Nascar Sprint Cup Championship 2014 - 24 Bristol Night

Two weeks out and we are back to Bristol under the lights.  Sparks flew and so did whole cars.  Way more yellows than greens.  Let's take a look at what happened.

Chad showed he has what it takes to be top dog and scored a pole, running through the first lap.

Same lap, Sandy got knocked around my McMurry for the first yellow.

This caused some major damage to the 021 which Darrel also slammed into (without much hurt to his own car).  Chad and I bounced off of each other while trying to weave through the wreckage.  Chad got the worst of it and ended up wrinkling his backend on the inside wall.  But no humans out yet.

On the restart, Sandy was running low and slow in what I can only assume was an attempt to clear a black flag.  But when he realized he was on the wrong stretch, he pulled right up in front of Chad.

Causing more yellow action that Darrel and I narrowly avoided.

After the restart, Scot was trying to keep a good pace behind Darrel and was too slow for Clint Bowyer.

A small wreck took place afterwards with Scot getting slammed by Edwards.

But more crashing took place before the field got back to the yellow.  No humans involved here.

Nearly a quarter of the way in and Dillon takes out Blaney.

The next yellow came from a certain 78 car trying to cut down to the pits in front of traffic.  Chad spun while slamming the brakes to avoid the field.

Darrel was the next culprit.  This came from switching to neutral instead of second.  He normally uses his paddle shifters but went for the stick this week for fast access to Reverse gear.

He managed to avoid getting too torn up but Scot definitely felt some pain.

Darrel got spun about halfway.  This was the end for him.

Look at him test that catch fence.

He wasn't the only one riding on roof rails.  Sandy bounced off the wall and into Chad after he collided with Scot and sent him flipping over.  With much shock and awe, he was not out from this although he only survived another 6 laps or so.

We had a fairly long green run until I came up on Scot and called for an inside pass into the corner too late.

Scot got slammed hard by Kyle Busch but seemed to continue on without much broken.

The next restart went around one whole lap before these two idiots decided to make some unfortunately choices.  I'm talking Truex Jr. and Bowyer.

Back in traffic on the next restart, I was just trying to feel out my car when another douche bag duo screws the pouch and I get to suffer from it.  Still kicking though.

Around lap 75, Scot runs down Labonte and sends him up the track...

...for a sizable accident.

The last quarter of the race continued to be full of drama.  Patrick got tapped sideways past the start finish.

This stacked up the field but we all managed to stay pointed the right way.  Granted we were a bit more beat up than before, but this is Bristol.

The following restart on lap 90, Gilliland and the 32 got together and swung out towards me, into the wall.

The wreck proceeded through the corner where I bounced off of Johnson and Scot blasted Menard up the track.  Both of us cleared the wreck without much damage or spinning.

Four to go and Burton turns Jeff Gordon after Scot *LEGALLY* runs him wide.

Gordon came back across the track to collect more drivers and Scot made one last torrent through some other drivers to increase position a few places.  That would finish this one under yellow.  Surprise, surprise.

Down to the final two races of the regular schedule: Atlanta and Richmond.  Scot is on the bubble but only by a few points.  A win could lock him in.  A win from Chad or Sandy could knock him out.  This could get very interesting.

Results

Session: Practice

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	061	D Hamilton	15.063
2	013	T Nadz	15.168
3	055	C Ferguson	15.184
4	021	T Bear	15.360
5	18	K Busch	15.632
6	20	M Kenseth	15.714
7	2	B Keselowski	15.730
8	48	J Johnson	15.743
9	1	J McMurray	15.758
10	27	P Menard	15.770
11	16	G Biffle	15.792
12	14	T Stewart	15.808
13	15	C Bowyer	15.828
14	31	R Newman	15.856
15	4	K Harvick	15.870
16	5	K Kahne	15.872
17	88	D Earnhardt Jr	15.875
18	35	E McClure	15.884
19	38	D Gilliland	15.895
20	9	M Ambrose	15.913
21	24	J Gordon	15.915
22	99	C Edwards	15.929
23	47	A Allmendinger	15.930
24	43	A Almirola	15.935
25	78	M Truex Jr	15.936
26	66	J Burton	15.948
27	41	K Busch2	15.990
28	22	J Logano	16.035
29	42	K Larson	16.099
30	36	R Sorenson	16.112
31	10	D Patrick	16.132
32	34	D Ragan	16.134
33	55	B Vickers	16.152
34	32	T Kvapil	16.252
35	95	M McDowell	16.258
36	11	D Hamlin	16.269
37	13	C Mears	16.569
38	40	L Cassill	17.747
39	029	M Max	18.158
40	98	J Wise	18.359
41	21	T Bayne	22.295
42	52	B Labonte	22.740
43	77	D Blaney	29.559

