29 laps / brakes

40) #36-Tony Raines / 68 laps / rear gear

39) #87-Joe Nemechek / 78 laps / brakes

LASTCAR CUP SERIES DRIVER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Michael McDowell (4)
2nd) Scott Riggs, Scott Speed, Josh Wise (3)
3rd) Mike Bliss, Joe Nemechek, Reed Sorenson, J.J. Yeley (2)
4th) Trevor Bayne, Kelly Bires, Landon Cassill, Brendan Gaughan, Jason Leffler, David Ragan, Brian Vickers (1)

LASTCAR CUP SERIES OWNER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) #98-Phil Parsons Racing (4)
2nd) #19-Humphrey-Smith Racing, #23-R3 Motorsports, #26-Front Row Motorsports (3)
3rd) #49-Robinson-Blakeney Racing, #79-Go Green Racing, #87-NEMCO Motorsports, #95-Leavine Family Racing (2)
4th) #21-Wood Brothers Racing, #33-Richard Childress Racing, #34-Front Row Motorsports, #55-Michael Waltrip Racing, #74-Turn One Racing, #83-BK Racing, #91-Humphrey-Smith Racing (1)

LASTCAR CUP SERIES MANUFACTURER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Ford (14)
2nd) Toyota (8)
3rd) Chevrolet (6)

CECIL GORDON (1941-2012)
Last Wednesday, former NASCAR Sprint Cup owner-driver and 1970 and 1981 LASTCAR Cup Champion Cecil "Flash" Gordon passed away at the age of 71. In 449 Cup Series starts from 1968 to 1985, the Horse Shoe, North Carolina native never won a race, but he racked up 29 top-five finishes and 111 top-tens. His career-best finish was a runner-up to David Pearson at Dover on May 18, 1975.

As the first Gordon to run the #24 in the Cup Series on a regular basis, Gordon gave Morgan Shepherd one of his first Cup rides at Bristol in 1981, where Shepherd led 104 laps and finished 19th. In the latter part of his driving career, Gordon was one of the last drivers to race a Chrysler in NASCAR, and he scored the twelfth and final last-place finish of his career in his last Cup start at Richmond in 1985.

Cecil Gordon and his #24 Chevrolet,1975
SOURCE: Historical Stock Car Racing Forum
 

N’WIDE: Lewandoski Last at Kentucky in Jeff Green’s #10

SOURCE: NASCAR Media

Charles Lewandoski scored the 1st last-place finish of his NASCAR Nationwide Series career in Saturday’s Kentucky 300 at the Kentucky Speedway when his unsponsored #10 TriStar Motorspots Toyota fell out with a vibration after completing 4 of the race’s 200 laps. The finish came in Lewandoski’s 24th series start.

Lewandoski was filling in for LASTCAR record-breaker Jeff Green, who was in New Hampshire attempting to get Humphrey-Smith’s #19 Ford into Sunday’s Sprint Cup race. While Green was unable to make Sunday’s field, Lewandoski timed in 28th Saturday at an average speed of 169.337 mph, ranking him third behind only Scott Lagasse, Jr. and Chase Miller among the thirteen "go-or-go-homers" who qualified.

Four laps into the race, Lewandoski was behind the wall, securing a 13th last-place finish for the #10 in 2012. Not far behind were three Chevrolets from The Motorsports Group, plus Rick Ware’s #75 piloted by Matt Carter.

LASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first last-place finish for the #10 in a Nationwide Series race at Kentucky.
*Lewandoski is the fifth first-time Nationwide Series last-placer in the last nine races.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
43) #10-Charles Lewandoski / 4 laps / vibration
42) #42-Matt Frahm / 6 laps / brakes
41) #47-Matt DiBenedetto / 10 laps / vibration
40) #75-Matt Carter / 13 laps / transmission
39) #46-Chase Miller / 13 laps / vibration

LASTCAR N'WIDE SERIES DRIVER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Jeff Green (12)
2nd) Mike Harmon, Kevin Lepage, Chase Miller (2)
3rd) Tim Andrews, Ryan Blaney, Joey Gase, Stephen Leicht, Charles Lewandoski, Danica Patrick, Tony Raines, Scott Speed, Josh Wise (1)

