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)