XFINITY: Jordan Anderson sets second-longest last-place streak in NASCAR history

PHOTO: @j66anderson

Jordan Anderson picked up the 5th last-place finish of his NASCAR XFINITY Series career in Saturday’s Fitzgerald Glider Kits 300 at the Bristol Motor Speedway when his unsponsored #93 RSS Racing Chevrolet fell out with electrical issues after he completed 13 of 300 laps.

The finish, which came in Anderson’s 12th series start, was his fifth of the season and fifth in a row, the second-longest last-place streak in NASCAR history.  The record is eight, set by all-time last-place leader Jeff Green in the summer of 2015.

Anderson, back in RSS Racing’s “start-and-park” entry, was originally one of 42 drivers who would attempt to qualify, but the very real threat of rain forced two withdrawals.  First on April 19 was Tommy Joe Martins, who was set to make his first XFINITY start of the year in his self-prepared #45 Diamond Gusset Jeans Chevrolet, and thus did not have a guaranteed spot in the field.  Next on April 21 was Obaika Racing, which again only entered the #97 Vroom! Brands Chevrolet for Stephen Leicht.  Reports indicate that the Obaika team arrived late to the track – minutes before practice – and was not allowed to pull into the infield.

In the weekend’s lone practice session on Friday, Anderson timed in 38th of the remaining 40, having turned just 12 laps, third fewest behind B.J. McLeod (6), Carl Long (8).  The washed-out qualifying session secured him the 39th spot in the 40-car field, one position ahead of Mike Harmon’s #74 Somerset Hardwood Flooring Dodge.  Prior to the start, both were joined by four drivers sent to the back: Roush-Fenway Racing teammates Darrell Wallace, Jr. and Ryan Reed for inspection penalties, Dakoda Armstrong’s #28 WinField United Toyota for unapproved adjustments, and Joey Gase’s #52 The Racing Warehouse Chevrolet for a tire change.

By Lap 14, Anderson was behind the wall, securing the last-place finish.  Two laps later came Morgan Shepherd, back in the race for the first time since Phoenix, his #89 Racing With Jesus / King’s Tire Chevrolet out with overheating as the listed cause.  38th went to Ryan Reed, who while climbing his way from the back pounded the Turn 2 wall on Lap 81, ripping the right-front tire from his #16 Lily Diabetes / ADA Drive to Stop Diabetes Ford.  37th was where Ray Black, Jr. finished in his #07 ScubaLife / HBOT Chevrolet following two accidents.  The second accident, which came off Turn 4 on Lap 221, also eliminated 36th-place David Starr – the Daytona last-placer – when B.J. McLeod’s #99 Double D Meat Co. / Striping Technology Chevrolet clipped the nose of Black’s stopped car.

LASTCAR STATISTICS
*This marked the first last-place finish for both Anderson and the #93 in an XFINITY Series race at Bristol.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
40) #93-Jordan Anderson / 13 laps / electrical
39) #89-Morgan Shepherd / 15 laps / overheating
38) #16-Ryan Reed / 79 laps / crash
37) #07-Ray Black, Jr. / 213 laps / crash
36) #99-David Starr / 227 laps / crash

2017 LASTCAR XFINITY SERIES OWNER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) RSS Racing (5)
2nd) B.J. McLeod Motorsports, Kaulig Racing (1)

2017 LASTCAR XFINITY SERIES MANUFACTURER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Chevrolet (7)

2017 LASTCAR XFINITY SERIES DRIVER'S CHAMPIONSHIP