Weather: Clear, 54 °F, Southeast 4 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	055	C Ferguson	15.102
2	061	D Hamilton	15.158
3	013	T Nadz	15.162
4	18	K Busch	15.224
5	16	G Biffle	15.228
6	021	T Bear	15.251
7	31	R Newman	15.300
8	99	C Edwards	15.309
9	2	B Keselowski	15.316
10	14	T Stewart	15.360
11	24	J Gordon	15.372
12	5	K Kahne	15.372
13	1	J McMurray	15.377
14	41	K Busch2	15.394
15	15	C Bowyer	15.403
16	11	D Hamlin	15.430
17	78	M Truex Jr	15.468
18	48	J Johnson	15.499
19	34	D Ragan	15.502
20	9	M Ambrose	15.504
21	20	M Kenseth	15.515
22	38	D Gilliland	15.529
23	27	P Menard	15.539
24	66	J Burton	15.542
25	4	K Harvick	15.547
26	47	A Allmendinger	15.575
27	77	D Blaney	15.596
28	32	T Kvapil	15.604
29	35	E McClure	15.631
30	40	L Cassill	15.659
31	52	B Labonte	15.667
32	98	J Wise	15.727
33	10	D Patrick	15.733
34	21	T Bayne	15.805
35	88	D Earnhardt Jr	15.829
36	95	M McDowell	15.861
37	42	K Larson	15.922
38	22	J Logano	15.985
39	36	R Sorenson	16.003
40	13	C Mears	16.054
41	55	B Vickers	16.151
42	43	A Almirola	16.151
43	029	M Max	27.158

Weather: Clear, 54 °F, Northeast 3 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	013	T Nadz	15.084
2	061	D Hamilton	15.153
3	055	C Ferguson	15.183
4	021	T Bear	15.553
5	1	J McMurray	15.556
6	31	R Newman	15.570
7	22	J Logano	15.570
8	88	D Earnhardt Jr	15.582
9	99	C Edwards	15.607
10	5	K Kahne	15.617
11	4	K Harvick	15.622
12	41	K Busch2	15.624
13	11	D Hamlin	15.629
14	9	M Ambrose	15.637
15	029	M Max	15.657
16	15	C Bowyer	15.676
17	2	B Keselowski	15.716
18	18	K Busch	15.732
19	78	M Truex Jr	15.760
20	34	D Ragan	15.784
21	66	J Burton	15.802
22	24	J Gordon	15.908
23	43	A Almirola	15.916
24	38	D Gilliland	15.949
25	35	E McClure	16.023
26	47	A Allmendinger	16.043
27	77	D Blaney	16.047
28	16	G Biffle	16.078
29	40	L Cassill	16.099
30	14	T Stewart	16.112
31	21	T Bayne	16.145
32	95	M McDowell	16.156
33	98	J Wise	16.163
34	42	K Larson	16.167
35	36	R Sorenson	16.180
36	32	T Kvapil	16.193
37	55	B Vickers	16.221
38	52	B Labonte	16.241
39	27	P Menard	16.276
40	13	C Mears	16.378
41	10	D Patrick	16.386
42	20	M Kenseth	16.432
43	48	J Johnson	16.458