LASTCAR N'WIDE SERIES OWNER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) #10-TriStar Motorsports (13)
2nd) #46-The Motorsports Group, #47-The Motorsports Group, #52-Means Racing, #74-Mike Harmon (2)
3rd) #7-JR Motorsports, #36-Tommy Baldwin Racing, #42-The Motorsports Group, #70-ML Motorsports, #91-TriStar Motorsports, #08-Randy Hill Racing (1)

LASTCAR N'WIDE SERIES MANUFACTURER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Toyota (14)
2nd) Chevrolet (12)
3rd) Ford (1)

TRUCKS: Koch Edges Three RSS Racing Trucks For His First Last-Place Finish

SOURCE: Rubbin's Racin'

Blake Koch scored the 1st last-place finish of his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career in Friday’s Kentucky 201 at the Kentucky Speedway when his #0 Driven2Honor.org Ford fell out with transmission problems without completing a lap of the 134-lap race. The finish came in Koch’s third series start.

Koch qualified 31st in the field at an average speed of 167.655 mph, one position behind team owner Jennifer Jo Cobb and her #10 Dodge Ram. Three laps after Koch fell out of the race, Dennis Setzer edged the #84 of Chris Fontaine and Setzer’s two RSS Racing teammates of Chris Jones and Johnny Chapman for the 35th spot.

LASTCAR STATISTICS
*Koch was the first Ford to finish last in a Truck race at Kentucky since 2009, when Brent Raymer’s #85 Car Truck & RV / BrentRaymer.com Ford lost the rear end after one lap of the Built Ford Tough 225 presented by Great Cincinnati Ford Dealers.
*This was the second last-place finish of 2012 for the #0. The other was authored by T.J. Bell at Michigan, four races ago.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
36) #0-Blake Koch / 0 laps / transmission
35) #37-Dennis Setzer / 3 laps / vibration
34) #84-Chris Fontaine / 3 laps / engine
33) #38-Chris Jones / 4 laps / rear end
32) #93-Johnny Chapman / 16 laps / rear end

LASTCAR TRUCK SERIES DRIVER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Dennis Setzer (3)
2nd) Johnny Chapman (2)
3rd) T.J. Bell, Jeb Burton, Rick Crawford, Grant Enfinger, Clay Greenfield, Blake Koch, Jennifer Jo Cobb, Brandon Knupp, Jason Leffler, Brennan Newberry, Scott Riggs (1)

LASTCAR TRUCK SERIES OWNER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) #38-RSS Racing (3)
2nd) #0-Jennifer Jo Cobb, #27-Hillman Racing (2)
3rd) #5-Wauters Motorsports, #10-Jennifer Jo Cobb, #14-Bob Newberry, #18-Kyle Busch Motorsports, #60-Turn One Racing, #68-Clay Greenfield Motorsports, #86-Clay Greenfield Motorsports, #74-Mike Harmon, #07-Ken Smith (1)

LASTCAR TRUCK SERIES MANUFACTURER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Chevrolet (9)
2nd) RAM (3)
3rd) Ford, Toyota (2)
　

CUP: McDowell Scores Third Chicagoland Last-Place Finish, Takes 2012 LASTCAR Cup Series Lead

SOURCE: motorsport.com

Michael McDowell picked up the 17th last-place finish of his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career in Sunday’s GEICO 400 at the Chicagoland Speedway when his unsponsored #98 Phil Parsons Racing Ford fell out with rear gear problems after he completed 38 of the race’s 267 laps.

The finish was McDowell’s series-leading 4th of the 2012 season and his first since the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona, nine races ago. With nine races to go, McDowell now holds sole possession of the 2012 LASTCAR Sprint Cup Championship. Looking to keep McDowell from his second consecutive title are Scott Riggs, Scott Speed, and Josh Wise, who each trail McDowell by one finish.

