Twisted Metal Tour - Grid Iron Division 2015 - 40-42 Destruction Arena

The end is nigh!  The final three chapters in the series are here.  Going into the last track of the series, I was leading Zack by a sizeable, yet not insurmountable margin.  Sandy and Darrel were one point apart for the third podium spot.  Scot, Scott and Chad were all gunning for a top ten.  Things were getting epic and remained close through the whole thing.

Race 1:

Because it's a track without qualifying AI, we all started at the back on purpose.

But that didn't stop things from getting crazy on the quick fast.

Chad, as we'll come to see, became the whipping post of almost everyone.

Zack was also caught in the initial pileup.

Sandy took care and made it through unscathed with his teammate in tow.

Darrel also took his time through the startup wreck and managed to pick up 20 spots immediately.

My race was all and all pretty straight forward.  Lots of close calls.

Some not so close calls.

Some closer calls.

Some, "how-didn't-I-die" calls.

But despite all the calls and missed calls, I squeaked out the lead for the better half of the race and held it to the end where I desperately tried to upset the balance by taking out Rob's avatar and letting Notre Dame slip into the 3rd spot.  That would have instantly won Sandy the championship podium, but he would have to remain one point behind.

Speaking of Sandy, after clearing that wreck with skill, he got slammed and rolled.

He continued to find himself in wrecks.

And witnessing others.

Damn, how many times did you and Zack see each other.  Oh, there I am as a pin up on the wall!

Oh, there you are as a pinup on the wall!

Back to the pits.

Despite all that, Sandy did manage to have some good racing in there.  He even laid fang to Chad.  Things turned out somewhat OK as he scored a 30th.

Scot had one of the most topsy-turvey races of all of us.

He spent more time getting tossed out of the intersection than driving on the track.

He did manage to also get some good racing in, again taking Chad up the track.

Then it was back to the usual.

By the end, it seemed as though there wasn't a time he went through the intersection and didn't get hit.  A sad 40th awaited Scot in the end.

Chad ran a similar race to Scot's with a few differences.

While he did have plenty of intersection connections...

...especially those ending in pit stall returns...

...the majority of his wrecks were in the corners.

There was some racing in there too and he even got some revenge.  Yet a 36th was all his efforts earned him.

Zack's luck was spent at Mission Demo 8 because he did not have a flawless race.

Like Scot, he wound up tossed about quite a bit.

Even by Scot himself!  To be fair, this was one of the few accidents Scot did not cause.

Zack actually worked his way up into 6th when a series of late race skirmishes kept him from advancing and dropped him into 9th.  Excellent work.

Hagerty had a race of a different color.  Things started out rough but he quickly began dominating and avoiding all kinds of bottlenecks.

Then the Seahawks happened.

Scott was knocked onto pit road where he though he was driving the wrong way and then proceeded to drive the wrong way, straight to a DQ.  Interestingly enough, the Seahawks were eventually DQed later in the race.

Finally we have Darrel.  Remember, he has to just stay a point ahead of Sandy to maintain his 3rd.  He started off bravely laying waste to the opposition.

Then like everyone else, he got caught in some wreckage.  There's Chad also pointing the wrong way.

Surprisingly, Darrel was one of the few people not to wreck Chad.  How sweet.

But wreck he did.

Darrel was in pretty much every type of accident and his ranking jumped all over the place.

Sandy's Raiders even took him out at one point.  Team orders!

Like other humans, he also spent some time on pit road.

Darrel worked hard at his run and came away with a 25th.  Still one point ahead of Sandy.  Nice Tetris block, guys.

Race 2:

Again, the crew started in the back and some elected to work it on the pit road so as to keep their bumpers crisp and clean for the first lap.

While others chose to forge through the maelstrom.

I can't believe we didn't kill each other.

Well, it wasn't long before the Jets glanced me into the wall.

From there, I became a wrecking ball.

Or a ball of wreck.

After getting pummeled by teammates I came in for some repairs.

Those lasted until just about this moment.

When the atom smashing happened.  23rd.

Sandy kept things going strong though, avoiding mayhem like it was his job.

But since he's retired, he quickly stopped working.  Or more, his car tried to after getting slammed by the Bulldogs.

Since this was only half damage, he got fixed up and kept on truckin'

He even managed to pass the Buckaneers just before the end and earn 8th.  It still wasn't enough to get him more than Darrel in positional points.  Which is why it was so important that he earned the Meet the Challenge award for a single point to tie with Darrel.