Weather: Clear, 48 °F, Northwest 8 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	10	14	T Stewart	61.009	100	28	180	Running
2	19	34	D Ragan	-0.44	100	0	170	Running
3	25	4	K Harvick	-3.64	100	0	165	Running
4	5	16	G Biffle	-4.05	100	10	165	Running
5	9	2	B Keselowski	-1L	99	1	160	Running
6	3	013	T Nadz	-1L	99	57*	160	Running
7	29	35	E McClure	-1L	99	0	146	Running
8	24	66	J Burton	-1L	99	0	142	Running
9	11	24	J Gordon	-1L	99	0	138	Running
10	20	9	M Ambrose	-1L	99	0	134	Running
11	22	38	D Gilliland	-1L	99	0	130	Running
12	18	48	J Johnson	-1L	99	0	127	Running
13	17	78	M Truex Jr	-1L	99	0	124	Running
14	16	11	D Hamlin	-1L	99	0	121	Running
15	12	5	K Kahne	-1L	99	0	118	Running
16	28	32	T Kvapil	-2L	98	0	115	Running
17	35	88	D Earnhardt Jr	-2L	98	0	112	Running
18	13	1	J McMurray	-2L	98	0	109	Running
19	40	13	C Mears	-2L	98	0	106	Running
20	15	15	C Bowyer	-2L	98	2	108	Running
21	42	43	A Almirola	-2L	98	0	100	Running
22	14	41	K Busch2	-2L	98	0	97	Running
23	39	36	R Sorenson	-2L	98	0	94	Running
24	41	55	B Vickers	-2L	98	0	91	Running
25	23	27	P Menard	-3L	97	0	88	Retired
26	43	029	M Max	-3L	97	0	85	Running
27	33	10	D Patrick	-3L	97	0	82	Running
28	36	95	M McDowell	-4L	96	0	79	Retired
29	6	021	T Bear	-8L	92	0	76	Running
30	21	20	M Kenseth	-23L	77	0	73	Retired
31	27	77	D Blaney	-23L	77	0	70	Accident
32	38	22	J Logano	-24L	76	0	67	Retired
33	31	52	B Labonte	-24L	76	0	64	Accident
34	4	18	K Busch	-44L	56	0	61	Retired
35	7	31	R Newman	-44L	56	0	58	Retired
36	32	98	J Wise	-45L	55	0	55	Retired
37	1	055	C Ferguson	-46L	54	2	57	Header
38	2	061	D Hamilton	-57L	43	0	49	Accident
39	8	99	C Edwards	-85L	15	0	46	Retired
40	26	47	A Allmendinger	-93L	7	0	43	Retired
41	30	40	L Cassill	-93L	7	0	40	Accident
42	34	21	T Bayne	-96L	4	0	37	Retired
43	37	42	K Larson	-98L	2	0	34	Retired

Caution Flags: 14 (70 laps)

Lead Changes: 10 (6 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 48 °F, Southwest 11 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 2x

AI Strength: 95%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
5	021	Passing under yellow	Held for 1 seconds
6	021	Failure to pit	Go to end of longest line
9	055	Passing under yellow	Held for 1 seconds
9	055	Entering closed pits	Go to end of longest line
10	055	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
12	055	Passing under yellow	Held for 9 seconds
15	029	Unsafe pit exit	Go to end of longest line
16	021	Entering closed pits	Go to end of longest line
16	021	Failure to pit	Go to end of longest line
18	021	Passing under yellow	Held for 10 seconds
25	029	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
27	021	Failure to pit	Go to end of longest line
36	055	Failure to pit	Go to end of longest line
36	055	Passing under yellow	Held for 9 seconds
40	055	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
40	055	Failure to pit	Go to end of longest line
56	029	Failure to pit	Go to end of longest line
56	029	Passing under yellow	Held for 5 seconds
55	021	Failure to pit	Go to end of longest line
66	013	Passing under yellow	Held for 1 seconds
90	021	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line

Nascar Sprint Cup Championship 2014 - 23 Michigan

Another one down as we get ever closer to the Chase.  The usual suspects reporting.  I thought Scott Hagerty would be joining us but work circumstances prevented that.  Rob and Bill were also out.  Perhaps the two week break coming up will allow us to regroup.

On our second round to the great northern track, the qualifying results were a mixed bag.  I took pole with Sandy and Chad about mid pack.  Scot and Darrel held back at the rear.  Darrel actually disconnected almost immediately.  We're not sure why as he never returned.  Hopefully things are OK with his son after he had a pretty brutal accident of his own.  Speaking of...

Sandy was actually doing fairly well holding his own until Almirola ran over him going into turn one.

This took out a few not including Sandy.  But his race would be slow and steady the rest of the day.

About nine laps in, Scot came up on Stremme and very gently spun him up the track for our second caution.

Not long before we were under caution again.  This time, Scot went for the double play.

About a quarter of the way into the 60 lapper and the restart brought some slow trouble for Chad.  He wasn't in gear when it came time to go and the log jammed the field.  Despite the evasive chaos, no cautions or contact even.

Scot would not sit idle through another green flag stretch.  While diving deep into turn three, he didn't quite clear Ambrose and those two were up the track.

Scot caught the 9 car again and took them both out coming around the tri-oval

Around halfway, Chad got punted by Burton racing back around.  This would hurt him but he wasn't out.