McDowell qualified 24th for Sunday’s race at an average speed of 180.276 mph, ranking him a strong second among the race’s "go-or-go-homers" behind 14th-place Trevor Bayne. On Lap 4, last place was held by Cole Whitt, who was making a one-off in place of current Rookie of the Year leader Stephen Leicht in the Joe Falk-owned #33.

Whitt was off the track on Lap 4, but returned to the track around thirty laps into the race, still in 43rd. By this point, Josh Wise’s #26 was now off the track, and he had fallen to the 42nd spot, apparently headed to retake the LASTCAR lead once Whitt got by. However, Wise also returned to the track long enough for McDowell’s parked car to slip by, and the #98 then fell behind Cole Whitt around Lap 70. Whitt and Wise finished nose-to-tail in 37th and 38th, just outside the Bottom Five.

LASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was McDowell’s third last-place finish in a Cup race at Chicago (2008, 2011, 2012) and his second in a row. Last year, his #66 James Fund Toyota lost its brakes after 25 laps.
*A Ford had not finished last in a Cup race at Chicago since 2002, when Stuart Kirby’s #57 CLR Ford lost the rear end after 124 laps of the Tropicana 400.
*This was the #98's first last-place finish in a Cup race at Chicago.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
43) #98-Michael McDowell / 38 laps / rear gear
42) #19-Mike Bliss / 41 laps / brakes
41) #95-Scott Speed / 49 laps / suspension
40) #87-Joe Nemechek / 52 laps / vibration
39) #30-David Stremme / 60 laps / transmission

LASTCAR CUP SERIES DRIVER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Michael McDowell (4)
2nd) Scott Riggs, Scott Speed, Josh Wise (3)
3rd) Mike Bliss, Joe Nemechek, Reed Sorenson, J.J. Yeley (2)
4th) Trevor Bayne, Landon Cassill, Brendan Gaughan, Jason Leffler, David Ragan, Brian Vickers (1)

LASTCAR CUP SERIES OWNER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) #98-Phil Parsons Racing (4)
2nd) #19-Humphrey-Smith Racing, #23-R3 Motorsports, #26-Front Row Motorsports (3)
3rd) #49-Robinson-Blakeney Racing, #87-NEMCO Motorsports, #95-Leavine Family Racing (2)
4th) #21-Wood Brothers Racing, #33-Richard Childress Racing, #34-Front Row Motorsports, #55-Michael Waltrip Racing, #74-Turn One Racing, #79-Go Green Racing, #83-BK Racing, #91-Humphrey-Smith Racing (1)

LASTCAR CUP SERIES MANUFACTURER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Ford (13)
2nd) Toyota (8)
3rd) Chevrolet (6)

N’WIDE: Andrews Gives #08 Its First Nationwide Series Last-Place Finish Since 1987

SOURCE: Rubbin's Racin'

Tim Andrews picked up the 1st last-place finish of his NASCAR Nationwide Series career in Saturday’s Dollar General 300 at the Chicagoland Speedway when his unsponsored #08 Randy Hill Racing Ford fell out with ignition problems after completing 9 of the race’s 200 laps. Curiously, the finish came in Andrews’ 43rd series start.

Andrews qualified in the 43rd and final starting spot, timing in at an average speed of 164.644 mph. Andrews was making his ninth Nationwide start of 2012 with all but his start for Go Green Racing at Montreal coming with the #08 team. The Montreal race produced Andrews’ best career finish, a 17th.

Jeff Green, who secured the 2012 LASTCAR Nationwide Series title last week at Richmond, finished 31st. Green and the twelve drivers beneath him down to Andrews in 43rd all exited the race in the first 30 laps.