Scot worked the pit strategy like Chad.

It didn't keep him from having to slalom around the track to avoid near death.

But it wasn't another driver that would end Scot's second race.

A loose condition caused him to bounce off walls and end with a notable 10th.

Zack was running Scot down when he had some issues.

But it wasn't as big an issue as having the Saints bite a piece of your tailgate off.  18th.

Hagerty started off charging through the fray.

He was ducking and dodging like a champ.

Sometimes just barely dodging.

Now, this happens every so often.  Like when celestial bodies slowly wind into each other's paths over time, Scott and the Chiefs were running laps just slightly off between them.  This slight variation was just enough for them to meet.

And end them both.  Rage quit.  32nd.

What about Darrel you ask?  Well he was doing some avoidance.

No, seriously...

...close.

On more than one occasion.

Then the unthinkable happened and he played patty cake with his Bulldogs.

And on his top.

Thanks to the limited damage, he was able to recover and finish in 9th, only one spot behind Sandy.  This meant they were tied going into the final race of them all.

Race 3:

The final race and with full damage on for the first time ever, some of us were taking no chances on the first lap.

Although it didn't help me or Michigan much about two laps in.  37th.

Same with The Bear.  He was taken out by Hagerty's avatar.  35th!

Scot managed to avoid intersection intersections but did get smacked up by his the Eagles.

Some quick repairs...

...and back to getting smacked up by the Eagles.

This feud carried into the next corner where Scot caught the 37 sitting against the wall and proceeded to blast him into the next series.  28th.

Zack was also avoiding collisions in the center but not so much in the corners.

When the Jags tripped him up...

...it was the Ducks who knocked him down.

Then he performed a magic trick he seems to like to do.  He makes some smoke...

...disappear!

And for his next trick...

...he'll stick to a wall.  A respectable 13th.

Chad took the pit lap technique a step further and actually stayed on pit road for a while, hanging out with the pace car and watching cars drop like flies.

But he wasn't much safer when he got back in there as Darrel nearly took him out.

And then the Chiefs took him out.

20th.

The 7 was tearing it up after he heard that Sandy was done from the start.  It's not like he had to score at least two points to pass him!  Piece of cake.

Until the Trojans messed up his ride.

His crew managed to put out his fires and get him rolling again though.

But with the damage he suffered and another kick from his teammate, he finished in 11th, netting him 2 points.  So he won 3rd, right?

Well, yes, but he wasn't the only one.  You see, because Sandy was one of the first ones out and he didn't retire, he earned a bonus award, the Diehard.  That extra point kept him dead even with Darrel and they would have to share the trophy.  And apparently a pitstall.  Chad also managed to eek out a 10th in the standings while the Scot(t)s fell backwards a few positions.

Great work by everyone.  Hopefully next season will be just as fun.  We'll be getting into the Dirt mod 55 on some new and classic short tracks made of dirt, mud, clay asphalt, concrete and more.  Here are the results!

Race 1

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	33	S Seahawks	--
2	88	N Saints	--
3	12	N Patriots	--
4	37	P Eagles	--
5	62	J Jaguars	--
6	21	S Chargers	--
7	47	F Gators	--
8	73	T Buccaneers	--
9	32	K Chiefs	--
10	85	U Trojans	--
11	95	B Man	--
12	16	S 49ers	--
13	80	D Lions	--
14	60	I Colts	--
15	39	G Bulldogs	--
16	28	R Cook	--
17	45	H Texans	--
18	58	P Steelers	--
19	55	L Tigers	--
20	11	T Longhorns	--
21	61	A Crimson Tide	--
22	34	N Giants	--
23	99	D Cowboys	--
24	42	M Wolverines	--
25	98	N Jets	--
26	44	N Fighting Irish	--
27	81	F Seminoles	--
28	38	A Cardinals	--
29	20	B Ravens	--
30	52	T Titans	--
31	75	O Raiders	--
32	83	C Bears	--
33	27	O Ducks	--
34	31	O Buckeyes	--
35	10	B Bills	--
36	29	G Packers	--
37	56	M Max	--
38	23	Z Webster	--
39	22	C Ferguson	--
40	7	D Hamilton	--
41	86	T Nadz	--
42	63	T Bear	--
43	13	S Hagerty	--