Scot brought out the next caution with some help from cheating Hamlin.

Scot had done a fantastic job of saving the car and keeping it off the wall...just in time for Chad to come flying into the back of him.  In Chad's defense, he tried to read where Scot would be and probably didn't think Blanely and Scot would make contact.  That sent Scot almost directly in Chad's path and would pretty much end Chad's hopes of a good finish.

A quarter of the race to go, the field caught Chad and he got snagged by the 31.  This put him in the wall and he would have been fine...

...had he not been flung out into the grass and back into turn three and four.

This wreck ended the day for quite a few drivers, but no humans.  Danica would end up being the only other car to drop out of the race (fuel maybe?).  Scot unexpectedly disconnected from the server with a couple laps left.  He will be placed 21st

I took my 10th win here and went to celebrate in fashion when Sandy decided to help with my angular momentum.  Thank you.

We will return in two weeks to Bristol.  I'm sure we won't see too many upsets in the points after this one...

Results

Session: Practice

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	013	T Nadz	37.742
2	061	D Hamilton	38.210
3	18	K Busch	38.285
4	88	D Earnhardt Jr	38.356
5	021	T Bear	38.416
6	24	J Gordon	38.559
7	20	M Kenseth	38.564
8	15	C Bowyer	38.571
9	99	C Edwards	38.637
10	055	C Ferguson	38.640
11	22	J Logano	38.652
12	14	T Stewart	38.663
13	5	K Kahne	38.672
14	78	M Truex Jr	38.683
15	4	K Harvick	38.697
16	1	J McMurray	38.703
17	27	P Menard	38.747
18	2	B Keselowski	38.757
19	66	J Burton	38.760
20	31	R Newman	38.795
21	16	G Biffle	38.815
22	34	D Ragan	38.841
23	48	J Johnson	38.886
24	32	T Kvapil	38.900
25	35	E McClure	38.944
26	9	M Ambrose	38.972
27	11	D Hamlin	39.010
28	40	L Cassill	39.048
29	029	M Max	39.054
30	52	B Labonte	39.144
31	38	D Gilliland	39.209
32	43	A Almirola	39.214
33	47	A Allmendinger	39.228
34	17	R Stenhouse Jr	39.292
35	41	K Busch2	39.310
36	55	B Vickers	39.314
37	77	D Blaney	39.351
38	95	M McDowell	39.395
39	30	D Stremme	39.399
40	13	C Mears	39.501
41	98	J Wise	39.547
42	21	T Bayne	39.605
43	10	D Patrick	39.751

Weather: Clear, 90 °F, Southeast 4 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	013	T Nadz	37.811
2	20	M Kenseth	38.211
3	15	C Bowyer	38.276
4	11	D Hamlin	38.278
5	16	G Biffle	38.282
6	18	K Busch	38.410
7	78	M Truex Jr	38.439
8	5	K Kahne	38.448
9	31	R Newman	38.449
10	9	M Ambrose	38.503
11	4	K Harvick	38.563
12	48	J Johnson	38.566
13	88	D Earnhardt Jr	38.573
14	41	K Busch2	38.635
15	24	J Gordon	38.638
16	27	P Menard	38.641
17	14	T Stewart	38.728
18	021	T Bear	38.776
19	2	B Keselowski	38.796
20	34	D Ragan	38.826
21	1	J McMurray	38.849
22	66	J Burton	38.856
23	47	A Allmendinger	38.899
24	22	J Logano	38.948
25	055	C Ferguson	38.957
26	99	C Edwards	39.023
27	13	C Mears	39.034
28	35	E McClure	39.072
29	95	M McDowell	39.115
30	43	A Almirola	39.120
31	52	B Labonte	39.207
32	77	D Blaney	39.244
33	38	D Gilliland	39.325
34	30	D Stremme	39.339
35	32	T Kvapil	39.354
36	17	R Stenhouse Jr	39.368
37	55	B Vickers	39.483
38	061	D Hamilton	39.602
39	40	L Cassill	39.648
40	98	J Wise	39.722
41	10	D Patrick	39.732
42	21	T Bayne	39.851
43	029	M Max	48.922