LASTCAR STATISTICS

John Linville, 1988
SOURCE: Historical Stock Car Racing Forum

*The #08 had not finished last in a Nationwide Series race since 1987, when the late John Linville’s Reedy Racing Pontiac fell out with rear end problems after he completed 7 laps of the Coors 200 at the South Boston Speedway. Linville is the father of DeLana Harvick, wife of Sprint Cup regular Kevin Harvick. An owner-driver for much of his career, Linville also recorded the first two LASTCAR championships in Nationwide Series history, often driving his familiar #62.
*This is Ford’s first last-place finish in the Nationwide Series since last fall at Phoenix, when Matt Frahm’s #39 TSP Powder Coating Ford was involved in an opening-lap crash. Andrews, Frahm’s teammate at the time, was also involved and finished 42nd.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
43) #08-Tim Andrews / 9 laps / ignition
42) #46-Chase Miller / 9 laps / overheating
41) #42-Josh Wise / 10 laps / electrical
40) #47-J.J. Yeley / 11 laps / vibration
39) #74-Mike Harmon / 12 laps / overheating

LASTCAR N'WIDE SERIES DRIVER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Jeff Green (12)
2nd) Mike Harmon, Kevin Lepage, Chase Miller (2)
3rd) Tim Andrews, Ryan Blaney, Joey Gase, Stephen Leicht, Danica Patrick, Tony Raines, Scott Speed, Josh Wise (1)

LASTCAR N'WIDE SERIES OWNER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) #10-TriStar Motorsports (12)
2nd) #46-The Motorsports Group, #47-The Motorsports Group, #52-Means Racing, #74-Mike Harmon (2)
3rd) #7-JR Motorsports, #36-Tommy Baldwin Racing, #42-The Motorsports Group, #70-ML Motorsports, #91-TriStar Motorsports, #08-Randy Hill Racing (1)

LASTCAR N'WIDE SERIES MANUFACTURER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Toyota (13)
2nd) Chevrolet (12)
3rd) Ford (1)

TRUCKS: Setzer Leads LASTCAR Truck Series Standings After Back-To-Back 36th-Place Finishes

SOURCE: Rubbin's Racin'

Dennis Setzer picked up the 5th last-place finish of his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career in Saturday’s American Ethanol 200 presented by Hy-Vee at the Iowa Speedway when his unsponsored #38 RSS Racing Chevrolet fell out with overheating problems after completing 2 of the race’s 200 laps.

The finish was Setzer’s second in a row and his series-leading third of 2012. With seven races to go, Setzer now leads second-place Johnny Chapman by one finish.

Setzer qualified 29th at an average speed of 129.683 mph, ranking him seventh among the eleven "go-or-go-homers" who all made the 36-truck field.

LASTCAR STATISTICS
*Setzer is the first driver to score back-to-back Truck Series last-place finishes since last fall, when defending LASTCAR Truck Series champion Mike Garvey finished last at Martinsville and Texas. Garvey’s finishes also came with the Shane Sieg-owned team for whom Setzer now drives.
*This was the first last-place finish in a Truck Series race at Iowa for both Setzer and the #38.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
36) #38-Dennis Setzer / 2 laps / overheating
35) #0-Chris Lafferty / 3 laps / transmission
34) #93-Chris Jones / 5 laps / brakes
33) #9-Ron Hornaday, Jr. / 68 laps / crash
32) #07-Caleb Roark / 94 laps / crash

LASTCAR TRUCK SERIES DRIVER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Dennis Setzer (3)
2nd) Johnny Chapman (2)
3rd) T.J. Bell, Jeb Burton, Rick Crawford, Grant Enfinger, Clay Greenfield, Jennifer Jo Cobb, Brandon Knupp, Jason Leffler, Brennan Newberry, Scott Riggs (1)

LASTCAR TRUCK SERIES OWNER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) #38-RSS Racing (3)
2nd) #27-Hillman Racing (2)
3rd) #0-Jennifer Jo Cobb, #5-Wauters Motorsports, #10-Jennifer Jo Cobb, #14-Bob Newberry, #18-Kyle Busch Motorsports, #60-Turn One Racing, #68-Clay Greenfield Motorsports, #86-Clay Greenfield Motorsports, #74-Mike Harmon, #07-Ken Smith (1)

LASTCAR TRUCK SERIES MANUFACTURER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Chevrolet (9)
2nd) RAM (3)
3rd) Toyota (2)
4th) Ford (1)
　

CUP: Reed Sorenson Scores First Cup Last-Place Finish For #91 Since 2005

SOURCE: motorsport.com

Reed Sorenson picked up the 7th last-place finish of his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career in Saturday’s Federated Auto Parts 400 at the Richmond International Raceway when his #91 Plinker Tactical Chevrolet fell out with power steering problems after completing 57 of the race’s 400 laps.