Weather: Clear, 74 °F, Northeast 3 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	13	S Hagerty	30.228
2	16	S 49ers	30.495
3	39	G Bulldogs	30.498
4	86	T Nadz	32.283
5	55	L Tigers	32.399
6	22	C Ferguson	32.539
7	38	A Cardinals	32.562
8	33	S Seahawks	32.578
9	20	B Ravens	32.648
10	85	U Trojans	32.678
11	81	F Seminoles	32.806
12	32	K Chiefs	32.837
13	7	D Hamilton	32.848
14	95	B Man	32.853
15	98	N Jets	32.853
16	63	T Bear	32.886
17	62	J Jaguars	32.964
18	12	N Patriots	32.976
19	99	D Cowboys	33.051
20	75	O Raiders	33.103
21	45	H Texans	33.113
22	34	N Giants	33.189
23	44	N Fighting Irish	33.261
24	60	I Colts	33.278
25	80	D Lions	33.295
26	56	M Max	33.353
27	11	T Longhorns	33.423
28	21	S Chargers	33.558
29	23	Z Webster	33.648
30	10	B Bills	33.668
31	47	F Gators	33.703
32	58	P Steelers	33.755
33	73	T Buccaneers	34.030
34	27	O Ducks	34.073
35	61	A Crimson Tide	34.263
36	83	C Bears	34.460
37	88	N Saints	35.343
38	28	R Cook	35.674
39	31	O Buckeyes	42.356
40	29	G Packers	42.975
41	52	T Titans	43.431
42	42	M Wolverines	45.526

Weather: Clear, 82 °F, Northwest 5 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	41	86	T Nadz	156.308	40	26*	185	Running
2	35	10	B Bills	-1L	39	2	175	Running
3	16	28	R Cook	-2L	38	0	165	Running
4	26	44	N Fighting Irish	-2L	38	0	160	Running
5	22	34	N Giants	-2L	38	0	155	Running
6	3	12	N Patriots	-2L	38	0	150	Running
7	7	47	F Gators	-3L	37	0	146	Running
8	5	62	J Jaguars	-3L	37	0	142	Running
9	38	23	Z Webster	-3L	37	0	138	Running
10	18	58	P Steelers	-3L	37	0	134	Running
11	21	61	A Crimson Tide	-3L	37	0	130	Running
12	6	21	S Chargers	-3L	37	0	127	Running
13	9	32	K Chiefs	-4L	36	0	124	Running
14	12	16	S 49ers	-4L	36	1	126	Running
15	14	60	I Colts	-5L	35	3	123	Running
16	20	11	T Longhorns	-5L	35	2	120	Running
17	33	27	O Ducks	-5L	35	0	112	Running
18	19	55	L Tigers	-5L	35	0	109	Retired
19	32	83	C Bears	-6L	34	0	106	Running
20	11	95	B Man	-6L	34	0	103	Running
21	28	38	A Cardinals	-6L	34	0	100	Running
22	8	73	T Buccaneers	-6L	34	0	97	Running
23	34	31	O Buckeyes	-7L	33	0	94	Running
24	23	99	D Cowboys	-7L	33	0	91	Running
25	40	7	D Hamilton	-7L	33	0	88	Running
26	31	75	O Raiders	-7L	33	0	85	Running
27	4	37	P Eagles	-7L	33	3	87	Running
28	10	85	U Trojans	-8L	32	0	79	Running
29	13	80	D Lions	-8L	32	0	76	Running
30	42	63	T Bear	-9L	31	0	73	Running
31	2	88	N Saints	-9L	31	0	70	Running
32	36	29	G Packers	-10L	30	0	67	Running
33	30	52	T Titans	-10L	30	0	64	Running
34	27	81	F Seminoles	-10L	30	0	61	Running
35	25	98	N Jets	-10L	30	0	58	Running
36	39	22	C Ferguson	-11L	29	0	55	Running
37	29	20	B Ravens	-11L	29	0	52	Running
38	15	39	G Bulldogs	-15L	25	0	49	Running
39	17	45	H Texans	-15L	25	0	46	Running
40	37	56	M Max	-17L	23	0	43	Running
41	24	42	M Wolverines	-17L	23	0	40	Running
42	1	33	S Seahawks	-34L	6	3	42	DQ
43	43	13	S Hagerty	-37L	3	0	34	DQ

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 10 (7 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 81 °F, Northwest 4 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 100%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
4	13	Reckless driving	DQ'd: Scoring is ended

