Thanks for the reply!
I did try this already, thinking I might have a faulty card but any card in that spot runs hotter. Im thinking it must be something to do with airflow as well, but I've cur out the plastic piece blocking the back and that hasnt helped any. Either has adding a 140mm fan in the front. The only thing I can think of is heat from the motherboard components making air temperature around the card hotter than the rest?