The finish was Soreson’s second of the 2012 season and his first since Martinsville, 20 races ago, when he drove Turn One Racing’s #74.

Sorenson was making his fourth start of 2012 as driver of Humphrey-Smith Racing’s #91 team that made its first attempt as a Ford at Indianapolis, then its first race as a Toyota the next week at Pocono. At Pocono, Michigan, and Atlanta, Sorenson’s car came home 42nd, as the #91 was a second start-and-park entry to join fellow last-placer Mike Bliss in the #19. Richmond saw Sorenson run a Chevrolet that was rained out of the field at Bristol two weeks ago, a third different manufacturer in the short late-summer span.

Sorenson squeaked into the field, securing the 43rd and final starting spot with a lap of 123.779 mph. The #91 edged both J.J. Yeley in the Larry Gunselman-owned #37 and a new team, the #0 SS Motorsports entry of Mark Green. Green, a veteran of 318 Nationwide Series races, has yet to qualify for a Sprint Cup race. This attempt was the fourth of Green’s career and his first since 2003.

In the race itself, Sorenson and Josh Wise exited the event after the same number of laps. Wise was denied a tiebreaker in the four-car battle for the 2012 LASTCAR Cup Championship when Sorenson was credited with 43rd. With ten races to go, Wise is tied with Michael McDowell for second in the tiebreaker with 13 bottom five finishes apiece to leader Scott Riggs’ 16. Also part of the tie is Scott Speed with 5.

LASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first last-place finish for the #91 in a Cup race since 2005, when Bill Elliott’s Stanley Tools Dodge was involved in a crash after 23 laps of the 2005 Auto Club 500 at the Auto Club Speedway of Southern California. It was Elliott’s eighth and, so far, most recent last-place finish in Cup.
*This was the first last-place finish for the #91 at Richmond since 2000, when Todd Bodine’s Little Joe’s Auto Chevrolet crashed 42 laps into the 2000 Pontiac Excitement 400. It was Bodine’s fifth last-place finish in Cup. The race was team owner Joe Falk’s last until T.J. Bell’s Sprint Cup debut at Darlington in May of 2011. Today, Falk owns the #33 Chevrolet piloted by rookie candidate Stephen Leicht. Leicht finished 10 laps down in 36th on Saturday, having now finished under power in four of his last five starts.
*The 57 laps completed by Sorenson are the most by a Cup last-place finisher at Richmond since this race in 2008, when A.J. Allmendinger and his #84 Red Bull Toyota completed 335 laps of the Chevy Rock ‘n Roll 400.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
43) #91-Reed Sorenson / 57 laps / power steering
42) #26-Josh Wise / 57 laps / brakes
41) #98-Michael McDowell / 63 laps / brakes / led 1 lap
40) #19-Mike Bliss / 70 laps / wheel
39) #23-Scott Riggs / 78 laps / brakes

LASTCAR CUP SERIES DRIVER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Michael McDowell, Scott Riggs, Scott Speed, Josh Wise (3)
2nd) Mike Bliss, Joe Nemechek, Reed Sorenson, J.J. Yeley (2)
3rd) Trevor Bayne, Landon Cassill, Brendan Gaughan, Jason Leffler, David Ragan, Brian Vickers (1)

LASTCAR CUP SERIES OWNER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) #19-Humphrey-Smith Racing, #23-R3 Motorsports, #26-Front Row Motorsports, #98-Phil Parsons Racing (3)
2nd) #49-Robinson-Blakeney Racing, #87-NEMCO Motorsports, #95-Leavine Family Racing (2)
3rd) #21-Wood Brothers Racing, #33-Richard Childress Racing, #34-Front Row Motorsports, #55-Michael Waltrip Racing, #74-Turn One Racing, #79-Go Green Racing, #83-BK Racing, #91-Humphrey-Smith Racing (1)