Race 2

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	38	A Cardinals	--
2	98	N Jets	--
3	81	F Seminoles	--
4	61	A Crimson Tide	--
5	34	N Giants	--
6	11	T Longhorns	--
7	45	H Texans	--
8	80	D Lions	--
9	60	I Colts	--
10	12	N Patriots	--
11	32	K Chiefs	--
12	10	B Bills	--
13	62	J Jaguars	--
14	83	C Bears	--
15	52	T Titans	--
16	73	T Buccaneers	--
17	47	F Gators	--
18	42	M Wolverines	--
19	31	O Buckeyes	--
20	20	B Ravens	--
21	88	N Saints	--
22	95	B Man	--
23	16	S 49ers	--
24	39	G Bulldogs	--
25	37	P Eagles	--
26	85	U Trojans	--
27	75	O Raiders	--
28	58	P Steelers	--
29	55	L Tigers	--
30	44	N Fighting Irish	--
31	27	O Ducks	--
32	33	S Seahawks	--
33	99	D Cowboys	--
34	21	S Chargers	--
35	29	G Packers	--
36	28	R Cook	--
37	7	D Hamilton	--
38	56	M Max	--
39	13	S Hagerty	--
40	22	C Ferguson	--
41	63	T Bear	--
42	23	Z Webster	--
43	86	T Nadz	--

Weather: Clear, 91 °F, Northwest 4 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	1	38	A Cardinals	175.229	20	20*	185	Running
2	13	62	J Jaguars	-1.37	20	0	170	Running
3	5	34	N Giants	-2.09	20	0	165	Running
4	12	10	B Bills	-4.30	20	0	160	Running
5	34	21	S Chargers	-10.70	20	0	155	Running
6	16	73	T Buccaneers	-15.57	20	0	150	Running
7	35	29	G Packers	-1L	19	0	146	Running
8	41	63	T Bear	-2L	18	0	142	Running
9	37	7	D Hamilton	-5L	15	0	138	Running
10	38	56	M Max	-11L	9	0	134	Accident
11	28	58	P Steelers	-12L	8	0	130	Accident
12	21	88	N Saints	-12L	8	0	127	Accident
13	6	11	T Longhorns	-12L	8	0	124	Accident
14	36	28	R Cook	-13L	7	0	121	Accident
15	33	99	D Cowboys	-13L	7	0	118	Accident
16	14	83	C Bears	-13L	7	0	115	Accident
17	10	12	N Patriots	-13L	7	0	112	Accident
18	42	23	Z Webster	-14L	6	0	109	Running
19	9	60	I Colts	-14L	6	0	106	Accident
20	19	31	O Buckeyes	-14L	6	0	103	Accident
21	17	47	F Gators	-14L	6	0	100	Accident
22	20	20	B Ravens	-14L	6	0	97	Accident
23	43	86	T Nadz	-14L	6	0	94	Accident
24	7	45	H Texans	-14L	6	0	91	Accident
25	27	75	O Raiders	-15L	5	0	88	Accident
26	22	95	B Man	-15L	5	0	85	Accident
27	18	42	M Wolverines	-15L	5	0	82	Accident
28	30	44	N Fighting Irish	-15L	5	0	79	Accident
29	24	39	G Bulldogs	-16L	4	0	76	Accident
30	31	27	O Ducks	-16L	4	0	73	Accident
31	8	80	D Lions	-16L	4	0	70	Accident
32	39	13	S Hagerty	-17L	3	0	67	Accident
33	11	32	K Chiefs	-17L	3	0	64	Accident
34	4	61	A Crimson Tide	-17L	3	0	61	Accident
35	3	81	F Seminoles	-18L	2	0	58	Accident
36	2	98	N Jets	-18L	2	0	55	Accident
37	25	37	P Eagles	-19L	1	0	52	Accident
38	32	33	S Seahawks	-19L	1	0	49	Accident
39	26	85	U Trojans	-19L	1	0	46	Accident
40	40	22	C Ferguson	-19L	1	0	43	Accident
41	15	52	T Titans	-19L	1	0	40	Accident
42	23	16	S 49ers	-20L	0	0	37	Accident
43	29	55	L Tigers	-20L	0	0	34	Retired

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 0 (1 driver)

Weather: Clear, 91 °F, Southwest 6 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 100%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
0	23	Passing under yellow	Held for 1 seconds
0	23	Passing on the inside	Stop and go