Weather: Clear, 90 °F, Northwest 1 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	013	T Nadz	38.007
2	061	D Hamilton	38.195
3	029	M Max	38.203
4	021	T Bear	38.235
5	20	M Kenseth	38.259
6	48	J Johnson	38.404
7	14	T Stewart	38.422
8	24	J Gordon	38.537
9	99	C Edwards	38.626
10	16	G Biffle	38.677
11	5	K Kahne	38.685
12	15	C Bowyer	38.708
13	9	M Ambrose	38.709
14	11	D Hamlin	38.773
15	22	J Logano	38.775
16	4	K Harvick	38.788
17	66	J Burton	38.806
18	41	K Busch2	38.843
19	31	R Newman	38.856
20	18	K Busch	38.881
21	1	J McMurray	38.889
22	78	M Truex Jr	38.897
23	2	B Keselowski	38.929
24	88	D Earnhardt Jr	38.986
25	34	D Ragan	39.002
26	27	P Menard	39.029
27	055	C Ferguson	39.078
28	43	A Almirola	39.083
29	35	E McClure	39.101
30	38	D Gilliland	39.127
31	47	A Allmendinger	39.139
32	32	T Kvapil	39.155
33	21	T Bayne	39.222
34	52	B Labonte	39.262
35	40	L Cassill	39.336
36	77	D Blaney	39.422
37	13	C Mears	39.436
38	55	B Vickers	39.449
39	10	D Patrick	39.603
40	95	M McDowell	39.618
41	30	D Stremme	39.646
42	98	J Wise	39.759
43	17	R Stenhouse Jr	39.771

Weather: Clear, 87 °F, East 5 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	1	013	T Nadz	121.856	60	41*	185	Running
2	8	5	K Kahne	-6.52	60	0	170	Running
3	9	31	R Newman	-6.62	60	0	165	Running
4	5	16	G Biffle	-7.03	60	9	165	Running
5	3	15	C Bowyer	-7.17	60	0	155	Running
6	6	18	K Busch	-7.32	60	0	150	Running
7	2	20	M Kenseth	-7.76	60	6	151	Running
8	19	2	B Keselowski	-9.78	60	0	142	Running
9	13	88	D Earnhardt Jr	-9.90	60	0	138	Running
10	4	11	D Hamlin	-10.14	60	1	139	Running
11	16	27	P Menard	-10.45	60	0	130	Running
12	24	22	J Logano	-10.68	60	0	127	Running
13	14	41	K Busch2	-10.90	60	0	124	Running
14	7	78	M Truex Jr	-11.14	60	0	121	Running
15	12	48	J Johnson	-11.40	60	0	118	Running
16	21	1	J McMurray	-13.34	60	0	115	Running
17	35	32	T Kvapil	-19.01	60	0	112	Running
18	15	24	J Gordon	-19.19	60	0	109	Running
19	11	4	K Harvick	-19.32	60	0	106	Running
20	39	40	L Cassill	-19.73	60	0	103	Running
21	43	029	M Max	-20.00	60	0	73	Running
22	10	9	M Ambrose	-22.73	60	0	100	Running
23	42	21	T Bayne	-22.75	60	0	97	Running
24	31	52	B Labonte	-24.74	60	0	94	Running
25	40	98	J Wise	-25.72	60	0	91	Running
26	33	38	D Gilliland	-25.83	60	0	88	Running
27	34	30	D Stremme	-34.01	60	3	90	Running
28	37	55	B Vickers	-34.19	60	0	82	Running
29	32	77	D Blaney	-35.36	60	0	79	Running
30	18	021	T Bear	-1L	59	0	76	Running
31	41	10	D Patrick	-5L	55	0	70	Retired
32	17	14	T Stewart	-16L	44	0	67	Retired
33	20	34	D Ragan	-17L	43	0	64	Accident
34	22	66	J Burton	-17L	43	0	61	Accident
35	28	35	E McClure	-18L	42	0	58	Accident
36	29	95	M McDowell	-18L	42	0	55	Accident
37	25	055	C Ferguson	-19L	41	0	52	Accident
38	36	17	R Stenhouse Jr	-38L	22	0	49	Accident
39	23	47	A Allmendinger	-39L	21	0	46	Retired
40	26	99	C Edwards	-57L	3	0	43	Retired
41	30	43	A Almirola	-59L	1	0	40	Retired
42	27	13	C Mears	-59L	1	0	37	Retired
43	38	061	D Hamilton	-59L	1	0	34	Disco

Caution Flags: 7 (25 laps)

Lead Changes: 6 (5 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 87 °F, East 7 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 2x

AI Strength: 95%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
11	055	Unsafe pit exit	Go to end of longest line
21	055	Unsafe pit exit	Go to end of longest line