LASTCAR CUP SERIES MANUFACTURER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Ford (12)
2nd) Toyota (8)
3rd) Chevrolet (6)
　

N’WIDE: Jeff Green Sets New Single-Season Last-Place Record, Secures Third LASTCAR Title

SOURCE: NASCAR Media

Jeff Green picked up the 38th last-place finish of his NASCAR Nationwide Series career in Friday’s Virginia 529 College Savings 250 at the Richmond International Raceway when his unsponsored #10 TriStar Motorsports Toyota fell out with a vibration after completing 3 of the race’s 250 laps.

The finish was Green’s 12th of the 2012 season, setting a new all-time single-season record for most last-place finishes by a driver in any of NASCAR’s top three divisions. Jeff Fuller, the previous record holder, set the old mark of 11 in 2004. Also, with a lead of ten finishes with just eight races to go in the 2012 Nationwide Series season, Green has locked up his third LASTCAR Nationwide Series title.

As a result, the following five LASTCAR records now all belong to Jeff Green:
*Most NASCAR Last-Place Finishes (43)
*Most NASCAR Nationwide Series Last-Place Finishes (38)
*Most NASCAR Last-Place Finishes In A Single Season (12)
*Tied For Most LASTCAR Nationwide Series Titles (3, Tied With Jeff Fuller)
*Only NASCAR Driver To Score Four Consecutive Last-Place Finishes (August 2011)

Green qualified 18th for the Richmond race at an average speed of 120.622 mph, ranking him third among the 17 "go-or-go-homers" who attempted to qualify. It was the best qualifying run by a Nationwide Series last-placer this season.

For the second consecutive week, it first appeared as though Blake Koch in the #00 would snag the 43rd spot when he trailed the field soon after the start. However, Koch eventually climbed to 37th, by which point Green and the three start-and-park cars from The Motorsports Group had exited the race. Green edged TMG’s Chase Miller in the #46 by three laps to secure the record-setting last-place finish.

LASTCAR STATISTICS
*Green is the highest-qualified last-place finisher of a Nationwide Series race since 2010, when that year’s LASTCAR champion Dennis Setzer and his #92 K-Automotive Motorsports Dodge qualified 15th in the fall race at Texas, the O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge.
*Green has swept both last-place finishes in both 2012 Nationwide races at Richmond.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
43) #10-Jeff Green / 3 laps / vibration
42) #46-Chase Miller / 6 laps / overheating
41) #47-J.J. Yeley / 7 laps / brakes
40) #42-Josh Wise / 7 laps / brakes
39) #15-Matt Carter / 11 laps / clutch

LASTCAR N'WIDE SERIES DRIVER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Jeff Green (12)
2nd) Mike Harmon, Kevin Lepage, Chase Miller (2)
3rd) Ryan Blaney, Joey Gase, Stephen Leicht, Danica Patrick, Tony Raines, Scott Speed, Josh Wise (1)

LASTCAR N'WIDE SERIES OWNER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) #10-TriStar Motorsports (12)
2nd) #46-The Motorsports Group, #47-The Motorsports Group, #52-Means Racing, #74-Mike Harmon (2)
3rd) #7-JR Motorsports, #36-Tommy Baldwin Racing, #42-The Motorsports Group, #70-ML Motorsports, #91-TriStar Motorsports (1)

LASTCAR N'WIDE SERIES MANUFACTURER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Toyota (13)
2nd) Chevrolet (12)

CUP: Nemechek’s 30th Cup Last-Place Finish Challenges Two Records

SOURCE: NASCAR Media

Joe Nemechek picked up the 30th last-place finish of his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career in Sunday’s AdvoCare 500 at the Atlanta Motor Speedwaay when his #87 AM FM Energy / Pellet & Wood Stoves Toyota fell out with rear gear trouble after 22 of the race’s 327 laps.