Race 3

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	73	T Buccaneers	--
2	80	D Lions	--
3	44	N Fighting Irish	--
4	11	T Longhorns	--
5	45	H Texans	--
6	83	C Bears	--
7	60	I Colts	--
8	13	S Hagerty	--
9	27	O Ducks	--
10	62	J Jaguars	--
11	16	S 49ers	--
12	29	G Packers	--
13	33	S Seahawks	--
14	12	N Patriots	--
15	37	P Eagles	--
16	34	N Giants	--
17	47	F Gators	--
18	32	K Chiefs	--
19	88	N Saints	--
20	28	R Cook	--
21	38	A Cardinals	--
22	61	A Crimson Tide	--
23	55	L Tigers	--
24	58	P Steelers	--
25	98	N Jets	--
26	20	B Ravens	--
27	42	M Wolverines	--
28	52	T Titans	--
29	81	F Seminoles	--
30	99	D Cowboys	--
31	21	S Chargers	--
32	95	B Man	--
33	75	O Raiders	--
34	39	G Bulldogs	--
35	31	O Buckeyes	--
36	10	B Bills	--
37	85	U Trojans	--
38	23	Z Webster	--
39	86	T Nadz	--
40	22	C Ferguson	--
41	63	T Bear	--
42	56	M Max	--
43	7	D Hamilton	--

Weather: Clear, 85 °F, North 7 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	10	62	J Jaguars	172.596	20	5	180	Running
2	17	47	F Gators	-31.66	20	0	170	Running
3	37	85	U Trojans	-1L	19	1	170	Running
4	34	39	G Bulldogs	-3L	17	0	160	Accident
5	6	83	C Bears	-5L	15	12*	165	Accident
6	29	81	F Seminoles	-6L	14	0	150	Accident
7	14	12	N Patriots	-6L	14	0	146	Accident
8	25	98	N Jets	-7L	13	0	142	Accident
9	20	28	R Cook	-7L	13	0	138	Accident
10	18	32	K Chiefs	-7L	13	0	134	Accident
11	43	7	D Hamilton	-7L	13	0	130	Running
12	31	21	S Chargers	-8L	12	0	127	Accident
13	38	23	Z Webster	-10L	10	0	124	Running
14	7	60	I Colts	-12L	8	0	121	Accident
15	13	33	S Seahawks	-12L	8	0	118	Retired
16	11	16	S 49ers	-12L	8	0	115	Accident
17	35	31	O Buckeyes	-13L	7	0	112	Accident
18	23	55	L Tigers	-13L	7	0	109	Accident
19	30	99	D Cowboys	-14L	6	0	106	Accident
20	40	22	C Ferguson	-14L	6	0	103	Accident
21	9	27	O Ducks	-15L	5	0	100	Accident
22	24	58	P Steelers	-16L	4	0	97	Accident
23	26	20	B Ravens	-16L	4	0	94	Accident
24	32	95	B Man	-16L	4	0	91	Accident
25	15	37	P Eagles	-16L	4	0	88	Clutch
26	3	44	N Fighting Irish	-17L	3	0	85	Accident
27	1	73	T Buccaneers	-17L	3	2	87	Accident
28	42	56	M Max	-17L	3	0	79	Accident
29	27	42	M Wolverines	-18L	2	0	76	Accident
30	5	45	H Texans	-18L	2	0	73	Header
31	4	11	T Longhorns	-18L	2	0	70	Accident
32	21	38	A Cardinals	-18L	2	0	67	Accident
33	12	29	G Packers	-18L	2	0	64	Accident
34	2	80	D Lions	-18L	2	0	61	Accident
35	41	63	T Bear	-19L	1	0	58	Running
36	33	75	O Raiders	-19L	1	0	55	Accident
37	39	86	T Nadz	-19L	1	0	52	Accident
38	22	61	A Crimson Tide	-19L	1	0	49	Accident
39	19	88	N Saints	-19L	1	0	46	Accident
40	16	34	N Giants	-19L	1	0	43	Accident
41	8	13	S Hagerty	-19L	1	0	40	Accident
42	28	52	T Titans	-20L	0	0	37	Accident
43	36	10	B Bills	-20L	0	0	34	Accident

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 4 (4 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 85 °F, North 8 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 100%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
0	56	Passing on the inside	Stop and go