TRUCKS: Austin Wayne Self scores first Truck Series last-place run for #22 since 2009
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| SOURCE: Rubbin's Racin' Forums |
Born in Austin, Texas, Self has been racing since age four, when his father Tim put him behind the wheel of a go-kart. In time, his family started AWS Racing, geared toward helping their son rise through NASCAR’s ranks. AM Technical Solutions, a mechanical contractor out of Austin, has been sponsoring Self for most of his career. By 2013, when he was 17, Self was already splitting time between ARCA and both divisions of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series. He finished 6th in his ARCA debut at Toledo, then six weeks later finished runner-up to Frank Kimmel at Winchester. In 2015, he moved to Mason Mitchell Motorsports, scored his first ARCA victory in his return to Winchester, and finished second in points, 425 markers behind Grant Enfinger.
This year, Self, sponsor and team have all moved to the Truck Series, running red #22 Toyotas. He finished 19th in his series debut at Daytona, then two rounds later earned a season-best 15th at Martinsville. Ironically, the Martinsville finish almost didn’t happen - he was the fastest of six drivers who missed the race on time. When 24th-place starter Tommy Joe Martins wrecked his #44 in qualifying, leaving him without a backup, Self took his place, changing the truck’s number to Martins’ #44 with help from Richard Petty Motorsports. Coming into Dover, Self was 18th in the series standings.
Up until the race, Self was 25th all weekend. He ranked in that spot during both practices, then secured the inside of Row 13 after qualifying was rained out. Sent home by the rain were Austin Cindric, who was looking to make his third series start in a #2 Ford for Brad Keselowski Motorsports, and Norm Benning, who is still fighting to make his first race of 2016. Other drivers had swapped rides during the weekend. Brandon Jones, whose Doug Fuller-owned #99 Chevrolet was withdrawn, replaced Carlos Contreras in the veteran’s #71 Chevrolet and was 2nd-fastest in the field-setting opening practice. Austin Hill’s #20 withdrew, and he instead ran MAKE Motorsports’ old Brad Keselowski-prepared #1 A&D Welding Ford, 27th in practice.
Starting 32nd on Friday was Jennifer Jo Cobb in her #10 Driven2Honor.org Chevrolet. On Lap 43, however, Self spun off Turn 2. Brandon Jones, running to his outside in the #71, checked-up and lost control, spinning into the inside wall. Though neither truck was severely damaged, Self exited the race with just 41 laps completed, citing engine issues. Jones recovered to finish 20th.
Cobb exited after 65 laps with brake issues, finishing 30th. Between Self and Cobb was 31st-place Brandon Brown, his #86 Southern National Motorsports Park Chevrolet out with suspension issues after 56 laps. Completing the Bottom Five was 29th-place John Wes Townley, who led three of the opening 83 laps, then wrecked his #05 Zaxby’s Chevrolet on Lap 133, and 28th-place Ben Rhodes, who came home 69 laps behind after a Lap 62 tangle with Rico Abreu’s #98 Safelite Auto Glass Toyota.
LASTCAR STATISTICS
*This marks the first last-place finish for the #22 in a Truck Series race in nearly seven years, dating back to the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 15, 2009. That day, Chris Fontaine’s Red Rocks Café Dodge fell out with electrical issues, two laps before Dwayne Gaulding teammate Donnie Neunberger broke an axle on his #21.
*This is the first last-place finish for Toyota in a Truck Series race at Dover.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
32) #22-Austin Wayne Self / 41 laps / engine
31) #86-Brandon Brown / 56 laps / suspension
30) #10-Jennifer Jo Cobb / 65 laps / brakes
29) #05-John Wes Townley / 128 laps / crash / led 3 laps
28) #41-Ben Rhodes / 131 laps / running
2016 LASTCAR TRUCK SERIES DRIVER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Tommy Joe Martins (2)
2nd) William Byron, Johnny Sauter, Austin Wayne Self (1)
2016 LASTCAR TRUCK SERIES OWNER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Tommy Joe Martins (2)
2nd) AWS Racing, GMS Racing, Kyle Busch Motorsports (1)
2016 LASTCAR TRUCK SERIES MANUFACTURER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Chevrolet (3)
2nd) Toyota (2)