The finish was Nemechek’s second of 2012, his first since Sonoma nine races ago. Not only did the finish tie him with Derrike Cope for the second-most last-place finishes in NASCAR history, but Nemechek is now just three Cup finishes away from beating the series record of 32 set by the late J.D. McDuffie.

In qualifying, Nemechek qualified 37th at an average speed of 182.380 mph, ranking him fifth among the entry list’s twelve "go-or-go-homers." Missing the race were Mike Bliss, ending a streak of two straight last-place runs for the #19, Michael McDowell and Josh Wise, both tied for the LASTCAR Cup lead, and Stephen Leicht, marking the first time both he and Wise missed the same race.

In the race itself, Nemechek was the first to lose a lap to the leaders. He pulled behind the wall for the night during the opening green-flag run, followed two laps later by Bliss’ teammate Reed Sorenson in the Humphrey-Smith #91. Scott Riggs and Scott Speed, the only three-time last-placers in the field, finished 40th and 37th, respectively.

LASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first last-place finish in a Cup race at Atlanta for both Nemechek and the #87.
*Denny Hamlin went on to win Sunday’s race. Two years ago in the same race, an engine failure on Hamlin’s Sport Clips Toyota made him the most recent Cup polesitter to finish last. Hamlin led 74 laps that night, second behind the record of 95 set by Greg Biffle at Darlington in 2008.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
43) #87-Joe Nemechek / 22 laps / rear gear
42) #91-Reed Sorenson / 24 laps / overheating
41) #37-J.J. Yeley / 32 laps / brakes
40) #23-Scott Riggs / 43 laps / vibration
39) #30-David Stremme / 54 laps / suspension

LASTCAR CUP SERIES DRIVER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Michael McDowell, Scott Riggs, Scott Speed, Josh Wise (3)
2nd) Mike Bliss, Joe Nemechek, J.J. Yeley (2)
3rd) Trevor Bayne, Landon Cassill, Brendan Gaughan, Jason Leffler, David Ragan, Reed Sorenson, Brian Vickers (1)

LASTCAR CUP SERIES OWNER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) #19-Humphrey-Smith Racing, #23-R3 Motorsports, #26-Front Row Motorsports, #98-Phil Parsons Racing (3)
2nd) #49-Robinson-Blakeney Racing, #87-NEMCO Motorsports, #95-Leavine Family Racing (2)
3rd) #21-Wood Brothers Racing, #33-Richard Childress Racing, #34-Front Row Motorsports, #55-Michael Waltrip Racing, #74-Turn One Racing, #79-Go Green Racing, #83-BK Racing (1)

LASTCAR CUP SERIES MANUFACTURER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Ford (12)
2nd) Toyota (8)
3rd) Chevrolet (5)

N’WIDE: Early Crash Results In Gase’s First Nationwide Last-Place Finish

SOURCE: ESPN

Joey Gase picked up the 1st last-place finish of his NASCAR Nationwide Series career in Saturday’s NRA American Warrior 300 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway when his unsponsored #52 Hamilton Means Racing Chevrolet was involved in a single-car crash after 2 of the race’s 195 laps. The finish came in Gase’s 18th series start.

This was Hamilton Means Racing’s second last-place finish of the 2012 season, the other coming with Kevin Lepage sixteen races ago at Talladega.

The nineteen-year-old Gase was making his 13th start of the 2012 season and his seventh for Hamilton Means Racing. His best finish of the year has been 25th, first with Archie St. Hillaire’s #39 at Phoenix, then again with Means at Charlotte.

At Atlanta, Gase secured the 43rd and final starting spot in the field at an average speed of 164.956 mph. He was fast enough to best four other drivers, including John Jackson, who was the only driver unable to make the show. In the early laps, Gase was moving through the pack when something broke on his Chevrolet, slamming him into the turn two wall. Gase was uninjured, but his car was too damaged to continue.

2012 LASTCAR Nationwide Series leader Jeff Green ran inside the top 30 through the early laps, then parked after 25 laps to come home 35th. One position behind him was the #00 of Blake Koch, who briefly held 43rd before Gase’s retirement.

LASTCAR STATISTICS
*This was the first last-place finish for the #52 in a Nationwide race at Atlanta since 2001, when Brad Teague’s Means Racing Ford lost the transmission after eight laps of the Aaron’s 312. Teague also started in the 43rd spot. Jeff Green left as the point leader that day, leading Greg Biffle by five points. The race was won by Joe Nemechek, who finished 43rd in the Cup race last Sunday.
*Team owner Jimmy Means scored his first last-place finish at Atlanta on November 6, 1977 when his #52 Bell Brothers Auto Parts Chevrolet had ignition problems seven laps into the 1977 Dixie 500.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
43) #52-Joey Gase / 2 laps / crash
42) #47-J.J. Yeley / 3 laps / overheating
41) #71-Carl Long / 4 laps / fuel pressure
40) #42-Josh Wise / 5 laps / electrical
39) #74-Mike Harmon / 6 laps / overheating

LASTCAR N'WIDE SERIES DRIVER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Jeff Green (11)
2nd) Mike Harmon, Kevin Lepage, Chase Miller (2)
3rd) Ryan Blaney, Joey Gase, Stephen Leicht, Danica Patrick, Tony Raines, Scott Speed, Josh Wise (1)

LASTCAR N'WIDE SERIES OWNER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) #10-TriStar Motorsports (11)
2nd) #46-The Motorsports Group, #47-The Motorsports Group, #52-Means Racing, #74-Mike Harmon (2)
3rd) #7-JR Motorsports, #36-Tommy Baldwin Racing, #42-The Motorsports Group, #70-ML Motorsports, #91-TriStar Motorsports (1)

LASTCAR N'WIDE SERIES MANUFACTURER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Chevrolet, Toyota (12)

TRUCKS: Setzer Scores Second-Straight Truck Series Last-Place Run at Atlanta

SOURCE: Rubbin's Racin'

Dennis Setzer picked up the 4th last-place finish of his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career in Friday’s Jeff Foxworthy’s Grit Chips 200 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway when his unsponsored #38 RSS Racing Chevrolet fell out with rear gear problem after completing 2 of the race’s 130 laps.

The finish was Setzer’s second of the 2012 season, and his first since Dover, eight races ago.

Last weekend, Setzer qualified last in the 36-truck field at an average speed of 169.697 mph, besting Jennifer Jo Cobb, Norm Benning, and current LASTCAR Nationwide Series leader Jeff Green who did not make the field. After two laps of the race, Setzer followed Blake Koch in Jo Cobb’s backup truck to the garage area. Setzer was credited with the 36th finishing position.

LASTCAR STATISTICS
*The finish was Setzer’s second in a row in the Truck race at Atlanta. Last fall, he fell out after six laps while driving the #93.
*This was the first last-place finish for the #38 in a Truck race at Atlanta.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
36) #38-Dennis Setzer / 2 laps / rear gear
35) #0-Blake Koch / 2 laps / overheating
34) #27-Stephen Leicht / 4 laps / engine
33) #74-Scott Riggs / 11 laps / ignition
32) #07-Johnny Chapman / 17 laps / radiator

LASTCAR TRUCK SERIES DRIVER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Johnny Chapman, Dennis Setzer (2)
2nd) T.J. Bell, Jeb Burton, Rick Crawford, Grant Enfinger, Clay Greenfield, Jennifer Jo Cobb, Brandon Knupp, Jason Leffler, Brennan Newberry, Scott Riggs (1)

LASTCAR TRUCK SERIES OWNER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) #27-Hillman Racing, #38-RSS Racing (2)
2nd) #0-Jennifer Jo Cobb, #5-Wauters Motorsports, #10-Jennifer Jo Cobb, #14-Bob Newberry, #18-Kyle Busch Motorsports, #60-Turn One Racing, #68-Clay Greenfield Motorsports, #86-Clay Greenfield Motorsports, #74-Mike Harmon, #07-Ken Smith (1)

LASTCAR TRUCK SERIES MANUFACTURER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Chevrolet (8)
2nd) RAM (3)
3rd) Toyota (2)
4th) Ford (1)